Control Resonant's review embargoes have lifted, but the game's sizable paranatural adventure is still being explored. A full scored review is expected before the game's launch on September 24, but initial thoughts reveal a title that captures the essence of its predecessor while forging its own path.
The game retains the peculiar and fascinating world and lore that defined the original Control. By moving the setting beyond the familiar Oldest House, Remedy has crafted even stranger scenarios as the general populace becomes exposed to the paranatural forces. While the main quest offers compelling narrative threads, many of the most memorable moments arise from the side stories. These optional excursions deliver tales that vary in humor, surrealism, and disturbance, often altering gameplay in unexpected ways and encouraging exploration.
The melee combat system, reminiscent of titles like Devil May Cry, is described as feeling good, though not quite reaching the benchmark set by games like Bayonetta. Early hours may feel repetitive due to limited initial options, but this expands significantly as players unlock new forms for the transforming weapon, the Aberrant, and new supernatural powers. The ability to mix and match weapons, finishers, and superpowers offers a deeper, more strategic experience that caters to various playstyles.
Control Resonant presents a notable challenge, with enemies often matching player levels and swarming in large groups. This difficulty, however, encourages reliance on the growing arsenal of powers, such as explosion-inducing punches or force-pushing enemies into hazards. The reviewer suspects this difficulty may catch some players off guard, as some main missions can feel like wars of attrition without investing time in other primary objectives and sidequests. Fortunately, these optional activities are presented as rewarding endeavors.
The distorted depiction of Manhattan serves as a surreal visual treat, with kaleidoscopic sights and other wild locations contributing to the game's aesthetic appeal. Exploring Manhattan over a dozen hours into the adventure is described as enjoyable, especially for those who appreciated the Metroid-esque area unlocks of the Oldest House. Manhattan, despite being a large hub, functions similarly to Control's main setting, with numerous areas gated by abilities or keys, and optional locations requiring careful searching. While the path forward can sometimes be obscure, traversal powers gradually improve navigation.
At the time of writing, a substantial portion of Control Resonant remains to be played, but the overall sentiment is largely positive. The combat and world continue to evolve in weird and interesting ways, and the desire to uncover every secret is a constant, albeit one that must be managed for timely review completion. The banter and dynamic between the likable protagonist Dylan and his FBC agent partner/handler Zoe are also highlighted, as is the return of familiar faces like Pope and Langston. If the remainder of the game maintains this positive momentum, Dylan's quest is poised to be a significant entry in the series.