Remedy Entertainment's latest title, Control Resonant, features a number of memorable moments, from the visually striking, mold-covered streets of Manhattan to an astonishing boss fight against a floating head. However, the game's most compelling segment is not found among these more bombastic sequences, but rather in its most stripped-down location: The Underpass.
This area, discovered about 15 hours into the game, represents a significant departure from the established gameplay loop. After navigating the dense, enemy-filled, and visually busy open world of Manhattan, players descend into a surreal, black abyss. The Underpass consists of disconnected platforms and exposed pipes floating in a void, stripping away the familiar sense of place and time established in the game's earlier sections. This liminal space feels like a forgotten draft of the city, contributing to the game's unnerving atmosphere.
The Underpass is not only visually distinct but also a narrative turning point. Dylan Faden stumbles upon an FBC testing site within this alien landscape, which initiates missions that delve into the reckless experiments conducted beneath the city. These revelations highlight the FBC scientists' damaging impact on reality itself, a theme that resonates throughout the game.
A Shift in Gameplay
The shift away from combat is where The Underpass truly shines. Hack-and-slash battles are minimized, replaced by a focus on traversal. Players must utilize Dylan's powers, chaining together air dashes, grapples, and hovers to navigate the fragmented environment. Remedy's movement mechanics are a standout feature, allowing for fluid and extensive ground coverage that evokes the free-flowing nature of titles like Super Mario Odyssey. The Underpass serves as a showcase for this refined movement system, transforming it into a challenging yet rewarding 3D platforming experience.
This section marks a significant evolution for Control Resonant, moving beyond the conventional open-world exploration of its initial hours toward a more creatively stimulating design. The unraveling of the city's reality, beginning in The Underpass, culminates in the game's final stretch with sequences that underscore the boundless possibilities within the Control universe. The success of this unexpected platforming segment suggests an exciting direction for Remedy's future endeavors.