Control Resonant's Hidden Romance and Combat Struggles

Key points

• Control Resonant shifts the protagonist from Jesse Faden to her brother, Dylan Faden, who seeks to find her after she goes missing.
• The game features a new melee weapon called the Aberrant, which can transform into various forms, replacing the gun-based combat of the original.
• Early reviews and player feedback criticized the game's combat difficulty, leading to a day-one hotfix that reduced enemy health and boosted player damage.
• The game's narrative is praised for its depth, with hidden documents and side quests revealing character relationships and world-building details.
• Control Resonant is available on multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Mac, with cloud gaming support via GeForce NOW.

Background

Control Resonant is the sequel to the 2019 video game Control, developed by Remedy Entertainment. The original game was well-received for its unique narrative and world-building. Control Resonant continues the story, focusing on Dylan Faden, Jesse's brother, who takes on the role of protagonist after Jesse goes missing. The game was highly anticipated, with early reviews and Metacritic scores indicating strong reception, though combat balance issues were noted.

How outlets are covering it

The Verge highlights the game's narrative depth and the hidden romance between two FBC employees, emphasizing the importance of reading all in-game documents. Game Informer praises the game's world and story but criticizes its combat balance, noting that the game can be frustrating at times. Variety focuses on the narrative symmetry between Jesse and Dylan, highlighting the new character Zoe and the game's mechanics. NVIDIA's blog emphasizes the game's availability on GeForce NOW and the technical features, such as DLSS 4 and ray tracing.

Why it matters

Control Resonant's launch marks a significant moment for Remedy Entertainment, as it continues the story of a well-loved franchise. The game's narrative depth and world-building are praised, but combat balance issues have raised concerns about the game's accessibility. The day-one hotfix and post-launch roadmap indicate Remedy's commitment to addressing player feedback. The game's availability on multiple platforms, including cloud gaming, expands its reach and accessibility.

What to watch

Remedy Entertainment has announced a post-launch roadmap, including a 'New Game Plus Plus' mode in October and a Photo Mode in November. Additional cosmetic items are also planned. The game's performance and player reception will be closely monitored, with further updates and patches likely to address any remaining issues.