Remedy Entertainment games are so rich in lore that a term for them has emerged: the Remedy Connected Universe, or, as some fans call it, the RemedyVerse. This universe encompasses games like Alan Wake and its story expansions, Control, and now its sequel, Control: Resonant ($59.99/XBOX physical; Windows PC/XBOX Play Anywhere digital).
Known for their quality storytelling, inspired by shows like The X-Files and Twin Peaks, Remedy games are a joy to get immersed in, and Control Resonant brings more story content than any Remedy title before it.
Control Resonant Review — Story and characters
In Control Resonant, you play as Dylan Faden, one of the antagonistic forces in the first Control game, and the brother of the protagonist of the same title, Jesse Faden. While Dylan was controlled by an evil supernatural being known as the Hiss, here he is finally free from it.
However, his sister Jesse, the Director of the FBC, is missing. It is up to Dylan to find Jesse and protect the city and the remaining members of the FBC from the Hiss and other paranormal entities that arrive.
This third act of the game and its finale is by far one of the most beautiful in gaming this year, there I say, ever.
Walter Xavier, Windows Central
Remedy not only offers story-rich games but also high-quality writing in these, and Resonant continues this tradition. Dylan is an interesting character, especially with his dark past when he was controlled by the Hiss and how he's now trying to atone for it.
Even though the Hiss was in control of his body, he still let it in. But the FBC and Dr. Darlin were no saints, specifically towards Dylan. So, this dynamic of both parties trying to work together for the greater good is an engaging one.
Zoe, Dylan's handler in Resonant, greatly helps in this dynamic; with dialogue choices available to the player, this relationship carries a lot of the narrative. As with any Remedy game, the voice cast in Resonant is top-notch and helps in connecting even more with these characters, especially towards the ending segment.
This third act of the game and its finale is by far one of the most beautiful in gaming this year, there I say, ever. This is not only about how the story concludes, but also how every other element, such as gameplay, music, and level design, all combine to create something special. This combination is also experienced throughout the entirety of the game as well.
Control Resonant Review — Gameplay
It's impossible not to speak about Resonant's level design after trying the game. Even from the trailers alone, you could see how impressive it was going to be, even more if you played previous Remedy games and know the potential of this team.
After completing the journey, there is no doubt it is one of the best level design structures I've ever played. The open world is a city full of upside-down buildings, gravity-defying powers, and fun traversal puzzles.
While the first Control offered an open-like design of the inside of an FBC building, it was still a linear experience. Control Resonant, however, goes the open-world route, and what an impressive world it is.
The city of Manhattan becomes a paranormal playground full of side quests and activities that feel rewarding to explore. There is verticality, underground tunnels, and high structures, all complemented by amazing traversal abilities expanded from the first game, such as high jumps, levitating, and new abilities that allow you to defy the laws of gravity even further.
Level design wasn't the only change from the first game to Resonant; the combat also went from a shooter to a melee-focused one, making RPG mechanics feel more at home.
I'll be honest, I was kind of doubting Remedy's no-parry choice at the beginning of the game, especially after coming from games like Onimusha: Way of the Sword where parry is not only essential but also satisfying.
However, while this melee combat might seem simple at first, the further you improve it and gain new combat abilities, the more you understand the choice of no parry.
There is no parry, but you can dodge, and this dodge goes hand in hand with the many abilities that create great combos. There can be many enemies at the same time attacking you, so parries wouldn't be much help anyway. That's what the combat abilities are for: letting you take out multiple enemies at once, do long-range attacks, create shields, etc.
In terms of weapons, there are three you can equip called Aberrant Forms. From these, you can choose among three different weapons that each bring their own playstyle. The Strike brings quick dagger-like attacks, the Glaive works as a heavy-attack hammer, and the Cleave brings a balance of both speed and damage.
Additionally, you can also choose a combo finisher that goes hand in hand with the ending attacks of your primary weapon. While there is a good variety of different combo finishers you can select from, unfortunately, you can have only one active at a time.
It would've been so much better if Remedy could have found a way to incorporate every combo into the combat mix, just as with the combat abilities, which you can have up to six ready to use.
Still, this will be barely an issue since you will continue unlocking new powers and abilities that make Dylan feel like a godlike character. Resonant also offers a good assist system that lets you adjust many difficulty options; if you want enemies to be weaker or stronger, the option to do that is there.
Control Resonant Review — Music & Final thoughts
As is tradition by now with Remedy games, Resonant brings a banger of a soundtrack and songs that fit perfectly into the themes of the game. Alan Wake 2 had an amazing musical sequence that explained Alan's life, and Control had rock songs that enhanced the combat moments.
Here, songs play at the perfect time, complementing every other element in the game: combat, gameplay, level design. This makes fighting and traversing the weird gravity city even more fluid.
The same way Twin Peaks and X-Files felt like high-quality experimental art pieces, so does Control Resonant. The game offers the best video games have to offer as an art form. It is unique, creative, and a joy to experience.
As with Alan Wake and the first Control, this is a must-play piece of art both for gaming enthusiasts and casuals alike.
Dylan Faden steps out of FBC confinement and into a paranaturally warped Manhattan, forced to confront a cosmic entity twisting reality while hunting for his sister Jesse across zones overrun by the Hiss, the Mold, and other threats. Control: Resonant is fully Xbox Cloud Playable and supports Play Anywhere, letting you jump in anywhere as Dylan pushes his powers to their limits.
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