Pros:
•Sam Lake does it again, with a really engaging story that leaves you raring for more.

•The game nailed its paranormal atmosphere, the main setting had a lot of mysterious vibes and non-Euclidean design. The various files and items that you find around the Oldest House add to this.

•I really liked the lore and how it connects with Alan Wake.

•The gameplay was intuitive, with great utilisation of the mechanics like telekinesis and levitation to give you several approaches to enemy encounters. The customisation aspect was good also.

•Graphically impressive, the amount of detail in the game shows a lot of intricacy.

•Breaks the mould that Alan Wake had regarding linearity, by giving you a range of different sidequests to tackle at your leisure.

•The final act of the game was immaculate in its presentation.

Cons:
•The characters were pretty boring and not very memorable. I wish they had more screentime or development or anything.

•The navigation in the game didn't feel particularly good. I don't mind getting lost in games, but I just found the map to be really unhelpful, with me often wandering around aimlessly.

•I still think Remedy needs to get a better grip on designing shooters. The game could get frustrating at times, and the way the checkpoint system worked didn't help.

•I experienced a couple of crashes.

Overall rating: 7.9/10

I had heard much about Control prior to even being interested. I knew it was from the creators of Alan Wake, so I was expecting a good single-player experience and decided to buy it to have it ready for when I had some time for it.
I started up Control just to try it out and see how it would run on my PC before going back to other games, but, the game has no benchmark option, so I decided to start a new game and then delete the save just to test the performance. I played for 30 minutes, and that was enough to bewitch me. I needed to play Control, in that 30m it was already THAT good. The review will be without major spoilers, and I’ll be talking about it as I would while suggesting it to a friend of mine.

Narrative and World Design

The game has a very unique way of telling its story. Usually, in a game, the player learns about the world and the events in it alongside the main character, but that’s not the case in Control. Jesse – the name of the protagonist – already knows a lot, but it’s you the player who doesn’t. During the game, you’ll be putting together a puzzle without knowing what the picture looks like beforehand, and the narrative does a great job at that, helped, obviously by the world design. The whole game is set inside the Federal Bureau of Control or FBC, a clandestine organization that works with para-natural events. Once inside the Bureau’s building, we learn that the FBC's main job is discrediting an event and instead giving a more reasonable explanation to the public. Thing is, para-natural events exist, and the FBC contains them and/or studies them. It had been a long time since I played a game and read every single piece of lore and document in it. The first document I read in Control set a tone of love and detail that made me want more, hence reading every piece of lore I found. The document stated that no employee was to bring in any smart device for reasons, but the game is set in our days. Once I was done reading it and went back to the game I noticed that around me were only older PCs and old tech: that’s attention to detail. Every side mission, piece of lore, audio note, or video adds so much to what you see exploring the map that it helps connect the dots and get more of the picture than the main story depicts. An important mention goes to the map design when it comes to para natural objects, it really gives that black magic fu*kery moment, like those illusion photos that are still but look like they move. It’s a very unique aesthetic the game has. That combined with the gameplay provides a very unique experience.

Gameplay

The Service Weapon is gonna be your gun throughout the game: a shifting weapon that has multiple forms. It goes from being a simple pistol, to a shotgun, a sniper, a mini machine-gun, etc. The game has a mod system that allows you to customize the weapon forms and how they perform. That mod system also translates to Jesse, customizing her already great abilities and an ability tree that improves her abilities or unlocks variants of it, on top of an outfit system to customize Jesse’s looks. Control has a Metroidvania-like progression system: the more you go forward with the story, the more abilities you unlock and the more the map opens up. Game design as a whole usually is the science of limiting the player and building an experience around it. Already introducing something like gravity in a game is hugely limiting the movement the player can do, and often, in games, it so happens that there are a lot of limitations making the game not as fun as it could be. The best example I can give is the Souls series against Sekiro from the same developer: both are good games, but the movement of Sekiro is on another level. It has been since Nier: Automata that I didn’t see a developer so proud of the movement and the design of their maps that they give you complete freedom and make said maps a playground for the player. By the time you finish Control, the map is fun to go around in, and it’s extremely interconnected. This attention to game design goes into everything. There are no traditional levels or leveling system, the HUD on enemies just indicates how challenging they are, but the player doesn’t have a level-up bar, and ability points are rewarded for playing the game and doing missions and side missions. They want you to have fun so much that in the options there is an Assist Mode which can be used to tailor the experience to any player, starting from aim assists that literally lock on to the enemy, to immortality, one-shot enemies or having energy/ammo/etc. quicker. The challenge from the game is more than fair, but it’s nice to see they allow everyone who wants to play it to make it easier and have more fun with it!

PhysX

One of the many powers you’ll wield is telekinesis or the power of moving objects with your mind. It’s a very cool power, but it’s even cooler how Remedy implemented it, using PhysX by Nvidia and building a world that is physics-enabled. Every object in control can be picked up, thrown, and it’ll break. Everything can be destroyed and used as a tool. It was crazy to me when I threw an object on a desk and instead of moving the whole desk, it broke in half, with splinters and everything. I’ve been video gaming for a long time, but especially in the last generation a lot of devs left the physics more barebones to favor stronger graphics, and it was a breath of fresh air seeing a game with all-around physics that still looks gorgeous. Something else I was shocked for how good the physics simulation is, was when I walked on some stanchions[t.me], and when falling they pulled each other down. It’s not flawless, but it’s something that really compliments the game’s gameplay.

The Foundation, AWE, Expedition, and Isolation

As this is the Complete Edition, it comes with all the DLCs and expansions, and as I’m approaching the end of the review it’s important to talk about them. Both the Foundation and AWE unlock at the end of the game, and they both act as an epilogue after the game’s ending, though the Foundation does that more, while AWE is heavily connected to Alan Wake. They both add a map to explore at the same level and quality as the ones in the base game while playing the story, with new mechanics and powers/weapon forms. Expedition is a free DLC players have access during the story, and it’s a replayable mode with 4 objectives where stronger mods can be obtained and a challenge can be faced, ending in Tier 3 difficulty with an extra outfit. And this is where I’m gonna talk negatively about Control. Not for the game itself, but for some business choices: if I’m buying a complete edition, I expect everything to be in it, including pre-order bonuses, but especially exclusive content. There are two extra outfits on PS4, one is a reskin but the other is completely unique, and on top of that there is a unique mission with a cameo from Hideo Kojima “Isolation”. The game has this content in it, it’s just locked on PC, and thankfully, thanks to some modders we learned how to edit the executable to unlock the skins that are not included for some reason, and the Isolation mission. It’s a bit “hacky”, but worth it if you ask me.

Conclusion

The game is extremely solid, fun, intriguing, and absolutely a gem I added to my favorite games and will suggest to everyone I know. I’m already planning a couch replay to show the story and gameplay to a my partner!

9.5/10, keep up the good work Remedy!

Remedy really asked what if they mixed SCP foundation with supernatural roots that Alan Wake established.

The result, is game that not only is a great narrative, sharing a lot of the same attributes that made their previous game great (World building, interesting characters, in depth lore, and much more) but it also has really fun gameplay using psychic abilities that never got old.

Again, if the premise sounds interesting to you do not look at any of the lore or story of the game beforehand.

Control is another incredibly unique experience from Remedy. From its gripping start that left me wanting more, to plenty of secrets and rich lore waiting to be uncovered, it's a game that pulls you in and keeps you hooked. The intriguing storyline, the immersive atmosphere, the amazing sound design, and the sheer thrill and fun of hurling all kinds of objects at otherworldly beings all contribute to its unique charm.

But as the hours passed, the gameplay loop of navigating the same environments, fighting the Hiss, and cleansing the control points started to feel a bit too repetitive. While the storytelling remained creative and engaging, the lack of variation in enemies and scenery became a noticeable drawback. This honestly slowed me down quite a bit as my play sessions became less and less frequent. As much as I love story-driven games, the gameplay loop just didn't click with me as much as I wish it did. Which is a shame, because the actual gameplay with all the fun physics and abilities is buttery smooth.

Overall, I'm glad that I finally got the time to play Control and experience something special. Just like Alan Wake, Control stands as a fantastic testament to creative storytelling. It's a perfect example of how story-driven games can unfold in innovative ways.

And the Ashtray Maze was just freaking awesome. Ahti has great taste in music.

Sobre Control eu já tinha uma certeza: a que eu ia gostar muito! Adorei Quantum Break e sempre achei Alan Wake interessante mas como sou medroso, evito todo jogo de terror/suspense (Sim, pelo que a internet fala, eu deixo de jogar muita pedrada dos games mas não consigo mesmo kkk).
Sobre o jogo, a gameplay é ótima, os poderes tornam os combates deliciosos. Os gráficos são lindos, especialmente cenários em que usam e abusam dos efeitos de luz. A história é interessante do início ao fim porém um pouco confusa, quem ler os coletáveis pode ter um pouco mais de contexto mas são tantos que acaba deixando a jogatina chata com tanto texto a cada poucos minutos. Sobre os personagens, achei que faltou dar uma trabalhada a mais neles, nenhum interessante exceto a Jesse, nossa protagonista. O mapa do jogo também é algo que não gostei, principalmente no início, parece muito confuso.
Control é um excelente jogo, possui uma história interessante e um combate excelente, a campanha principal não é muito grande, o que ajuda pra quem procura uma experiência um pouco mais light do que muitos jogos de hoje em dia.

Control is a wild ride through a twisted world of mystery and power, delivering an experience that not only captivates but also feels like a love letter to Remedy Entertainment's past works. Coming right out of Quantum Break, I was thrilled to hear echoes of Beth Wilder in Jesse, a clever nod by Remedy to their own universe despite not having the rights to the IP.

From the get-go, the game's visuals, enhanced by ray tracing, are nothing short of breathtaking. This was my first experience with a game truly built to utilize ray tracing and I could not have asked for a better way to test out my new hardware. Every detail, from the vintage designs to the font choices, adds to the immersive experience. And speaking of immersion, the integration of game mechanics into the narrative is genius. It's like the game acknowledges its own existence, making the experience seamless and organic.

Let's talk about those powers! Telekinesis felt so satisfying, especially as you unlock and upgrade skills throughout the game. It's a testament to Remedy's expertise in combat mechanics, building upon what worked in Quantum Break and refining it to near perfection. I absolutely have to mention the Ashtray Maze, it’s up there with some of my favorite moments in gaming and had me smiling at my screen.

Exploration is rewarded generously, with no fear of missing out on anything which is huge for me in games. Lore, world-building, and environmental storytelling are everywhere, enriching the experience and making every corner worth exploring.

The nods to Remedy's universe? They're everywhere, from subtle Easter eggs like a reference to a book I’ve read authored by a character in the Alan Wake games to major plot points with the AWE DLC. It's like a treasure hunt for fans, deepening the connection to the world of the game.

The DLCs, Foundation and AWE, further expand the story and gameplay, introducing new abilities and tying in elements from Alan Wake seamlessly. The Foundation was a great way to expand on the base game’s story and I enjoyed the inclusion of Marshall as a key character. The horror elements in AWE are particularly fun, and the inclusion of familiar themes and gameplay mechanics from Alan Wake was done well. I can only imagine how the ending must have felt prior to the announcement and release of Alan Wake 2.

Overall, Control is a masterpiece that continues to showcase Remedy's talent for storytelling, gameplay, and world-building. With its thrilling combat, immersive world, and nods to its own universe, it's a must-play for fans and newcomers alike.

Control: ainda não entendo nada mas continuo adorando.

Segunda vez que eu zero esse jogo, e eu ainda não entendi a história direito akakakkaka mas é um jogão, a melhor decisão que eles tomaram foi fazer essa versão pra nova geração a 60fps pq puuuta que pariu o desempenho da versão do XONE é bizarro 🤨, mas tanto na versão antiga quanto na nova, continua sendo um jogasso, esse é um daqueles jogos que só fica melhor quanto mais você avança nele, a destruição do cenário é espetacular, os poderes funcionam muito bem, o combate é divertido, a história eu n tenho propriedade pra falar sobre pq eu n entendi nada kakkakak.

Nota: 9/10

Control is the best Remedy game I've played thus far, because it's the only Remedy game I've played that lets the gameplay speak for itself. Alan Wake 1's RE4 imitation has certainly not aged as badly as a lot of people say, but it didn't always feel like it suited the game, and Alan Wake 2's mixture of survival and action horror was certainly ambitious but it wasn't exactly good either.

Meanwhile Control has a different problem: it's too fun but doesn't shake it up. Control definitely gets pretty repetitive at times, the enemy variety is low even when accounting for how short the game is, and the telekinesis power is just so OP that you'll rarely want to use any other strategy than spamming it in between gunfire. While the repetition definitely wore me down in some play sessions, overall I have a hard time being too critical of it when this is some of the most pure fun you can have with a third person shooter. What you're basically getting here is InFamous: but the rest of the game is good now too, flaws and all.

One area that really surprised me in the game is the setting. I absolutely loved it. If you asked me in 2019 what I thought of Control's setting, I would have told you it looked like one of the most boring ever conceived for a game. Every video was just about running through some offices or some random shapes, with not a lot else. Once you actually play the game, it becomes an entirely different experience. That can be said about a lot of Control, honestly, as I found my expectations were positively outdone pretty consistently throughout playing it. But it's especially true for the setting, as the Brutalist architecture combined with the fantastic lore logs make for some of the best atmosphere in gaming. Seriously, Remedy is uniquely great at collectibles.

By now saying that Remedy has good stories is pretty cliche but yes, the story in this game is good. I was surprised by how much I liked Jesse considering the marketing made her look like a pretty flat character. The narrative conceits of having her own internal voice, and also struggling to find where she stands during the course of the game ended up winning me over. I don't think this game stands up to Alan Wake in the character department though, and notably there's some odd things about the way it handles characters. Mainly that the supporting cast rarely feels important despite the fact that the game is always trying to make them seem important, even when they show up a lot and move to your base, they never have much impact in the story or major events and it's bizarre considering how much emphasis each individual character gets in their own chapters.

Unfortunately I feel like I kind of ruined the ending for myself, because I stopped playing the game 30 minutes before the end thinking I had at least another hour or two left, so I sort of experienced all the mini-climaxes before the finale. The actual finale itself is a bit lame, it really shows that this game could use more bosses when you're fighting the same trash mobs in the last two hours, but also I don't think it entirely works thematically. One of the things that really endeared me to Jesse was that it becomes clear that the game is more about Jesse overcoming her doubts and becoming the Director, and reappropriating the grooming into the role the FBC has been doing in the process by finally making a stance and taking the leadership role. This is more or less just hinted at in the final few hours of the game, but it isn't treated like a twist into the final hour. Even as someone who understood the theme very well long before the game had to reveal it, the fact that it's only really touched upon in detail right at the end of the game felt really sloppy. Or maybe it's more like the fact that Faden's transformation into letting go of her insecurities and taking up the role felt really sloppy, considering the office sequence is only like thirty minutes before the end of the game. The internal conflict itself is done really well, and the leadup to the finale is amazing, but it doesn't quite stick the landing.

I've been pretty critical of Control but overall I loved my time with it. It has a lot of flaws, and I mostly wish the gameplay was given a bit more attention so that the player would have to use more than one strategy, but it's one of the best games I've played in the last few years.

I had always tried getting into this game but I never managed to get very far, so when I started playing the Alan Wake games I decided to pick it up again since there is some connection through the DLC.
The graphics are gorgeous, and my jaw was constantly dropping at the incredible world blending in with the red theme. There are some weaker areas in the map which are not quite as interesting as others, yet the way you can interact with the environment and break it during combat was awesome.
The combat starts a bit slow, but once you start unlocking abilities it gets way more fun, albeit more challenging. Unfortunately, I did feel some of the enemies were simply damage sponges, which made some fights extend for more than they should have.
The story is pretty decent, but honestly what had me more interested were the little tidbits of information you would gather along the game, especially the video tapes where you would get a pretty good explanation on something.
As for the DLC, I loved both of them, maybe Foundation more than AWE though. There are several nods to Alan Wake throughout the whole game, but the AWE expansion is where this becomes even more apparent, as it features not only Alan Wake himself but some developments on the story from what I can assume is the events between AW1 and AW2.

Overall, very enjoyable game.

A primeira vez que joguei ainda no PS4 o jogo não me prendeu tanto, achei até mesmo um pouco cansativo como ele contava boa parte da história nos coletáveis, - não vejo problema nisso, a questão é que o Control tem MUITOS COLETÁVEIS - sendo documentos, gravações de áudios ou vídeos. Talvez na primeira vez que dei a chance pro jogo não fosse o momento ideal. Agora, em 2024, dando uma segunda chance eu vejo que é um jogo com uma história e uma jogabilidade excelentes. Nessa segunda tentativa me adaptei mais a questão dos coletáveis, mas ainda com a sensação de ter passado um pouco da conta. Control é um jogo que tem uma história complexa então sugiro tentar jogar quando estiver com a cabeça mais leve (funcionou pra mim).

It's objectively pretty good and the narrative is intriguing but I started to get burnt out very quickly after like 5 hours but I still enjoyed it.

The metroidvania styled level design is fun as well as all the different options of powers that you can utilize can make combat pretty enjoyable.

Idk it just felt like it started to get stale, I can't exactly formulate why but it was still pretty cool.