Control Resonant Hands-On Preview: Trading Gunplay for Melee Combat in the Hiss Sequel
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
A hands-on preview of Control Resonant reveals a bold sequel that replaces the first game's gunplay with melee action, moving the paranormal outbreak from The Oldest House into the streets of Manhattan.
Remedy is taking a massive swing with Control Resonant by stripping away the firearms and leaning entirely into close quarters combat. As reported by IGN South Africa, early hands-on time with a two hour demo reveals a sequel that swaps the traditional third person shooter mechanics of the original for a dedicated melee action focus. Players step into the shoes of Dylan, waking from his long coma to fight his way out of The Oldest House before breaching the boundaries of the federal bureau and stepping into a Manhattan fully overrun by the Hiss.
For anyone who felt the gunplay in the first game was its weakest link, this structural shift feels like a necessary and exciting evolution. While the original Control delivered unforgettable set pieces like the legendary Ashtray Maze and let players hurl office furniture with telekinesis, it also suffered from repetitive enemy encounters and tedious backtracking through identical concrete corridors. By pivoting to a melee centric toolkit and expanding the setting beyond the brutalist confines of the bureau into a warped urban landscape, Remedy is addressing past pain points while keeping its signature paranormal weirdness intact.
This direction also signals a broader trend of studios rethinking established IP rather than simply iterating on safe formulas. Modern players expect fresh pacing and distinct mechanical identities, especially when a franchise crosses over into new gameplay territory. If Remedy can nail the kinetic weight of hand to hand and weaponized paranormal strikes against the Hiss, Control Resonant could redefine what players expect from supernatural action games when it finally launches.
Tags: Control Resonant, Remedy Entertainment, Action Games, Gaming News, IGN
Original article: IGN South Africa