Control Resonant Loses Its Magic in an Overstuffed Open World
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Polygon's review of Control Resonant explains how Remedy Entertainment's ambitious open-world sequel struggles to capture the magic of the original game, weighed down by repetitive combat and a hollow map.
Remedy Entertainment is stepping out of its traditional comfort zone with Control Resonant, taking the surreal supernatural universe of the 2019 original and translating it into an open-world character action game. Releasing across PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, the direct sequel puts players in the shoes of Dylan Faden as he explores a warped, Hiss-infested New York City. While the game boasts technical improvements and striking surrealist aesthetics that distort cityscapes like Inception, it struggles to capture the distinct atmosphere that made The Oldest House such an unforgettable setting.
Beneath the surface of a grander map lies a familiar routine of empty-calorie side activities, zone progression grinding, and repetitive combat encounters. Despite wielding the shape-shifting Aberrant weapon and an extensive upgrade tree, moment-to-moment fights lack the necessary weight and responsiveness expected from the genre, often turning standard skirmishes into monotonous chores. Even the traversal system, featuring gravity manipulation and grappling hooks, fails to match the smooth, thrilling momentum of exploring the tight corridors of the original Federal Bureau of Control headquarters.
Narratively, the game stumbles by sidelining Jesse Faden in favor of Dylan, whose journey leans heavily on predictable tropes about personal trauma rather than the bizarre bureaucratic lore fans fell in love with. Polygon's review highlights that while occasional high points, such as cleverly staged boss fights and rare flashes of environmental brilliance, show what the game could have been, the final package feels like a standard open-world template rather than the bold innovation modern players expect from Remedy.
As today's gaming ecosystem moves past standard genre tropes in favor of bolder design choices, Control Resonant unfortunately plays it safe where it should be taking risks. It is a technically competent release that proves even the most creative studios can occasionally lose their unique spark when chasing conventional open-world trends.
Tags: Control Resonant, Remedy Entertainment, Action RPG, PC Gaming, Console Gaming
Original article: Polygon