Remedy Stands Out in the Gaming World

Video games have offered countless ways to explore vast open worlds, but few experiences are as uniquely thrilling as bending gravity in Control Resonant’s surreal take on New York City. This game allows you to flip, twist, and soar through the air while navigating environments that feel like they’ve been pulled straight from Inception. Imagine blending the meta-narrative style of House of Leaves with the creative platforming of Super Mario Galaxy, resulting in a cohesive and captivating experience. This bizarre mix is just another testament to how developer Remedy crafts games that stand apart from the crowd.

Resonant serves as a sequel to 2019’s Control, though players can dive into either title without needing to follow a specific order. The story revolves around a supernatural government agency called the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC). The original game followed Jesse Faden, the new FBC director, as she battled a paranormal entity known as the Hiss, which was invading the FBC’s labyrinthine headquarters, the Oldest House. In the sequel, you step into the shoes of her brother Dylan as the Hiss and other interdimensional threats begin to overrun Manhattan.

Several changes mark the sequel beyond just its setting and protagonist. The most significant shift is the transition to a relatively expansive open world, contrasting with the confined spaces of the Oldest House. This new environment is distorted by the invading forces, with buildings twisting in impossible ways and gravity behaving unpredictably. Another key difference is the combat style; while the original Control leaned heavily on shooting mechanics, Resonant emphasizes melee combat, featuring Dylan’s shapeshifting weapon that can transform into a whip or a hammer.

At first, Resonant feels like a conventional open-world action game. Dylan has two primary objectives: eliminate the invading forces in New York and locate Jesse, who has been missing since the first game. He accomplishes this through missions, boss battles, and exploration. Initially, I found myself a bit let down, as the gameplay felt too familiar, which is not what I typically expect from a Remedy title. The studio is renowned for its unique blend of weird fiction and gameplay that amplifies emotional experiences.

However, it doesn’t take long for Resonant to evolve into something truly extraordinary. The Control games feature a Metroid-style progression system, where your advancement is gated until you acquire specific abilities. Once you start unlocking these powers, Resonant reveals its true nature. You can temporarily fly, dash through the air, double jump, walk on walls and ceilings, and eventually warp to distant ledges. Mastering these abilities—some of which require a bit of practice—allows you to traverse New York like an unconventional superhero. The thrill of movement is exhilarating, and these skills are also integral to some impressive platforming and puzzle challenges that test your spatial reasoning.

Resonant further enhances the storytelling and worldbuilding that Remedy is celebrated for. The sci-fi backdrop of the Control franchise draws inspiration from various sources, including Severance, the SCP Foundation, and the Southern Reach series, with a hint of Twin Peaks. Yet, it’s tailored perfectly for the gaming medium. Resonant features a blockbuster campaign that unfolds through cutscenes and radio exchanges between Dylan and his FBC handler, Zoe. The narrative begins simply but gradually spirals into something much stranger and more intricate, supported by a wealth of supplementary materials—field recordings, extensive documents, and instructional videos—that enrich the Control universe.

In many games, I tend to skip these narrative extras, but in Control, they stand out as a highlight due to their quality. The same applies to side quests; even seemingly mundane tasks, like changing light bulbs, can lead to bizarre and intriguing discoveries. This game embraces the weirdness; at one point, I found myself hailing a ghost taxi in a quest reminiscent of The Exit 8, and conversing with a light bulb to calm it down. Understanding the story, which involves alternate dimensions, impossible physics, multiple timelines, and supernatural mold, requires engaging with this complexity.

Like its predecessor, Resonant is visually striking. The act of moving and battling nightmarish creatures is not only satisfying but also visually and sonically impressive, with effects that create a gritty, industrial atmosphere. Some platforming segments feel like interactive art installations, and there’s a section of the map that resembles an M.C. Escher piece set during the golden hour in NYC. The game even features an opening title sequence that feels like it belongs in a high-profile drama series. This all showcases Remedy’s strengths—storytelling, worldbuilding, and distinctive visuals and sound design—while introducing a more open navigation style.

However, a few aspects of the game can detract from its strengths. It took me some time to connect with Dylan as the protagonist, as he comes off as rather bland. I understand his backstory of being locked away by the FBC for years, but after spending dozens of hours with him, I wished for a bit more personality from the start. All I really know about Dylan is that he has superpowers, enjoys drawing, and shares a close bond with his sister. While I generally enjoyed the combat, it can become overwhelming, especially toward the end when faced with swarms of enemies that take ages to defeat. This tedium can dampen the experience, leading me to utilize the game’s robust “assist” mode to ease the difficulty. Additionally, while I appreciate the movement and environments in Resonant, it’s likely you’ll find yourself lost at times; when the world folds in on itself, a mini-map isn’t always helpful.

Nonetheless, if you’re a fan of Remedy’s games, the minor issues in Resonant are a small trade-off. In an era where blockbuster titles can feel increasingly similar, Remedy stands out alongside a select few studios, like FromSoftware and Kojima Productions, that maintain a unique vision while delivering bold, ambitious games. This new installment is particularly noteworthy following the high-profile misstep of FBC: Firebreak, a co-op spinoff that launched last year. Resonant transforms the Control universe into something entirely fresh—demonstrating exactly what Remedy is capable of.

Control Resonant launches on September 24th on PS5, Xbox, and PC.