Is Control a Good Game?

You ever go into a game with little to no expectations and find yourself blown away? That game was Control for me. It looked like a cool game, action with elements of the supernatural. But when everything just clicked, I knew I had found something special. Not everyone agrees of course, as evidenced by the reception I’ve seen for it online. But I will try to explain just why this game felt so right to me, and here’s hoping the upcoming sequel lives up to this excellent first entry. 

10. Graphics

Floating bodies and some nice lighting, interesting combo

For now being a past-gen game, Control looks very impressive. Even more so if you play the PC or current-gen versions. In fact, playing the past gen versions is a bit ill-advised due to performance issues that I’m unsure have been fixed. This is a fast-paced action game, and having dips in performance can be very bad in dangerous encounters.

9. Gameplay

Jesse can float and chuck objects, including those very realistic-looking trees

As for that combat, it on the surface your standard action fare. You shoot, dodge, all that stuff. Main character Jesse’s psychic powers allow for picking up and throwing objects quickly, something particularly helpful for armored/shielded enemies. You unlock more powers as the game progresses, but these are the basics.

Oh and the flight (or hovering I guess). Jesse gains this ability not long into the game, and it is essential. Fights are built with this power in mind, especially with how enemies attack. And this applies to exploration outside of combat as well, you definitely need this ability to reach areas faster or at all. It's an unusual ability for a game like this, but it makes playing it so much more unique. 

8. World

This will actually make sense when you play it

This is the same world as Alan Wake, a name that was a bit obscure until recently. Anyone familiar with that series should know to expect weird, and Control certainly delivers. 

It is set within The Oldest House, a government building that operates by the “bigger on the inside” rule of science fiction. As such, much of the game takes place in the sterile hallways and meeting rooms you would expect of such a place. 

Only there are being invaded by the bizarre. This building is the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Contol (or FBC). And their mission is the containment of Altered World Events (or AWEs). This means weird objects will be everywhere, some tied into the main story and others not. A fridge that leads to a bizarre nightmare realm is only one of these unusual encounters.

7. Characters

This Bill Nye the Science Guy knockoff is the best character in the game

Dr. Casper Darling here became one of my favorite game characters due to a short scene I will not spoil. He is a cooky scientist tasked with far too great a challenge for one person to do, but he stays his usual energetic self throughout most of it. He is the highlight of the game, but that’s not to say the rest are bad. The janitor Ahti is another standout.

Then there is the main character herself, Jesse Faden. I won’t say she’s one of gaming’s greats in terms of protagonists, but she is played well and remains reasonably likable. She’s a rootable character trying to help her brother and find her own place in her new role. I definitely enjoyed her enough to see her journey through. 

6. Story

I swear this will make sense

And that story….. oh boy. This game gets complicated, and attempting to explain it in a brief manner would not only ruin the plot twists but likely make it more confusing. 

I can give the setup at least. Jesse and her brother were involved in an AWE in their hometown in Maine during their childhood, and this affected them both in unforeseen ways. Now, her brother is missing and Jesse is the new Director of the FBC.

And so the game begins with Jesse stepping into her new role, finding strange creatures known as the Hiss roaming around the entire building. Banding together with surviving members of the staff, Jesse tries to figure out what happened. 

And that’s all I will say. If you like Alan Wake and its world, or otherworldly things in general (it is quite comparable to the SCP Foundation), you will likely have a good time here. Or even if you just want a good action game, just be warned the story gets complicated.

5. Balance

That enemy may not be dead, they’re quite resilient 

This game does indeed get hard, but never to truly unfair levels. As it is a Metroidvania, a lot of the time you can simply roam around more and get stronger before trying an encounter again. Or just go at it from a different perspective, sometimes that’s all it takes. Some bosses are a bit weird in how you fight them but become much more manageable once you realize the tricks to them.

4. Replayability

Stop blocking the view random light!

Sadly there is no New Game Plus here, one of my few knocks against it. But as it is a Metroidvania as mentioned before, there will likely be more exploration to do even after you’ve seen the story to its conclusion. And given the winding nature of its story and exploration, it still may merit a return visit, just maybe after some time.

3. Music

Music is a highlight here, even when you’re not in recording rooms

My two most memorable moments when playing Control both had to do with the music, so saying it left an impression is an understatement. Most of the music is good in its own right, being eerie and fitting of this bizarre sci-fi setting. And then there’s the longer song with actual lyrics, which if you listen to with no context may feel bizarre. But in context, it's somehow even stranger. Control is just that kind of game, and I won’t say anything about the other moment. You’ll know it when you see it.

Control - Full Soundtrack (High Quality with Tracklist)

2. DLC

A redundant DLC roadmap since its all out now

As you’d expect from a more modern game, Control has a lot of DLC. Photo Mode isn’t much to talk about, and the Expeditions…. exist. I dabbled in these a bit but challenge modes like that are not my cup of tea.

The real meat here is the two expansions. If you play the Ultimate Edition these are all included, and definitely worth playing. Foundation is largely more of the same, just a new area that expands on the story and honestly answers some questions I would have liked answered in the main game.

Awe on the other hand is a bit of a crossover with the aforementioned Alan Wake, done in a way I won’t spoil. It's a cool piece of content that gives some insight into what happened with Alan aside from the events of his games, and it has some unique encounters that were certainly memorable. 

1. Fun Factor

RAWR, JESSE SMASH FURNITURE! 

If it wasn’t clear, I had a blast with this game, and that’s despite not having much experience with the things it is clearly referencing. Its world design, characters, music, gameplay, it's all top-notch. And it came as a surprise. Few things are better in gaming than a genuinely shocking masterpiece.

Of course, not everyone will have the same experience, and if some of the things I described don’t appeal to you, you may not like the game nearly as much. So that is entirely possible. But in my experience, Control is one of the best games of its generation quite easily. That sequel can’t come soon enough.

Score: 9.5/10

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