Control Resonant Preview: Offering More Control Than Ever, Literally

I was lucky enough to be invited to the PlayStation offices in London to get a preview demo of Control Resonant, the next title in Remedy’s ever-expanding universe. However, unlike most sequels, Resonant is going out there with some big swings, including a new setting, protagonist, and even genre, as the game ditches guns in favor of a melee approach.

There are a lot of changes here, and my big concern going in was that it wouldn’t feel like Control anymore, a concept you’d undoubtedly understand if you played the mind-bending original.

However, after almost three hours with the game, including the opening act, a taste of open-ended exploration, and a truly awe-inspiring mission, I’m excited to confirm that Control Resonant is undoubtedly more Control, just ramped up to 11.

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Manhattan Like You’ve Never Seen Before

I was ready to part with Jesse and welcome Dylan’s story, and I was eager to try the new combat, but I think my biggest worry was that Control Resonant would be breaking out of the Oldest House, the iconic setting of the original. In its stead, we’re thrust into a Hiss-corrupted New York, a setting that many of us are all too familiar with in the world of gaming and general media.

That said, from what little I’ve seen so far, Remedy has really been able to put their own spin on the Big Apple, as the city has been, for lack of a better term, Control-ified. Everywhere you look, there’s something strange happening; buildings are warped, pigeons form flickering patterns in the sky, and there’s just a general sense of distortion in all directions.

It’s a feast for the eyes, as that strangeness is compounded by the different areas you’ll visit—Evacuation Zones. These are small open hubs that you can explore, and while my demo had a lot of content removed, it served as a taste of what to expect, with side quests, collectables, and secrets to uncover; for me, though, it served as a solid look at Control Resonant’s new combat.

New Genre, Same Control

As I mentioned before, almost everything about Control has been changed, but the most striking shift is the move from third-person shooter to melee combat. When a studio has championed a genre for so long, it’d be easy to stick with what works, but Remedy saw Resonant as an opportunity to try something new—and it pays off.

Unlike Jesse’s transforming firearm, Dylan wields a variety of melee weapons. From ranged whips and heavy hammers to darting daggers and spinning blades, there’s a surprising amount of variety on offer.

Then there are the powers. Jesse’s telekinetic abilities were iconic, but Resonant expands on that foundation with bursts of fire, rock shields, stagger mechanics, and brutal finishers. Combat feels deep, with plenty of room for creative builds.

Most importantly, it feels fantastic to play. The weight of attacks, responsiveness of dodges, and enemy variety make it hard to believe this is Remedy’s first true melee action game. I could have spent hours experimenting in the Evacuation Zone, but eventually moved on to the demo mission, which highlighted everything that makes Control’s world so compelling.

Whispers In The Darkness

The mission took me into a sinkhole where an apartment block once stood. As I descended, reality became increasingly distorted. Rooms repeated themselves endlessly while furniture and bodies floated through the air.

At the bottom waited the second boss encounter of my demo. Both bosses were memorable, with distinct attack patterns and striking designs, from a giant artist’s head to a flying Hiss monstrosity.

Escaping proved just as memorable. The elevator that brought me down abandoned me, forcing me to navigate a maze-like series of apartments in a dreamlike sequence, all whilst putting the gravity-bending mechanics to good use as ceilings and walls became walkable surfaces.

Naturally, Remedy’s music played a key role. This section had me following televisions playing a moving song, with the source constantly shifting between screens. Using music as a guide through the warping reality created the demo’s most memorable sequences, with the 3D audio also notably impressive as it warps from above to behind you, and everywhere in between.

As Dylan escaped, so too did my time with Control Resonant come to an end, but as I put down the controller, I was fully convinced this was going to be even more special than the original.

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For more previews, consider checking out our coverage of Clutch and Turok Origins, and don’t forget to sign up for the Insider Gaming Newsletter.