Control Resonant Expands into a Brilliantly Extraordinary Universe

The Uncanny World of Control Gets Even Bigger

Developed by Remedy Entertainment, the engagingly strange action game known as Control captivated players with its mix of intense action and surreal narrative. In its follow-up, Control: Resonant, players assign themselves to one of the original title’s most mysterious characters, venturing into a newly bizarre realm beyond the confines of The Oldest House.

A sneak preview prior to the Game Awards introduced us to Control: Resonant, an expansion within the larger Remedy Connected Universe. This Neon Genesis Evangelion-inspired iteration shifts focus to a fresh protagonist, expanding the game's horizons like never before.

Altering the timeline to seven years after Control's plot, a malevolent supernatural entity that haunted The Oldest House has begun to spread within Manhattan. With the city's landscape distorted into an eerie nightmare and the disappearance of Jesse Faden, the Federal Bureau of Control enlists her brother Dylan, a formidable supernatural being, to stem the tide of chaos. Dylan's mission is not only to rescue his sister but to quell the threat that looms over New York and possibly beyond, harnessing his extraordinary abilities and receiving incidental guidance from The Board.

An Expansive Universe and Evolving Gameplay Mechanics

Following the initial release of Control, Remedy expanded its narrative universe to encompass multiple games, including the Alan Wake franchise and the cooperative spin-off FBC: Firebreak. Resonant picks up many narrative threads from recent titles, such as Alan Wake 2. This new game is moving in a direction characterized by hand-to-hand combat and an exploratory style reminiscent of Inception, although the developers emphasize it's not entirely an open-world experience. It adopts an action-RPG format, marking Remedy's most expansive project yet.

Creative head Mikael Kasurinen notes how each game stands independently, akin to siblings exploring their own paths through this uncanny world. The sequel shines a light on the dichotomy of the Faden siblings as they maneuver through these surreal landscapes.

Kasurinen elucidates, "Each title reflects a sibling's unique journey. They’re designed to be played in any sequence, each narrative comprehensible on its own; much like siblings, each game stands independently. Upon awakening, Dylan must be the harbinger against the Hiss, facing disaster head-on. Having known only The Oldest House, the entrance to Manhattan becomes an entry to an alien reality, much like Jesse’s initial discovery of The Oldest House."

Intensifying Combat Dynamics and Animation Inspirations

Resonant stays true to Control's ethos of exploration, intrigue, and action. Dylan embodies a more combative, hand-to-hand style of fighting, with a mutable weapon that shifts from short blades to a large hammer, perfecting various attack combinations. While reminiscent of Jesse's iconic Service Weapon, the new focus is on close-quarters, significant damage combat.

The gameplay revealed a fluid combat style akin to Nier: Automata and Devil May Cry, highlighting Dylan's ability to strategically maneuver and strike with powerful ground and aerial combinations, establishing a departure from the original’s third-person shooting mechanics yet retaining its ethereal allure.

The creative choice pivot to Dylan was partly to explore contrasting narrative approaches and gameplay modes. Kasurinen clarifies that the brothers represent two facets of the same idea — Jesse wielding firearms while Dylan opts for close combat tactics. The transformation of environments posed design challenges for traditional shooting gameplay, urging Remedy to explore melee encounters, which offered a more immediate and immersive combat experience.

Control: Resonant promises a sequel that cranks up the series' unusualness, with Manhattan's convoluted streets serving as its new stage. Bearing a strikingly beautiful aesthetic, the game’s style draws inspiration from the iconic 1990s animation series, Neon Genesis Evangelion. Observing its distorted environments and enigmatic protagonist in action, it becomes evident this influence plays out. The anticipation builds as we await more fascinating elements in this bold sequel.

Control: Resonant is projected to launch in 2026, available on PC/Mac, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.