Developed by Remedy Entertainment, this action RPG takes players back into the supernatural world introduced in CONTROL. This time, however, the story no longer revolves around Jesse Faden.
Instead, her brother Dylan takes the lead.
After spending years under the FBC’s supervision, Dylan now faces an even greater supernatural threat.
He must explore Manhattan, fight mysterious creatures, and search for Jesse, whose whereabouts play an important role in his journey.
But there’s something particularly interesting about his situation.
How does someone once considered dangerous become the very person others rely on to deal with a supernatural disaster?
Dylan Faden Takes on a Different Role
Anyone who played the original CONTROL will probably remember Dylan Faden.
In the previous game, Dylan had a complicated relationship with the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC). He wasn’t simply Jesse’s brother. His entire life had been shaped by supernatural events and the organization’s involvement.
Now, things are different.
Rather than being part of a mystery that needs solving, Dylan becomes the character players control.
This change opens up some interesting possibilities for the story.
Jesse has experience as the Director of the FBC. Dylan, meanwhile, has lived a very different life, including years spent under the organization’s supervision.
Although they’re siblings, they may not see the supernatural world in quite the same way.
Dylan might understand some of the powers he possesses, but understanding an ability doesn’t necessarily mean knowing how to control it.
That’s part of what makes his journey worth following.
He isn’t just dealing with dangerous enemies. He also has his own past to confront.
Manhattan Is More Than Just a Battleground
Many action games use cities as places where players complete missions, collect equipment, and fight enemies.
CONTROL Resonant takes a different approach with Manhattan.
Supernatural forces have transformed the city in ways that are difficult to explain. Buildings, streets, and familiar locations no longer behave as they normally would.
And these changes go beyond the city’s appearance.
A location that seems nearby might be difficult to reach. A street that looks safe could lead straight into danger.
This is where environmental design becomes important.
A strange-looking city can certainly grab someone’s attention. But those unusual details need to affect what players actually do.
If the changes are purely visual, Manhattan might look impressive at first but become less interesting after a few hours.
On the other hand, if players need to study their surroundings to find routes, avoid danger, or overcome obstacles, exploration becomes more meaningful.
That’s something worth watching in CONTROL Resonant.
How much will these supernatural changes actually affect the way players explore Manhattan?
A Weapon That Changes With the Fight
Fighting supernatural creatures isn’t quite the same as dealing with ordinary enemies.
In CONTROL Resonant, Dylan uses a weapon called the Aberrant.
What makes this weapon interesting is its ability to change form.
A large hammer works well for delivering powerful attacks, while dual blades are better suited to quick combinations.
Each form offers a different way to approach combat.
However, having several weapon options doesn’t automatically make fighting more enjoyable.
Much depends on the enemies themselves.
If every opponent can be defeated using the same strategy, switching between weapon forms might become a feature players rarely need.
But enemies with different attack patterns could encourage players to experiment and adjust their tactics.
Dylan can also use the environment and elemental abilities during combat.
Together, these options give players more freedom to decide how they want to handle each encounter.
Dylan Won’t Start With Perfect Abilities
Character progression is another important part of CONTROL Resonant.
Players won’t simply use Dylan’s existing powers. They’ll also have opportunities to develop his abilities as the adventure continues.
This progression system allows for different approaches to combat.
Some players may prefer getting close to enemies and attacking directly. Others might rely more on special abilities while keeping their distance.
These choices can influence how Dylan handles dangerous situations.
Still, character progression needs balance.
Becoming stronger can be satisfying, especially when players can see the results of the time they’ve spent improving their abilities.
But there’s a downside.
If Dylan becomes too powerful and enemies can’t keep up, combat could eventually lose its challenge.
What matters, then, isn’t just how strong Dylan becomes.
It’s whether the game continues giving players reasons to think carefully about how they use those powers.
Danger Is Spreading Beyond One Location
Manhattan’s problems aren’t caused by a single type of enemy.
The Hiss, which posed a major threat in the original CONTROL, returns as part of the chaos Dylan must face.
The Mold and other supernatural threats have also spread into different parts of the city.
Making matters worse, a mysterious cosmic entity has begun altering reality itself.
These events suggest that the problems once contained within the Oldest House have now reached the outside world.
Even the FBC is struggling to keep the situation under control.
This creates an important difference between Dylan’s journey and Jesse’s previous adventure.
Jesse entered the Oldest House to confront the threats inside. Dylan, however, must venture outside and deal with dangers spreading across Manhattan.
It might seem like a simple change, but it gives the story a new direction.
A threat that once affected a single building now reaches across a much larger area.
With different enemies and unexplained events appearing throughout the city, Manhattan could become difficult to predict.
However, having more enemies doesn’t necessarily make a game better.
Each enemy needs recognizable characteristics and different ways of challenging the player.
Otherwise, fighting new creatures might feel no different from fighting the previous ones.
The Mystery Surrounding Jesse Faden
Despite everything happening in Manhattan, Dylan also has a personal goal.
He wants to find Jesse Faden.
Their relationship was already an important part of the original CONTROL. Although they’re family, Dylan and Jesse have experienced very different lives because of the FBC.
In CONTROL Resonant, the search for Jesse brings their stories together again.
But Dylan’s journey involves more than finding someone who has gone missing.
He’s also trying to understand the supernatural threat and his own role in dealing with it.
This gives the story room to explore his character further.
Dylan was once someone the FBC kept under close supervision. Now, he possesses powers that could help confront a major disaster.
That raises questions about his relationship with the organization.
Does the FBC genuinely see Dylan as someone who needs help, or does it see him as a powerful resource it can use?
It’s an interesting question, especially considering Dylan’s complicated past.
Of course, the real answer will depend on how the story unfolds.
A Strange World Still Needs to Make Sense
One of the most recognizable things about CONTROL is how it turns ordinary places into something unsettling.
Rooms can change, objects behave in unusual ways, and supernatural events often happen without a simple explanation.
CONTROL Resonant brings these ideas into the much larger setting of Manhattan.
Players will encounter locations affected by gravitational anomalies. Changes in direction and environmental positioning also play a role in puzzles and combat.
This creates opportunities for a different kind of exploration.
However, designing a world like this comes with challenges.
An environment that constantly changes can make players curious, but it can also leave them confused.
For example, players might spot a location they want to visit without understanding how to reach it.
That uncertainty can make for an interesting puzzle if the game provides enough clues.
But if players repeatedly get lost without knowing what they’re supposed to do, exploration could become frustrating.
That’s why even a world filled with mysteries needs rules players can learn.
They don’t need to understand every supernatural event, but they should be able to figure out how to interact with their surroundings.
Sometimes, that’s what separates an interesting mystery from unnecessary confusion.
Can CONTROL Resonant Offer Something Different?
Following a game with such a strong identity isn’t easy.
Remedy Entertainment needs to preserve the supernatural atmosphere that made CONTROL memorable while giving players something new.
Making Dylan the main character is one of the biggest changes.
The Aberrant, character progression system, and exploration of Manhattan also suggest a different direction for the gameplay.
But adding new features doesn’t automatically create a better experience.
New weapons need clear purposes. Character abilities should offer useful choices. And environments need to provide more than impressive scenery.
The same applies to the story.
A bigger threat doesn’t always make a conflict more compelling.
Sometimes, a character’s personal struggles are easier to connect with than a disaster threatening the entire world.
Dylan’s relationship with Jesse and his history with the FBC could make his story particularly interesting.
If these elements work well together, CONTROL Resonant has the potential to offer an experience that feels different from its predecessor.
Conclusion
CONTROL Resonant takes players into a version of Manhattan transformed by supernatural forces.
Dylan Faden replaces Jesse as the main character. Armed with the Aberrant and a range of special abilities, he must fight dangerous enemies while searching for answers about the chaos surrounding him.
But the game’s appeal goes beyond combat and paranormal powers.
The changing city, Dylan’s troubled past, and his relationship with Jesse all give players plenty to explore.
Still, the game’s success will depend on how well these elements come together.
A large world needs interesting activities. Combat needs variety, and the story needs to give players a reason to care about Dylan’s journey.
In the end, the biggest mystery in CONTROL Resonant might not be what’s happening to Manhattan.
Dylan also needs to understand who he is after everything he’s been through.
And sometimes, understanding yourself can be harder than facing the unknown.
