Control Resonant is an Unexpected Sequel That Changes Up Gameplay in a Big Way

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Remedy just announced Control Resonant, the newest game in the Control universe, at The Game Awards. Unlike the first Control, this game is an action RPG played from a third-person perspective, and it takes place in an open-world version of New York City.

Game Rant recently had a chance to preview Control Resonant before its announcement at The Game Awards. We discovered details about the game’s combat, how players can build things, and how it connects to the story of the original Control. While Control Resonant is a sequel to the first Control, you don’t need to have played Jesse Faden’s story to enjoy it.

Control Resonant Picks Up A Few Years After First Control

The Sequel Features The Story Of Jesse’s brother, Dylan

Okay, so this new game, Control Resonant, actually continues the story from the first Control, focusing on Jesse Faden’s brother, Dylan. It takes place seven years after the original game. Basically, Dylan wakes up from a coma to find Jesse’s disappeared and things have really gone south. The Hiss, those creepy supernatural forces from the Bureau, have escaped and are now all over Manhattan. It’s a pretty wild setup!

The enemies in Resonant are a step up from those in Control, evolving from the Hiss. They’ll be challenging opponents for Dylan, responding to the player’s actions and offering a deep gameplay experience. The trailer shows a glimpse of these new foes, and Remedy has hinted they can fly and will pursue players aggressively.

To defeat the supernatural creatures in the game, Dylan requires a weapon – and that’s where the Aberrant comes in. The Aberrant is unique because it can change shape, transforming into different forms that players will unlock as they progress through Control Resonant. As this is an action RPG, it’s likely the Aberrant will primarily be used in close combat, though the full extent of its capabilities is still to be revealed.

As a huge Remedy fan, I was really surprised to see the shift to melee combat in Control Resonant! After loving the gunplay in both Control and Alan Wake 2, it’s a totally different direction. Knowing they’re still using the Northlight Engine, I’m incredibly curious about all the work they must have put in to make this new style work. From the trailer, it looks like the action is going to be super fast and chaotic, and I’m honestly so excited to see how it plays!

Remedy describes Control Resonant as their most ambitious project yet, though it’s not a traditional open-world game. They’ve called it “open-ended,” meaning players will have significant freedom to explore a warped version of Manhattan within the game.

So, Manhattan’s totally cut off, which means a huge chunk of the city to explore. But Remedy isn’t just showing us the sights. They’re really focusing on using their signature art style – the really cool, weird stuff we first saw in Control – to create something genuinely new and mind-bending. It’s not about ticking off landmarks; it’s about a completely unique visual experience.

A key feature of Control Resonant is player freedom – Remedy wants players to create a playstyle that suits them through character building. By combining the Aberrant’s various forms with supernatural abilities, each player’s version of Dylan will feel unique. Remedy is giving players the ability to experiment and find what works best within the game’s combat system, without forcing them into a single approach.

Although Resonant continues the story from previous games, Remedy has made it accessible for newcomers who haven’t played Control or Alan Wake.

Remedy has emphasized that Control Resonant isn’t a direct continuation of the original Control, but they want new players to feel welcome. While Resonant is connected to the existing Remedy universe, it tells a standalone story. Knowing the events of Control and the history of the Faden family will add depth to your experience, but it’s not required. With a new protagonist, different gameplay, and a story set seven years later, you can enjoy Resonant even if you haven’t played the previous games.

Mikael Kasurinen, Creative Director, mentioned that Neon Genesis Evangelion inspired Control Resonant, though he didn’t share many details. The first trailer suggests Remedy is taking a significant risk with this new game, moving away from a cautious approach. While Jesse Faden may return in a future installment, Resonant appears much larger in scope and quite different. Featuring Dylan Faden as the protagonist and a focus on action RPG gameplay, Remedy seems to be aiming to attract new players to their universe, hoping they’ll then be interested in playing the original Control after finishing Resonant.

I loved Control, so I’m really interested to see how the new close-combat fighting and supernatural powers change things up in this game. But what I’m most excited about is Remedy’s potential to create a truly unique and visually stunning version of Manhattan. And, interestingly, they haven’t ruled out the possibility of musical sequences… so who knows!

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2025-12-12 05:37