Control Resonant Review: A Surreal Masterpiece with Melee Combat Flaws

Control Resonant thrusts players back into a metaphysical nightmare where interdimensional forces are violently reshaping Manhattan into a labyrinth of impossible architecture. Following a seven-year coma, Dylan Faden is forced to navigate the chaos left behind by his sister Jesse, finding himself at the center of a desperate struggle to save the Federal Bureau of Control. Control Resonant delivers the signature “New Weird” aesthetic that fans adore, but it also brings significant changes to the franchise’s established gameplay loop.

The Stunning Surrealism of Resonant

Remedy’s environmental artists and lighting specialists have arguably reached their creative peak here. The brutalist surrealism that defined the Oldest House has leaked onto the streets of New York, transforming mundane downtown districts into dreamlike mazes. The technical achievement is undeniable:

• Roadways twist into vertical cliff faces, defying gravity and logic.
• Pixel-stretched structures bleed into vast interdimensional chasms.
• Entire city blocks spiral into the sky, creating a playground of impossible geometry.

For those who love deep lore, the experience remains rich with Remedy’s trademark style. The game continues to excel at placing tactical redactions in bureaucratic documents, rewarding players for exploring every corner of its unsettling, shifting world.

Melee Combat: A Missed Opportunity?

While the atmosphere is a masterclass in sci-fi horror, Control Resonant faces a hurdle in its mechanical design. The game leans heavily into melee-focused action, a departure that feels unpolished compared to the studio’s previous high-bar standards. Despite the fluid movement through these uncanny hellscapes, the moment-to-moment fighting often feels clunky, lacking the satisfying punch required to keep the intense open-world encounters engaging.

The Verdict

If you play for the narrative density, the world-building, and the sheer audacity of Remedy’s art direction, this title is a must-play. However, the reliance on melee combat serves as a frustrating friction point in an otherwise stellar experience. It is a bold, artistic experiment that perfectly captures the unsettling nature of the FBC’s reality, even if the gameplay occasionally stumbles under its own weight.

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