Updated
Updated · IGN · Aug 13
Control Resonant Wins Over Reviewer in 2-Hour Demo as September 24 Launch Nears
Updated
Updated · IGN · Aug 13

Control Resonant Wins Over Reviewer in 2-Hour Demo as September 24 Launch Nears

1 articles · Updated · IGN · Aug 13

Summary

  • Two new demo missions eased concerns that Control Resonant’s open Manhattan would skew too far toward action, with Simon Cardy highlighting puzzle-solving, side quests and Remedy’s trademark surreal world-building.
  • The first mission sent Dylan into the Metro Vault to gain the Reach traversal ability, mixing gravity-flipping platforming, story beats about Jesse and flexible combat against armored Mold enemies.
  • A second mission built toward a major boss in a factory, where environmental puzzles, lore-heavy exploration and a fast-moving lava fight suggested stronger boss design and brisker encounter pacing.
  • Combat still stood out, but Cardy said systems such as clearing minor enemies after elites fall and healing tied to boss damage checkpoints kept fights aggressive without dragging.
  • With launch set for September 24, the demo left the impression that Remedy has expanded into action-RPG and open-world territory without losing the series’ weirdness, puzzles or narrative identity.

Insights

With Jesse missing and Dylan taking over, what dark secrets hide within Control Resonant's warped open-world Manhattan?
Will the massive shift to an open-world action RPG destroy the claustrophobic mystery that made the original game a masterpiece?
Releasing in just one month, how will Dylan's aggressive new combat style hold up against the mysterious new resonance?