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Control Resonant takes Remedy’s supernatural series in a new direction, trading the first game’s third-person shooting for melee-focused action. A three-hour hands-on preview revealed a fast-paced combat system, a reality-bending version of New York City, and the familiar unsettling atmosphere that defines the series. Players take control of Dylan Faden as he confronts the Hiss beyond the Oldest House.
Control Resonant reimagines the series as a melee action game
The story begins with Dylan waking in his cell inside the Oldest House. After a violent opening sequence, he emerges into the aftermath of a massacre: the halls are filled with the bodies of Federal Bureau of Control employees who had kept him imprisoned since childhood. Outside, the Hiss have spread into the wider world, and Jesse Faden, the previous game’s protagonist, is missing. Dylan must face the threat and become New York’s unlikely defender.
The change in genre is significant. Rather than relying primarily on firearms, Control Resonant centers on close-range attacks, aerial combos, and dodging. The shift may surprise fans of the first game, but Dylan’s varied moves and the series’ strange setting give the new approach its own identity.
Explore a warped version of New York City
Remedy describes the city as “open-ended,” rather than open world. Its streets and buildings feel caught between familiar reality and a hallucination: suspended bodies block the sky, birds flicker in and out of existence, and roads bend at unnatural angles. One section even features a 90-degree drop.
Dylan’s movement helps make this distorted environment navigable. He can double-jump, dash through the air, and use a boost jump that briefly lets him float. These abilities support both exploration and combat, so they are useful for crossing gaps as well as repositioning during a fight.
Build combos with the Aberrant
Dylan’s main weapon, the Aberrant, is a metallic bar that transforms into different forms. Players begin with one of three options:
- Axe: A medium-speed weapon suited to substantial combos.
- Dual swords: Faster weapons for a more rapid offensive style.
- Scythe: A long-reaching form designed for sweeping attacks.
The other forms can be unlocked later, allowing players to adjust their approach. Combat supports familiar action-game techniques: strike enemies with melee combos, launch them for aerial attacks, and dodge incoming blows before moving back into range. Dylan can also dash quickly between distant targets, which helps manage larger groups of Hiss.
The action may not reach the polish of Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, but it offers energetic encounters and a range of enemy types. One fight pits Dylan against a large creature resembling a woman’s jawless, disembodied head.
Combine abilities, sidearms, and Combo Enders
Combat Abilities add offensive and defensive options. Dylan can surround himself with rubble as a shield, throw rocks telekinetically, or summon smaller entities to attack. A rechargeable meter limits how often these powers can be used, making it useful to combine them with weapon attacks instead of depending on abilities alone.
Sidearms provide further variations, including a whip-like form for reaching distant enemies and a slower, more powerful hammer. These can be woven into combos or selected to suit particular situations. Combo Enders add another layer: at the end of a combo, the Aberrant can transform into a special weapon. Previewed examples include gauntlets for rapid punches and a glaive-like projectile that circles Dylan to hit nearby threats.
Some enemies are vulnerable to particular attacks, so switching weapons can be more effective than repeating one combo. Experiment with different forms and abilities to find a loadout that fits each encounter.
Upgrade equipment in The Gap
The Gap is a hub that players can access at any time by holding Down on the d-pad. There, they can spend resources to upgrade weapons through skill trees and craft accessories called Artifacts, which grant perks. Weapon skill trees offer multiple options, and skill points can be reassigned by spending a resource if players want to test a different setup.
One important planning detail is that choices become locked once Dylan leaves The Gap. Review available upgrades and equipment before heading out, especially when preparing to try a new combat style.
Surreal environments preserve Control’s identity
Despite its focus on action, Control Resonant retains the series’ unsettling, reality-warping character. In one chapter, Zoe, an FBC agent who becomes Dylan’s uneasy ally and main mission giver, sends him into a sinkhole. The Hiss have transformed it into repeating, kaleidoscopic apartment spaces where players can move across walls and ceilings, creating fights from unusual angles.
Another sequence involves following a song as it moves between televisions to escape a dollhouse-like maze. These strange environments make exploration more than a route between battles: pay attention to the surroundings, since their shifting layouts can change how an encounter unfolds.
Control Resonant release platforms
Control Resonant is listed for release on September 24 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Its combination of melee combat, flexible weapon forms, and surreal locations marks a notable departure from the first game while preserving the series’ distinctive supernatural tone.
For players interested in Control Resonant, the key appeal is the contrast between expressive, combo-driven action and an unpredictable world. Trying different weapons, making smart use of movement, and checking upgrades in The Gap can help players get the most from its combat encounters.
