It has been three years since Remedy Entertainment has launched a game. Their last was Quantum Break for the Xbox One and PC in 2016. This is actually the first game of theirs to go multi-platform, meaning it is appearing on PS4 as well as Xbox One, since Max Payne 2 in 2003. That was two console generations ago!
For PlayStation fans, it has been a long time coming. Was the wait worth it? The easy answer is yes, but there are some caveats. In order to better understand what we mean, here is a handy list that will provide some tips and insight on just what exactly Control is. Don’t worry, there are no spoilers.
10 🐠 Use Headphones
One of the best things about Control is its sound design. In order to properly channel the haunting voices of the Hiss into one’s eardrums, head𝔉phones are recommended. Without them, that spooky vibe won’t be as clearly defined. There is even an audio option that will adjust the volume to come through headphones or speakers. However, if one doesn’t want ghost whispers in their head then maybe this is an entry to warn others to avoid headphones.
9 🍎 Crontrolvania
Control is a l🧸ot like a 3D rendition of a Metroidvania. That is to say, the game takes place in an ever-expanding environment, the office building of the Federal Bureau of C♎ontrol. This means that new powers and keys will help open up new pathways as one plays along. This means there is plenty of backtracking if one wants to 100 percent this game. It’s not as in-depth as other games in the genre, but it is a nice mix for a shooter.
8 ♋ No Difficulty Level
This is a big one. At the start of the game, there is no difficulty option. That is to say, e༒veryone will play on a level playing field and that’s it. It won’t get any easier for those casually looking to explore this game or any harder for those that want an increased challenge. That said, based on the mechanics and what Remedy leaves players with, it actually scales toward the harder side of things.
7 ♒No Ammo Needed 🍸
When Jesse enters the Federal Bureau of Control she quickly finds that the director haไs appeared to have killed himself. Upon inspecting his gun, she discovers it is a sentient being.
It runs on energy an♎d can be modded and transformed into other varieties like a shotgun, or a machine gun. This is a cool mechanic, but even though no ammo sounds like a good thing, all of these forms share the same energy. This means one will most likely find themselves ducking for cover before their gun recharges.
6 ♔ Not A Cover Shooter
On that note, it is also important to say that this is not a cover shooter. One can duck behind a wall in order to avoid fire, but the environment is destructible meaning one has to dart around from cover to cover in order to survive. And no, one cannot fire from cover. Hitting the trigger button will instantly pop Jesse out of cover, but releasing it won’t hide her again. It’s more like a squat and sh☂oot type of game, which is bizarre given the energy situation.
5 Use Ability Points For🤡 Health
There is sort of a levelinꦡg up system in the game. Completing side quests and main objectives will reward Jesse with ability points. These can be used at Control Points, which is also how fast travel works, in order to improve psychic energy, damage, or health. Since there is no true cover system and it is increasingly easy to get overwhelmed by the enemy, please, put all points into health for at least the first two, or three upgrade points. It will help in the long run.
4 🌄 Don’t Buy Mods
Another thing one can do at a Control Point is crafting. This is how the Service Weapon, weird name we know, can be transformed into a shotgun-type, for example. Enemies dish out a type of currency and materials, 🃏which are used for this process. Said currency and materials can also be used to buy randomly generated mods for these guns, or for Jesse’s body. Don’t do this! It is a huge waste of resources, as enemies will drop plenty of mods on their own. Save up every “penny” for more concrete upgrades.
3 Enemies Respawn For Grinding ꦏ ♏
This may become obvious as one plays the game, but clearing an area 🌳of HISS does not mean they are completely vanquished. That is to say, they will respa🐈wn randomly.
So if one wants to grind for resources, this is a great way to do it. Simply warping around the map will more than likely reset areas for monster regeneration. M🧸ak🍸e sense?
2 🥂 Explore, Explore, Explore! 👍
The story is the real big draw of Control and of every Remedy game for that matter. So while it may feel like a good idea to rush from one objective the next, don’t. Stop and smell the concrete roses. There are plenty of files scattered around to fill out the lore plus a lot of hidden crates with valuableꦺ mods and upgrade materials. On top of that, there are the aforementioned side quests. As is the case with any good Metroidvania, there are plenty of secrets behind every corner.
1 Remedy Game To The Core ꦛ
There is plenty to like about Control, but there are a few bad things that won’t be surprising to Remedy veterans. That is to say, while the story and design choices are all fantastic, the gameplay side of things is lacking. It’s more than complaining about resources, or the inability to hide behind cover. The real drawback is the frame rate. At times when the screen was filled with enemies and we were unleashing nonstop powers, the game looked like it was running at ten frames a second.🌃 It is glitchy in this way𒈔, but patches can fix this, hopefully.