Control Resonant Review

Remedy Entertainment is back, and this time with one of its boldest sequels, Control Resonant. Unlike the original game, Control, Remedy has shifted the core gameplay style of the series. Instead of using a shapeshifting weapon known as the “Service Weapon”, the sequel is purely a melee-focused action RPG. Although it sounds like a questionable change, it works flawlessly in the Control world. I was honestly surprised by the whole experience, and I genuinely think that it is one of the best 2026’s releases. This is our review of Control Resonant, developed and published by Remedy Entertainment.

NOTE: A review copy of Control Resonant was provided by the publisher.

Story and World

Control Resonant takes place 7 years after the events of the original game. Players take the role of Dylan Faden, brother of Jesse Faden. As the game begins, Jesse Faden awakens his brother from a coma by stabbing him with an Object of Power, Aberrant. However, Jesse Faden goes missing, and Dylan is recruited to work for the Board to help with the Hiss. Throughout the story, Dylan tends to stop the Hiss and look for his missing sister.

The world design of Control Resonant is some of the best ones I have seen in an action-packed video game. Although the Manhattan city map feels familiar, the presence of the Hiss throughout the city makes it both an exciting and haunting place to explore.

Gameplay

Control Resonant is a single-player action RPG that offers a strong hack-and-slash combat experience with a great story and narrative. Right from the early hours, the game opens up and lets you explore and pursue the story at your own pace. The Manhattan world design is very neat and expansive, filled with various activities and side content. You get to open the map by fixing antennas throughout the different regions of the city to reveal the possible activities. However, reading the map can be underwhelming and confusing at first. The navigation across the city is quite interesting. You can double jump and leap in the air to reach higher rooftops and navigate through the zones. Moreover, the Shift ability lets you walk on walls and explore more areas of the regions.

Exploration is rewarding in Control Resonant. Throughout the world, you can find numerous boxes that reward you with resources and crucial items for improving stats. Resources act like the main currency that you can use at vendors for various items and at the skill trees to unlock and improve abilities. One of the cool designs in the game is that you can head to The Gap at any time to change Aberrant type, improve abilities, test skills out in the arena, and more. The game is designed in a way that you can easily respec and test out different builds to tackle challenges.  

Combat and Difficulty

Combat in Control Resonant is solid. It is fluid, responsive, chaotic, and challenging. There are no difficulty settings in the game, as the Devs intend for players to enjoy the game at its default. However, there is an Assist Mode that you can activate freely to change the difficulty and customize various gameplay features. At default, the combat challenge can be brutal, but there is always room to push through the challenge. Fighting the smaller enemies is useless in a fight, as they keep respawning if the bigger foes are alive. You must tackle the bigger foes to either stop the normal foes from spawning or remove them entirely from the area. The stars of the show are Resonant, big bosses that you have to tackle to pursue the main story.

Although you choose a beginning class or Aberrant type at the start of the game, you can change it at any time by visiting the Gap. It is best to experiment with all types of Aberrant and match them with different abilities to create a unique build. Another great thing about combat or gameplay in general is that there is no Stamina. You do not have to worry about conserving stamina during any fight. This gives the game a proper hack-and-slash feeling.

Sound and Visuals

The sound design of Control Resonant is amazing. Whenever you hear the sound of The Board, it feels like someone beatboxing with a deep voice, and it sounds phenomenal. Moreover, the music choice in the game is top-notch. You get to hear numerous songs as you progress through the story and vibe around the city. It is great to see an actual good character arc, and the voice acting is very good.

The visuals of Control Resonant are insane. It feels like that you have stepped into a dark, chaotic, and terrifying Manhattan, where a mirror dimension has appeared. The design of the city is cool, which gives it a unique look and keeps engagement throughout its exploration.

Verdict – Score 9/10

Control Resonant is an amazing sequel to the Control series by Remedy Entertainment. Although it does not have any shooting mechanics like the original, it captivates flawlessly with its melee-focused action. The story and narrative are great, and you can learn more details with quick dialogue options during the missions. Combat is definitely a star of the show, letting you learn and test different builds to overcome the challenges. Moreover, exploration is fun and rewarding in Control Resonant. I highly recommend this game to anyone who loves a hack-and-slash or action-adventure title, as it delivers promisingly in both of those.

Control Resonant is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.