Following a seven-year development period, Remedy Entertainment has officially launched Control Resonant, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 acclaimed title. The game, now available on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, continues the story in the wake of the original game's conclusion, during which Jesse Faden—the first title's protagonist—mysteriously vanishes after the events at The Oldest House.

A Shift in Perspective

In Control Resonant, players take control of Dylan Faden, Jesse’s younger brother, portrayed by actor Sean Durrie. Dylan is tasked with navigating a supernatural crisis currently consuming a reality-distorted Manhattan. Utilizing his unique abilities and a versatile shape-shifting melee weapon known as the Aberrant, Dylan must confront formidable bosses and hostile forces.

Mikael Kasurinen, the franchise’s creative director at Remedy, explains that the narrative structure of the sequel is built upon a concept of "reverse symmetry."

«In the first game, Jesse arrives at The Oldest House looking for Dylan, trying to understand what happened to her brother. In Control Resonant, we turn it the other way around. Jesse is missing... and Dylan wakes up and then he starts his search for her and trying to understand again what is happening in the world.»

Kasurinen notes that while Dylan’s journey is distinct, the two games remain deeply connected. As Dylan seeks his sister, players gradually uncover the choices she made earlier in the story, effectively allowing the two siblings to bookend the overarching plot.

Character Evolution and Performance

For actor Sean Durrie, the role of Dylan required a significant evolution from his previous appearance. While he was aware of the plan for Dylan to become a lead character since the first game’s development, he had to reconcile the character's past trauma—specifically his time under the influence of The Hiss—with his current quest for humanity.

«I took, in particular, the events of the first game of why he was victimized... his guilt from that, his need for atonement and then now his need to want to rediscover his humanity,» Durrie explained regarding his performance approach.

Gameplay Refinements

Beyond the narrative switch, Control Resonant introduces significant mechanical changes. While maintaining the high-octane, action-oriented philosophy of its predecessor, the sequel trades traditional firearms for a melee-focused combat system.

According to Kasurinen, the goal was to deepen the interaction with the game's environment:

  • Expanded Navigation: Dylan can manipulate gravity anomalies, allowing him to traverse surfaces in new ways.
  • Combat Composition: The team focused on creating diverse groups of enemies, requiring players to constantly adapt their strategy rather than relying on a single tactic.

Welcoming New Players

Addressing potential concerns for those who missed the first installment, the developers introduced the character of Zoe. Acting as a guide, she serves as an entry point for newcomers. «Zoe's character will be helpful if this is the first venture you've had into 'Control,'» says Durrie. «She's kind of asking the questions that you may be asking.»