Control Resonant’s shift to an Action RPG is shaping it up to be an even better game than the first

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I didn’t love Control when it came out in 2019, but you have to admire Remedy’s consistent output of new content. Their latest game, Control Resonant – an action RPG follow-up – is another example of that dedication.

At Summer Game Fest this year, I finally got to play an early version of the game! We chatted a bit about how many games are coming out around the same time, but the demo itself let me play through the very beginning – all the way to the first boss. After that, they let us jump into a combat sandbox, basically a practice area where I could try out a bunch of unlocked abilities and see how the game feels later on, outside of the story.

Control Resonant offers what I anticipated from the developers, but I was particularly interested in how its action RPG features would play out. It turned out to be similar to Kingdom Hearts – instead of heavily customizing stats and equipment, the game focuses on the weapons and abilities you choose for your setup.

The combat in Control: Resonant feels surprisingly similar to the original game. It’s not about performing long, complex combos like in games such as Devil May Cry or Ninja Gaiden. Instead, you’ll strategically use different parts of your abilities at the right moments. Your standard weapon, the Aberrant, changes forms like the gun in the first Control, and the gameplay focuses on effectively combining your regular attacks, finishing moves, and the weapon’s more powerful alternate form.

This translates to quickly moving between groups of enemies using Dylan’s agile abilities, many of which were inspired by Jesse. You can dash through the air to dodge attacks, perform combos to stun tougher enemies, finish them off with your alternate form, and then repeat the process. Abilities like slamming down to deal damage and reposition, creating a shield from debris, or firing energy blasts all share a resource that refills as you attack with your standard moves.

I only got a little time with it so far, but honestly, the combat really grabbed me more than the original Control, even though a lot of it feels familiar. It’s not just that it’s a different setting, either – I think the way the RPG stuff and character progression work with the fighting is a big part of why I’m enjoying it so much.

After looking at the game menus, I learned a lot about what makes Control Resonant an RPG. You can improve your character with a detailed skill tree, unlocking powerful new abilities and enhancing existing ones. Weapons can also be upgraded with collected materials to gain new skills, and the customizable Artifacts add another layer of depth to the gameplay.

I’m really looking forward to seeing more of this game. I haven’t said much about it beyond the combat and RPG elements because things like the beautiful graphics and intriguing story – which builds on the first game’s mysteries – are already clear. After the success of Alan Wake 2, it’s obvious Remedy is doing some of their best work yet.

A lot remains unknown, and even though I enjoyed the early gameplay, there’s no guarantee the full game will be a success. Still, I’m looking forward to playing more. Control Resonant is set to launch on September 24th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), and Mac. I’ll share more thoughts as I continue to play in the coming months.

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2026-06-12 03:26