Control’s bold sequel just doubled down on weird—and it might work

Why Control Resonant Matters to Players

Control Resonant caught my eye because Remedy is doing something it almost never does: reshaping a beloved game’s DNA instead of just expanding it. They’ve traded Jesse Faden’s telekinetic sandbox for Dylan Faden’s Aberrant shapeshifting weapon, spilled the Oldest House’s corridors into a twisted Manhattan, and leaned headlong into action-RPG systems. That’s a big creative swing—one Remedy isn’t afraid to acknowledge. “This is not a safe sequel,” creative director Mikael Kasurinen said in the announcement trailer at The Game Awards 2024. With that frank setup, the stakes feel higher than ever.

Key Takeaways

• New lead, new lens: Dylan Faden’s Aberrant tool morphs into hammers, blades, and more.
• Open-ended meets weird: A bounded, warped Manhattan replaces the Oldest House’s interior only approach.
• Action-RPG leap: Buildcrafting (modding) and elemental powers promise combo-driven fights.
• Risk vs. reward: Could dilute Control’s uncanny tone or evolve it into something fresh.

What’s Actually New in Resonant’s Gameplay Loop

On paper, Control Resonant’s bullet points look simple: new protagonist, new setting, new systems. But the devil is in the details. Dylan’s Aberrant is described as “raw, function over form,” a shapeshifting melee tool that can become everything from a sledgehammer to a razor-sharp blade. In practice, that means improvisation is rewarded over scripted animations: lob enemies skyward with a gravity smash, then switch forms mid-air to finish them off with a blade strike. It’s Remedy doubling down on emergent combat rather than cinematic setpieces.

The Aberrant as a Builder’s Dream

The Aberrant isn’t just another weird gun—it’s a toolbox. Through buildcrafting (the term for mod-based customization), you’ll slot upgrades that tweak damage type, cooldowns, and add elemental affixes like fire burst or cryo slow. Imagine a heavy hammer form that explodes in a ring of flame, followed by a swift ice blade that freezes survivors in place—then toss a hurling debris attack to launch them into environmental hazards. These modular choices echo modern ARPG design, but Remedy promises a tighter loop: no loot floods, just curated upgrades that amplify your creativity.

Elemental Powers and Fast-Paced Movement

Dylan isn’t Jesse redux. He’s faster, more agile, and carries a shocking elemental library. You’ll chain telekinetic lifts, lightning strikes, and seismic rumbles into seamless combos. Remedy’s design notes tease “combo-heavy combat” that bridges the gap between Control’s deliberate pace and a more kinetic rhythm. The trade-offs are clear: greater speed could undercut Control’s uncanny dread if it feels too frenzied, but done right, those bursts of movement will enhance tension—dashing from cover to cover under a sickly green sky feels more urgent than ever.

Rooted in Remedy’s Past Experiments

Remedy’s taste for bold twists isn’t new. Control (2019) carved its niche with a tight, single-player oddity fueled by telekinesis. Then came FBC Firebreak (2022), Remedy’s survival-FPS spin-off that struggled to capture Control’s magic. Between Alan Wake’s narrative focus and Quantum Break’s time-bending combat, Remedy has tiptoed around new formulas. Resonant stitches those lessons together: narrative depth from Alan Wake, combat momentum from Quantum Break, and world-building from Control. If they can fuse all three, we might see the studio’s most complete vision yet.

Risks of the Open-Ended Action-RPG Leap

Open-ended can be a red flag. Many games swallow themselves with side quests and diluted pacing. Remedy insists Resonant’s Manhattan is ringed by an “otherworldly barrier” and tightly packed with survivors and FBC operatives, not mundane fetch missions. But even curated content can sputter if it interrupts the uncanny flow. The bigger worry? Building an RPG underbelly could tip the balance—sparkly loot screens and grind loops might erode the focused, eerie pulse that made Control stand out.

Concrete Gameplay Scenarios: Build Combos and Encounter Flow

Let’s walk through a sample encounter to see how Resonant could land.

• Scenario Setup: You enter a warped Times Square, radio towers twisted by paranatural energy. A group of FBC mutants ambush you under flickering neon.
• Phase One – Crowd Control: Start with an ice-coated Aberrant blade to freeze the closest three. That slow sets up a lightning chain from Dylan’s elemental powers, zapping hardened foes.
• Phase Two – Environmental Boom: Switch Aberrant to hammer form, channel a gravity surge to pull enemies toward a broken lamppost, then unleash a seismic smash that shatters concrete and sends debris flying.
• Phase Three – Cleanup & Mobility: Activate a short-speed burst perk, dash between pillars, and finish stragglers with a corrosive blade mod that deals damage over time.

This flow blends emergent improvisation (shapeshifting on the fly) with prepped builds (slotting freeze and speed mods). Encounters can be replayable puzzles: what happens if you swap ice for fire? Or if you swap raw damage perks for crowd-control auras? These variations promise high replay value—if the balance holds.

Editorial Verdict: Cautious Excitement

I’m excited because Remedy still dares to bend expectations. The Aberrant feels like a designer’s playground, Dylan’s agility could inject fresh adrenaline, and a warped Manhattan offers new canvases for the surreal. But I’ll be watching how these RPG mechanics respect Control’s uncanny atmosphere. The line between expansion and dilution is thin—too much grind or bloat, and that signature weirdness could slip away. Ultimately, Resonant’s success hinges on balance: enough freedom to experiment, enough restraint to keep the dread alive.

Conclusion

Control Resonant is Remedy’s most ambitious gamble yet: an action-RPG twist layered over a world known for its tight, uncanny design. With a shapeshifting Aberrant, elemental combos, and a bounded but open-ended Manhattan, it could redefine why we fell in love with the Oldest House. But the biggest test will be retaining that eerie heartbeat under deeper systems. I’ll be first in line to see if Resonant delivers on its promise—or teaches Remedy an even bigger lesson.