# Control Resonant shows what Remedy does best

> The sequel expands the Control universe with gravity-bending platforming and weird fiction storytelling that sets it apart from other blockbuster games.
- Title: Control Resonant shows what Remedy does best · The Verge
- Summary: The sequel expands the Control universe with gravity-bending platforming and weird fiction storytelling that sets it apart from other blockbuster games…
- Keywords: control resonant, remedy entertainment, video game review, ps5, xbox, open world, platformer, action game, gravity manipulation, sequel, game design, Control
- Source: The Verge — https://theverge.com/games/999268/control-resonant-review-ps5-xbox
- Author: Andrew Webster
- Published: 2026-09-23T13:45:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: control resonant, remedy entertainment, video game review, ps5, xbox, pc, open world, platformer, action game, gravity manipulation, sequel, game design
## Gravity-bending platforming in NYC
Control Resonant lets you flip, twist, and fly through a twisted version of New York City with gravity manipulation. The game blends meta storytelling with inventive platforming that feels unlike anything else.
## Sequel to 2019's Control
Resonant follows Dylan, brother of the original game's protagonist Jesse Faden, as he fights supernatural threats invading Manhattan. The two games can be played in any order.
## Open world replaces confined setting
Unlike the original Control set in the Oldest House, Resonant takes place in a large open world warped by invading forces. Buildings twist impossibly and gravity behaves strangely throughout.
## Melee combat replaces shooting
Dylan wields a shapeshifting weapon that can mimic a whip or hammer, making Resonant melee-focused instead of the original's shooter gameplay. This fundamentally changes how you approach combat.
## Abilities unlock movement mastery
As you gather abilities like flying, wall-walking, and warping, you unlock thrilling ways to navigate. Combining these abilities lets you zip around New York like a strange superhero.
## Weird fiction storytelling shines
The game draws from Severance, the SCP Foundation, and Twin Peaks to create a sci-fi universe perfect for video games. Supplementary materials like field recordings and documents bring the world to life.
## Side quests reveal strange secrets
Even mundane tasks like replacing light bulbs reveal fascinating things. You'll hail ghost taxis and talk to sentient light bulbs in quests that get genuinely weird.
## Visual and audio design excels
The game features harsh industrial sound design, platforming sequences like interactive art, and an opening title sequence that looks like prestige television. Every element reinforces Remedy's distinct style.
## Dylan lacks personality early on
The protagonist feels dull at first, with little personality beyond having superpowers and being close to his sister. Spending dozens of hours with him makes this absence of character noticeable.
## Combat becomes overwhelming late
While enjoyable, combat gets tedious toward the end when bombarded with large numbers of enemies that take forever to kill. The assist mode helps tone down difficulty.
## Navigation can be confusing
The folded world makes it easy to get lost, and a minimap doesn't help much when geometry itself is impossible. This is a minor flaw in an otherwise exceptional game.
## Remedy stands apart from peers
At a time when blockbuster games feel similar, Remedy joins FromSoftware and Kojima Productions in retaining a distinct vision. Resonant proves the studio's creative ambition after last year's failed spinoff.

> At a time when blockbuster games can feel increasingly similar, the Finnish developer is part of a small group of studios, like FromSoftware and Kojima Productions, that have retained a distinct vision
## Key takeaway

Remedy's distinct creative vision, combining inventive gameplay with rich worldbuilding, makes Control Resonant stand out in a crowded market of similar blockbuster games.