Before official release Control resonance There are still a few days left, but reporters have already managed to get a full review out. Remedy Entertainment’s new game has received generally positive reviews, with an average Metacritic score of 84 out of 100 based on 60 reviews at the time of release. For comparison, the original control Completed its journey around 82/100.
Critics particularly appreciated this desire remedy Significantly changed the series’ formula. Unlike the first game, CONTROL Resonant places a greater emphasis on melee combat, expanded world exploration, and action role-playing elements. Journalists also noted the game’s impressive artistic content and unusual interpretation of Manhattan, which has been transformed into a giant supernatural zone.
The most common advantages include Visual design and atmosphere. Critics praised the surreal locations, the unusual geometry of the surrounding world, and Remedy’s ability to continually surprise with new visual solutions. Push Square is one of the most impressive environments in any contemporary game, with the architecture of the world directly tied to the mechanics of movement.
received positive feedback and new way of fighting. The developers abandoned the usual shooting-centric approach of the first Control and placed a greater emphasis on melee combat, abilities, and mobility. For example, Vice calls combat one of the project’s main strengths, pointing to a combination of levitation, air dash, telekinesis, and quick attacks.
Journalists also focus on world exploration, sports, and stories. TechRadar praised Manhattan’s open-plan layout, art direction, and action mechanics, while Tom’s Guide highlighted the game’s supernatural story, unusual locations, and in-depth weapon and ability customization system.
At the same time, the game also has some shortcomings. One of the most common complaints is Engage in protracted battles with ordinary opponents. Some reviewers found the enemies to be too resilient, causing some battles to become repetitive and lose momentum. TechRadar also noted that the combat system was slow to launch, and Creative Bloq complained that enemies on the standard difficulty level were too “spongey” (absorbing damage like a sponge).
Another point of contention is the structure and scale of the game. A more open Manhattan gives players more room to explore, but not all critics agree that a larger world always pays off. GamesRadar+ says the game is less developed than the original and its expansions, while Polygon describes the results as fairly solid, but not great across the board.
Finally, a personal comment draws attention to technical issues. Digital Foundry documented frame rate drops and image quality issues on PS5: In performance mode, the game strives for 60 FPS, but may experience drops during fast movement and certain combat scenes. On PS5 Pro, the image quality situation has not completely improved.
Ultimately, critics agreed that CONTROL Resonant was a bigger, more ambitious sequel that wasn’t afraid to stray from the original’s formula. At the same time, the most daring changes also prompted some complaints: not everyone liked the expanded world, new melee combat, and RPG elements.
CONTROL Resonant will be released on September 24, 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Judging from initial estimates, Remedy has managed to retain the series’ recognizable atmosphere while significantly changing up its gameplay.
