Info about CONTROL Resonant:

Official game description:
Accolades
=========
Digital Deluxe Edition
======================
Expand your experience with the CONTROL Resonant Digital Deluxe Edition which includes:  
\- Main Game  
\- Digital Artbook  
\- Original Soundtrack  
\- Untapped Artifact (Wallet)  
\- Starter Resource Bundle  
\- AWE Mission Outfit
About the Game
==============
After years in confinement at the hands of the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), Dylan Faden emerges into a warped Manhattan at the peak of a paranatural crisis.
Charged with combating a mysterious cosmic entity as it alters fundamental aspects of our reality, Dylan must harness his new-found powers to take the fight to the myriad threats overwhelming Manhattan.
Join Dylan in this sequel to the multi-award-winning CONTROL to explore the expansive zones of a city overrun by the corrupting influences of the chaotic Hiss, invasive micro-organism, the Mold, and other twisted paranatural threats.
On the path to unlocking the full potential of his paranatural abilities Dylan will also seek out his sister, FBC Director Jesse Faden, as he bids to comprehend and contain the dangers that have spilled beyond the confines of the Oldest House to tear our world apart.
**STEP INTO A WARPED REALITY**   
---------------------------------
Explore multiple areas of a ravaged Manhattan in an expansive, unfamiliar, and exciting world.   
Traverse perception-bending locations and grapple with gravity anomalies that distort the vertical and horizontal plane, adding additional dimensions to puzzles and new tactical decisions to combat.   
Meet faces old and new on a path fraught with risk but rich in opportunity as the cityscape is reshaped and reality is redefined by a godlike force.
**MASTER THE PARANATURAL** 
---------------------------
Channel the raw experiences of Dylan’s past to help understand his present and dig deeper into the inner workings of the FBC and reveal the horrors threatening humankind.  
Tap into power he must learn to master and take choices to shape how his abilities manifest and grow.  
Explore a deep progression system to define how Dylan adapts to emerging dangers. Forge connections crucial to Dylan’s fight to retain his humanity as he journeys from former test subject to paranatural superweapon.
**THE FIGHT SHIFTS. YOUR WEAPON SHIFTS WITH IT.** 
--------------------------------------------------
Meet constantly evolving threats head-on, utilising the environment, deploying elemental abilities and using the raw force of Dylan’s shapeshifting melee weapon, the Aberrant.  
Wield the Aberrant in its many deadly forms. Deliver bone-crunching blows with a two-handed hammer and flow seamlessly into the swift precision of dual-wielded blades as this paranatural weapon morphs on demand to meet each new challenge.
**SHARED LEGACY. NEW THREAT** 
------------------------------
FBC Director Jesse Faden's lockdown is no longer holding. A paranatural catastrophe has spilled beyond the Oldest House and onto the streets of Manhattan, and the Bureau's grip on containment is failing.
Jesse Faden walked into the Oldest House to confront the threat within. Now Dylan must walk out of it to contain the threat beyond.

Release date: Sep 24, 2026

Categories: Action, Hack and Slash, Open-World Exploration, Action RPG, Third-Person Perspective, Supernatural Powers, Skill Tree Progression System, Boss Fights

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 35; verdict: Mostly Compatible with Minor Linux Fixes; summary: The review set shows strong overall Linux/Proton compatibility: multiple users report the game runs out of the box or perfectly on Bazzite, Nobara, CachyOS, and via Proton 11, on both AMD and Nvidia hardware. The main Linux-specific negatives are a repeated Nvidia Xid 109 freeze/crash with Proton, ray tracing startup/workaround issues, and minor stutter/frame pacing. Because the dominant evidence says the game is playable and often works without tweaks, the issues are not enough to classify Linux support as broken, but they do justify a minor-tweaks-to-moderate-friction score.
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The review set is dominated by desktop performance discussion with a distinct Steam Deck thread. On Deck the game does run, but only through a built-in handheld preset that caps resolution around 400p with FSR, producing roughly 40 FPS for some users while others report one-second pauses and drops to 10 FPS; Valve's own support label was withdrawn at the last minute, so no green-checkmark experience should be assumed. On desktop Linux, the picture is more favorable: multiple reviewers confirm it runs out of the box via Proton 11 on Bazzite, Nobara, CachyOS and other distros, with no Proton Experimental forcing required. Remaining friction comes from microstutter and combat-time frame drops even with DLSS/FSR enabled, forced upscaling and frame generation, an Nvidia Xid 109 driver freeze that hard-locks the game on any Proton, and black-screen launch/settings crashes reported by several Chinese-language reviewers. Overall this places the Steam Deck experience in the tinkering-required band rather than seamless or fully broken.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: Across the six largest Windows hardware cohorts, the strongest consistent results come from 16GB+ VRAM with 32GB+ RAM, while most other cohorts are mixed: playable with DLSS and reduced ray tracing, but also reporting stutters, crashes, or frame-pacing issues. Lower-VRAM and 16-31GB RAM configurations are more likely to show severe instability, especially when ray tracing is enabled.
  - Sample size: 819 (39% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is heavily weighted toward Windows PCs with 10GB+ VRAM.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM (mixed, 266 reports): Many users report smooth high-frame-rate play with DLSS and frame generation, but crashes, open-world stutters, and poor frame pacing are also frequently reported.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (mixed, 170 reports): Several users get stable 60+ FPS at 1080p or 1440p with upscaling, while others report severe drops, audio stutter, and poor ray-tracing performance at higher resolutions.
  - Windows 16GB+ VRAM / 32GB+ RAM (positive, 81 reports): High-end systems mostly report strong performance with path tracing and 4K settings, with only occasional memory leak, audio, or menu FPS caveats.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM / 32GB+ RAM (mixed, 75 reports): Some users report stable framerates and good ray reconstruction, but others experience GPU crashes, unplayable instability, frame drops, and audio desync.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM (mixed, 72 reports): Some lower-VRAM users can play smoothly at medium or high settings without ray tracing, but many report severe stuttering, texture downgrades, crashes, and black screens.
  - Windows 16GB+ VRAM / 16-31GB RAM (mixed, 52 reports): There are reports of high frame rates and good visuals, but frequent GPU crashes, memory errors, poor optimization, and severe performance drops also appear.
  - Caveats: 819 of 2120 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is heavily weighted toward Windows PCs with 10GB+ VRAM.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $35.00 - $60.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews show a split community view. Several users recommend waiting for a deep sale or buying only at $35 and under, which anchors the lower end of a fair price around $35. Other users describe the €60 launch price as respectable, say the price is below the new $80 standard, and report zero regrets paying full price, supporting an upper anchor near $60. Together, these sentiments suggest the community fair base-game range is roughly $35 to $60.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 60.0h
  - Story completion: 37.0h
  - Session length: 8.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: One reviewer reports beating the game in about 37 hours with some side quests unfinished, which supports storyCompletion at about 37 hours for the main path. Another reviewer reports nearly 60 hours while still finding activities and being close to full achievement completion, supporting gameCompletion at about 60 hours for a completionist run. A third reviewer says they could not stop playing for 8 hours straight, supporting sessionLength at about 8 hours. No quote provides a separate duration for post-story endgame content, so endgame is null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Control Resonant is often reported as a slow-starting game whose combat and traversal click after early upgrades and the opening chapter, though some players enjoy its movement and presentation immediately.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: When combat upgrades and resonant rewards start stacking
  - Time to anchor: 1h 30m
  - Friction: Slow, unenticing first hour; Spongy, repetitive melee combat; Enemies take too long to kill; No hot-swapping weapons early; Steep learning curve in first hours; Confusing navigation and repetitive large maps
  - Unlock drivers: Resonant rewards and combat upgrades stacking; Movement upgrades and traversal abilities; A dozen new options after the opening chapter; Skill and weapon upgrade progression; Getting into the combat groove; Expanded tools that make combat fluid and addictive
  - Conditions: After the opening chapter; Once combat and Resonant upgrades start stacking; After a few hours of play; If player pushes past the slow start; If player enjoys traversal and mobility; If player tolerates repetitive combat and large maps; If assist options are used for difficulty; If performance issues do not block play
- Player Archetypes:
  - Remedy Connected Universe Lore Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Continue the Control and Alan Wake storyline while exploring Remedy's interconnected supernatural lore.
    - Playstyle: Plays for narrative, lore, art direction, and world exploration; often finishes prior games, takes in side content, and values the weird, connected universe.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Remedy fan; Control fan; Control veteran
    - Reference games: Control; Alan Wake 2
  - Hack-and-Slash Action RPG Build Crafter (buy)
    - Motivation: Master stylish melee combat and customize builds through weapon forms, skill trees, and playstyle choices.
    - Playstyle: Experiments with melee weapons and abilities, chases fluid high-octane fights, and optimizes build crafting and upgrades.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: character action game fan; action RPG fan
    - Reference games: Control; Prototype
  - Curious Newcomer / Non-Fan Discount Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Try a Remedy action game without prior lore investment and see whether it works as a standalone experience.
    - Playstyle: Starts fresh, learns the mechanics on a first playthrough, and may wait for a discount if the game feels average without franchise attachment.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: first-time Remedy player
    - Reference games: Control; Alan Wake
  - Narrative-Skeptical Traditional Action Player (no buy)
    - Motivation: Play a coherent solo action hero fantasy without preachy or frustrating narrative and character writing.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on combat and protagonist agency, but disengages quickly if the story, characters, or messaging feel off.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Smooth and fun gameplay (weight 0.32): Many reviewers highlight that the game runs smoothly and is enjoyable to play. The overall feel and performance are frequently praised.
- Melee combat excels (weight 0.29): The melee combat system is widely praised for feeling good, being fun, and adding variety. It is described as fast, fluid, and energetic.
- Challenging but fair combat (weight 0.23): Combat difficulty is considered tough but fair, and the combat itself is fluid, satisfying, and solid. Many find it extremely good.
- Stunning visuals and combat (weight 0.23): The game's visuals are fantastic, and the combat feel is fluid and satisfying. Art and combat system are well made.
- Incredible graphics (weight 0.22): Graphics are consistently praised as beautiful, excellent, and among the best. Visuals are off the charts on high settings.
- Fun and enjoyable so far (weight 0.15): Reviewers express that the game is fun and they are enjoying it immensely. It seems like a lot of fun and is incredible so far.
- Remedy's signature style (weight 0.14): The game is mysterious, stylish, and unmistakably Remedy. It feels different yet familiar, and is considered another masterpiece from the studio.
- Engaging first boss (weight 0.14): The first boss encounter is engaging, looks amazing, and has very good presentation. It is cooler than most games' final bosses.
- Fast-paced combat (weight 0.13): Combat is fast-paced, aggressive, and fluid. It is deeper and faster than before.
- Great performance and looks (weight 0.12): The game looks great and runs well, performing beautifully even on modest specs. It runs fine and is fun.
- Fun combat system (weight 0.12): The combat system is pure fun, simple but enjoyable, and feels like a development of the first part. It is pleasant and nice.
- Rewarding exploration (weight 0.12): Exploration is enjoyable, rewarding, and pure magic. Players feel that exploring is always worthwhile.
- Improvement over predecessor (weight 0.11): The game is a big improvement over the first Control in every way. It is shaping up to be a great successor.
- Flawless controls (weight 0.11): Controls are responsive, precise, and intuitive from the first minute. They feel tight and non-clunky, especially with a controller.
- Fluid movement and combat (weight 0.1): Movement and combat are smooth, fluid, and hyper-fluid. Mobility feels great.
- Stable and bug-free (weight 0.1): Reviewers report no crashes or bugs, including no game-breaking issues. The game is stable.
- Gripping story (weight 0.1): The story is gripping, enjoyable, and well-driven. It pulled reviewers in from the start.
- Similar vibe to original (weight 0.1): The game has the same style, vibe, and charm as the previous game. The overall feel is close to the first.

Common complaints:
- Combat system feels boring (weight 0.33): Many players find the combat system dull, clunky, and unsatisfying, with too much repetitive combat that doesn't carry the game. Others describe it as uncomfortable, lacking depth, and a chore due to spongy enemies and poor animations.
- Poor performance and optimization (weight 0.3): The game suffers from poor optimization, with frequent frame drops, stuttering, and freezes. Performance is especially bad without upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR, and a memory leak causes FPS to degrade over time.
- Pre-load requires re-download (weight 0.29): A common issue where pre-loading the game resulted in the files being deleted or needing to be re-downloaded after release, causing frustration and wasted time. This was described as a serious PR disaster by some.
- Audio desync and stuttering (weight 0.18): Players report significant audio desynchronization with character animations and cutscenes, as well as audio stuttering and choppiness. These issues severely break immersion.
- Worse than previous games (weight 0.18): Many compare the game unfavorably to its predecessor Control and other titles like Alan Wake 2, noting less fluid gameplay, unfamiliar controls, and worse graphics. Some feel it recycles content with only minor new additions.
- Boss fights poorly designed (weight 0.14): Boss fights are considered poorly made and overly difficult, with a brutal difficulty spike on the first boss and bosses being harder than in the first game.
- Repetitive content and design (weight 0.1): The game is criticized for being more repetitive than the first game, with too much of the same content and tedious open-world elements like Ubisoft-style tower mapping.
- Map navigation is bad (weight 0.1): The map is criticized for being confusing and unhelpful for navigation, making it hard to know where to go.
- Game is disappointing (weight 0.1): Multiple players express overall disappointment with the game, calling it broken nonsense and not worth it.
- Story is bad (weight 0.06): Several players find the story ridiculous, trashy, or simply bad, lacking the quality of previous titles.
- No difficulty selection (weight 0.05): The game lacks difficulty adjustment options, which some players find frustrating.
- Enemies too tanky (weight 0.05): Heavy enemies are described as tanky, making combat feel like a chore.
- No photo mode (weight 0.05): Some players want a photo mode to take in-game photos, but the feature is missing.

Gameplay feedback:
- Melee-focused combat system (weight 0.45): The game centers on melee combat rather than shooting, with hack-and-slash elements and a variety of melee weapons such as scythes and whips. This marks a shift from the previous game's third-person shooting to action melee combat.
- Open world exploration (weight 0.34): The game features an open world, often set in a city like Manhattan, divided into zones with tower mapping and secondary missions. Players can freely explore large maps with collectibles and open areas.
- Boss fights and encounters (weight 0.29): Boss fights are present, including challenging encounters with large health bars and varied shapes, sizes, and speeds. Notable bosses include The Artist and optional Resonant Entities.
- Hack-and-slash gameplay (weight 0.19): The game is a hack-and-slash style action game with a focus on fast-paced melee combat and dynamic, impactful fights. It leans heavily into the hack-and-slash genre.
- Traversal abilities and movement (weight 0.19): Traversal includes abilities like double jump, dash, double dash, rush, and float, available from the start. Movement is fluid and can involve flying around the city, with abilities tied to the character Dylan.
- Challenging but fair combat (weight 0.18): Combat is challenging yet fair, and many find it satisfying and smooth. The difficulty can be adjusted on the fly, and boss fights require multiple attempts but are rewarding.
- Dialogue and narrative choices (weight 0.17): The game includes dialogue options and a dialogue wheel style reply system, allowing players to make choices. Side quests also contain narrative elements.
- Puzzles and level design (weight 0.17): Puzzles are included, such as power box puzzles, and level design emphasizes navigation and map exploration. The open world level design encourages discovery.
- Combo and finisher system (weight 0.16): Combat features combos with finishers, distinct weapons, and experimentation. There are multiple combo finishers and primary/secondary weapon combinations, with 6 different finishers available.
- Skill tree and builds (weight 0.16): A talent tree and build construction system allows for character customization, with respec options and progression through a skill tree. Build diversity is supported alongside enemy variety.
- Fluid and responsive controls (weight 0.13): Combat and traversal controls are tight, responsive, and well thought out, contributing to a fast and fluid game feel. The controls feel amazing to many players.
- Weapon customization and modules (weight 0.1): Players can customize weapons through a weapon module system and equip multiple weapons and finishers. There is also weapon variety with distinct primary and secondary options.
- Action RPG elements (weight 0.1): The game is an action RPG with a strong RPG emphasis, including leveling up through side quests and a progression system. It blends melee-focused action with RPG mechanics.
- Playable character Dylan (weight 0.09): Players can play as Dylan, the brother of Jesse from the first game. His mobility and abilities are central to the gameplay.
- Combat lacks depth (weight 0.09): Some players find the combat system simple and lacking depth, especially early on when not many abilities are unlocked. This can make early combat feel repetitive.
- Distinct from previous game (weight 0.09): The game uses entirely different gameplay systems compared to the first Control, with combat and exploration that differ completely. However, it still feels like a Control game while being expanded and improved.
- Enemy variety and management (weight 0.09): Combat involves managing various enemies, with a range of enemy types. Enemy variety contributes to build diversity and strategic combat encounters.
- Third-person action game (weight 0.09): It is a third-person action game with boss fights, following the format of the second game. This perspective supports the melee combat and traversal mechanics.
- Simple early combat (weight 0.05): Combat starts simple with limited abilities unlocked, which may feel shallow initially. As players progress, more options become available, improving the experience.

Performance notes:
- Generally smooth and optimized (weight 0.46): Many players report smooth performance with no stutters or crashes, often describing it as well-optimized. This praise spans various hardware configurations and settings.
- High-end hardware handles ultra settings (weight 0.39): On top-tier GPUs like RTX 4090, 5090, and 5080, the game runs smoothly at ultra settings and high resolutions. Frame rates often exceed 100 FPS with upscaling.
- Frame generation significantly boosts FPS (weight 0.37): Users report that frame generation, especially when combined with DLSS, greatly increases frame rates. This allows high FPS even with ray tracing and high settings.
- Good performance without ray tracing (weight 0.34): Without ray tracing, the game generally runs well even on mid-range hardware, achieving stable frame rates at high settings. This makes it accessible to a wider range of systems.
- Ray tracing impacts performance (weight 0.25): Enabling ray tracing or path tracing can cause significant performance drops or even crashes. However, with upscaling and frame generation, playable performance is achievable on high-end hardware.
- DLSS/FSR often necessary (weight 0.13): Many users find the game unplayable without upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR. With these enabled, performance improves dramatically.
- Some stuttering and frame drops (weight 0.11): Despite overall good performance, some players experience stutters, hitching, and frame drops in certain areas. These issues are noticeable but not universal.
- Optimization is inconsistent (weight 0.1): While some praise the optimization, others find it average or absent. Experiences vary widely, with some reporting poor performance without upscaling.
- Steam Deck performance issues (weight 0.06): The game runs poorly on Steam Deck, with reports of severe lag, 1-second pauses, and drops to 10 FPS or less even on lowest settings. This makes it nearly unplayable on the device.
- Memory leak degrades performance (weight 0.06): A memory leak causes FPS to drop by 30-40 frames after 1-2 hours of play, requiring a restart to resolve. This issue affects long play sessions.
- Long initial load times (weight 0.05): Some players report that initial load times are longer than expected. This can be a minor annoyance but not a major issue.

Recommendations:
- Best for Fans of Control (weight 0.5): Many recommend the game especially to those who played and enjoyed the first Control, or are fans of the Remedy universe. Playing the original beforehand is often advised for full appreciation.
- Worth Trying Despite Flaws (weight 0.35): Many suggest giving the game a chance, even if it has issues, as it may be enjoyable for some. The overall sentiment is that it is worth trying or buying on sale.
- Significant Technical Issues Cause Concern (weight 0.26): Performance problems like stutters, hitching, audio bugs, a cursor bug, and poor Steam Deck support are frequently mentioned. Many reviewers recommend waiting for patches before buying.
- Strong Recommendation from Many Reviewers (weight 0.24): A large number of reviewers highly recommend the game, often enthusiastically. This positive consensus is one of the most frequent themes across the clusters.
- Refunds and Negative Experiences (weight 0.22): Some reviewers refunded the game or requested a refund due to disappointment. A few also returned it after limited playtime, such as reaching the first boss.
- Not Worth Full Price (weight 0.21): Several reviewers feel the game does not justify its full price and suggest waiting for a sale or discount. The general advice is to buy only at a lower price point.
- GOTY Contender and High Praise (weight 0.21): Multiple reviewers call it a Game of the Year candidate or masterpiece, giving it perfect scores. It is described as an absolute must-play for fans of the genre.
- Appeals to SCP and Remedy Fans (weight 0.17): Fans of SCP or other Remedy games are encouraged to buy and support the developers. Some suggest buying all Remedy games to support their work.
- Good but Divisive Gameplay (weight 0.16): Opinions on gameplay are mixed: some find combat repetitive or boring, while others enjoy the fast-paced action and hack-and-slash style. Some reviewers note it requires a certain mindset to appreciate.
- Supporting Remedy is Encouraged (weight 0.12): Several reviewers urge buying the game to support Remedy and the team behind it. They believe the developers deserve praise and financial support.
- Caution for Old Fans and Expectations (weight 0.11): Some advise fans of the original Control to be cautious and research before buying. Expectations of a similar experience may lead to disappointment.
- Standalone Friendly with Recap (weight 0.1): Even those who haven't played the first game can follow the story thanks to a recap. Playing the original is recommended but not strictly required for enjoyment.
- Combat and Build Crafting Praised (weight 0.1): Reviewers who enjoy action games with deep build crafting and stylish combat consider it a must-play. It is compared favorably to inFAMOUS and Spider-Man style gameplay.
- Launch Issues but Overall Positive (weight 0.1): Despite acknowledging launch problems, some reviewers still recommend the game. They believe it is worth playing and hope for fixes.
- Assist Options and Accessibility (weight 0.1): The game offers assist features and options to adjust difficulty, which are recommended if combat becomes too hard or boring. Chinese voice acting is also praised.
- Story and Atmosphere Highly Praised (weight 0.07): The story is described as compelling and the atmosphere immersive. Some feel the art and combat are strong enough to overlook story criticism.
- Requires Controller for Best Experience (weight 0.06): Some reviewers strongly recommend using a controller or gamepad instead of keyboard and mouse. This is often mentioned as the optimal way to play.
- More Open World than Control (weight 0.05): The game is noted to be more open world than the first Control, which may appeal to some but not others. It offers exploration and a larger scope.
- Not for Players Seeking Relaxation (weight 0.03): Reviewers note that the game is not suitable for those wanting a relaxing experience. It requires focus and may be intense or stressful.
- Language and Localization Preferences (weight 0.03): One reviewer recommends the French subtitled original version over the dub. This is a niche but specific preference.

Other player notes:
- Successor to Control (weight 0.29): Reviewers widely describe the game as a sequel to Control, though some note it is not a traditional sequel and retains its own identity. It is set seven years later and expands the world of the original.
- Compared to Devil May Cry (weight 0.23): The game is frequently compared to Devil May Cry, Prototype, and Control, with some describing it as a combination of those games.
- Remedy developed this game (weight 0.14): Reviewers consistently note that Remedy is the developer behind the game, with several calling it another strong entry from the studio and describing it as part of the Remedyverse.
- Frequent Alan Wake 2 comparisons (weight 0.13): Many reviews compare the game to Alan Wake 2, particularly regarding story appeal and performance. Some regard Alan Wake 2 as their favorite game, while others compare the story to the first Alan Wake.
- Excellent sequel to original (weight 0.12): Many describe it as a great sequel that improves on the first game and is everything a sequel should be.
- Compared favorably to first game (weight 0.12): Reviewers compare the game to the first Control regarding optimization, action details, and boss difficulty, with some calling it a massive upgrade while others feel it retains much from the original.
- DualSense controller support praised (weight 0.1): Several reviews highlight that the game natively supports the DualSense controller, with detailed implementation of its features.
- Graphics compared to Alan Wake 2 (weight 0.1): Some reviews compare the graphics quality to Alan Wake 2, noting that asset reuse makes it feel less fresh. Others find the visuals beautiful and cinematic.
- Set in New York (weight 0.1): The game is partly set in Manhattan, New York, with a distorted version of the city that reminds some reviewers of the movie Inception.
- DLSS and path tracing supported (weight 0.08): Reviews mention support for DLSS with frame generation, path tracing, and ray tracing, including ultrawide resolution. Some also note FSR frame generation.
- inFAMOUS comparisons drawn (weight 0.07): Some reviewers compare the game to inFAMOUS Second Son and the first two inFAMOUS games, as well as to the first Control.
- Reviews planned for update (weight 0.07): A few reviewers mention they plan to update their reviews or add more details after finishing the game.
- Alan Wake 2 Epic exclusivity noted (weight 0.07): Some reviews point out that Alan Wake 2 is exclusive to the Epic Games Store due to a limited-time deal, unlike this game which is available on Steam.
- Hailed as Remedy masterpiece (weight 0.06): Several reviews describe the game as a Remedy masterpiece or the studio's magnum opus so far.
- Some negative comparisons to Control (weight 0.05): A couple of reviews compare the game unfavorably to Alan Wake 2, the first Control, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword, calling it a disappointment and less fun than Control 1.
- Considered GOTY contender (weight 0.05): The game is compared to titles like The Witcher 3 and GTA 6 as a potential Game of the Year contender.
- Graphics criticized as worse (weight 0.05): A few reviews note that the graphics appear the same or worse than the first game despite a six-year gap.
- Combat departs from Remedy formula (weight 0.05): Some reviewers note that the combat is a major departure from Remedy's previous third-person shooter structure, differing from their earlier games.
- Ukrainian localization included (weight 0.05): The game includes Ukrainian localization, which is noted positively by some reviewers.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): Players are deeply disappointed that the game abandons the atmospheric, interconnected Metroidvania-style design of the original Control in favor of a generic open-world structure with repetitive combat and copy-paste level design. Technical problems like severe stuttering, audio desync, and poor optimization compound the letdown, making it feel like a step down from both Control and Alan Wake 2.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.13): Satisfaction stems from the game's smooth performance and well-optimized PC port, which runs well even on older hardware and Steam Deck. The melee-focused combat is widely praised as fluid, impactful, and satisfying, with tight controls and a rewarding power fantasy that exceeds expectations.
- Excitement (weight 0.12): Excitement is driven by the long-awaited return to the Control universe and the fresh, fast-paced melee combat that feels addictive and innovative. The deep RPG skill system, rewarding exploration, and engaging story with familiar characters create a strong sense of anticipation and joy.
- Frustration (weight 0.11): Frustration arises from technical issues such as crashes, audio desync, stuttering, and poor optimization that make the game unplayable for many. Additionally, clunky combat mechanics, confusing navigation, and unfair difficulty spikes, especially in boss fights, exacerbate the annoyance.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.07): Players enjoy the game's fun and fluid combat, immersive world, and strong atmosphere that captures the essence of the original Control. The engaging story, impressive visuals, and solid performance contribute to a highly enjoyable experience despite occasional technical hiccups.
- Admiration (weight 0.06): Admiration is directed at Remedy's exceptional art direction, world-building, and creative risks that push the medium forward. The stunning visuals, surreal environments, and consistent quality reinforce the studio's reputation as a master of innovative storytelling.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance is caused by minor but irritating issues like unskippable music, scarce signposting, and limited respec options. The preload and download problems also add to the frustration, along with enemies that feel overly spongy and sudden black screens.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Appreciation focuses on the game's rich lore, SCP-inspired worldbuilding, and Remedy's consistent quality in storytelling. The ability to adjust difficulty on the fly and the studio's respect for players and the medium are also highly valued.
- Anticipation (weight 0.02): Anticipation is fueled by trust in Remedy's vision and excitement for future content, including potential photo mode and deeper campaign elements. The promising story and new gameplay mechanics leave players eager to see what comes next.
- Love (weight 0.02): Love for the game stems from its engaging superhero power fantasy, fluid combat, and a story that resonates more deeply than the original Control. The unique art direction, puzzle-solving, and improved mechanics create a strong emotional connection.
- Engagement (weight 0.02): Engagement is driven by compelling world-building, intriguing mysteries, and optional lore that rewards exploration. The intuitive combat and environmental puzzles keep players invested and eager to uncover more of the story.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is sparked by the game's smooth, fun combat and mind-bending moments that evoke classic Prototype-style action. The first boss fight and the feeling of exploration and discovery bring genuine delight.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom results from repetitive combat, tedious side quests, and unsatisfying enemy designs that fail to engage. The city environment and fetch quests feel monotonous, leading to a lack of interest.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is triggered by severe technical failures such as black screens, controller disconnections, and extreme frame rate drops. The preload issues and poor Steam Deck performance further infuriate players who feel misled.
- Fun (weight 0.01): Fun comes from the fast, weird gameplay and the joy of discovering oddities in the open world. The smooth melee combat and unexpected surprises while exploring keep the experience entertaining.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is high due to weapon customization, satisfying combat, and the game meeting massive expectations. Players are excited to continue playing and exploring the build-crafting potential.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise stems from the game taking a bold new direction that no one saw coming, with combat exceeding expectations. The depth of skill and weapon systems also catches players off guard.
- Amazement (weight 0.01): Amazement is inspired by Remedy's ability to deliver another complex narrative and innovative gameplay direction. The incredible graphics and expanded universe leave players in awe of the studio's talent.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from maze-like level design and a strange, hard-to-follow story. Technical quirks like inverted volume sliders and preload issues add to the bewilderment.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Impressed by the polished quality, smooth performance, and breathtaking visuals that push hardware limits. The best HDR implementation and fluid gameplay create a lasting impression.}