![]() ![]() It sets the mood perfectly, especially since the environments are completely destructible. The game frequently uses light to mark enemies and hostile areas, which are drowned in red light that bounces off the stone pillars of The Oldest House. Shadows and global illumination are handled via ray tracing if you have a graphics card that supports it, but it looks nice even when the feature is turned off. It's the first game that properly showcased ray tracing across the board in what remains one of the best implementations of the tech. What makes Control interesting and fun is the way it intertwines its gameplay with an impressive technical foundation. That's the main point to this DLC, and there's a clever ending if you were hoping for more Alan Wake on the horizon. We chase down a horrific being in a previously sealed sector that stalks Jesse in the dark and can only be defeated in light areas. Again, the gameplay is mostly more of the same, with some added light/shadow mechanics that try to mirror the Alan Wake gameplay. The AWE DLC is special because it directly involves Alan Wake as a character (sparsely in some cut scenes) and solidifies the connection of both franchises. It should satisfy anyone who wanted more of the same after the credits rolled on the main game. It's not a very engaging story, but The Foundation delivers with beautiful environments and increased combat encounters and platforming sections. The Foundation shines a light on the early years of the FBC and the literal foundation of The Oldest House as we explore the red sand caves below. Both play after the events of the main game and can be completed at will or even in parallel. The two DLCs, The Foundation and AWE, have self-contained stories that fit the game's overall theme. ![]() Of course, this isn't the complete story, since there are two DLCs included in the definitive edition. Control also tells what should be an emotional story for Jesse, since she is trying to find her lost brother, but somehow, the characters in the game seem incapable of expressing feelings, making the premise far more interesting than the story content. Discussions between Jesse and other FBC members are wooden, with some weird facial animations on practically motionless bodies that end up unintentionally adding to the eeriness. What Control doesn't do well is writing engaging characters. It's the eerie mix of "Twin Peaks" and "X-Files" that keeps you invested in what weird or confusing thing might happen next. ![]() Video tapes and sound recordings flesh out cases, while the architecture and the mood do the rest. Every area is rich in collectibles, which are mostly redacted documents that slowly piece together previous FBC incidents and protocols. Pathways are blocked, but they may become accessible again if we find the source of the corruption, and some paths may remain inaccessible until Jesse learns a certain skill. The protagonist is actually The Oldest House, which shifts and corrupts itself, and it even seals off some areas until we can cleanse them. Jesse seems to be immune, so she tries to rid the FBC HQ of the Hiss invasion while figuring out how she and her lost brother fit into the strange events.Ĭontrol's story is enjoyable and interesting, but that's not due to its actual storytelling. The FBC HQ has been taken over by the Hiss, an entity that devours everything. Previous employees hover in the air and chant verses, and some emit a red glow and start to attack. Armed with the director's gun, Jesse goes deeper into the building as things spiral out of control. As Jesse makes her way into the FBC headquarters, which is located in an eerie and lifeless gray building known as "The Oldest House," she encounters a janitor speaking in riddles and the director being killed by his own service weapon. We'll be looking at the Steam version in this review, and Control is still a joy to play, although it makes a few odd decisions that hinder the fun in some ways.Ĭontrol follows the story of Jesse Fade, who enters the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) in what seems to be an innocent investigation into a childhood incident. It's also the only version of the game that will get a free update for next-gen consoles, which rightfully didn't sit well with those who bought the game early. Control Ultimate Edition marks the anniversary of the title as well as the end of its exclusivity deal with Epic, so it's now available on Steam, PS4 and Xbox One. Control was released over a year ago and has since seen several awards, two expansions, and a fair bit of controversy. ![]()
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