Control

This game is a flawed masterpiece.
The fingerprints of Remedy's unique writing is found everywhere here. Slick slow paced mystery narrative drip fed to you bit by bit with excellently written dialogue constantly peaking your interest as you progress the game. And as you slowly connect the dots of jesse's character, your fed a constant barrage of gorgeous visuals beautifully framed with every set piece so well designed, so rich in creativity and beautiful art, it'll leave a lasting impression on you long after you've completed the game. The colors, the level designs, the animations. This game's art direction is so superb, it is only matched by its world building.
The gameplay follows suit in this regard with a combat system that mixes a combination of third person shooting with pseudo-magic abilities. It features intricate skill trees, a diverse selection of weapons, and some very satisfying powerful moves that all serve to keep the moment to moment gameplay as varied as possible. The result is a compelling power fantasy akin to a super hero simulator that is sure to leave you having a blast until you roll credits. The enemy types do well to compliment this system, with boss encounters being particularly impressive.
But this is a flawed masterpiece. And the longer you play control, the more those flaws seep through the cracks of shiny art direction and superb narrative dressing. The combat, with all its variety in weapons, abilities and skill tree unlocks, eventually does become extremely repetitive owing to a lack of end game unlocks to motivate progression. The combat system is all middle and no end, all creativity and no scaling, all flash and no depth. It feels good, but it doesn’t last long.
And just like how the combat loses its novelty quickly, so do the enemies that rely on it. At a certain point they all play the same. Not because they have similar mechanics or design, but because they are all dealt with the same. Shoot or throw until they are dead. Interesting for maybe 10 hours, but soon loses its spark. And so does Control’s story.
The story is fascinating, complex, mysterious, intriguing. It latches to your ears and mind the minute it begins, promising a world of intrigue and a protagonist with limitless potential. It delivers on many of those fronts, but that’s what makes its failures so glaring. A lack of memorable characters (aside from jesse), an absence of a compelling villain, and a deliberate pacing that leaves more to be desired.
But it’s biggest sin, a lack luster and underwhelming ending that completely sabotages all the build up carefully constructed leading up to it. No boss fight, no insane twist, no much needed answers. It resolves the story, but at the cost of ruining a good one.
This game, by all definitions of the word, is art. It is art. But it is flawed art. The kind of art you look at and marvel at its wonder and achievements. Only the more you stare, the more you notice it's glaring imperfections as they stick out like a sore thumb. It's the kind of art that reminds you how human it is to not be perfect. How you can love something, even with all its imperfections.
This game is not perfect, and yet I still absolutely love it. And that's why I recommend Control.
8/10

The Board:
< We Suggest / Insist >
< That Directors / Players >
< Incapable of Reading / Comprehending >
< Choose another Experience / Game >
Seriously, there's a lot of reading and listening involved in fully enjoying this game. It's sci-fi SCP extravaganza first, and third-person shooter second.
If that's not your cup of tea, you might want to look at other options!
However, if you do like diving deep into worldbuilding and storytelling, Control is a treat. Well worth the time and money, just like all Remedy games :3

Watching the end credits, I didn't know what to think of the game at first. I just spent 57 hours to 100% the game, so it must be good, right? Well, it's complicated.
Just like every game from Remedy I played, it's more about journey than conclusion. I definitely loved the gameplay loop, but oh god is it a loop - sometimes it gets unbearably repetitive due to the nature of the setting, especially if you want to 100% the game and kill a certain amount of a very specific enemy type.
So, if you plan to do that, make sure you do this specific challenge as you go along and NOT after endgame.
The setting is wonderful. I think it's the closest we've come to AAA game in an SCP-esque universe. Environmental storytelling is superb and definitelly adds to the atmosphere, humor and overall feeling of supernatural business-as-usual bs. Loved that.
So what about that other thing people expect now from games? Story and characters.
For me it was that thing where everything kinda fell apart. I would have probably understood if there were no great characters but the story was serviceable, like in Max Payne. Or the other way when there are many great and quirky characters but the story made no sense, like in Alan Wake. This game took the best of both worlds - basically no story and plot devices instead of characters. Aside from Darling's spiral into madness and Jesse's tiny-nano-micro ark when she admits FBC is better than her previous life, there's really almost nothing to work with. These are not even spoilers, you kinda see where this is going with Darling from the start and Jesse says her thoughts out loud!
The story goes nowhere - that's my biggest gripe really.
I know Tetramore already made that comparison, but bear with me here - imagine you're on a plane. The takeoff was just a bit bumpy but overall very smooth. You watched a great movie during the flight, read a book, had a good conversation. It's a very long flight, but you had something to do, you weren't bored out of your mind, it was actually pretty great. Now the captain says we're about to land in 30 minutes and you're like ok we're on time, very good. And as you land you realize you're in the wrong airport, and it's like 600km to your original destination. It's not ridiculously far away, but now you have to search for transportation or something, or argue with the airline, it's a huge mess.
That's what I felt during the Foundation end credits. Like, I wasn't promised a perfect landing with everything explained. But I didn't expect to be that far away from any kind of resolution.
So yeah, fun gameplay loop albeit a bit repetitive, environment is absolutely stunning and intriguing, characters are nonexistent and story is underwhelming. I still recommend it because of the first two.
If you have read it until here - why?
you are very strange and beautiful person
play good games and have a very nice rest of your day

It begins with a place that shouldn’t exist.
A space suspended between silence and static, where the air hums like a distant frequency only half-heard.
Walls shift when you’re not looking. Corridors fold in on themselves like paper, rewriting their own blueprints. Light flickers in staccato bursts, casting shadows that dance in shapes your mind refuses to name.
Here, questions multiply like echoes in an endless chamber. Each one heavier, stranger, more impossible than the last. Desks lie scattered with reports written in languages you half-understand. Files breathe secrets. Objects quiver with invisible purpose.
Reality fractures into shards of crimson light and floating debris. Time stretches thin, elastic, threatening to snap. And you keep moving, because standing still feels like sinking into quicksand woven from secrets and lies.
A voice calls to you—not loud, but certain. Like the center of a labyrinth whispering the way out… or deeper in.
Powers crackle in trembling hands. Forces once unimaginable ripple outward, bending the world to your will. Yet with each new gift comes the creeping dread that you’re not controlling anything at all—but merely being used.
You become the hunter and the hunted, the weapon and the wound. Each room a puzzle. Each object a story. The floor beneath you quakes as if alive, walls pulsing with hidden veins.
Yet even in chaos, there’s elegance.
Geometries align in impossible perfection. Floating concrete slabs hover with quiet grace. Blood-red light spills like velvet across sterile white walls, turning fear into something almost beautiful.
And you learn, piece by piece, that sometimes control is just the illusion we cling to while the unknown remakes us into something we no longer recognize.

Control presents a carefully crafted visual design and atmosphere. However, the storytelling feels overly complex and rushed, making it difficult for players to form an emotional connection. The constant reliance on mystery is intriguing at first but gradually loses its impact due to repetition. The excessive number of documents frequently interrupts the flow of action, creating a sense of tonal imbalance. Despite the presence of DLSS support, occasional FPS drops still occur, highlighting areas for technical improvement. That said, Remedy’s creative vision and bold approach are commendable. I’d love to see this universe return in a more refined form.

Every time it gets dull, it gets fun again! Lots of fun powers and an atmosphere just off-putting enough to maintain suspense. Enemy leveling is a tough one though as you never feel invincible, though that also keeps it interesting.

So, after probably a year, I was finally able to complete Control.

"Control" is a game that demands time and attention. It doesn’t tolerate rushing, but it rewards you for immersing yourself in its world. The game is crafted brilliantly: graphics, gameplay, atmosphere — everything is top-notch.

1) The Main Game
The main campaign is a highlight of the experience. Exploring every corner of the Oldest House feels rewarding, as each location has its own unique style and meaning. One of the standout features is how the game doesn’t hold your hand. There’s always a mission to guide you, but how you approach it is entirely up to you. Sooner or later, by exploring the vast environment, you’ll naturally progress through the story.

The game also introduces mechanics gradually, immersing you deeper into its strange and fascinating world. Boss battles are memorable, and the locations are diverse, encouraging curiosity and exploration.

2) DLC: The Foundation
"The Foundation" is an excellent DLC that expands the story and adds new mechanics. However, be prepared to do a lot of running, as you’ll essentially need to explore the map twice if you’re aiming for achievements or collectibles. Despite the extra effort, this DLC feels like a natural extension of the base game, offering even more depth to the world of Control.

3) DLC: AWE
Unfortunately, "AWE" didn’t resonate with me as much as the rest of the game. This DLC leans heavily into the Alan Wake universe, creating a darker, flashlight-focused experience. While technically well-executed, the constant gloom and reliance on light mechanics felt repetitive to me. That said, it’s a short DLC, so it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Fans of Alan Wake might appreciate the crossover elements more than I did.

Overall Experience
All three parts of the game — the main campaign, "The Foundation," and "AWE" — work together harmoniously to create a cohesive and captivating experience. Visually, the game still looks stunning, though some filters may make certain areas feel slightly dated if you look too closely.

The community around the game is fantastic, with players taking full advantage of the photo mode to capture breathtaking screenshots. This adds another layer of appreciation for the game’s atmosphere.

Final Thoughts
In conclusion, "Control" is a masterclass in storytelling, level design, and atmosphere. While some DLCs may appeal more to specific audiences, the overall package is a must-play for fans of action-adventure games. Whether you’re drawn to its mysterious plot, its satisfying combat, or its eerie yet beautiful world, "Control" offers an unforgettable journey into the unknown.