Control

Control Review
Note: The game was beaten on Series X, then played some on PC.
Introduction
Control is a third-person action game in the universe of the Alan Wake series, a popular supernatural thriller game. It focuses on Jesse Faden, a woman who finds herself in the FBC (Federal Bureau of Control) as she searches for her missing brother. As the Bureau is under a lockdown due to supernatural phenomena and the FBC is in dire straits, Faden will have to embark on a paranormal adventure to find her brother and discover the FBC's secrets and their involvement in her life.
Control and Gameplay
The game is an action shooter game; the player moves around, dodges projectiles, and shoots the enemy. What makes Control cool is that it puts a big emphasis on the surroundings for all battles. Faden can control objects with telekinesis, launching them at enemies at will. The ability is functional because it can, for example, throw giant boulders at foes to shred through their armor, and you can even catch rocket launchers and reverse their direction to the enemy.
Control also has more variations in its dynamic combat. Weapons can change forms, Faden can equip mods to enhance her stats, abilities, or weapons, and enemies feature unique behaviors and tactics. Combine that with an ever-changing maze, The FBC, which constantly shifts and rearranges its layout, and you have exciting combat that requires creativity and a strategic approach to its core. The environments can also have multiple floors, so using cover or attacking from different altitude levels influences the game.
Strong Points
The game's strong points are the graphics and gameplay. It is fun to play as you find different entities to combat or avoid, while the graphics are beautiful, especially when maxed out and using Ray Tracing. Control environments use a lot of gray and red to dictate whether a space is safe or dangerous as corruption spreads across the FBC, resulting in the player's association of color and areas.
The story is also solid and exciting, as expected from the developer Remedy. The characters are interesting, and the lore of the FBC is even more. There are expositions to the nature of the experiments, which involve bizarre and often humorous videos created by Dr. Darling, the FBC's head of research. These videos and the extra information files are a treasure trove for those who want to delve deeper into the lore. Alan Wake as a series and a continuity is explored to a lesser degree, but it still shows up in the game to set up events for Alan Wake 2.
Sound, Replayability and Performance
The sound of Control emphasizes its eeriness, suggesting that something is very wrong with the FBC. Disturbing sounds, industrial noises, and enemies can be heard in the background. Faden's abilities also boast impressive sound effects, resulting in a more immersive experience. The music can change from creepy ambient noises to dynamic pump action, depending on what is going on the screen. Lastly, the voice acting is excellent, as the characters sound authentic.
Regarding replayability, the game is on the short end of the spectrum, with 8-11 hours for the main storyline and 13-15 if you do the side missions. Adding the DLC can increase the playtime to 14-18 hours. Other than beating the main game, there is no reason to replay the game, so the replayability of this title could be higher.
With its stunning graphics and immersive gameplay, Control demands the best from your setup to run everything at max. While the Ray Tracing feature enhances the visual experience, it can be quite taxing on computers, necessitating a powerful PC.
Conclusion
Control is an incredible game that excels in all facets: superb gameplay, fantastic looks, and a solid story and sound design. The title is a love letter to those who love the supernatural and enjoy abnormalities such as SCP. The environments can always be used creatively to take down enemies, and the exploration requires careful analysis of the layout of the FBC to navigate it. Few games can be as perfect as Control to deliver fantastic quality for the player.
9/10 AMAZING
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Go into the game blind.
There's not enough good things I can say about this game. If we see a better more inventive game than Control in our lifetime, we'll be lucky. It's basically perfect. Best video game story since Half Life, IMO.

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.

Control didn't immediately click for me; maybe it was because of the story or the labyrinthine nature of the environments, but my first time playing Control wasn't a compelling experience. I am very grateful that I gave it a second chance because Control is a fantastic game. The combat is thrilling, challenging, fluid, and progressively more fun as you level up your powers. The story is confusing at times, but the world and the storytelling are intriguing and thought-provoking, and having played through the main story and the DLC, I have actually been converted to Remedy's unique brand of story. I eagerly await a sequel if it ever ends up on the agenda for Remedy, but it was a worthwhile experience on its own and is one of the rare games that left me with the desire to continue playing even after I played through all of the major content.

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.

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.

The worst thing about this game is that I can only play it for the first time once.
(ive played it on playstation and on epic games and hoping to finish a full replay on steam soon)