Critics received Control Resonant well - the game scored 84 points on Metacritic
Remedy Entertainment’s upcoming title Control Resonant, due September 24, is already drawing a polarized critical response. The average score on Metacritic settled at 84 out of 100, but individual reviews range from ecstatic to harsh.
At the high end, VGC awarded a perfect 100, praising the studio’s risk-taking and presentation:
Control Resonant takes risks by choosing a new genre, and it pays off. A star-studded cast and one of the best art direction achievements of the year make a sequel that develops the original ideas and delivers even more special moments. Make time for this game this year — you won’t regret it.
Vice also gave the game 100, calling it both inventive and Remedy’s best work:
Incredibly engaging movement mechanics and thrilling action — one of the most inventive action-RPGs I’ve played in years, and Remedy’s best work to date.
PSX Brasil landed at 90, highlighting the sequel’s expansion of the original while retaining familiar elements:
An excellent sequel that expands the universe of the first game, changing and adding new elements without losing the familiar essence. The music makes the gameplay even more captivating, and the visual details delight. A must for fans of the original Control.
More critical takes appear lower on the scale. PlayStation LifeStyle scored Control Resonant 70 and complained about pacing and repetitive encounters:
Not a bad game, but not the Control sequel we were waiting for. Combat encounters are repetitive and lack depth, the open world feels outdated, and the story pacing falters — a 15-hour story stretched out to over 30 hours.
Gamers Heroes, also at 70, acknowledged strong storytelling but faulted the open world design:
Control Resonant is another Remedy Entertainment masterpiece in terms of storytelling, but its potential is overshadowed by a completely detached open world.
ComicBook’s review was the most negative, giving the game 2 out of 5 and criticizing the shift in combat:
The shift to melee combat is a terrible waste of Remedy’s talent. Fights are thoughtless, repetitive, and shallow, and the balance leaves much to be desired.
Despite the disagreement over mechanics and structure, critics converge on one point: the visuals and the game world receive near-universal praise. Reviewers singled out Distorted Manhattan, gravity shifts, vertical exploration, and absurd side quests as elements that combine into a “paranormal attraction” that’s hard to put down.
Ultimately, Control Resonant represents a pronounced change in Remedy’s approach — emphasizing melee combat, an open world, and a departure from more “classic” Control design — and whether it becomes a standout of the year or a divisive misstep appears to depend on players’ willingness to accept that new formula.
Control Resonant launches on September 24 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.