Control (2019)

Since I originally played Control and abandoned it after finding it too difficult, I told myself I'd return to it whenever I could upgrade from my RX 480 to a graphics card capable of raytracing. Even if I couldn't beat it, I wanted to see how raytracing could change the experience.

I managed to get my hands on a 3080ti and am delighted to report the improved framerate from the additional power has made aiming so much easier and taking cover feel so much more responsive. I was able to easily get past my previous save file and unlock the abilities that make dispatching low-level enemies trivial. Turns out, I needed stable performance allow me to better control Control (and I didn't need a controller!).

Raytracing-wise, everything feels incredibly soft in the best possible way. Shadows feel draped across the world. Reflective mirrors look haunting but...familiar? Concrete even feels different. It's hard to explain and I'm excited to have had my previous experience with the RX480 to compare to the RTX 3080ti.

It's Prey (2017), but worst. (Bioshock? Meh, few similarities.)

The map sucks. You have so many little stairs and corridors, and you can't see the level below or on top of you. The point control and elevator icons are the same color, you have to hover your mouse over it to make sure which is which. You're interrupted in the main mission by a secondary mission with a timer, no idea why. Is it to fend off the hiss? Is to recapture a point that is lost? No one knows but you have to do it or else... nothing. There is no consequences. But if you die you fail the mission. ???

The cover system sucks. A lot of low walls half covers. The game wants you to keep moving, but what do you gain from leaving cover? Nothing.

Recovering health by hiding, health item, going back to a control point? Nooo. You have to get close to the corpse of an enemy, Doom-like. Are you rewarded for it? No, you get thrashed by rockets with no warning.

Ah yes, the telekinesis power that gets stopped by the little barrier in front of you. Always a pleasure.

The combat system has cool powers, but 1 year after release, it's barely playable. Such a waste.

I know the first part of my 'in-depth' analysis of Control was inusual. Instead of really talking of the themes and symbolism of the game, I focused on its relation with Alan Wake and the 'Remedy Connected Universe'.

I'll be honest, that was what the website asked from me, but in this second part I was finally able to write about what the game is "really" about. I've really wanted to talk about this for a long time.

Here's the second part of my in-depth analysis of Control. I hope you like! (it's in spanish, as usual).

Control is a fantastic concept, acted out by pretty OK characters, wrapped in boring combat.

I can't rate this game, because I didn't play it the intended way. 4 hours in I put cheats on and blew through the game. My favorite parts of it were exploring and uncovering secrets about the world, and I'm glad I cheated because I know what I like, and dull, pointless combat is not something I like. Control should have been an adventure game or, hell, even a TV show.

Also, I feel that it succumbs to the curse of the cosmic thriller. It is nearly impossible to end these stories in a way that's satisfying, because the interest builds from a sense of the unknowable, the unfathomable. That said, I found Control's ending to be especially limp, even given that I was planning on giving it some grace here. I feel like absolutely nothing was explained or expanded upon. Sure, you don't have to explain a lot, but I mean almost nothing was explained. It pretty much shrugs at you and says "I dunno, lol, buy the DLC, maybe there'll be something there."

Also the FMV cutscenes with Dr. Darling are cringey. He's not a good actor, and some of the game's writing comes off as amateurish, so those combined make for some bad moments. The acting in general isn't great. The actor who plays Jesse is fantastic, though.

I'm not going to formally rate it, because I don't think it's fair to the game because I cheated. However if I was going to rate my time with the game, I'd say 3/5, with all of those points being from the world and concepts. Also worth noting is that it runs very poorly on PS4. Pausing the games makes it feel like it's going to crash.

I'm playing the DLC (thanks PS Plus) and absolutely in love again.

The Foundation was a really cool exploration of the areas below the Oldest House and AWE is creeping me out with its own 'nemesis-like' monster and references to Alan Wake.

I'm enjoying playing as Jesse so much that I'm dreading the moment I finish the extra content and there's no more Control again.

4 or so hours in. I feel the game is seriously bogged down by its own gameplay. Shooting dudes is boring as hell in Control (using telekinesis is cool, though, but does get old), but the story and world I find very fascinating. I think I'm going to put it on "one hit kill" mode and just plow through the slog of combat. The load times are crazy long, so when you die it really sucks.

So far, I feel Control should have been an adventure game, not a shooter.