Control

About Control

Remedy Entertainment dropped this supernatural third-person action game in August 2019 under the 505 Games banner. You play as Jesse Faden, a new Director trying to take back a secret agency in New York from an alien invasion. The story follows her personal search for answers while she uncovers secrets and strange experiments alongside other Bureau agents. This title launched on PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, and later Series X|S and PS5. It stands out as a single-player experience where you explore shifting environments and fight off paranatural threats using telekinetic powers and weapons that react to the chaos around you.

Gameplay

You navigate the Oldest House with a floating camera behind your back while juggling physics-based combat. You shoot enemies with a service weapon while blasting objects or walls with Telekinesis to create cover or throw debris at foes. The game lets you modify loadouts by equipping different skills that change how you move and fight, such as shielding yourself or launching enemies into the air. Combat feels reactive since you can smash through glass or knock over heavy furniture to block attacks. You spend most of your time searching rooms for documents and upgrading abilities at service points scattered throughout the facility. The movement system includes sprinting, sliding, and wall running to cross the labyrinthine corridors quickly.

What Players Think

Critics gave Control solid scores with an 84 on Metacritic and an 83.3 average from 894 ratings on IGDB. PlayPile users describe the vibe as intense or atmospheric, with four votes for intensity and three for atmosphere. The community plays through this game fairly thoroughly since the average playtime suggests a complete run of the campaign. Players have unlocked 67 achievements, though only 30.2% unlock them on average. The hardest challenge remains "Vending Spree" at just a 3.30% completion rate, proving that even veterans struggle with specific tasks. Review snippets indicate players appreciate the weird science fiction setting and the fluid combat mechanics more than any linear narrative beats.

PlayPile's Take

You should buy Control if you want a solid single-player shooter with great environmental puzzles and distinct powers. The price sits at $5.99 on GOG, which represents an 85% discount from its historical low. This deal makes the 67 achievements worth chasing since completing them offers real value for completionists. The game does not hold your hand during exploration, so you need patience to find all collectibles and secrets. Jesse Faden remains a compelling protagonist as she navigates the bureaucracy of a supernatural agency. Do not expect a multiplayer mode or endless replayability beyond the main story and skill upgrades.

Storyline

After a secretive agency in New York is invaded by an otherworldly threat, you become the new Director struggling to regain Control. Control is Jesse Faden’s story and her personal search for answers as she grows into the role of the Director. The world of Control has its own story, as do the allies Jesse meets along the way. Jesse works with other Bureau agents and discovers strange experiments and secrets.