Control Resonant Director Discusses Choice to Avoid Yellow Paint Level Design

Remedy Entertainment's Control Resonant launched recently to positive reviews from both players and critics. Following the release, the game's director, Mikael Kasurinen, appeared on the Dropping Frames podcast to discuss various level design choices behind the title. A central topic of discussion was the team's conscious decision to avoid using yellow paint, which is a common visual indicator used in modern video games to help players navigate detailed environments.

Expanding the environment from the indoor spaces of The Oldest House to the Pattern-warped streets of Manhattan presented a complex challenge. In this version of New York City, conventional definitions of up and down no longer apply, and players must run, fly, and alter gravity to navigate orthogonally-adjusted areas. Kasurinen acknowledged that this design choice risked making the game impenetrable, but emphasized that omitting yellow-colored visual markers was a deliberate decision.

According to Kasurinen, excessive signposting can make players feel as though the game has already decided their path for them. By taking away those visual markers, the developers wanted players to feel like they were actively figuring out how to explore the environment themselves. He noted that there is value in feeling like you found your own way from point A to point B without explicit guidance.

To prevent the world from becoming completely inscrutable without signposting, Remedy utilized alternative techniques. For instance, the team maintained a consistent point of gravity that guides the environmental effects of rain and wind, helping players stay oriented in the otherworldly realm. Kasurinen explained that these methods effectively replaced the standard signposting found in other big budget games.

The choice arrives amid ongoing industry discussions regarding the use of navigational aids. UI designer Ed Coates previously discussed in a 2024 IGN video how players have come to rely on a shared visual language where specific markings indicate climbable surfaces. By removing these cues, Remedy forced players to operate not only against the friction of the game world, but also against expectations built from other titles.

Kasurinen stated that his goal was to encourage players to question their own choices and explore different approaches. He wants people to doubt themselves, return to areas, and check what they could do differently because that engagement makes the experience more interesting. If players want to get the most out of the world, they have to actively participate.