Control Resonant launches September 24 with expanded Manhattan exploration and melee-focused combat

Control Resonant, the sequel to Remedy Entertainment's sci-fi action thriller Control, launches on PlayStation 5 on September 24. The game shifts the setting from the mysterious Oldest House to Manhattan, where protagonist Dylan searches for his sister Jesse while navigating terrifying entities and mind-bending cityscapes.

Dylan serves as the game's reluctant hero. Shy and hesitant after years spent in a coma and incarcerated by the FBC, he contrasts sharply with his confident older sister Jesse from the first game. Despite his uncertainness, Dylan possesses far greater mobility than Jesse, essential for exploring the expansive Manhattan environment. His traversal abilities include a double jump that elevates him to building rooftops, an air dash mapped to Circle, and a rapid dash that leaves an afterimage trail. Unlockable abilities like a grappling hook called Reach expand his movement options further. His clumsy animation style when using these powers grounds his character, with staggers, wobbles, and awkward falls after long descents replacing typical superhero landings.

The game maintains Control's surreal, horror-tinged sci-fi tone while exploring themes of social exclusion. Dylan encounters other characters deemed unworthy by society, and his relationship with his handler Zoe reflects this emotional core. Optional mini-quests let players shape Dylan's personality through dialogue choices and memory-based environmental puzzles. In one example, players can rescue inanimate cats and craft a feline picnic area based on Dylan's childhood drawing.

Combat requires precision and strategy rather than aggressive tactics. Dylan's paranatural abilities lean toward melee engagement, demanding close-range encounters with the Hiss entities that roam the city. Dodging and powerful strikes form the foundation of survival, with environmental cover from bus shelters and abandoned trucks providing defensive options. Dylan's shapeshifting Aberrant weapon supports two forms, each customizable with status effects like burn and infect, plus perks affecting cooldowns and damage. Combat Abilities, mapped to a bonus slot, include shields, projectile barrages, or environment-constructed allies, each providing haptic feedback via the DualSense Controller's Adaptive Triggers. Power generation through melee attacks feeds into chainable execution moves triggered via L3 on stunned opponents. Six total Aberrant configurations unlock dozens of loadout combinations, alongside multiple skill trees that expand tactical flexibility significantly beyond the first game.

Manhattan exploration unfolds through focused sandboxes rather than a traditional open world. Mission variety ranges from combat-driven objectives like clearing Hiss-infested areas to environmental puzzles and machine construction tasks. Zoe's radio chatter broadcasts through the DualSense speaker during relevant tasks. Players can prioritize missions, choosing between main story progression, searching for Jesse, or engaging side stories. Unlockable arcade cabinets in each zone offer timed skill challenges as rewards.

The game preserves Control's Brutalist-inspired architecture and unsettling atmosphere while introducing the Resonants, colossal and deeply unsettling boss encounters. These encounters range from traditional fights to unconventional confrontations that subvert player expectations. Reality-warping elements appear throughout, including gravity-distorted Inception-like areas where the city folds in on itself, hallucinatory jump scares, sudden announcements from The Board, and ground-shaking arrivals of misshapen enemies.