Control Resonant Review: Great World, Repetitive Combat
Remedy's Manhattan is strange, dense and worth exploring, but repeated melee fights and durable enemies slow an otherwise strong action RPG.
Control Resonant is worth playing for its world, story and movement. Its melee combat is less convincing. Repeated encounter patterns and durable enemies turn a strong action RPG into a longer game than its systems can support.
This is a research-based Game Pelt review built from current video reviews, written reviews, technical analysis, official information and player-facing evidence. Game Pelt did not claim firsthand play or performance testing.
Manhattan is the reason to keep going
Remedy has built a city that feels connected rather than divided into isolated mission rooms. Movement abilities open routes through damaged streets and impossible interiors, while side content gives the setting enough density to reward leaving the main path.
The story also works because it does not simply repeat Jesse Faden's arc. Dylan has a different relationship with the Federal Bureau of Control, and the crisis gives him room to be more than a returning plot device.
Melee combat starts well and repeats too often
The new close-range system has useful abilities, weapon forms and crowd-control options. The problem is encounter frequency. Several independent reviews describe enemies absorbing too much damage and later fights repeating the same pressure without enough new tactical demands.
Progression takes too long to expose the best options
The combat improves as the ability set expands, but the opening hours restrict that flexibility. An action RPG can ask players to build toward depth; it should not make the early game feel incomplete while doing so.
Navigation remains harder than it should be
The connected city is visually impressive, but maps and objective routing do not always communicate its layers clearly. Exploration should reward attention. It should not depend on guessing which vertical route the interface failed to explain.
Verdict
Buy Control Resonant if Remedy's worldbuilding, altered spaces and supernatural story are the main attraction. Wait for a sale if repetitive melee encounters or inflated enemy health regularly kill your interest. The game is good, but its combat keeps interrupting its best work.