Control Ultimate Edition

Control Ultimate Edition is the complete edition of Control, a TPP action game released in August 2019 by the Finnish Remedy Entertainment studio, creators of Alan Wake, Quantum Break and the first two installments of the cult Max Payne series. The game offers an atmosphere like from The X-Files TV series. The Ultimate edition includes a basic version of the game with all updates, additional modes (Expeditions, Horde, Photo) and feature add-ons (The Foundation and AWE).

Plot

In Control, we play the role of a woman named Jesse Faden who goes to a secret agency in New York City called the Federal Bureau of Control in order to deal with the issues of her past. When she visits headquarters, a huge concrete skyscraper known as the Oldest House, this place becomes a target for invading powers outside this world. Under unclear circumstances, the director of the agency dies, and as a result of strange rituals governing the Federal Bureau of Control, Jesse takes over this function. Thus, it is her responsibility to neutralize the aggressors.

In the first expansion, Control: The Foundation, we play Jesse Faden again. The plot focuses on an attempt to find the missing board member, Helen Marshall, who disappeared during the events presented in the main game. This woman follows the orders of Zachariah Trench - Jesse's deceased predecessor (the former director of the Federal Bureau of Control) - and probably has knowledge of the source of all paranormal events in the building where the game takes place.

In the second and final feature DLC, Control: AWE, we once again control Jesse Faden, the protagonist of the main game. The director of the Federal Bureau of Control must go to the Investigations Sector to find a mysterious creature who has long been sitting in a closed and abandoned area.

To regain control of this sector, Faden is investigating a number of Altered World Events, including one from Alan Wake's famous Bright Falls.

Control: AWE is the first "crossover" event as part of the Remedy Connected Universe and combines the Control storyline with another Remedy Entertainment studio game, Alan Wake.

Control Ultimate Edition allows you to get to know the complete story of the game by Remedy Entertainment studio, completed by several hours of add-ons.

Mechanics

Control is a shooter, in which the action is observed from a camera placed behind the heroine's back. However, the game is far from typical TPP shooters. This is because Jesse is not only armed with a futuristic pistol, but also has special powers, including telekinesis, which allows us to e.g. hit our enemies with objects or levitation, thanks to which we can reach inaccessible places.

Thanks to Jesse's powers, the gameplay in Control focuses on dynamic combat, where we also use a range of special abilities, customizable equipment and an interactive environment.

Unusual and disturbing atmosphere of the game is added by locations inspired by the architectural style known as brutalist. Their shapes are changing and most often this happens in front of us, providing a strongly surrealistic experience. This also affects the gameplay, as the level maps are not static, and the interior of the Oldest House is much larger than its external dimensions suggest.

The structure of gameplay in Control is similar to a metroidvania game, as the player gets a lot of freedom to explore and often has to return to previously visited places in order to reach previously unavailable locations thanks to new abilities.

Updates and add-ons, which are included in Control Ultimate Edition, have brought new content, including Expeditions (we perform special missions for which we receive unique modifications), Horde and Photo Mode. In both DLCs, we visit new locations, and we have put at our disposal capabilities not previously available (e.g. Shape, which we influence the shape of elements of the environment) and weapons (Fracture and Surge), which facilitate the fight against new types of enemies (Airborne Ranger).

Technical aspects

Control, like the rest of the games from Remeda's studio, offers realistic graphics with a strong emphasis on the characters and facial expressions. The game, which was created on the original Northlight Engine, also supports ray tracing technique. The add-ons do not improve the visual setting in any way.

Owners of Control Ultimate Edition on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have received a free update on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Next-generation console versions boast improved graphics, higher animation fluidity and shorter loading times.