RTX-cellent
Control
Genre: Action adventure
Similar: Quantum Break, Alan Wake
Graphics: Beautiful, one of the best reasons to own an RTX card
Gameplay: Third-person shooter, exploration, puzzle elements, telepathically throwing things
Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake and Quantum Break are both firmly in the “love it or hate it” category, but opinion isn’t split with its latest title: Control. The studio once again puts players in a weird, X-Files/Twilight Zone-esque setting, which actually takes place in the same universe as Alan Wake, and it’s truly something to behold.
At its core, this is an adventure shooter game with RPG and puzzle elements in which you fight off invading creatures from an alternate dimension, but it’s also much more than that. Set (almost) entirely inside a giant office building called the Oldest House, its world is an amazing place to explore, both visually and in terms of design.
In addition to the twisting, film-style plot and characters that could have come straight from a sci-fi show, Control’s combat is where it excels. Once you’ve unlocked all of protagonist Jesse’s abilities, you’ll be levitating through the air, telepathically hurling objects and controlling the minds of the Hiss like you’re one of the X-Men.
The RPG elements are another plus, allowing you to tailor Jesse to compliment your particular play style, and upgrading the different versions of your service weapon is immensely satisfying. Control is also one of those rare games where it’s worth reading all the material you discover. These documents paint a picture of the world and the Federal Bureau of Control’s role within it, as well as offering clues on what to do.
Graphically, Control looks amazing, and is probably the best game to date for showing off ray tracing effects, with plenty of mirrors, water, shadows, and global illumination demonstrating what Nvidia’s RTX cards are capable of.
More enemy types would be appreciated, the ending doesn’t quite match the quality of the rest of the game, and even the meatiest of PCs can experience performance issues and stuttering, but Control remains a fantastic experience that will keep you smiling throughout. It's no wonder Epic paid $10.5 million for the game's exclusive rights.
