Remedy has always made compelling standalone games, but it didn’t make an expansive video game universe until it created “Control.” The 2019 title married the action elements the studio did well with an excellent, evocative storytelling. The result was a big bang that connected disparate parts of its franchises.

It tied the supernatural happenings of “Alan Wake” to a larger world, and at the center is Jesse Fadden, who leads the Federal Bureau of Control. The secret government agency investigates paranatural happenings and sends out teams to deal with them. It’s what would happen if you gave Fox Mulder and Dana Scully an unlimited budget and near-limitless freedom.

WAKING UP TO A WIDER WORLD

The first game took place in the Oldest House, a brutalist building in New York, where Jesse faced off against her brother Dylan Fadden and the Hiss, an entity that invaded the FBC headquarters. Jesse saved her sibling, removing its influence on him, and contained the malevolence’s invasion to the paranatural building. The game was notable for how it mixed clever gunplay with fantastical abilities.

The sequel, “Control Resonant,” returns players to the Oldest House, but they take on the role of a new protagonist. After seven years in a coma, Dylan Fadden wakes up and learns that his sister has gone missing and that the Hiss have escaped. He ventures outside and finds the Big Apple in chaos as FBC agents tackle strange creatures and an equally weird cityscape.

He meets with his handler Zoe De Vera, and because of his special powers, he’s tasked with figuring out what happened to his sister, fighting the Hiss and investigating a strange phenomenon called the Pattern that has isolated parts of New York and caused neighborhoods to bend at odd angles or repeat as if the city were held against a mirror. The plot point helped the developers condense its open-world New York into a manageable area.

NEW ABILITIES

“Control Resonant” acts as the inverse of the original. Instead of the Service Weapon firearm that Jesse had, Dylan has the Aberrant, an Object of Power that turns into a melee weapon. Rather than the claustrophobic confines of the Oldest House, he’ll explore its antithesis: A wide-open and topsy-turvy New York.

Off the bat, players will receive a series of powers that let them explore the world. Dylan can double jump, dash and float for a short period. He also gains more traversal abilities as they explore the city. Shift lets him take advantage of gravitational anomalies and walk on walls and ceilings. It’s disorienting, but fans of the cult classic “Gravity Rush” should have no problem adapting to the inventive gameplay and exploration opportunities.

Another ability, Reach, lets Dylan grab translucent points to reach rooftops and other areas quickly. It’s the fastest way to climb buildings and explore New York’s skyline. Don’t expect Dylan to be flying around with these powers like Spider-Man. With the way the game is structured and designed, it resembles “Tom Clancy’s The Division” but with a supernatural twist. Players will climb midsize buildings or venture into the city’s subway stations and tunnels. It feels more open than the original, with stages that have peculiar designs that challenge expectations and how they read a level.

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF COMBAT

The other part of “Control Resonant” is the combat. With the Aberrant, Dylan has a versatile weapon that can transform into a blade or a hammer. He also picks up new abilities by defeating human-turned-monstrosities called Resonant bosses. These new attacks rely on a resource called Power and add fresh wrinkles to combat. They can protect Dylan from damage or add a status effect such as Burn or Infected to attacks.

Players will have to be careful about which abilities they choose because once made, the decisions are locked in. Players will have to use a Reset Item to rebuild a loadout. The system suits players who love to min-max their characters. They can pair their weapons with artifacts that offer perks when equipped. The weapons and abilities lend themselves to different combat styles and strategies.

Although the combat offers plenty of depth, brawling against the Hiss across New York isn’t as tight and responsive as with other games. Like many Remedy projects, the combat is a bit mushy, as Dylan has to figure out the weaknesses of each enemy type and button-mash to victory. He has a dash that can help him escape danger, and if players can read an enemy’s move, they can perform a perfect dodge and deal more damage. It works well, but the battles can be chaotic with so many enemies attacking from all directions and a camera that doesn’t move swiftly or at the right threat, especially with flying foes.

What “Control Resonant” gets right is the narrative and how it fits into Remedy’s universe. Dylan’s search for his sister is the overarching story, but the journey and side quests are the most interesting elements. Fans of the first game will see returning characters, and Dylan will take on strange investigations involving bizarre Thresholds or creepy Altered Items. They’ll also develop a better sense of his character as they choose his responses and find out how he’s trying to redeem himself from his past actions as a Hiss-controlled villain in the original. It’s a journey worth taking, though it’s not as tight or refreshing as the original.

‘Control Resonant'

3½ stars out of 4

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PC

Rating: Mature

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