Much like Alan Wake, Control strikes me as a game that some people really love while others don’t connect to it as much. That’s strangely where the links end for me though, since I think they’re very different games despite being made by the same studio AND being directly related.

The gameplay is really smooth. I like the enemy variety, gunplay, and all the powers you add to your kit. The setting also feels cool, balancing areas that purposely feel sterile with one filled with life, and the story does feel like it’s convoluted on purpose sometimes but I think works with all the theming.

My biggest gripe is surprisingly the progression of said story. It feels clunky with random side missions, and the main story concludes feeling rushed. I also hate the map system like it’s actually a nightmare in some areas to figure out how to get somewhere. So while I definitely liked Control, it holds itself back too much for it to be truly great.