Control is a wild ride through a twisted world of mystery and power, delivering an experience that not only captivates but also feels like a love letter to Remedy Entertainment's past works. Coming right out of Quantum Break, I was thrilled to hear echoes of Beth Wilder in Jesse, a clever nod by Remedy to their own universe despite not having the rights to the IP.

From the get-go, the game's visuals, enhanced by ray tracing, are nothing short of breathtaking. This was my first experience with a game truly built to utilize ray tracing and I could not have asked for a better way to test out my new hardware. Every detail, from the vintage designs to the font choices, adds to the immersive experience. And speaking of immersion, the integration of game mechanics into the narrative is genius. It's like the game acknowledges its own existence, making the experience seamless and organic.

Let's talk about those powers! Telekinesis felt so satisfying, especially as you unlock and upgrade skills throughout the game. It's a testament to Remedy's expertise in combat mechanics, building upon what worked in Quantum Break and refining it to near perfection. I absolutely have to mention the Ashtray Maze, it’s up there with some of my favorite moments in gaming and had me smiling at my screen.

Exploration is rewarded generously, with no fear of missing out on anything which is huge for me in games. Lore, world-building, and environmental storytelling are everywhere, enriching the experience and making every corner worth exploring.

The nods to Remedy's universe? They're everywhere, from subtle Easter eggs like a reference to a book I’ve read authored by a character in the Alan Wake games to major plot points with the AWE DLC. It's like a treasure hunt for fans, deepening the connection to the world of the game.

The DLCs, Foundation and AWE, further expand the story and gameplay, introducing new abilities and tying in elements from Alan Wake seamlessly. The Foundation was a great way to expand on the base game’s story and I enjoyed the inclusion of Marshall as a key character. The horror elements in AWE are particularly fun, and the inclusion of familiar themes and gameplay mechanics from Alan Wake was done well. I can only imagine how the ending must have felt prior to the announcement and release of Alan Wake 2.

Overall, Control is a masterpiece that continues to showcase Remedy's talent for storytelling, gameplay, and world-building. With its thrilling combat, immersive world, and nods to its own universe, it's a must-play for fans and newcomers alike.

Quantum Break offers a fantastic blend of gaming and live-action storytelling that had me hooked from the start. One of the first things that struck me was how well the visuals held up for a 2016 release. I feel that usually games that opted for more realistic graphics at the time suffer when looking back at them, but this was not the case here. Aside from eye candy; the game boasts an impressive cast that brings depth and authenticity to the characters.

The narrative is where Quantum Break truly shines, seamlessly weaving together gameplay and live-action episodes to create an immersive experience. It seems like it was a love or hate thing, but the risk of using live action episodes between each act really worked for me. I also enjoyed the gameplay of mixing gunplay with time-bending abilities a lot more than I thought I would.

However, the game isn't without its flaws. While I appreciated the rich lore and environmental storytelling scattered throughout the world, I often felt rushed to move on by other NPCs, even when I wanted to take my time to explore and absorb the details. This tension between wanting to delve deeper into the lore and the pressure to keep moving forward sometimes detracted from the experience, although it did improve towards the end of the game as I became more comfortable with the pacing.

Additionally, I encountered occasional issues with repeated dialogue during exploration, which broke immersion and pulled me out of the experience. Despite these drawbacks, Quantum Break remains underrated in my opinion.

Bonus points go to the soundtrack, which features a track from Paramore. And of course, a special shoutout to Beth Wilder, who has my whole heart.