Control Resonant is a great game — it’s even better when you read everything
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Kallie Plagge
Control Resonant expands on the lore of its predecessor by rewarding players who engage with extensive in-game documentation. The game masterfully blends high-stakes supernatural threats with the mundane humor of bureaucratic paperwork.
The Narrative Depth of Control Resonant
Control Resonant stands as a unique entry in the modern gaming landscape, primarily because it chooses to house its most compelling narrative beats within the mundane confines of physical paperwork. While the overarching plot concerns the fate of the entire world, the game distinguishes itself by grounding this cosmic horror in the day-to-day life of the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC). By forcing players to sift through reams of reports and memos, the developers have successfully mirrored the experience of working within a massive, shadowy government agency.
Bureaucracy as World-Building
The FBC is portrayed not just as a site of supernatural containment, but as a deeply entrenched, old-school bureaucratic institution. This choice is significant because it highlights the friction between the incomprehensible nature of the entities the Bureau studies and the rigid, human-made systems used to categorize them. The reliance on heavily redacted documents creates a sense of mystery, forcing the player to act as an investigator rather than just a passive observer of the game's unfolding events.
The Value of Optional Lore
One of the most striking aspects of Control Resonant is the optional nature of its text-based storytelling. While the game provides an action-oriented experience, the true depth of the world—including unexpected elements like hidden love stories—is tucked away in miscellaneous snippets of paper. This design choice rewards curiosity, transforming the act of reading into an essential gameplay mechanic for those looking to fully comprehend the game's atmosphere and character motivations.
Connecting to the 2019 Predecessor
Building upon the foundation laid by the 2019 title Control, Resonant continues the tradition of blending Remedy Entertainment’s signature clever, often darkly humorous writing with a surreal aesthetic. The continuity between the two games demonstrates a commitment to a cohesive universe where the mundane and the otherworldly coexist. For returning players, the familiarity of the FBC’s administrative nightmare feels like a natural evolution of the lore.
The Challenge of Information Overload
Despite the brilliance of the writing, the sheer volume of documentation can be overwhelming. The process of sorting through these files is a deliberate choice by the developers to emphasize the scale of the FBC's responsibilities. It forces players to reckon with the sheer amount of data the Bureau handles, effectively making the player feel the weight of the agency's mission to contain objects and entities that defy scientific explanation.
Conclusion: A Masterclass in Environmental Storytelling
Ultimately, Control Resonant proves that high-stakes gaming does not require a sacrifice of narrative complexity. By utilizing the medium of internal memos and reports, the game elevates its world-building far beyond standard genre tropes. It serves as a reminder that the best stories are often found in the margins, and in the case of the Federal Bureau of Control, those margins are filled with enough paperwork to keep any player busy for a lifetime.