Control Resonant Review Leak Points to Strong Combat, Solid Performance, and a Familiar Story Concern
Control Resonant is still days away from launch, but an early review leak has already given fans a glimpse of what to expect from Remedy Entertainment’s next supernatural action game. The official review embargo is set to lift on September 18 at 9 AM EST, ahead of the game’s September 24 release, but an Argentinian outlet briefly posted a Metacritic score before removing it.
While the full review was not available for long, the summary suggests that Control Resonant could be a confident and ambitious follow-up, especially for players interested in faster combat, larger environments, and a darker new chapter in the Faden family story.
This time, players step into the role of Dylan Faden, Jesse Faden’s younger brother. Rather than returning to the more contained structure of the original Control, Resonant reportedly shifts the action to a haunted version of Manhattan. The setting appears to be more open and expansive, giving players more room to explore while still preserving the strange, unsettling atmosphere that helped define the series.
One of the biggest changes is the combat system. Instead of relying mainly on ranged supernatural powers and gunplay, Dylan takes a more direct approach. Melee combat plays a major role, centered around the Aberrant, a shapeshifting weapon that can adapt during fights. According to the leaked review summary, battles are described as entertaining and comparable in energy to stylish action games like Devil May Cry.
That comparison should catch the attention of action fans. A faster, more aggressive combat system could make Control Resonant feel significantly different from its predecessor, while still keeping the eerie tone and reality-bending world that players expect from Remedy.
Performance has also been a major question ahead of release. The original Control was praised for its visual ambition, but it also pushed hardware hard at launch. With Control Resonant adopting a broader, more open-ended design, some players were concerned about frame rates and technical stability.
The early review summary offers encouraging news, calling the game’s technical performance solid. Console players on PS5 will reportedly have access to two visual modes: a 1440p mode targeting 60 frames per second and a 4K mode targeting 30 frames per second. It remains unclear which version was tested in the leaked review, but the positive performance note should ease some concerns.
Not every aspect sounds equally strong, however. The story may be one of the more divisive parts of Control Resonant. The original game earned praise for its bizarre environments, mysterious lore, and paranormal concepts, but some players felt the dialogue and narrative pacing were uneven. The leaked summary suggests that Resonant may face a similar issue, with the story described as repetitive, particularly in its early hours.
Remedy has also introduced more role-playing elements this time around. Dylan can be customized through skills and upgrades, giving players more control over how he develops throughout the campaign. How well these RPG systems blend with the new melee-focused combat will likely be a major factor in the final critical reception.
The early score reportedly listed for Control Resonant was 80 out of 100. That places it close to the original Control’s overall critical standing and suggests a strong, if not flawless, sequel. For many fans, the biggest question will be whether the new direction feels like a natural evolution or a risky departure from what made the first game memorable.
Commercially, Control Resonant already appears to have momentum. Remedy previously stated that the game had surpassed 1.5 million wishlists across platforms by August 11, indicating strong interest before launch. However, physical edition buyers will need to wait longer, as the disc version for PlayStation 5 and Xbox has been delayed until October 15.
With its haunted Manhattan setting, Dylan Faden as the new lead, revamped melee combat, and promising performance reports, Control Resonant is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing action games of September. If the leaked impressions are accurate, fans can expect a bolder and more aggressive sequel that keeps the series’ strange atmosphere intact, even if its storytelling may not win everyone over.
