Control

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 2611 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,692 out of 2611
  2. Mixed: 507 out of 2611
  3. Negative: 412 out of 2611
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  1. Denarzi
    Nov 8, 2021
    2
    I cannot believe the amount of positive reviews for this game. (edit: upon reading many of the positive reviews I am actually convinced they were written either by actual AIs, people who didn't even play the game, or just morons.) The writers (both of the reviews and game) should be deeply ashamed. They (the game developers) took a great concept, which they even marketed as based on SCPI cannot believe the amount of positive reviews for this game. (edit: upon reading many of the positive reviews I am actually convinced they were written either by actual AIs, people who didn't even play the game, or just morons.) The writers (both of the reviews and game) should be deeply ashamed. They (the game developers) took a great concept, which they even marketed as based on SCP Foundation, and absolutely ruined it. The main character won't shut the **** up. It's maddening. She constantly narrates everything with the most inane commentary of all time. There is zero immersion because you are not the main character, some moron is. The best parts of the game are totally immolated by this. The gameplay loop is also tragically bad. Run through office space after office space shooting enemies who for some reason take your entire clip to kill, but themselves are armed with SMGs and sometimes even forcefields (that also take your whole clip to bring down). There are no difficulty settings either, except to make yourself invincible or turn on one-hitting. Which of course, ruins any tension in the fights. The dialogue is all poorly written exposition, and then followed by more inane and incredibly annoying narration by the main character. All I could think is "why won't she shut the **** up so I can have my own thoughts about what is happening." The mystery and paranormal intrigue is the only redeeming factor, but they ripped the concepts straight from SCP, which is a much much better use of your time if you enjoy that kind of fiction content, because SCP contains literally thousands of stories, and "objects of power", and this game contains maybe 5 or so. The game's best quality is that it isn't totally linear, and you can explore around and find clues and hints about the mysterious objects and events. But this is not the focus, and there isn't nearly enough of this content to justify the game's existence.

    Do not buy this game. I was lucky that I got it for free from a friend and didn't waste a dime on it    … Expand
  2. userhiljk
    Jun 5, 2023
    1
    Bugs, design choices, and story structure, very bad. The first few hours were nice, the rest of the game, not so much. terrible story and characters
  3. MPK92
    Aug 29, 2023
    10
    Incredible on a technical level. Amazing graphics and particle effects. Extremely interesting and enthralling setting and environments. Weird paranatural story that is engrossing. Satisfying combat and cool powers. Fantastic set piece moments. Interesting characters. Likeable and sympathetic protagonist. A lot of the negative user scores on here and elsewhere are from hatenerds who get madIncredible on a technical level. Amazing graphics and particle effects. Extremely interesting and enthralling setting and environments. Weird paranatural story that is engrossing. Satisfying combat and cool powers. Fantastic set piece moments. Interesting characters. Likeable and sympathetic protagonist. A lot of the negative user scores on here and elsewhere are from hatenerds who get mad at the very existence of female protagonists.… Expand
  4. Havoc-M2
    Aug 31, 2023
    10
    Beautyfull game. Best remedy game in his history off games.................
  5. cinogen
    Sep 3, 2021
    8
    i love game with a great production value and this is exactly it! The game gives a great feeling of being part of a story and at times fells like watching a great movie you take part in.
    i hope more games would take such a creative approach
  6. dryerlaw
    Jun 13, 2020
    10
    A masterpiece in story-telling and combat mechanics. I haven't played a game like this for years.
  7. norse
    Sep 21, 2019
    9
    Great game so far - not giving it a 10 because I haven't finished it yet. It feels a lot like playing the original system shock, except with phenomenal graphics and acting. The story so far is unique and the gameplay is variable enough to not be boring.
  8. drlowdon
    Nov 11, 2022
    7
    Having received a telepathic message Jesse Faden arrives at Federal Bureau of Control looking to find her kidnapped brother.

    The mix of physic abilities and gun-play makes for some enjoyable combat, but the game fails to introduce enough new ideas throughout it’s 12-15 hour run time and the endless grey corridors make for a dull setting.
  9. hoohoo
    Dec 18, 2021
    6
    I guess people who rate this high must not have been gamers for long or are feeling nostalgic. This is a retro game with nice graphics. The map design and puzzles have major lapses and the puzzles are suitable for kids, run back and forth pressing buttons-style. There are issues where you grind some spot only to realise your are not supposed to make it through there until you have aI guess people who rate this high must not have been gamers for long or are feeling nostalgic. This is a retro game with nice graphics. The map design and puzzles have major lapses and the puzzles are suitable for kids, run back and forth pressing buttons-style. There are issues where you grind some spot only to realise your are not supposed to make it through there until you have a mission and then the place changes or some door opens.

    The whole game is a throwback to last millennia, perhaps intentionally. "Let's just make a game like always but with today's graphics". No evolution except in the looks.

    Without spoiling anything, I can say the best moment is the maze. You'll know when you get there.    … Expand
  10. golembiaski84
    Oct 25, 2019
    9
    One of the best game of this year! So surprisingly enjoyable! Pls support the Devs and buy this game! Remedy great job!
  11. Ghoster
    May 10, 2020
    7
    GREAT game, but spoiled with really awful side missions which have none sense except to make platinum harder. Hard bosses in side missions and endless grinding of ability points for "Master Parautilitarian" adds nothing to the story and made only to spend your time grinding for platinum. Without end grind game would be probably 9! If you buy game just to pass story it would be great experience.
  12. jameson95
    Jun 5, 2020
    6
    Really has great potential, but just an immense rushed feeling to the gameplay, plot and design. I think they just needed a few extra months to get this right, but they didn't.

    Pretty darn close to being great, but it's tedious, repetitive, and uninspired.

    After finishing the game, i am even more disappointed.
  13. rRondo
    Feb 25, 2023
    9
    I really fall in love with this amazing atmosphere. This story, graphic (or better say graphic design?), characters… everything is incredible in my taste. I really love characters in this game, some of them are just unforgettable (like Anti). And I simply amazed by the sound design in this game. Oh boy. Nothing in my entire life gives me goosebumps like the sound of "hisses" in background,I really fall in love with this amazing atmosphere. This story, graphic (or better say graphic design?), characters… everything is incredible in my taste. I really love characters in this game, some of them are just unforgettable (like Anti). And I simply amazed by the sound design in this game. Oh boy. Nothing in my entire life gives me goosebumps like the sound of "hisses" in background, that makes my blood cold for the entire playthrough.
    -----------------
    Story = 10
    Atmosphere = 10
    Graphics design = 10
    Graphic = 9
    Gameplay = 8
    Characters = 9
    Sound design = 10
    -----------------
    Thanks Remedy, you made yet another masterpiece!    … Expand
  14. Klewer
    Jun 1, 2021
    8
    Great game. Gameplay mechanics are innovative and interesting. With enough varied options to keep you interested and experimenting throughout. Story was a little confusing at times but interesting none the less. Well worth your time.
  15. Inhanzt
    Apr 14, 2021
    5
    Go to X.
    X is not on your map.
    Good luck.
    Repeat.
    Other than that, gameplay isn't good. Cover based shooting without cover.
  16. memus
    Sep 15, 2020
    8
    Impressive and enjoyable game. Remedy is not afraid of original concepts for each new game. And it's great.

    Pros: * Overall design is mesmerizing. Title screens for levels, loading screens, projections. Design in this game is 10/10 * Brutalist architecture is an important element of the game. Feels like Inception or Dr Strange on Soviet drugs. Wonderful staff. * Ahti and his Finnish    Impressive and enjoyable game. Remedy is not afraid of original concepts for each new game. And it's great.

    Pros:
    * Overall design is mesmerizing. Title screens for levels, loading screens, projections. Design in this game is 10/10
    * Brutalist architecture is an important element of the game. Feels like Inception or Dr Strange on Soviet drugs. Wonderful staff.
    * Ahti and his Finnish cursing is love. Also, his singing.
    * Mix of shooting and telekinesis feels great. You need to switch between the two. And the final chaos of battles is energising.

    Cons:
    * On PS4 the frame rate drops in battles. So all the destruction can feel destructing. Also, the game crushed couple of times. So technically it could use some polish.
    * I don't get how FBC can function with their death rate of personnel. Also, no one cares for deaths of their colleagues. So the world feels empty and game-y at times.
    * The level navigation is frustrating after mid-game. Many doors are closed. And with minimalist architecture it's easy to get lost. I wasn't able to remember level layouts even after many hours with the game.    … Expand
  17. chr1so
    Oct 21, 2019
    8
    I still don't know how I feel about this game. I smashed through it without feeling like it was a chore, so I must've I liked it. I think the environment just felt a bit generic or something, can't put my finger on it.
    The story is obviously sci-fi and complicated but gives you just enough to kind've know what's going on.
    The gunplay was excellent. Really satisfying each time a bullet    I still don't know how I feel about this game. I smashed through it without feeling like it was a chore, so I must've I liked it. I think the environment just felt a bit generic or something, can't put my finger on it.
    The story is obviously sci-fi and complicated but gives you just enough to kind've know what's going on.
    The gunplay was excellent. Really satisfying each time a bullet hits. & combined with the other abilities, the combat as a whole is really good. A solid 8 overall for mine    … Expand
  18. PaleNielsen
    Mar 25, 2022
    7
    its a good game. the physics is really good when you break stuff. Some side stories bosses are really great than the main quest bosses to be honest. my only problem is I got motion sickness the first time I played it don't know why.
  19. SCman
    Feb 9, 2021
    5
    The game is not optimized for PS4. FPS drops to 1 frame per second! This is a nightmare that spoils the experience of the game. Although I liked the gameplay itself, due to the technical imperfection of the game for the console, I put 5 points out of 10. It's good that I didn't pay a dollar for the game, but received a Playstation Plus subscription. I think if I paid money for this, thenThe game is not optimized for PS4. FPS drops to 1 frame per second! This is a nightmare that spoils the experience of the game. Although I liked the gameplay itself, due to the technical imperfection of the game for the console, I put 5 points out of 10. It's good that I didn't pay a dollar for the game, but received a Playstation Plus subscription. I think if I paid money for this, then after the launch, seeing an unsuccessful technical condition with a drawdown of personnel, I would return the money and would be very unhappy with the purchase. A game with such unoptimized code should not be available for sale! Despite the fact that I liked the gameplay itself, but the technical bugs are crazy!… Expand
  20. voxy
    Oct 17, 2021
    10
    Great game, I thought it's terrible after one hour, but I was wrong. Really good game, good story and fun gameplay.
  21. Potnoodle999
    Oct 8, 2019
    10
    I honestly can not recommend this game enough. As someone who has played every remedy game (except quantum break as do not have an xone, will play it one day!) I enjoyed it thoroughly. The amount of lore is crazy and it’s all so well thought out intertwines in certain ways with past works.... game is incredible. Also I don’t think I’ve seen a game show what it would be like to haveI honestly can not recommend this game enough. As someone who has played every remedy game (except quantum break as do not have an xone, will play it one day!) I enjoyed it thoroughly. The amount of lore is crazy and it’s all so well thought out intertwines in certain ways with past works.... game is incredible. Also I don’t think I’ve seen a game show what it would be like to have superpowers as well as this has.... since maybe infamous. Although spider man was incredible also to be fair. The gunplay and powers and the way it all plays in fantastic. If you haven’t played their other works the game is still an absolute blast anyway! Play this now, if you like mystery and intriguing storylines you can’t miss this one!… Expand
  22. ammilner
    Mar 11, 2020
    8
    The first time I loaded up "Control" I was immediately struck by how harsh and eerie The Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) was. It loomed before the protagonist, Jesse Faden, like an all knowing monolith out of Stanley Kubrik’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” and brought with it all the haunting imagery and atmosphere that a creative work about the fragility of our world ought to.

    Remedy has    The first time I loaded up "Control" I was immediately struck by how harsh and eerie The Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) was. It loomed before the protagonist, Jesse Faden, like an all knowing monolith out of Stanley Kubrik’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” and brought with it all the haunting imagery and atmosphere that a creative work about the fragility of our world ought to.

    Remedy has always taken an interest in exploring the “other” world. Whether it be the Horror Fiction landscape come to life through the mind of a potentially crazed writer in “Alan Wake”, the staggering complications of what would happen if time travel really was harnessed in “Quantum Break”, or even the meta narrative on society and narcissism in the original “Max Payne” games, Remedy has always strived to explore the unexplainable.

    The thing that most impressively differentiates "Control" from Remedy’s other work, and the work of other 3rd-person action games as a whole, is that "Control" is incredibly effective at conveying the atmosphere it set out to create. I think it speaks volumes to the fact that this is Remedy’s first run at publishing a game on a smaller budget in favor of creative freedom because "Control" has a world and lore that so detailed, I feel like I spent half of my time playing just reading the case files and other hidden collectibles scattered around the crumbling and corrupted FBC. Plus, I actually enjoyed it!! Usually, when games go out of there way to world build and provide the player with more information, it gets shuffled into a forgotten codex or a clunky journal interface but "Control" puts so much importance, so much weight, on discovering the mystery of "The Hiss", the corrupting force that has turned the FBC from well oiled government machine into nightmarish hellscape with cool art deco, that I actually felt like reading the backstory directly influenced what Jesse would need to do to solve all of these out of this world mysteries.

    So much of "Control" is intentional, so much of it exists just to tell the story of Jesse Faden's journey to find her brother, but when the game departs from this level of focus, it can feel a little jarring. I found that the randomly generated side-content that permeated the mid-game part of my time in the FBC started to feel a little too mundane. It certainly fits the world that small tasks like saving some trapped workers or eradicating The Hiss from a specific part of the FBC are necessary, but as the narrative went along and Jesse became more competent in her role a Director, these tasks felt a like a hell of a lot of busywork for the person who's supposed to be saving the whole world from collapsing into an unknown multi-universal apocalypse.

    The architecture of the FBC, the soundtrack, and even the design of the bathrooms all fit together to make an aesthetic masterpiece that you can run around in. The only issue is trying to run around at a consistent framerate. I played Control on a launch model PS4 so I can’t really be one to judge and I KNOW that the launch model PS4 is really the only iteration of either console (PS4 or Xbox One) that has such consistent performance issues. Unfortunately, I can’t really review a game on another system then the one I have and it’s so laggy at times that it became unplayable. I still beat it in less then a month (and later went back to 100% it as well) but there were definitely times where my game session ended early just because the PS4 couldn't keep going. It’s not a huge deal, but it breaks immersion and it’s hard to ignore, and while it might be better on 95% of everyone else’s newer systems, if you're gonna play it on a launch model PS4, it’s gonna be a little rough.

    The writing is definitely the strongest in Remedy’s catalogue and has the most character and quirkiness as well. It’s a weird game with a wacky sense of humor that feels like it was ripped right out of an episode of "Twin Peaks", or "Stranger Things". This weirdness plays to the games strengths perfectly and kept me interested in the story no matter how many times I kept getting killed by the same flying hiss monster.

    The combat is great too, though it does take some getting used to. Once you get the moves down and start to unlock powers, the flow really ramps up and, as long as you keep Jesse moving, it often feels like you're a true force to be feared, a freight train of power that can barrel through just about anything. The only weakness that the combat has is that there are some obviously OP powers and weapon configurations that stand out. For me it was levitation and the charge weapon configuration. If I wasn’t shooting rockets and flinging concrete at every enemy in sight then I was obviously doing something very wrong. While these powers were great, I could tell that I was having too easy of a time.

    Ultimately, "Control" is a high point for what Remedy can accomplish.    … Expand
  23. colinsmall34
    Mar 31, 2020
    6
    I couldn’t get into this game. Storyline was confusing and boring. Gameplay poor to mediocre. I bought it on sale for less than half price, but it was still a waste of money.
  24. PhilippovPavel
    Apr 8, 2020
    9
    Плюсы:
    + атмосфера;
    + цветопередача; + сюжет; + физика; + экшен + представление новых локаций огромным шрифтом. Минусы: - карта; - периодически мощные фризы на PS4 Slim; - отсутствие нормальных точек автосохранений. Мне прямо очень зашло. Отдельно приятно от того, что игра оказалась своеобразным скрытым продолжением ████ ████    Плюсы:
    + атмосфера;
    + цветопередача;
    + сюжет;
    + физика;
    + экшен
    + представление новых локаций огромным шрифтом.

    Минусы:
    - карта;
    - периодически мощные фризы на PS4 Slim;
    - отсутствие нормальных точек автосохранений.

    Мне прямо очень зашло. Отдельно приятно от того, что игра оказалась своеобразным скрытым продолжением ████ ████
  25. LucasMSouza16
    Jun 23, 2020
    10
    Como minha primeira experiência na Remedy, posso dizer que adorei cada minuto de Control. A história é enigmática e confusa, seguindo o padrão característico do estúdio. A ambientação é ótima, apesar da história se passar apenas do departamento, os cenários, mesmo dominados por corredores, são extensos. Vale a pena explorar cada canto do mapa a fim de descobrir todos os segredos, e oComo minha primeira experiência na Remedy, posso dizer que adorei cada minuto de Control. A história é enigmática e confusa, seguindo o padrão característico do estúdio. A ambientação é ótima, apesar da história se passar apenas do departamento, os cenários, mesmo dominados por corredores, são extensos. Vale a pena explorar cada canto do mapa a fim de descobrir todos os segredos, e o próprio game te incentiva a fazer isso. A jogabilidade é boa, mas é difícil de dominar, então é recomendado alternar bastante os poderes durante os combates. A performance no meu PS4 fat é um sofrível nas grandes batalhas, pois há muitas partículas na tela ao mesmo tempo. Control é um game indispensável, compre e jogue um dos melhores jogos de 2019. Parabéns a Remedy!… Expand
  26. tottman1
    Oct 2, 2019
    10
    This game is really amazing, so unique and original. I can't recommend this enough!
  27. Kchewz
    Aug 22, 2021
    7
    Context: I played through the entire main story with a few side missions, Playstation 4 Ultimate Edition running on a Playstation 5. I have experience playing third person shooters such as Uncharted, PvsZ Garden Warfare, GTA and Red Dead but, I have not played a Remedy Entertainment video game before Control.

    This game is a mixed bag. I am not familiar with Alan Wake or any lore related    Context: I played through the entire main story with a few side missions, Playstation 4 Ultimate Edition running on a Playstation 5. I have experience playing third person shooters such as Uncharted, PvsZ Garden Warfare, GTA and Red Dead but, I have not played a Remedy Entertainment video game before Control.

    This game is a mixed bag. I am not familiar with Alan Wake or any lore related material, making the story of this game rather convoluted and disconnected. However, these confusing chapters are what kept me engaged in the story. Because Control is a Metroidvania, you won't be able to walk straight through the world. Your major objectives will take you on a pre-determined path, but you can often deviate to discover new regions or revisit ones you've already visited. As you might anticipate, you'll obtain new talents that will allow you to overcome dead ends, allowing you to either continue the plot or explore other locations. These skills are crucial to the game's gameplay, deeming Control as not just a simple third-person shooter.

    The battles in Control are the meat of the game, and they frequently begin with adversaries falling down or warping in as you enter a room, even if you've already cleared the area. You begin with standard security guard foes, but towards the conclusion of the game, you'll be mixing and matching enemies with comparable abilities to Jesse, as well as cannon fodder enemies. Because there is no cover mechanic, things can get fairly frenetic, so keeping on the move and making smart use of your talents is crucial.

    Control was fun to play. You develop talents at a reasonable rate and can upgrade them with ability points earned from missions and sub-quests to make them even more valuable. Some of the side tasks are a little tedious, consisting of nothing more than killing more monsters or searching an area for things, while others have a puzzle element to them that I appreciate. The large number of items provides a wealth of lore and information about the puzzles.

    You'll be done sooner if you stick to the main storey, but if you explore and do all the side stuff like I did, it'll take you roughly 15-20 hours, with the most of that done in two play sessions. The storey had its moments, but it didn't really take off until later in the game; instead, it was the gameplay, particularly the battles and exploration, that had me playing for long amounts of time and kept me entertained. Things might get challenging at the finish as monsters start striking hard, which surprised me a little. You resurrect at control points rather than natural checkpoints, which means you have to fight the same foes all over again, but you keep everything you collect. Control is a fun game with fast-paced action and a lot to discover. I liked it but didn't love it, but if you like the developer or the genre(s), you should absolutely give it a try.    … Expand
  28. TK4EVA47
    Oct 15, 2022
    7
    I played Control in 2019 and thought it was a good game that I liked.
    However, I experienced a low frame rate often.
  29. pasteeater
    Feb 29, 2020
    10
    I don't leave a lot of reviews, and I'm a bit of an older gamer (40s), so keep that in mind. I've played a ton of games over the years, and I almost always buy the big budget games despite whatever reviews, etc. This game caught my eye as I hadn't heard a word about it, but it was on a ton of "best of" 2019 year end lists. I watched the trailer, read the reviews and bought the game.I don't leave a lot of reviews, and I'm a bit of an older gamer (40s), so keep that in mind. I've played a ton of games over the years, and I almost always buy the big budget games despite whatever reviews, etc. This game caught my eye as I hadn't heard a word about it, but it was on a ton of "best of" 2019 year end lists. I watched the trailer, read the reviews and bought the game.

    This is the best game I've played in well over a decade, and it might be my favorite game of all time. The story is the key, and the way it is presented (and how it works its way into how the game is played) is nothing short of masterful. I'm not even kidding when I say that the story is so good it kinda haunted my dreams. I'm not usually a third-person game guy, but it really works well in Control. No problems with the camera, etc. and when I got wiped out, I always felt that it was because of some flaw in how I was playing the game, not the game punishing me unfairly.

    I can't say enough good things about this game. I want more people to play it so that they make enough money to make a sequel. This is expert game-making at its pinnacle. The story will completely bend your mind (if you're paying attention). Play this game if you want to tear into a game like you would a book; this is not the kind of game (in my opinion) that you just want to "get through." Play it with headphones on if you can, and I think you will find, as I did, that you can really only play for an hour or two at a time before you need to put it down and think about what you just experienced. Read the through the in-game lore and remember it. It all ties together in a pretty kick-ass way.

    Love, love, love this game. My other favorites are the Bioshock and Fallout series, so maybe that will give you some insight into my preferences. This game is just... it's really freaking good. Can't recommend it enough if you are a patient, story-driven kind of gamer.    … Expand
  30. Lekhter
    Apr 27, 2020
    8
    Great metroidvania. SCP atmosphere has been transferred to the game perfectly. Awaiting for AWE DLC. Hope it will be better than Foundation.
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Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Best PS4 Game of 2019
8
#8 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2019
40
#40 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 63 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 63
  3. Negative: 1 out of 63
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Sep 25, 2019
    90
    Impactful gunplay bolstered by a telekinetic twist, and a mystery you’ll be turning over for a long time afterwards. Welcome to the Oldest House, Director. [Issue#167, p.79]
  2. VG247
    Sep 18, 2019
    80
    The writing, direction, and performances are consistently brilliant. This is Remedy at the peak of its game. Control feels like a company rediscovering itself, waking from a long slumber. Remedy’s legs work as intended once more, the vestiges of sleep paralysis a distant memory.
    Read full review
  3. Quarter to Three
    Sep 17, 2019
    100
    I don’t want to use the word masterpiece lightly, but what else do you call the combination of gleefully chaotic gameplay with earnest storytelling in a setting as refreshingly unique as Bioshock? What else do you call a combat system that goes so far beyond the simple act of shooting a gun without drilling down into a set of intricate menus and complicated controls? What else do you call darkly malevolent horror that doesn’t feel like it was cribbed from someplace else? What else do you call the crowning achievement of a studio with a unique voice, an uneven track record, and 25 years of experience? If there’s a better word to describe what Remedy has achieved with Control, I can’t think of it.
    Read full review
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