Control: Ultimate Edition

 PlayStation 5
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
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  1. Destructoid
    Feb 2, 2021
    Again, loads are quick, the DualSense is up to the task (and feels great with the heavy emphasis on gunplay in Control), and the game itself runs extremely smooth: especially on performance mode.
  2. Everyeye.it
    Feb 2, 2021
    If Alan Wake was an introspective, crepuscular and dreamlike thriller, Jesse Fayden's adventure adheres more decisively to the logic of genre, recovering (from House of Leaves as well as from the Area X Trilogy) a sprawling, obsessive narrative, in a strongly intimate and in any case allusive science fiction.
  3. Kotaku
    Feb 2, 2021
    If you can get over having to rebuy the game again and not being able to transfer over old saves, Ultimate Edition on next-gen consoles is the best way to play Control outside of a solidly powerful PC. If you didn’t like Control back when it first came out, because it was too hard or you didn’t find the world engaging, this new port won’t change your mind. But if you bounced off the old game due to long load times or performance problems, this might be the best time to jump back in.
  5. Press Start Australia
    Feb 2, 2021
    As a next-gen update then, Control does a decent job of taking advantage of both the power and unique features of the new generation of consoles, especially if you happen to be playing on a PlayStation 5. While the ray-traced effects might not make this a must-replay, it’s still a far better and (crucially) more stable experience than the game has ever been on consoles, not to mention the joy of playing with the 60fps option instead.

Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2021
34
#34 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2021

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 358 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 268 out of 358
  2. Mixed: 57 out of 358
  3. Negative: 33 out of 358
  1. Mmartinez
    Feb 3, 2021
    10
    The same beautiful game that we play some years ago, amazing history, wonderfully well done, if they want this could be a goty again.
  2. tjhillman
    Feb 16, 2021
    7
    Visually and technically this game shines on the PS5. The lighting and art styles are mesmerising, and the third person shooting, combinedVisually and technically this game shines on the PS5. The lighting and art styles are mesmerising, and the third person shooting, combined with a variety of telekinetic powers, make for some of the most fluid, fast-paced action sequences I’ve ever experience in gaming.

    The game is quite challenging, as it follows a Dark Souls checkpoint-based progression system and lacks difficulty options (aside from assist options). Some sequences can feel frustratingly difficult and repetitive. Alongside this frustration is an obscure map design that makes navigation a chore.

    The major downfall of this game is it’s storytelling. Whilst the lore of the supernatural world they have created is fascinating and well presented, the main character delivers countless inner-monologues that provide unnecessary expositions. These only serve to ruin the tension of the story and lead to countless eye-rolls. After trudging through Jesse Faden’s clumsy writing and delivery, hoping for an interesting endgame narrative reveal/twist, I was instead severely underwhelmed by its mediocrity.

    Overall, a very enjoyable gameplay experience that shows off the fancy next-gen tech, however if you’re looking for a quality narrative experience, this isn’t it.    … Full Review »
  3. FurionPS4
    Feb 8, 2021
    6
    At first, when I started playing this on my PS5 I thought wow this game is amazing. The action, the characters, the art style and graphics allAt first, when I started playing this on my PS5 I thought wow this game is amazing. The action, the characters, the art style and graphics all are top class; but then came the mapping and maneuvering around the environments that ruined everything.

    Honestly I get a head ache every time I have to find a location in for a simple mission. I literally spend more time figuring out how to find a mission than actually doing the mission, and in the end to just speed things up I just go on google or youtube to watch a map guide. If players are going on google to figure understand your map you failed as a developer. If it's not a puzzle or a hard boss, a player should not be on google looking for answers. You fail as a developer when ever a player is stuck not because of an amazing puzzle or a hard boss, but because of poor design choices and lazy execution. The goal of gaming is to have your hands on the controller, not on a keyboard looking up google answers. If the map itself was intentionally a puzzle I think it would have felt like that, but in reality the map itself is an unintentional hinderance to the game and the experience.

    I've been gaming for a long time, and I think the map in Control is probably the worst map I've ever played with in a modern game. I kind of wish they never put it in, at least that way I could have conditioned myself to just use the building signs to find my way. Sadly it's too late and the bad taste of this game has ruined the experience for me. They shouldn't have put the map in if they were going to be lazy about it.

    I wanted to get platinum on this and it has an easy trophy collection but I just don't think it's worth the headache. Not enough variety with monsters and the bosses either and this makes it super repetitive. The repetition of gameplay wouldn't be an issue if the momentum and rhythm in the story wasn't so affected by its horrible mapping system. IT feels like a train that never reaches full speed.

    If they make Control 2, I'll definitely be interested because it has potential. Hopefully they don't put in a map next time and think of something more creative.    … Full Review »
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