Control Resonant Violates the Number One Commandment of Video Game Lore
Control Resonant, the sequel to Remedy Entertainment’s acclaimed 2019 supernatural shooter Control, continues the studio’s signature approach to environmental storytelling through hidden documents and audio logs. While the original game was set within The Oldest House, a Brutalist Manhattan office building filled with redacted documents revealing the mysteries of the Federal Bureau of Control, the sequel expands the action to Manhattan’s streets as they become infected by the mysterious Hiss entity.
Protagonist Dylan Faden continues uncovering the FBC’s bureaucratic history through scattered notes and audio recordings, with the sequel maintaining the first game’s emphasis on optional reading material that enriches the narrative and world-building. According to coverage, this supplementary lore contains significant story details and even romantic subplots that reward players who thoroughly explore the game’s documentation.
The game’s distinctive presentation of high-stakes apocalyptic events juxtaposed against mundane office bureaucracy remains central to Control Resonant’s identity. Reviewers highlight that while reading is optional, engaging with the extensive in-game documentation—including menu text—substantially enhances the overall gaming experience by revealing deeper lore and character development unavailable through the main storyline alone.