Game images by RAWG
Control Resonant
Remedy Entertainment
About This Game
Super ReviewControl Resonant is an action-adventure RPG offering deep character customization and a rich, mature story. While its combat and exploration are engaging, parents should be aware of the intense horror elements, frequent flashing visuals with a seizure warning, and graphic violence, including blood and gore, making it a qualified fit primarily for older teens.
Super Review
Parent verdict
Control Resonant is a qualified fit, best suited for older teens aged 16 and up who are specifically looking for a challenging, story-driven action experience with supernatural themes. The game earns its "Decent" health score of 55 by providing a compelling, ad-free single-player adventure with rewarding progression. However, this is heavily balanced by significant risks due to very mature content, including graphic violence, strong language, and disturbing horror elements that will be too intense for younger players.
What players actually do
- Players control Dylan Faden, utilizing supernatural telekinetic abilities to launch objects, shield themselves, and evade enemies, exercising strategic combat planning and quick reflexes.
- Players engage in close-range combat with a shapeshifting weapon, alternating between forms like dual blades and a hammer, demanding tactical weapon management and effective dodge maneuvers.
- Players explore a warped Manhattan, solving environmental puzzles and uncovering lore through scattered documents and observations, encouraging critical thinking and attention to detail.
Where it shines
- The game offers deep character progression, allowing players to extensively customize Dylan's supernatural abilities and weapon forms, fostering a sense of ownership over their unique playstyle.
- Control Resonant delivers a rich, story-driven single-player experience focused on a complex narrative about paranatural threats, providing an immersive world without online distractions.
- On PC, community modding support allows players to tweak gameplay, adjust mechanics, and enhance environmental interactions, extending the game's replayability and creative engagement.
Parent watch-outs
- The game features intense horror elements, including jumpscare-like visions and frequent flashing visuals that prompted an explicit seizure warning, which can be disturbing and physically impactful.
- Control Resonant contains mature content with graphic violence, strong language, and depictions of blood, gore, injured limbs, and sometimes exploding bodies, aligning with its ESRB Mature rating.
- The primary focus on action and narrative means the game provides minimal explicit educational value, beyond general problem-solving within combat and exploration scenarios.
Family rules worth setting
- Set strict limits on playtime to prevent overexposure to intense content, especially given the game's disturbing visuals and narrative themes.
- Ensure play occurs in a common family area to monitor screen content and be available for discussions about the game's mature themes and graphic violence.
Talk about this
- Discuss the difference between fictional violence in games and real-world consequences, emphasizing that the game's graphic depictions are not to be imitated or normalized.
- Talk about coping mechanisms for intense or frightening content, especially regarding the game's horror elements and flashing visuals, and encourage pausing play if it becomes too much.
Play style
Control Resonant is a single-player, story-driven adventure focusing on close-quarters combat and exploration. The difficulty can be challenging, requiring players to master supernatural abilities and weapon forms to manage resources and overcome enemies. Sessions are rhythmic, often alternating between intense combat encounters, environmental navigation, and narrative progression. Younger players may find the combat demanding and the story complex, and the mature content requires no parental assistance, but clear limits and supervision.
Score Breakdown
Positive Aspects
Risk Factors
Why this rating
Educational Value
1/5The game scores a 1 for Educational Value because it is primarily an action-adventure RPG with no explicit academic or life skill teaching. While players engage in problem-solving during combat and exploration, this is a byproduct of gameplay rather than a core educational design.
Addictive Monetization
0/5Addictive Monetization receives a score of 0 as Control Resonant is a premium, single-player game with no indications of microtransactions, battle passes, or other time-sensitive purchase mechanics. Players purchase the game once and receive the full experience without additional pressure.
Content Intensity
3/5Content Intensity scores a 3 due to its ESRB M rating and descriptors like 'Blood and Gore,' 'Strong Language,' and 'Violence.' The game features intense horror, frequent flashing visuals with a seizure warning, graphic depictions of injured limbs, and exploding bodies, making it unsuitable for younger audiences.
Creativity
3/5Creativity earns a score of 3 through its deep character progression systems, which allow players to customize abilities and weapon forms for varied playstyles. Additionally, the PC version supports community modding, empowering players to tweak gameplay mechanics and enhance interactions.
Negatives
- •Contains intense horror elements with frequent flashing visuals, jumpscare-like visions, and a seizure warning.
- •Features mature content including blood and gore, strong language, and violence, leading to injured limbs and sometimes exploding bodies.
- •Provides minimal explicit educational value beyond basic problem-solving in combat.
Positives
- •Offers deep character progression, allowing customization of abilities and weapon forms.
- •PC versions support community modding for gameplay tweaks and enhancements.
- •Focuses on a rich, story-driven single-player experience without online distractions.
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Official Ratings
Age Fit
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