Control Resonant, Remedy Entertainment’s full sequel to Control, launches September 24 on PS5. The game leaves the Oldest House behind and ventures into a warped, broken Manhattan, with players stepping into the role of Dylan Faden, the younger brother of original protagonist Jesse. A recap trailer told from Jesse’s perspective helps new players get up to speed.
Dylan Faden Takes the Lead in a Broken Manhattan
The story keeps the surreal, horror-tinged sci-fi tone of the first game but focuses on people who fall through society’s cracks, reflected in Dylan’s relationships with Jesse and his handler Zoe. Players can choose some of Dylan’s dialogue in specific conversations. Optional mini-quests let Dylan recreate a scene based on a memory or childhood thought using objects in the environment. Dylan is shy and hesitant after years in a coma and incarceration by the FBC, but he has far more mobility than Jesse.
New Traversal and Melee-Slanted Combat
Traversal options include holding X to gain height after a double jump, tapping Circle to air dash, and pressing Circle twice for a fast dash that leaves an afterimage trail. Unlockable “Jesse Quests” grant abilities like the Reach grappling hook. Dylan staggers, wobbles, and clumsily topples after long falls, a contrast to typical superhero landings. Combat is melee-slanted, with battles against the Hiss often face-to-face and requiring dodging and precise strikes, using bus shelters and abandoned trucks as cover.
The shapeshifting Aberrant weapon has first and secondary forms that can gain status effects like burn and infect, plus perks such as cooldowns and combo-finisher damage. Bonus Combat Abilities, including a shield, projectile barrage, or an ally made from ambient junk, consume Power, which is regained via melee. L3 triggers chainable execution moves on stunned foes. Six total first and secondary Aberrants plus skill trees allow many loadouts, unlocked at The Gap, a limbo-like hub accessed by holding Down on the D-pad.
Focused Sandboxes and Surreal Boss Encounters
The game offers focused sandboxes with varied mission objectives rather than a full open world, such as clearing Hiss, investigating a missing person, or building and fixing a machine. Zoe’s radio chatter plays through the DualSense speaker, and arcade cabinets in each zone offer timed challenges. Horror moments include hallucinatory jump scares, booming announcements from The Board, reality-warping taxis, and DualSense shudders.
The Resonants are colossal boss encounters. The first is a giant porcelain doll’s face bludgeoning Dylan with taxis and girders, and one later encounter is not a traditional boss fight at all. The PlayStation Blog hands-on calls it one of the most surreal adventures of 2026 and a PS5 must-play.
