‘Control’ Is the Next Title from the Developers of ‘Alan Wake’ and It’s Hugely Risky

Remedy Entertainment is known for creating linear, highly atmospheric games, with “Alan Wake” being an excellent example. The studio built a following of dedicated fans, thanks to its approach to making games.

Its most recent offering, which was revealed at E3, is called “Control” and it’s a risky prospect for Remedy. While it does seem to have the studio’s trademark eerie environments, it’s also the least linear game it ever made.

As Engadget notes, “Control” is something of a “leap of faith” for Remedy due to the fact that it provides players with more freedom of options than its past games. As Guerilla Games already proved, it’s possible to transition from a studio that only made linear games to developing successful open-world titles. However, there are many examples of studios that failed at this.

In the case of Remedy, “Control” is a more free-form experience than its predecessors. It’s akin to "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night," where exploration is a big part of the experience.

The game is basically set in the headquarters of a government agency called Federal Bureau of Control (FBC). It’s apparently been taken over by an entity called The Hiss, which has since infested the place dubbed The Oldest House.

Apparently, the FBC’s HQ is not just any ordinary building. According to what narrative director Anna Megill has revealed, it’s a shape-shifting structure.

"It's an ever-expanding, shifting, kaleidoscoping, if you will, world within a location. The belief is that if you keep walking you can end up in some very, very strange places that might not seem like they belong in a building in [Manhattan]," Megill said.

Jesse Faden, the game’s protagonist, must find out what happened and eliminate the threat. She does so by using a shape-shifting gun and some telekinetic abilities.

Fans of “Alan Wake” or any of Remedy’s other titles will immediately see how “Control” features Remedy’s preference for atmosphere and weirdness, Nerdist notes. From the colors to the environmental design, to even the gameplay elements, all of them are designed to be immersive and engaging.