Control

Control is a 2019 action-adventure third-person shooter developed by the Finnish studio Remedy Entertainment and published by 505 Games. Released in August 2019 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One (with “Ultimate Editions” later arriving on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S), it is a mind-bending, visually staggering masterpiece that perfectly captures the “New Weird” literary genre, blending mundane government bureaucracy with terrifying cosmic horror.

Core Concept and Story

The game takes place entirely within the Oldest House, a massive, windowless, brutalist skyscraper in the middle of New York City that defies the laws of physics. It serves as the secret headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), a clandestine government agency tasked with investigating and containing paranatural phenomena.

You play as Jesse Faden, a young woman who arrives at the Oldest House searching for her younger brother, Dylan, who was kidnapped by the Bureau years ago. Upon entering, she discovers that the building has been locked down and invaded by an aggressive, otherworldly resonance known as The Hiss, which is corrupting the building’s geometry and possessing the staff. After finding the Bureau’s Director dead from an apparent suicide, Jesse picks up his gun and is instantly, supernaturally appointed as the new Director of the FBC. She must cleanse the building, master her new powers, and find her brother.

Gameplay and Features

Control completely revitalized Remedy’s signature third-person shooter formula by heavily integrating an incredible physics engine and Metroidvania-style exploration:

• The Service Weapon: Jesse doesn’t carry a standard arsenal. She wields the “Service Weapon,” a paranatural Object of Power that acts as a shapeshifting gun. At the press of a button, it can transform from a standard semi-automatic pistol (Grip) into a shotgun (Shatter), a sniper rifle (Pierce), or a rapid-fire submachine gun (Spin), running on rechargeable energy rather than traditional ammunition.
• Telekinetic Destruction: While the gunplay is solid, the true star of the game is Jesse’s psychic abilities. Using the “Launch” power, you can rip chunks of concrete out of the floor, rip fire extinguishers off the walls, and hurl them at enemies with devastating, physics-based impact. By the end of the game, Jesse can literally levitate through the air, creating a chaotic, airborne ballet of destruction.
• Brutalist Metroidvania: The Oldest House is not a linear set of levels. It is a massive, interconnected, shifting map. You must frequently backtrack, using newly acquired security clearance cards or movement abilities (like Levitate) to access previously unreachable containment sectors, research labs, and dimensional thresholds.
• The Remedy Connected Universe: Through the game’s second major expansion, AWE (Altered World Events), Remedy officially confirmed that Control takes place in the exact same universe as their 2010 psychological thriller, Alan Wake, laying the groundwork for a massive, interconnected narrative spanning multiple game franchises.

Reception and The Ashtray Maze

Upon release, Control was met with widespread critical acclaim, winning multiple “Game of the Year” awards and taking home heavy accolades for its art direction.

Technologically, it was heavily championed as the absolute gold standard for Nvidia’s real-time ray-tracing technology; the polished concrete floors and glass-walled offices of the Oldest House looked staggeringly realistic.

Furthermore, the game is universally praised for featuring one of the greatest, most exhilarating gameplay sequences in modern gaming history: The Ashtray Maze. In this sequence, Jesse must navigate a rapidly shifting, mind-bending hotel labyrinth while an incredibly aggressive, heavy-metal song (“Take Control” by the fictional in-universe band, Old Gods of Asgard) blares dynamically in the background, perfectly syncing up to the player’s chaotic telekinetic combat.

Quick Note

Control is a triumphant, deeply weird masterclass in environmental destruction and cosmic mystery.

In short: It occasionally suffers from a slightly confusing map system and a few frustrating difficulty spikes, but throwing a forklift at a hovering, corrupted government agent using your mind never gets old. If you want a brilliant, atmospheric shooter that feels like stepping into a high-budget blend of The X-Files, Twin Peaks, and The Matrix, it is an absolute must-play.