Control Resonant is Taking Bigger Risks With a New Protagonist and Deeper RPG Systems

Remedy is changing the formula with a new protagonist, deeper RPG systems, and a bigger world, but its proven storytelling could make the gamble worth taking.

Control Resonant is turning out to be one of Remedy Entertainment's biggest departures from its previous games, and that change is a key reason it has become such a highly anticipated release. The upcoming game is taking the foundation established by Control and pushing it in a different direction, particularly with its gameplay, RPG systems, and protagonist. 

Despite those changes, the game is still expected to carry the storytelling, characters, lore, and strange atmosphere that have become closely associated with Remedy. For fans who already connected with Control, that combination makes Resonant feel less like a simple sequel and more like a significant evolution of the formula.

There is a clear reason to be excited about that approach, especially if you have followed Remedy's games for years. 

The studio has built a reputation for creating unusual stories that mix complicated lore with characters and worlds that reward players who pay close attention. Games such as Alan Wake and Control have developed large amounts of background information through documents, environmental details, dialogue, and other pieces of storytelling. 

Control itself remains an important part of why Resonant has generated so much anticipation. A recent replay of the original game reportedly reinforced just how well its atmosphere, level design, storytelling, and combat have held up. 

The original Control was already praised for creating a strange and unpredictable world within the Federal Bureau of Control, while allowing players to gradually understand its mysteries through exploration. Resonant now has the difficult task of taking those ideas further without simply repeating what worked the first time.

One of the most significant changes comes from the protagonist. Instead of playing primarily as Jesse Faden, Resonant puts players in control of Dylan, although Jesse will still have an important role in the story. Changing protagonists provides Remedy an opportunity to tell a different kind of story while still keeping Jesse connected to the wider narrative. 

It also allows the developers to change the way the player interacts with the world and approaches combat, which is one of the areas where Resonant appears to be making its most significant departure from Control.

The RPG elements are also expected to play a much larger role this time around. 

Control already included a basic system for developing Jesse through abilities, weapons, and a large collection of mods, but those mechanics were not necessarily the main focus of the experience. Resonant appears to be taking that idea much further, giving players more ways to build their character and potentially allowing different approaches to combat. 

This is where the game could distinguish itself from the original. Control had plenty of equipment and modifications to discover, but the system could also become repetitive because of how many similar items and mods were available. 

Resonant has the opportunity to turn that foundation into something deeper and more purposeful. If the RPG mechanics are well integrated into combat and exploration, they might provide players a reason to engage with the world beyond simply collecting another upgrade.

The combat itself is another major area of change. Resonant appears to retain some of the fast and supernatural action that made Control's combat enjoyable while introducing new systems and encounters that are designed to make the experience feel different. 

Remedy has already shown enough gameplay to suggest that the combat could be one of the game's strongest areas. Early impressions from people who have played preview builds have also reportedly been positive, giving the new direction more credibility than it would have based on trailers alone.

That does not mean the combat can rely entirely on looking impressive. 

A longer game needs enough variety to keep its encounters engaging, particularly when players are expected to spend dozens of hours fighting enemies. Different enemy classes, changing situations, and memorable bosses will all be important if Resonant wants to avoid the repetition that can affect larger action RPGs. 

Pacing could become just as important as combat variety. Resonant is expected to be considerably larger than Control, with the game reportedly reaching around 30 to 40 hours depending on how much content you complete. 

That provides Remedy a lot more room for storytelling, exploration, combat, and side activities, but it also creates a greater risk of unnecessary content. A game can have a fantastic story and still lose momentum if it fills too much of its runtime with repetitive tasks.

That concern is especially relevant because Control already had a considerable amount of optional material. Players could find countless documents, open numerous chests, collect mods, and explore rooms that contained multiple pieces of information. 

For players who enjoy digging into Remedy's lore, that material can be one of the best parts of the experience. However, Resonant will need to make sure its larger world does not simply multiply those systems without adding enough meaningful variety.

The good news is that Remedy has already demonstrated that it can handle a larger experience. 

Alan Wake 2 was longer and contained even more lore and narrative material than Control, yet its additional content did not necessarily feel like a distraction from the main experience. The storytelling remained engaging throughout, which showed that Remedy could expand its games without losing the qualities that made its earlier work appealing. 

Side content will therefore be particularly important. If Resonant really does offer 30 to 40 hours of gameplay, Remedy cannot simply fill the additional time with fetch quests or repeated activities. Side missions need their own ideas, characters, locations, or gameplay mechanics to justify their existence. 

The level design already appears to be one of the safer aspects of the project. Remedy has taken what worked in Control and expanded the concept, creating environments that appear larger and more detailed. The original game's shifting architecture and unusual locations were a major part of its identity, so Resonant has a strong foundation to build upon. 

At the same time, Remedy has to avoid relying too heavily on systems that were only beginning to take shape in Control. The first game could use simpler versions of certain mechanics because it was still establishing its foundation. 

Resonant does not have that same excuse. If the sequel is going to make progression, exploration, and RPG mechanics more important, those systems need to offer substantially more depth instead of simply giving players more items to collect.

The storytelling remains the most significant reason to trust the project.

The studio's games often contain enough background information to support entire video essays, with documents and environmental details filling in parts of the world that are never explained directly. Resonant appears to be continuing that approach, which should make it especially appealing to players who enjoy investigating every detail.

That also means the game could benefit from taking its time with the story, but there needs to be a balance. Long stretches of narrative can work for players who are invested in Remedy's style, but not everyone wants extended sequences followed by short periods of gameplay.

There is also the matter of release timing. Resonant is expected to launch on the same day as Silent Hill Townfall, creating a difficult situation for players who are interested in both games. Townfall is expected to be significantly shorter, reportedly taking around 10 to 15 hours, while Resonant is positioned as the much larger experience. 

The two games are also different enough that they do not necessarily compete for exactly the same experience. Silent Hill Townfall is built around a shorter horror-focused campaign, while Control Resonant appears to be a larger action RPG with exploration, progression, and a heavier emphasis on world-building. 

There is still some overlap because Remedy's games can contain horror elements, but their overall structures are different. For players interested in both, the bigger challenge will simply be finding enough time to properly experience them.

Ultimately, Control Resonant is taking several risks that could easily have made the project feel uncertain. 

A new protagonist, deeper RPG mechanics, a larger world, expanded combat, more bosses, and a much longer runtime all represent significant changes from the original Control. Yet those risks are also what make the game so interesting, especially since Remedy has already shown it can successfully expand its ideas in Alan Wake 2.

If the studio can continue to tell stories at the same level and provide enough depth and variety for the new gameplay systems, Resonant could be one of Remedy’s most ambitious games to date. The combination of its expanded RPG mechanics, larger world, and evolving combat could give the sequel the depth it needs to distinguish itself from the original.

The most significant advantage Resonant has is the trust Remedy has built over the years. The studio has already demonstrated that it is willing to experiment with its games rather than simply repeat a successful formula, and that willingness has produced some of its most memorable work. 

Control Resonant appears to be another major gamble, but it is a gamble built around ideas that have already worked in smaller forms. If Remedy can keep the pacing under control and make its expanded systems meaningful, these changes could ultimately allow Resonant to stand apart from the original rather than simply live in its shadow.