Control Ultimate Edition

Game Review: Control Ultimate Edition

Score: 8/10

With an immersion into story-driven games, my experience was expectedly lucrative. I had played the base game before; the Ultimate Edition not only promised the enthralling story but also additional content released after-gain. It was all about sinking back into the surreal world of the Federal Bureau of Control, and here's how it went for me.

Graphics & Visuals: 9/10

Right from the start, I found myself amazed at the beautiful graphics. Remedy Entertainment has designed such an extraordinary stage of Oldest House, this taller-than-tall building that keeps twisting the laws of reality. What impresses me is the attention paid to detail in the range of grand architecture and into the finer bits scattered throughout any one of the game's different areas. Lighting effects were another treat in terms of creating an eerie atmosphere, which held my attention throughout the tours I took. There was almost no frame drop whatsoever powering marvelous ray tracing on new-gen consoles/PC; hence a truly enhanced experience!

Gameplay Mechanics: 8/10

Intuitive gameplay mechanics made for smooth movement in exploring, solving puzzles, and fighting off enemies. Telekinesis powers are quite appealing, making the title different from sprawling third-person shooters. Throwing items into enemies and manipulating the environment to hold them in place keeps the action going. Satisfying combat system – each ability feels strong, and, at the same time, quite thrilling since changing the combination to bring down bad guys feels adventurous.

There are times when controls tend to feel a bit rough around the edge for intense moment battles, especially during a couple of enemy waves. The powers are entertaining, but sometimes, combat could feel unstructured and feedback-less in segments. In general, however, pretty great.

Story & Writing: 9/10

What got me the most attention was the story and atmosphere. Control excels in its complexity of narrative by weaving it into a very intricate plot full of engrossing lore and weird phenomena. I couldn't stop thinking about how great Jesse Faden's journey came through the Bureau's surreal and often discomfiting world. The writing is sharp, but the side content—like the 'case files' and other documents strewn throughout for additional background—helped flesh it all out into a believable universe. The storytelling is layered; it begs one to piece together the scraps to get to make sense of Jesse's past and the Bureau mysteries.

Sound Design: 8/10

It really deserves mention in sound design, which includes ambient sounds within the Oldest House that are basically haunting. The voice acting at its peak, especially in Jesse's case. Of course, it accompanies the visuals, making tense scenes more intensive and loaded with emotions.

Content & Replayability: 7/10

Contains both the main game and the two expansions, The Foundation and AWE; however, I found the latter sufficient for the more. The expansions did produce some fun gameplay, yet did not reach the same levels of satisfaction as the base story. The levels felt rather repetitive, and while the extensions to the story were intriguing, they lacked the same impact as the original plot. That said, it does have some value, giving that closure to a few plot points.

Final Thoughts

In all, Control Ultimate Edition sells a fine mix of storytelling, dazzling visuals, and a pretty unique type of gameplay mechanics. With a few rough edges in the control scheme and some small issues regarding the expansion, it's nonetheless an experience that kept me glued to the edge of my seat. For narrative game fans with an appetite for the weird and the unexplainable, this is a must. As it stands, I can confidently say that Control Ultimate Edition is one of the more memorable gaming experiences in recent years, having given it a final score of 8/10.