Those unfamiliar withAlan Wakeneed not be put off by these connections, asControlis very much its own experience. In fact, one ofControl’sbiggest inspiration is the SCP Foundation, a viral collaborative piece of fiction that has inspired a number of games and other media. Rather than the SCP Foundation,Controlrevolves around the FBC (Federal Bureau of Control), a similarly secret and hidden organization responsible for handling the supernatural and paranormal. Upon its release,Controlquickly became Remedy’s fastest-selling IP sinceMax Payne.
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Control’s Influences and Development
Development of the game began with the conception of the FBC, and developers studied various documents and files associated with the SCP Foundation inorder to design the structure ofControl.Further inspiration was taken from late 19th/early 20th Century weird fiction, and developers wanted to utilize weirdness to create an ongoing sense of dread in the player rather than having adrenaline-boosting jump scares.
In having the strange events of the storyfocus around the bureaucratic FBC, this sense of forebodingis reinforced by the eerie, unsettling nature of exploring a banal, everyday setting that is familiar but also entirely unfamiliar due to supernatural events.Controlwas influenced by a variety of films, particularly using brutalist architecture to reinforce the foreboding nature of the FBC. The developers have citedA Clockwork Orange, The Shape of Water,andTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spyas all helping the team design the world of Control.
Numerous real-world architects and buildings also informed the building ofControl’senvironment, and in particular FBC’s headquarters, the Oldest House. From a technological standpoint,Controlmarked one of the first AAA games released after real-time ray tracingbecame widely available. This allowed the developerto create a more impressive environment for players to explore while uncovering the strange mysteries of the narrative.
Control’s Gameplay and Story
Unlike Remedy’s previous games,Controlfeatures a non-linear style of exploration in the same vein asMetroid.The majority of the game takes place at the Oldest House, where the FBC studies Altered World Events (AWE). However, the Oldest House is a shifting, supernatural entity that defies traditional logic. The game begins with the Oldest House possessed by a being known asthe Hiss, which can also possess human FBC agents that will serve asControl’smain enemies. Players assume control of Jesse Faden on a quest to find her missing brother, which leads her to the Oldest House.
In general,Control’s story and gameplaywere well-received, with plenty of praise for its writing and world-building. With all its influences in mind, it is no surprise thatControl’sstrengths lie in its use of weirdness and the environment.However, for players unfamiliar with things like the SCP Foundation,Controlserves as a great introduction to the genre.
Controlis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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