You Don't Know GamesOpen in You Don't Know Games ⇢
Culture · Reviews & criticism · published 2026-09-30T00:00:00+00:00 · via Polygon

Control Resonant's Best Moments Are Hidden in a Surreal Underground Platforming Zone

Control Resonant's standout section is The Underpass, an underground area that appears roughly 15 hours into the game. It strips away the busy open world for a surreal space of floating platforms and exposed pipes, shifting the focus from combat to platforming. The reviewer argues that Remedy's platforming design is stronger than its action gameplay.

Expanded Detail

The Underpass opens roughly fifteen hours into Control Resonant, once players have already explored a crowded Manhattan. Dylan Faden travels below the city into a void built from suspended stone walkways and visible piping. Familiar landmarks and enemy groups vanish, leaving black emptiness and a strong sense of disorientation.

Within that space, Dylan discovers a testing facility run by the FBC. Its missions expose secret experiments beneath the city and imply that the bureau has put reality under strain. The area favors movement over fighting, asking players to chain aerial dashes, grappling, and hovering. The reviewer treats this as proof that Remedy's platforming craft surpasses its action design.

Context

This critique could shape how players discuss Control Resonant, perhaps encouraging them to value traversal and environmental design over combat. It may also influence developers who read reviews, suggesting that unconventional, stripped-down levels can leave stronger impressions than large open worlds. Critics and fans might use The Underpass as an example in broader debates about platforming, pacing, and what makes a memorable game section.

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
Read the full article at Polygon →
This summary is AI-generated and original to You Don't Know Games; the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “Control Resonant Hides Its Best Part 15 Hours Into the Game.” Browse more stories.