Compare The Outer Worlds 2 vs CONTROL Resonant

Mission variety was criticized by one reviewer who felt objectives repeated too often.

The best missions keep escalating into strange, memorable scenarios, giving the campaign a strong sense of surprise beyond standard combat objectives.

Endgame content drew criticism when the level cap arrived before some arcs or final hours, reducing reward momentum.

The postgame gives completion-minded players room to keep exploring, finish side stories, refine builds, and chase remaining discoveries after the main campaign.

Emotional impact was limited in mixed reviews, with satire and tone sometimes keeping decisions from landing deeply.

Dylan's guilt, childhood trauma, bond with Jesse, and search for redemption produce some of the game's most affecting scenes. Several critics describe moments that hit harder emotionally than they expected from a Control sequel.

Character development was mixed, with some praise for relationship growth but several complaints about unmemorable or thin characters.

Dylan's growth from damaged FBC test subject to a more self-directed person lands strongly, and his evolving relationships give the story a clear emotional spine.

Enemy AI was sharply split between smart tactical behavior and complaints about idling, aggro, detection, or rough enemy decisions.

Enemy behavior draws a sharp complaint for leaning on hectic pressure rather than convincing intelligence, making some fights feel artificially chaotic.

Originality was moderate, with one reviewer describing the sequel as incremental rather than transformative.

Even skeptical critics repeatedly call the game singular. Its collision of character-action combat, non-Euclidean Manhattan, paranormal comedy, and art-house spectacle gives it an identity few other open-world games resemble.

The main loop of talking, looting, fighting, and resolving problems your way was praised as satisfying and strongly role-play driven.

The combat-exploration loop can be exciting once a build comes together, but repetition is a persistent concern. Several critics felt the same encounter rhythm and combo patterns wore thin well before the campaign ended.

Animation quality was mixed to negative, mostly due to janky or weak animation comments.

Movement and combat animation generally look polished and energetic, with finishers and traversal selling Dylan's speed and force. A few rough character-animation moments keep it from being uniformly pristine.

Bug frequency was mixed, with several reviewers noting annoying or persistent bugs and others saying issues were minor.

Technical bugs are not portrayed as constant, but the glitches that do appear can be disruptive, including enemies getting stuck, traversal oddities, and occasional postgame or loading issues.

One reviewer found the broader RPG structure easy to grasp despite its added ambition.

The opening can be daunting because movement, builds, enemy pressure, and RPG systems arrive before the combat fully blossoms. Once more tools unlock, the learning curve becomes far more rewarding.

Enemy variety was a repeated low point in IGN-aligned reviews, especially repeated creatures across planets.

The roster has memorable supernatural designs and multiple factions, but ordinary encounters can still feel repetitive. Reused archetypes and endless smaller enemies weaken the sense of variety over time.

Innovation was split between praise for the flaws system and criticism that broader mechanics felt unimaginative.

The sequel earns broad credit for refusing to repeat the original: its melee focus, warped open zones, gravity traversal, and structural experimentation feel unusually bold for a major sequel.

Content variety was mixed, with one review arguing expanded quantity sometimes came at the cost of depth.

Side stories, altered objects, puzzles, bosses, and strange one-off scenarios keep the world varied, though a layer of repeated activities and combat encounters can feel like busywork.

Grind level was mixed: IGN found the RPG grind compelling, while RPGFan said repetitive tasks and level-cap timing hurt motivation.

One critical take finds progression too dependent on repeating activities and combat to keep pace with enemy scaling, turning advancement into unwanted grind.

Difficulty was mixed: some liked the challenge and fairness, while others noted reverse difficulty or uneven spikes.

The default difficulty is one of the most disputed elements, especially in the opening hours and against tanky late bosses. Better builds and extensive Assist Mode settings help, but progression walls can still feel abrupt.

Weapon and gear upgrades were usually liked for customization, but some reviewers found mod limits or specific systems clunky.

Upgrades provide plenty of specialization on paper, but restrictive respecs, material requirements, and number-focused improvements can make the system feel cumbersome or less transformative than expected.

Skill depth was praised for meaningful specialization, tough choices, and builds that affected both dialogue and combat.

The skill tree supports multiple builds and can be satisfying to optimize, yet several critics find its apparent depth overstated or its upgrades less transformative than the sprawling layout suggests.

Economy balance drew criticism from one reviewer who found bits and faction standing underdeveloped.

Upgrade materials are criticized for being overcomplicated and awkwardly distributed, making some desired upgrades harder to complete than the rest of the progression system suggests they should be.

Movement was usually considered improved and freer, helped by mobility options, though fall damage and melee sluggishness drew criticism.

Traversal is one of the game's most consistently celebrated strengths. Double jumps, air dashes, hovering, grappling, and gravity shifting make moving through Manhattan fast, expressive, and frequently exhilarating.

Environmental detail was praised for purposeful design, interiors, environmental storytelling, and handcrafted spaces.

Manhattan is packed with strange signage, abandoned interiors, warped streets, and small physical details that reinforce the setting, though some sewers, warehouses, and city blocks repeat too visibly.

Art direction was mostly praised for color, personality, and alien worlds, though one reviewer preferred the first game's grounded look.

The warped Manhattan, Patterning effects, impossible architecture, and surreal set pieces are among the game's clearest triumphs. Its visual identity is repeatedly described as bold, gorgeous, and unlike almost anything else in the genre.

Dialogue was praised for branching options, smooth integration of background choices, and rewarding nonviolent solutions.

Dialogue is uneven: the best exchanges give Dylan and Zoe warmth and personality, while snarky banter and some overt thematic writing can feel forced.

Third-person camera implementation was criticized as uncomfortable by one reviewer.

The camera and targeting can struggle when arenas get crowded or fights move vertically. Mis-targeted attacks and awkward framing around large or airborne enemies are recurring frustrations.

Fast travel was useful and sometimes praised, though lack of interplanetary fast travel frustrated one reviewer.

Requiring physical fast-travel points can be inconvenient, but it also nudges players to stay in the world and stumble into side content rather than teleporting past it.

Pacing was the most consistent caveat, with slow first acts, uneven zones, or late-game drag appearing in several reviews.

Pacing is a recurring weakness: the opening can be slow, progression sometimes stalls the story, and several late sections drag. Other sources find the game accelerates impressively once it opens up.

Side characters and companions were divisive: many praised their faction ties and quests, while others found them uneven or unmemorable.

Zoe is the standout supporting character, with her radio banter and evolving bond with Dylan giving the journey warmth. Some sources find that relationship rushed or uneven, but the supporting cast is usually viewed positively.

Combat was widely seen as a major improvement, especially gunplay, though melee feel and RPG-shooter limitations kept some scores mixed.

Combat is responsive, aggressive, and capable of spectacular build-driven highs, but opinion splits sharply on its staying power. The strongest criticism targets repetitive strings, damage-spongy enemies, and a system that can feel shallower over a long campaign.

Exploration was generally rewarding and purposeful, though some reviewers found open stretches empty or unrewarding.

Exploration is a major draw thanks to vertical movement, hidden routes, bespoke side stories, and dense environmental storytelling. Confusing entrances and map limitations occasionally turn discovery into circling the same blocks.

Fun factor was mostly positive, though some reviewers tied their enjoyment to tolerance for repetition, pacing, or familiar design.

Most sources found the game highly enjoyable once its systems open up, especially when traversal, powers, and side quests click together. A few harsher takes found the repetitive combat too intrusive to sustain that fun.

Reviewers generally liked the RPG systems, build options, and reactive mechanics, though a few found familiar systems less imaginative.

The strongest mechanical moments come from combining traversal, gravity shifts, powers, combat, and environmental ideas in ways that feel purpose-built for this world.

Immersion was limited in one review where the ship never felt like home.

One critic found repeated combat and progression interruptions strong enough to pull attention away from the world and story, reducing immersion despite the striking setting.

Polish was mixed, balancing technical reliability improvements against uneven design and jank.

The game generally feels polished for its scale, but scattered technical hiccups, stuck enemies, audio cuts, and other small scuffs prevent it from feeling immaculate.

World interactivity was praised where obvious environmental solutions and discovered information could be acted on directly.

Physics, destructible scenery, telekinesis, and gravity manipulation make the environment feel like part of the action rather than a static backdrop.

Frame rate evidence ranged from smooth 60 FPS praise to concerns about 4K performance and quality/performance tradeoffs.

Performance is generally smooth on stronger hardware and PS5 Pro, while base-console stress scenes and Steam Deck play can show dips or compromises. The overall picture is solid rather than flawless.

Weapon balance ranged from fresh, satisfying arsenals to overpowered or underwhelming weapons and uneven biomass guns.

Weapon forms offer different rhythms and build possibilities, but critics disagree on how meaningfully those choices change combat. Some forms feel expressive, while others seem like variations on the same basic loop.

Lore depth was praised where new factions made Arcadia feel deeper and more distinct than the first game.

Documents, recordings, side stories, and environmental details keep the FBC mythology rich, with the best optional material adding texture to Manhattan and the broader paranatural world.

Graphics were generally positive, with vibrant worlds and improved visuals, though some character models or performance-mode compromises drew criticism.

The game is widely praised as a visual showcase, especially for lighting, surreal geometry, and dense effects. Lower-end modes can introduce softness, artifacting, or weaker lighting that undercuts that presentation.

Narrative quality ranged from excellent political intrigue and strong story beats to complaints about a weak, predictable, or flat core story.

The story is broadly praised for Dylan's redemption arc, surreal set pieces, and powerful character moments, but the central plot is less consistently loved. Some critics find the overarching tale, finale, or emotional transitions weaker than its best individual scenes.

Writing was one of the best-supported strengths, especially satire, dialogue, humor, and faction commentary, despite a few complaints about patchiness.

The writing is strongest when it balances human vulnerability, bureaucratic absurdity, and strange lore. Some dialogue and thematic beats are less elegant, but the overall character and world writing earns substantial praise.

Onboarding and character setup were mostly praised for immediately expressing background, traits, and build identity.

Newcomers get helpful recap material and can follow the core story without exhaustive Remedyverse knowledge, though the early combat and build systems are not always explained as clearly as they could be.

Atmosphere was praised for oppressive planets, overwhelming corporate spaces, and a strong sense of place.

The sequel keeps Control's uncanny blend of cosmic dread, bureaucratic absurdity, and offbeat humor alive across Manhattan. A minority feel the broader city setting dilutes some of the Oldest House's concentrated unease.

Loot was praised as meaningful, rewarding, and varied enough to support distinct builds.

Loot and world rewards can make exploration satisfying, especially when discoveries feed upgrades, but some reward placement and generic material boxes feel less thoughtfully integrated.

Progression, perks, flaws, and no-respec commitment were widely praised, though level-cap and respec complaints created some friction.

Zone leveling, skill points, powers, and build choices often make exploration feel purposeful and Dylan's growth tangible. Criticism focuses on opaque power-level tracking, restrictive respecs, and progression that can become busywork.

Faithfulness to the franchise was praised for refining the series, keeping its soul, and moving closer to Obsidian's RPG promise.

Despite changing protagonist, setting, and combat style, the sequel usually retains Control's strange humor, paranormal logic, lore, and visual identity. A smaller group feels the open-world structure leaves too much of the original's magic behind.

Visual effects were praised by one reviewer for good-looking special effects and reflections.

Reality warping, particles, reflections, shadows, and large combat effects create spectacular scenes, though the sheer visual noise can occasionally hurt clarity or expose platform-specific image issues.

Major missions and tentpole scenarios were praised for puzzle-box structure, role-play opportunities, and varied routes.

Routine world events and chore-like objectives can clash with urgent story beats, making some mission structure feel like open-world padding rather than purposeful adventure.

Interface design was split between a UI that stayed out of the way and a cluttered UI complaint.

Progress and power-level information can be buried too deeply in menus, making it harder than necessary to understand whether upgrades are meaningfully changing Dylan's strength.

Sound design and radio presentation were praised for adding flavor and helping scenes land.

Hits, metal transformations, spatial ambience, and supernatural effects are repeatedly praised for giving combat and exploration weight. The audio mix helps sell both spectacle and unease.

Open-zone design drew mixed reactions, with compact areas praised but barren spaces and shallow depth criticized.

The zoned Manhattan is admired for feeling hand-crafted, vertical, and distinctly Remedy rather than like a generic checklist map. Still, some critics see bloat, repeated activities, or a loss of the first game's tighter spatial focus.

Quest design was split: several reviewers loved the branching checks and side content, while others saw busywork or inconsequential side quests.

Side quests are a major strength, often delivering the funniest, strangest, and most memorable stories in the game. A smaller layer of repeated tasks and weaker rewards keeps the optional content from being uniformly excellent.

Puzzle support was praised where gadgets expanded both combat and puzzle-solving options.

Puzzles can be clever and visually inventive, especially when gravity and perspective are involved, but they also produce some of the game's most confusing or progress-stalling moments.

Dense openings and dungeon spaces earned strong praise, with reviewers singling out alternate routes and thoughtful layouts.

Level design is a standout, from folding streets and gravity-shifted city blocks to stranger interior spaces that turn perspective itself into a traversal and puzzle mechanic.

World-building was a major strength, with reviewers praising factions, moral dilemmas, environmental context, and a lived-in universe.

The FBC's bureaucracy, Manhattan's altered neighborhoods, scattered documents, and small survivor stories deepen the setting at nearly every turn. World-building remains one of the sequel's most dependable strengths.

Navigation drew criticism for unclear markers, map cursor issues, and unintuitive routes.

Navigation is one of the most consistent pain points. The flat map, unclear entrances, multi-level spaces, and gravity-bent geometry can leave players lost even when the world itself is visually compelling.

Value was mixed-positive: Game Pass and standard pricing were praised, while some reviewers recommended waiting for broader opinions or a sale.

Positive value comments point to the substantial campaign, side content, replay potential, and localized pricing, making the package feel generous to players already invested in its style.

Replay value was a major strength, with reviewers wanting additional runs for alternate builds, choices, paths, and endings.

Build experimentation, postgame exploration, missed side content, Resonant cycles, and New Game Plus-style interest give enthusiastic players clear reasons to return after the credits.

Menus and inventory drew mixed-to-negative reactions, especially inventory patience, UI bugs, and clutter.

One source specifically criticizes loadout management for making important changes more cumbersome than they need to be during an action-heavy game.

Voice acting was considered strong or solid, with performances generally supporting the setting and comedy.

The cast is usually praised for grounding the strange material, especially the supporting performances, but Dylan's delivery is unusually divisive and receives a few pointed complaints.

Controls were praised for snappier, more responsive shooting and better weapon heft.

Inputs are consistently praised for immediacy: attacks, dodges, air movement, and cancels respond quickly enough to support the game's fast, aggressive action.

One reviewer enjoyed shaping an idiot-savant commander, supporting protagonist role-play appeal.

Dylan is deliberately awkward and damaged, and most sources warm to his vulnerability, guilt, and dry personality. A vocal minority strongly dislike his writing, voice, or demeanor and would rather have stayed with Jesse.

Performance optimization was mixed but generally acceptable, with strong platform reports offset by rough PC or ray-tracing complaints.

Technical performance is usually strong, particularly on high-end PC hardware and PS5 Pro, with ambitious effects running smoothly in many accounts. Some platforms and heavy scenes still show frame pacing, image-quality, or optimization compromises.

Soundtrack quality was mixed: radio and themed music were liked, while several reviewers found the score sparse or not memorable.

Music and licensed tracks remain strong and often memorable, but some critics miss a single transcendent set piece on the level of Remedy's most iconic musical moments.

Assist Mode is a major strength, with granular sliders and presets that can soften damage, dodge timing, resource pressure, and other difficulty spikes. It gives story-focused players unusually fine control over the experience.

Aiming was mostly better and more natural, but one reviewer still found the reticle a little slippery.

The companion roster drew mixed reactions, from mostly memorable faction representatives to a separate view that no one truly stood out.

Documents, recordings, hidden reports, and other collectibles make exploration feel worthwhile by feeding the world's mysteries rather than functioning as empty checklist filler.

Companion AI drew negative comments for reckless combat behavior and frequent deaths.

Crash stability was mixed, from one-crash praise to reports of hard crashes or repeated crashes in a specific area.

Facial work is one of the visual weak spots, with some expressions looking stiff or strange compared with the quality of the environments and effects.

The roughly 25-to-40-plus-hour scale gives the world room to breathe, but the campaign can outlast the combat system's depth. Late repetition makes the length feel excessive for some players.

DualSense feedback is used effectively to reinforce powers and supernatural moments, adding tactile texture without being treated as a defining feature.

The strangest spaces still generate strong cosmic-horror unease, using impossible geometry, isolation, and paranormal imagery to make exploration feel unsettling.

Load times were praised as reasonably short in one cross-platform review.

Precision platforming becomes frustrating when gravity changes, tight trajectories, or awkward geometry demand more exact movement than the traversal system comfortably provides.

Reviewers strongly praised the freedom to solve situations through speech, stealth, combat, skills, traits, and prior discoveries.

Stealth was often viable and rewarding, especially with builds and gadgets, but some reviewers found it imbalanced or merely serviceable.

Bosses are visually memorable but mechanically divisive. Some fights are inventive spectacles, while many others are criticized for huge health pools, limited move sets, and late-game battles that turn into endurance tests.

Cross-save support was positively noted when saves moved between Xbox and PC.

The Portuguese localization is received positively overall, including the dub, but the reviewed build had enough missing or inconsistent localized lines to keep it from being fully seamless.

PS5 Pro receives especially strong praise for ray-traced reflections, shadows, reconstruction quality, and a cleaner presentation, while Steam Deck support is notably less convincing.