Very Positive(93%)
Art direction
Gravity traversal
Story and lore
Sound design
Melee combat
Open-world design
Combat balance
Sequel changes
Repetitive combat
Confusing map
Filler activities
Technical issues
Overall, players are strongly impressed by the surreal visuals, gravity-bending level design, and Remedy-style storytelling, and many consider it a memorable, worthwhile sequel. The main reservations are repetitive combat, confusing navigation, and filler side activities. Reactions to the melee shift and open-world format are divided, with enjoyment often depending on expectations and tolerance for repetition.
Positive Points
Players frequently praise the striking art direction, high-quality visuals, and imaginative environments, especially the gravity-shifting, reality-bending Manhattan levels and elaborate set pieces.The story, character development, and Remedy-universe lore are major draws. Many reviewers found Dylan's journey and relationships engaging and emotional, and appreciated the mysteries, collectibles, and connections to the first Control.Traversal is often described as fluid, inventive, and satisfying. Unlocking movement abilities makes exploring the world—and navigating its unusual architecture—a memorable part of the experience.Many players enjoy the melee-focused combat once more abilities and weapon options are unlocked, citing impactful attacks, customization, and opportunities to experiment with builds.Sound design, voice performances, and musical moments receive frequent praise, with several reviewers highlighting the soundtrack and its use in memorable sequences.The game is widely recommended as a creative, distinctive sequel and a strong single-player experience, particularly for fans of Control and Remedy's connected universe.Negative Points
Combat is a major point of disagreement, but many players find it repetitive or shallow over a long campaign, with button-mashing, limited combo depth, and enemies that can feel excessively spongy.Several reviewers criticize the open-world activities and side content as repetitive filler, chores, or fetch quests that stretch the experience without enough meaningful rewards.The unusual, layered environments can make navigation frustrating. Players report confusing maps, unclear routes and quest objectives, getting lost, and spending too much time backtracking.Some players feel the sequel's change from the first game's shooter format, setting, and protagonist is unwelcome, and miss Jesse, the Service Weapon, or the Oldest House's atmosphere.Bosses are often described as visually impressive but mechanically underwhelming, too easy, or tedious; a smaller number of players instead found early fights punishing.A portion of players report crashes, freezes, bugs, stuttering, or poor performance on their hardware, while others say the game ran smoothly.Some reviewers found the story's pacing or ending unsatisfying, and a few disliked sections that sharply change the gameplay style.Mixed Points
The shift from ranged shooting in Control to melee action is refreshing and satisfying for many, but others find it button-mashy, repetitive, or simply not what they wanted from a sequel.The semi-open world provides memorable exploration, secrets, and striking locations, but its maze-like layout and repeated activities can make travel and optional content feel tedious.The game's difficulty and combat balance vary by player and build: some enjoy a challenging learning curve and build experimentation, while others find enemies too tanky, fights too easy after leveling, or progression insufficiently impactful. Assist and accessibility options help some players adjust the experience.The story and lore are praised for their atmosphere, emotional character moments, and Remedy-style strangeness, though some players wanted clearer answers, stronger pacing, or more satisfying resolutions.The sequel is seen as a successful expansion of Control by many, while others prefer the original's tighter setting, gunplay, and sense of mystery.Common Themes
Distinctive visuals, surreal art direction, and gravity-bending level design are among the game's most consistently celebrated qualities.Players commonly describe the narrative, characters, worldbuilding, and Remedy-universe connections as the main reasons to keep playing, even when they have reservations about the combat.The melee combat and open-world structure are the biggest sources of disagreement: some find them fresh and fun, while many others report repetition or padding over the campaign's length.Navigation is frequently discussed as a trade-off: finding routes through the disorienting spaces can be rewarding, but the map and wayfinding frustrate many players.Reviews often compare the game with the first Control and advise newcomers to play it first or use the in-game recap to better understand the story and characters.Despite recurring criticisms, the overall tone of the reviews is strongly favorable, with many players calling the game a standout sequel, recommending it, or naming it a personal Game of the Year.Updated 11/4/2026, 12:01:18 AM UTC
