Control’s August 2019 release brought Remedy Entertainment’s weird fiction vision to life - a supernatural third-person shooter exploring a brutalist government building where reality breaks down.
The Oldest House
The Federal Bureau of Control’s shifting brutalist headquarters was gaming’s most oppressive architectural space. Rooms rearranged. Objects of Power defied physics. The SCP Foundation-inspired lore (classified documents, redacted reports) told stories through environmental details. The game trusted players to piece together mysteries.
Supernatural Combat
Jesse Faden’s abilities (telekinesis, levitation, shape-shifting gun) made combat kinetic and creative. Hurling filing cabinets at enemies, flying while shooting, adapting weapons mid-fight - the supernatural powers felt empowering. The difficulty was punishing but abilities unlocked god-tier combinations.
Technical Issues
The game was gorgeous (ray-tracing showcased next-gen lighting) but launched with performance issues on base consoles. The Epic Games Store exclusivity angered Steam fans. However, critical acclaim (82 Metacritic) and Game of the Year nominations validated Remedy’s vision.
The hashtag represents how weird fiction can mainstream in gaming, and how architecture and atmosphere can be as important as mechanics in creating memorable experiences.