TechRadar Review Praises Control Resonant's Open World, Flags Spongy Enemies

The review says Resonant departs from the first Control's open-zone map and becomes fully open-world. Players control Dylan Faden, the brother of former protagonist Jesse, who was mostly freed from the Hiss's evil influence toward the end of the previous adventure. Jesse has disappeared somewhere in an otherworldly Manhattan, and Dylan's task is to find her.

TechRadar says the story is markedly improved over its predecessor. The sibling bond between Dylan and Jesse gives the game an emotional anchor, and learning about their childhoods through the main missions was engaging and made the plot easier to follow than in Control. The review says this story held attention in ways the first game did not.

The supporting cast is small, which TechRadar says keeps character development focused mainly on Dylan. Zoe De Vera is assigned as his handler, and their relationship begins on rocky ground because she views him as a tool to fight the Hiss. As the story progresses, she begins to consider him as more than that, asking personal questions such as what music he likes. Emily Pope returns from the first game and serves as an important linchpin for Dylan to discuss Jesse. Because Emily helped Jesse throughout Control, Dylan can confide in her, giving him hope that he will eventually find his sister. TechRadar says these relationships make Resonant a less lonely trip.

As a work of science fiction and the occult, the game plays with familiar tropes to strong effect, according to the review. In one memorable main quest, Dylan is tasked with figuring out what happened to a missing crew, and TechRadar says the implementation of time dilation and alternate timelines gripped its attention. The review describes such moments as emotionally satisfying and narratively absorbing.

TechRadar compares the shift from Control to Control Resonant to the transition from Final Fantasy 7 Remake to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, calling it a high-risk endeavor because an open world can add unnecessary bloat compared with a more streamlined experience. In this case, the review says, the art direction and traversal mechanics make the game's distorted version of Manhattan a treat to run around in. The first game took place entirely indoors within the Oldest House and leaned on brutalist architecture; Resonant doubles down on kaleidoscopic and parallactic aspects in the open world.

Main quests also give players objectives to find Faults, areas where remnants of Jesse could be residing. TechRadar says these are not very combat-heavy and instead offer story exposition exploring Dylan and Jesse's background. At the very end, players are awarded a new way for Dylan to move around. These include the ability to shift his gravitational orientation so that a wall next to him becomes the floor, and an intriguing take on a traditional grappling hook that looks more like an invisible magnet pulling Dylan by the waist.

The review says the weird, twisted version of Manhattan is an absolute joy to explore and is full of striking views. It also likens the game to Elden Ring in that players can tackle tough side bosses called Resonants across the Big Apple. Defeating them unlocks more of Dylan's offensive move kit, giving players more options against the Hiss and other enemies. Only a few need to be defeated to advance the story, and the rest can be skipped afterward; this open-endedness helps if a player gets stuck on a story boss, because they can explore more, get stronger, and return later. TechRadar also points to other activities, including a multi-part side quest in which Dylan tries to help a girl find her way home from an alternate dimension and must play spot-the-difference with different taxi cabs to take the right one back. The review says such activities bring a more down-to-earth tone to the game's paranormal twists.

TechRadar's verdict lists stunning art direction, fun open-ended exploration, and smooth traversal as strengths. It lists combat that takes time to open up and spongy enemies as weaknesses. The review says the game feels smooth to play, though combat can be surprisingly challenging because of those overly durable foes, and concludes that it remains an excellent adventure worth getting lost in.

Editor's Summary TechRadar's review says Control Resonant successfully expands the series into a full open-world game with a stronger story, smooth traversal, and striking art direction, while noting that combat starts slowly and enemies can feel too durable. The game is scheduled for release on Sept. 24, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC, with the review based on Xbox Series X. The assessment positions the sequel as a high-risk but largely successful shift from the first game's more confined structure.