Post by Mona Fuller on Feb 15, 2021 12:10:29 GMT
Just over a year ago, in November of 2019, my roommate, her mom, and her brother got me a PS Plus subscription for my birthday. Prior, I wasn't sure it was worth the money to just play online with my severely limited number of friends who also have a PS Plus membership (1 who wasn't my roommate, at the time). But, the service also includes a couple of free games each month. Which are either hit or miss most of the time. I currently have 27 PS Plus games and I've only tried maybe 4.
This month, they had a game I looked at and thought about a while ago - Control. The first time I saw it, it had just been released, and was not worth like $60 to me, so it was put on the back burner. I saw it a couple more times when perusing the sale items, but the timing was not right. Then it was free for the Switch and my roommate downloaded it and I was a bit jealous when it wasn't also free on PS. Now it is and I am excited.
The story, as I'm learning about it, is about a woman named Jesse, who manages to find the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) in NY. They were involved with something that went down in her town when she was a kid and is looking for her brother, and she goes to investigate and stumbles upon a gun that grants her powers to fight a strange otherworldly threat, the Hiss. Along with a presence seemingly in her head, she uses supernatural powers to fight the Hiss to free the FBC from its shifting states and learn what happened when she was younger. As far as I can tell, those aren't really spoilers since I've only played the game for an hour or two. I've also been playing while drinking beer, so I have yet to play it sober which means I'm making less progress than I would if I were not drinking beer. But beer.
It is a 3rd person action-adventure game utilizing (at least) a gun, and supernatural powers (with an occasional punch). So far, it seems like a pared down version of a 3PF, but you can customize your gun with mods you find around Control which will change how that works. I've got one that makes it shot faster, so I can only assume upgrading the weapon will change that aspect of gameplay. The supernatural power for me right now is like a power punch, but if you watch the trailer, it is obvious that the power will level up and become much, much stronger. After playing Skyrim for so long, I keep trying to loot the bodies, which you cannot do. I also keep trying to stealth across the building, which is also not doable. I have yet to be able to crouch, and that makes the budding assassin in me sad, but, with leveling up, I'm sure my shoot and smash ways will be appeased.
While I am not far into the game, the story telling is very intriguing. Both my roommate and I are interested in seeing where the story goes. The visuals are a more realistic style, and are reminiscent of Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice*, especially in the cut scenes/close ups. I am assuming they use similar motion capture and animation techniques. The pace and amazing atmosphere make us curious and want to figure out what happened. The game mechanics are standard with nothing really new or revolutionary to report so far. It will be interesting to see just how powerful the supernatural powers become in the future. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the story is the thing that is keeping me playing this. But, as with many games, once you can start upgrading weapons/powers, that aspect of it should also become more interesting.
I also love Emily Pope and if she dies or betrays me I will be sad.
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If you have a PS Plus membership, the game should remain as a free game until the Monday before the first Tuesday of the March 2021. That is, if I am not mistaken, which I very well could be.
At the time of this writing, Control Ultimate Edition Cloud Version is also free in the Switch eShop. (my roommate said it was just a demo version, so be wary of that if you go in with high expectations)
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* I do recommend Hellbalde: Senua's Sacrifice. It's a bit trippy and an interesting journey through Norse Myths, as well as psychosis. The game may be a bit difficult for those who are not neurotypical, and I will advise you to take care and quit if you are feeling 'off.' It deals with very real mental issues in a very real way. If you are having trouble with hallucinations (visual, auditory, or otherwise), please do not play this alone, or at all. Your mental health is worth more than a game. If you are still interested, perhaps watch a play-thru first and make sure to ground yourself.
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I am DecepticGluticus on PS - come find me
