As part of its ongoing mystery game promo, theEpic Games Storehas given away somereal zingers such asPrey, Mutant Year Zero, Loop Hero, and more. Now, for December 26, it may be offering up its biggest game yet:Control(Standard edition). On the one hand, this is a repeat, but on the other, it’s a must-play for anyone who hasn’t.
Control is a beloved game with plenty of positive reviews to back it up. As the eleventh free game for theEpic Games Store, many will hopefully get to play it who haven’t already. Here’s what newcomers need to know aboutControl.
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Epic Games Store: Control’s Story
Player characterJesse Faden explores the Oldest House(paranormal HQ of the FBC, or Federal Bureau of Control) and utilizes unique abilities to defeat The Hiss, paranormal enemies who invade and corrupt reality. Objects of Power will grant Faden new abilities. Overall,Controlis inspired by paranormal stories about the SCP Foundation, combined with brutalist architecture to give an oppressive, destructive, and immersive environment.
Utilizing the Service Weapon, Faden seeks to stabilize the Oldest House,defeat the Hiss, and learn more about her lost brother, all while aided by a mysterious telepathic entity known as Polaris. Any more really becomes spoilers, but at the end of the day, Control’s story brings together a lot of supernatural elements that make for a unique game.
Epic Games Store: Control’s Gameplay and Powers
Controlis an action-adventure game with minor Metroidvania elements, including a large world map with nonlinear exploration. Control Points allow players to fast travel through areas, while unlocking more of the building to explore the world. Mission rewards can upgradeControl’s Service Weaponwith new perks and upgrades, and more. Perhaps the best part of Control is the psychokinetic powers Jesse develops through the game, which include the following:
Epic Games Store: Control’s Connection to Alan Wake
Remedy Entertainment confirmed thatControltakes place in the same world asAlan Wake, giving fans a ton of hope forAlan Wake 2(which was officially announced at The Game Awards this year). Several documents in the 2019 game allude toAlan Wake, with one even explaining all the coffee thermoses in the game. The player’s brother will even at one point directly mention the events ofAlan Wake, and the FBC investigates events in that location at one point. Of course, one could say that these Easter eggs offer little more outside of Remedy’s confirmation, but one bit is a lot more on the nose.
For fans ofControl, there are two DLCs to continue the story. The second, titled AWE, sees an apparition ofAlan Wake summon Jesse to the Investigations Sector, where she must resolve a new story set in Bright Falls. Overall, there’s a lot of setup and an equal amount of headscratchers, but it’ll be interesting to see what happens inAlan Wake 2…as well as hopefullyControl 2as well.
Controlis theEpic Games Store’s free game for December 26. Claim before 10 AM CT on December 27.
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