Thanks to Squarespace for sponsoring this video. If you want to set up your own website (and get a discount while doing it), hit this link for more info: www.squarespace.com/skillup
This Review is so damn on point. You described the game so perfectly, it is just exactly how i experienced the game. The bad characters and story made me stop playing at sec level 3 but i kind of liked the gameplay.
Yes but if you get to give your brother a kick up the ass at the end game for making you go save him anyone with brothers knows thats well worth the effort :D
I honestly think the inner dialogue was an attempt at a creative design choice, as she is talking to herself and polaris, i thought it was rather interesting, different, and i dont think it ruins anything, does the game need it, no, but its there and thats fine with me
I think it almost ruins the game like no joke it's to much and the panning to her is very annoying they should of chilled a bit i can understand super hard to understand parts done this way but come on every 5 minutes.
@@KahlDragonborn perhaps rather than giving her a thought, than have what she thought out loud be said, they should of givin her internal dialogue that was more natural, rather than feeling forced, but at the end of the day gameplay was the key part of it all
This review really frustrates me because we can usually rely upon reviews here that give the game designers credit for the way they try to tell their story. Death Stranding was given a pass when Hideo Kojima continues to pull some the same exact shit that he criticizing Remedy for.
Rarely disagree, but I actually really loved this game. Loved all the little bits of lore scattered around the world, the eerie atmosphere and the quirky introspective character was also quite charming. You really feel like a bad ass and the explorative elements were really cool. facinating world and hope it does well and we see more.
I'm so real please help Guardians know something is wrong. They are not charming and smiley it's mirth they laugh as us while driving the Universe right into an iceberg. They are not finishing stories to create monsters then leave them plot holes to escape through. I is all real or will be.
just played it. I thought everything looked fucking cool. But I hated the dialogue and the story was too convoluted for my taste. Some of the sections like Ahti's maze was bloody cool tho. Combat was also very fun despite being a tad repetitive
I went down a SCP rabbit hole lately and it's made me appreciate this game even more. I now realize that some world building and story stuff that I thought didn't make sense or just felt off was 100% intentional.
I think we need more games like this, where you get that power fantasy. Is ok to have Dark Soul like games every now and then, but these things where you litteraly tear shit up are awesome too.
Ahti the janitor is played by Martti Suosalo, one of the absolute top Finnish actors. His Finglish and directly translated Finnish proverbs and idioms he keeps using are hilarious. Death Staranding has Norman Reedus, Cyberpunk 2077 has Keanu Reevers... and Control has Martti Suosalo. :D
@@tastycookiechip Well he is always in low lighting. Seesm pretty damn white to me when not. You can google him and you see he looks the same in real life.
If I may recontextualize for a moment (this vocab drop brought to you by: Reckless Abandon), it's possible his use of "talks funny" is in reference to the cadence/tone of the delivery as well as the awkward phrasing and odd word choices in the dialog that make up the disquieting and cryptic narrative device here; it's also entirely possible he's referring to the character's "accent", in that you can't really place its origin - like an amalgamation of several dissimilar accents that don't quite mesh, almost like they're fighting each other - giving the sound of his voice an unsettling quality and its own air of inscrutability (to borrow the drinking game-worthy watchword from Zero Punctuation's review of this game). This has been, "A Stranger Leaves Nonsense Reply, as if They Actually Finished College".
What surprised me the most about this game is it's level design, I was expecting another linear experience in the style of other remedy games, and what I got was a kind of metroidvania exploration-type game, pretty cool even if it's a bit more linear than your typical metroidvania game.
I got excited about that too. But going back and exploring areas that weren't previously accessible didn't amount to much. In Metroid I would get power up's or upgrades. This game I get.. Notes and mods (that I quickly cash in).
Thanks, I was actually wondering where he was supposed to be from (only a few hours in). I was guessing one of the baltic states, so I wasn’t to far off geographically.
Finally finished this on game pass. Honestly this is one of the best games I’ve played in the past few years. The pacing, writing, cut scenes, map layout etc were all exceptionally good. The game just oozes creativity and great ideas. This is the first game where I read all the documents and other text that I usually skip over in other games- it was all so well written and really contributed to the experience. The combat is the most fun I’ve had in any game ever. Seriously- launching fire extinguishers at people will never get old. Looking forward to playing through the DLC.
I can understand the complaints but I think they're strengths of the game. Not weaknesses. The hidden areas and lore in this game are incredible. Games like this don't come along very often and people being cheap about spending $60 on them, while happily blowing $90 on the Super Deluxe Edition of Same Tired Franchise, is why we don't get more games like this.
(to the second paragraph) I get your points but I feel like they're a oversimplification of a much broader issue with Gaming consumers and the overall market around gaming. But none the less valid
Great review! You make very good points about the main story and the way it shoves narrative exposition, but honestly, I don't think it makes a big difference for people who were going to like this game anyway. This game, like 2017's Prey (which you also referenced in the review) feels like it was custom-made for the type of slow, cerebral player who likes to go out of their way to seek out worldbuilding bits, lore videos, audio logs, inter-office correspondence, etc. So it's fine that most of the quality content in the game is hidden behind side-quests that most players bee-lining through the main story won't ever see. Because the ones that will are the ones that will appreciate it the most. And these are the players that are falling head-over-heels in love with this game. Control is definitely my GOTY for 2019 so far. I agree with you about the unnecessary gamey feeling mods and upgrade systems, but if you fall in love with the world, these things really don't make a difference. Again, it's built for a specific kind of player. The story is a crazy mashup between The X-Files and Twin Peaks and the game does its own take on this paranatural chaos. If you're into this stuff, you get completely absorbed and nothing tends to damper your enjoyment of the world. Not even the hiccuping framerate or the poor facial animations or the ham-handed lore exposition. The world, the lore, the level design, the visual design, and the aesthetic restraint of the game is just so damn top notch that it's hard to believe how they pulled this stuff off. The Oceanview Motel, the Ashtray Maze, the Self-Reflection side quest, and so many more elements of this game are off-the-charts good. I honestly haven't played anything like this and we probably won't get a game like this for a long time. I had an absolute blast with it and I really hope more people pick it up, because it's got a very addictive quality to it and it's an incredibly well-packaged title all around.
I feel like I am one of the players you mentioned, as I lost myself in this game for ages. Loved every minute. Not for everyone, but will definitely be a cult classic.
No joke, my thoughts mirror your own almost exactly. Or rather, γlɈɔɒxɘ Ɉƨomlɒ nwo ɿυoγ (oʜoʜ) ɿoɿɿim ƨɈʜϱυoʜɈ γm ,ɘʞoį oИ. I'm playing through it right now (about two thirds done I think), and I'm searching every nook & cranny, hoovering up every single Altered Item document, Threshold Kids video, doing every sidequest, searching for every hidden location etc. The gamey elements honestly don't bother me (maybe the reviewer just has burnout from playing so many games). I can understand the complaint about the mods, but I think they give the player more choice in how they want to play and I haven't had trouble with space for them. I just got the Eternal Fire mod for the Grip by doing a mini-game and it was definitely worth the effort :)!
I went down a SCP rabbit hole lately and it's made me appreciate this game even more. I now realize that some world building and story stuff that I thought didn't make sense or just felt off was 100% intentional.
I almost never finish games. But Ive spent hours in this world and am nearing completion. I have to disagree with you for the first time ever dude but to each their own man.
Its not that its a bad game, it just it feels kinda meh at the end, somewhat generic in parts, and the weapon modding seemed to serve as only a common pitfall I see with 3d games, which is just the ability to craft stuff forced into the game even if it really isnt made for it. but at individual parts its amazing but in the end its kind of a let down hopping straight into the repetative end game with only a new outfit and a short song that was played earlier in the game
@@commandofoxer4334 did you do the other side quests? there are you know a lot of outfits. not just the one at the end. and did you watch the new hotline after the ending? think its the devs saying we plan on DLC. so yes you can just go around doing the repeatable quests. after all the real side quests are done. but the devs have a plan.
You haven't played many good games then lmao. This one easily will go on my never play even if it's free list. Just looks super repetitive in a way that I haven't seen in a long time. Unsatisfying combat and bland environment makes it looks soooooo blegh that I hope I never see it again as it slightly annoys me
I echo the same sentiment as a lot of people here but this is the first time I disagree with you as well. Control was AWESOME. Great story. If you're into abstract movies or appreciate directors like David Lynch then I think you'll love this game. The team at remedy are CLEARLY influenced by Twin Peaks and the twilight zone. There;s a lot going on with the story and a lot of it is told through abstract imagery and obscure texts and files you find around the map. I really love how confident this game was in allowing its story to unfold the way it did. Loved it.
It seems like a love letter to all of those kinds of supernatural and bizarre shows/movies. It has elements of a Kubrick film with bits of Fringe, X-Files, and others.
Couldnt agree more, one of the best games I have played, and a lot of that was because it combined an intense and interesting atmosphere and setting *with* a great combat system. I couldnt disagree with SkillUp more on this, one of the best games Ive played in memory, like an exquisitely rich fine wine I find myself trying to put it down after a while so I dont over indulge and can extend its lifespan.
@@SkillUp I'm thinking both Sam Lake and Marko Saaresto are on the same alchemical journey, which might help interpretation of the ending? Haven't finished it yet personally.
Know what's really annoying about that though? If you go back to the location where it plays in the story, Jesse puts the headphones back on and it starts playing again. Only for some dumbass reason you can't go through the whole maze again, only like the first 1-2 rooms before you get teleported back out, so the song only loops the first 30ish seconds
Ralph's mistake in approaching this game (articulated at 12:00 - onward) was in reading the collectables after the experience. The main story itself is just OK, but it feels *way* more impactful if you take the time to engage with the various multimedia, from the ultra-creepy threshold kids, to the various memos describing the functionality of the Oldest House, to just random material like workers griping about their job, weird notes, etc. Each space within the building takes on far greater resonance, and frankly the combined effect, along with the level design and combat, made this (for me) a superlative experience, one of the better games of this gen.
What a weird way of attempting to rationalize a difference of opinion and playstyle as being wrong. He played the game how he wanted to and recounted his experience. If that was such an integral part of the designers intended experience to the point that not engaging with them until the end massively compromises the game, then that’s on the designers, not the users. Either way, I dove pretty deep into the lore while playing and personally I like the themes a lot but the execution of the overall narrative is not particularly engaging or well written, with the collectibles not changing that for me in any way. I also find jesse to be painfully uninteresting, so I agree with Ralph.
I was completely drawn in and enthralled by this game. Things like the uncanny facial animations added tot he overall eerie and uneasy feel. But that's of course very subjective. This game just kept exceeding my expectations. If you take your time to explore you are really really rewarded, and not with some lame collectible, but with an insane boss fight (refrigerator). I really don't agree that the side stuff should be combined with the main story. That would take the authentic feeling of exploration away and honestly be a huge detriment to the experience. After the story concluded I just kept playing. I didn't want to leave this insane world, I wanted to explore every nook and cranny, see everything there is to see - something I usually never do. This is GOTY for me so far. Best single player experience I've had since God of War.
So, one thing that I find interesting. Many games affect us differently depending on when and how we encounter them. Sometimes, the difference between an awe inspiring experience vs ho hum here's another video game, is simply a matter of timing and greatly altered by what is going on with the individual player at the time they're playing. Ralph didn't get the video game high from his experience that many other gamers obviously did. Nothing wrong with that. We all get to have our own opinion. What I appreciate about Ralph is his passion and excellent ability to articulate the video game experiences we all know and love. Even when I don't agree with his opinion I still love his reviews.
I... I don't see it, sorry but I prefer games with a little but more detail. especially if they are going for a realistic looking game. the only thing about this game that looks really good in my opinion is the lighting, the rest is just meh.
I've been playing the game the last few days and find myself literally walking around admiring the brutalist architecture instead of sprinting to the next objective. I'd say it's def worth buying on a sale for that alone.
@@thespanishinquisition7560 You're correct. Everything about the game starts to become really "gamey" but the lighting and level design are phenomenal. Shame there isn't more to do in it.
the brutalist architecture definitely add that creepy moments, but I kinda hate the black rock dreamy levels. it's boring & looks like animus levels from AC series LOL
I rarely disagree but this time I do. I love the game. My only negative is the damn respawning enemies lol. I see why they do it tho. Other than that I'm all in. The story is a little confusing at first but it's more clearer. Love the channel
This game looks and sounds what I heard absolutely amazing and build right to my tastes. 15:00 That janitor guy finally sold it to me though! Hes not creepy... Hes just finnish. 😂🇫🇮
It really seems like you rushed though playing a serious game with a deep story that introduces content though reading various documents because you were streaming and didn't want to lose viewers by making them bored. I think it truly takes about 30 hours to get the entire story. So many reviewers who said it's a 15 hour game obviously skipped the sidequests and background stuff. IMO this game was incredible and had obvious influences from the masterful novel, House of Leaves.
Mr. Emeraldz Make sure to buy the Ultimate Edition! Cheaper and it comes with the DLC - I got screwed and bought them both full price and now they’re making me buy it again if I want to play on the new consoles with the new tech - it kinda sucks - but if you haven’t bought it yet, I’d definitely go Ultimate Edition
2:04 Bro...Why the hell did you hop into that incinerator? Not gonna lie it was kinda funny. To be honest I loved the game. I’ve been waiting for a good single player experience for a while, and Control exceeded my expectations. Now it has issues here and there yes. Especially how after you beat the game and all the side quests you have nothing to do. A new game + would have been good day 1, and I hate that you start to get the high rarity mods really close towards the end. We’ll have to wait for the Devs to release new content for the game. Because Remedy shows here, that they know what it takes to make a good game. But I can safely say without a doubt that players will find something to enjoy within control. Because despite all it’s issues. It’s still a good game.
I feel mixed about this review... Basically, after watching the video, I went and played the game. I'm only like 30 min into the game now, but I feel like Skill Up have some serious misunderstanding of the game? I mean, it's very clear early on, our main character, Jesse, is talking to someone inside herself. We don't know who it is, it might be a remnant of her brother, it might be some kind of AWE, or it might even be the player themself, manifesting as a AWE. However, it feels werid just disregarding it as a problem. As it's clearly a core part of the way Jesse explores the FBC. (PS: I still want to play the game unspoiled so please don't tell me about Polaris _(:з」∠)_)
@Wade Because the aspect of the game that SkillUp complained about was made clear in 30 seconds, when he cleared the entire game and still didn't understand it? That's how.
Agreed , does feel like it's missing something. After watching many reviews I decided to buy the game . I played it till the end and while it is a good game , I found the story to be weak. You sort of just jump into a bunch of WTFs
l7aNgeR _ have u played The Foundation DLC yet? It starts to answer a ton of questions & makes you question things you thought you knew for sure. And the AWE DLC comes out probably mid August, which will show what happend to Alan at the end of Alan Wake if you played that back in 2010
@MysteryRomanticGames Then give me a new jedi story about a bounty hunter that can wield the force but dont like light sabers so he uses blasters and laser weapons... and let them make that game, why not? XD
SCP stands for Special Containment Procedures. Their motto is: Secure. Contain. Protect. From the About the SCP Foundation webpage: "The Foundation maintains an extensive database of information regarding anomalies requiring Special Containment Procedures, commonly referred to as "SCPs"."
Snarky McSne it’s alctually a cool place for stories and stuff. My favorite was the wonder train one, a child’s toy train that somehow sentient, no one knows how or why, but it pretty friendly and left to wander the facility freely chugging around peoples feet, been known to bump up to against people’s feet for attention, sometimes if an employee hears its train whistle sound continually they’ll find it flipped on its side sounding for help and it’ll remember them and bring them gifts on a little trolley as if thanks, or even once helped a employee who lost their keys by finding them and bringing them to them on a little trolley.... the site has a lot of creative people behind it, glad to see it booming with more attention lately.
This video speaks to exactly the feelings I have with this game. There are these moments of wonder and great action undercut by one dimensional characterization, a truly awful and tedious inventory system, and lore hidden behind dry documents that slow the game to a halt but are paramount to the enjoyment of this world. While I play it I’m semi invested and intrigued enough to put a couple of hours in, but once I set it down I feel no real desire to come back any time soon. So close to greatness, but not enough cohesion to make the experience truly memorable or addictive.
I went down a SCP rabbit hole lately and it's made me appreciate this game even more. I now realize that some world building and story stuff that I thought didn't make sense or just felt off was 100% intentional.
@@maineman5757 I can see that adding enjoyment, but it can't really fix the charisma-free main character and meandering plot/ repetitive visuals. This game needed a Fox Mulder-type character as the lead. Someone we could care about outside of the mission they were on and that could cut the dry atmosphere and tension, which I found overbearing instead of intriguing by the end. I feel like this game is almost but not quite there a lot of the time, though I'm glad I played it and there were some stunning moments.
Honestly I think everyone’s trippin I took this game really slow and I’m blown away at the detail and what this game has to offer I understand everyone has their view on what’s good and not but holy moly I think somethings wrong with how people are viewing this game this is a real surprise and with how much detail the developers put into this game you just don’t see this type of shit everyday shnarf.
I really liked their choice for bosses. It means people who don't like big boss fights can still progress the story at their own pace, and come back and deal with the bosses on their own time...or not...or try a boss, but leave it if it feels too tough, or come back later when they have more skills or better mods. Progress is not blocked by a boss fight that is too tough, but they are still there, ready to give you a boss fight if you want to take on the challenge. It honestly was a HUGE plus for my feeling on the game.
Well, nice video, relevant analysis, as usual. You had good points. Thing is, I can't help but forgive the flaws. While I agree with every weaknesses you pointed out, none could throw me out of the experience, quite the contrary actually. I felt like dealing with mods was just a menial task I had to do as the director, like every job has. I basically just despised Emily, with her unethical littleness of mind and her dark hair roots. I felt like P6 didn't really mattered, because he actually doesn't. And hopefully I could hear Jesse's inner voice since I'm basically Polaris, and hopefully she didn't had anything interesting to say as the good cosmic horror hero figure she is. That may sound weird, and irrelevant, but I feel like Control's story's strenght is to be purposefully ordinary, mundain, generic on every level. And I think it's on purpose because of how good Ahti and the lore are. I really enjoyed the game, unlike anything I played in the last 5 years, and I wonder if it's story's uncanniness isn't part of it. The only thing that really bugged me was the lack of polishment on facial animations, like if they took the mocap files out of the system and threw them on the RIG without revision. I assume this is due to team restrictions but that still is an objective flaw. Nothing to write home about tho. The game also runs smoothly high settings on my golden potato, being Vega 64 eGPU, i7 8565U and 21:9 1080p display. It usually shows some hardcore CPU bottleneck with physics and particle effects, and it didn't this time. And I know It's not good performance value, thank you.
The only thing “missing” from Control is the lack of award it has for being the 2019 Game of the Year!!!! Control should be the standard for what developers model their worlds on. The focus on the story & the more linearity in its progression while simultaneously being a semi-open sandbox setting is flawless. We need more games like this.
I love the creativity, strangeness and jaw-dropping visual effects of Control. I hate the terrible optimization though. Even now the game runs like mud on the PS4. It’s probably the number one thing that takes me out of the experience. You can reliably drop the frame rate by just pausing and unpausing the game.
Jesse's inner dialogue is, like almost everything in Control, more than it appears. It seems that it's just her thoughts to herself and a way for the player to know what she's thinking. It does have that function, but it's narrative purpose goes beyond that. Jesse is talking to not just herself, but also to Polaris, an entity that you learn more about as the game goes on and who I found myself questioning whether it was to be trusted. Is Polaris the actual source of the Hiss? Is Polaris the real antagonist, distorting Jesse and the player's perception of events? While some of the questions may be more interesting than their answers, I found them very intriguing.
For some reason I thought she was taking to Alan when I first started playing. Like she was somehow aware that she was a character in the story and the writer was Alan. So the Polaris reveal was a bit of a letdown 😅
I love your content and really appreciate the effort and time you put in to reviewing and critiquing a game. You are one of the most thorough, thoughtful, and well spoken creators out there and I would strive to make my own content of the same quality level. That being said I had a hard time with this particular video because I fell in love with Control more than any game in a really long time. Like you said in the review, the world is so damn intriguing and I just want to learn more, and keep discovering its secrets. One of the things you knocked the game for was how much interesting content the player has to seek out or read about on their own. But I don't see how that's a negative, the people who are more cerebral and invested will squeeze 100% out of the game (like myself) and the normies will just enjoy the combat and get nothing else from the game. We all have that friend who plays amazing games with brilliant stories who painfully skip every cutscene and disregard every insanely cool aspect of the game other than the actual gameplay. Ive learned you cant help those people, and its not up to the game to make sure every player knows everything and has seen everything on offer. I know everyone has different opinions about systems and aspects of a game, but I was just surprised at what aspects of the game you didn't like. I think all your points are valid, but some of the critique comes off as unnecessarily harsh or maybe just vary specific and nit picky. Everyone is different though, and are effected by things in their own unique way, and I guess that's the whole point. I think im just in love with this game and desperately want everyone to love it and experience it the way I did. I also can't wait for the future DLC and im hoping since it's releasing so far after launch that it will be some meaty content, and not your typical 2 hour add on DLC. Anyways keep on making great content, im always checking to see if you have new videos, so you're doing something right even if you didn't love my favorite game of 2019.
I love Skill Up's content as well, but he really dropped the ball here, due to streaming the game and not engaging with the collectables as they emerge in the game itself. It's like he missed 2/3rds of the game's combined narrative and then rushed through it post-game.
@@sartavin because if you get immersed in the story you have to rush... the fucking world is ending, i want to save it, i don't want to wander around exploring, the FUCKING WORLD IS ENDING. this game would have been 10x better if they had slowed it down and allowed me to feel relaxed enough to explore.
@@friendsquadzulu Funny, I never felt that way, except in Foundation DLC. Mostly it was Jesse looking for her brother and trying to figure out her role as the new director. I didn't feel much urgency in the main quest until near the very end, the majority of the game was exploring this creepy place and marveling at how they put it together.
Press X to Start he probably didn’t even purchase it and not to mention the guy is streaming the game and talking while playing it instead of playing the game on his own.
@@ethan007 I would say that games like Infamy are probably closer to Control but Singularity just holds a special place in my gaming history so certain things remind me of it more than others.
Definitely respect the alternate take, but I personally loved it. For me, the individual elements are so cumulatively surprising and unique, that even if they don't fit together quite like I expected them to, what I'm left looking at is a puzzle that takes some real thought in order to discern the meaning. There are gaps and seams between the singular puzzle pieces, but I can still see the full picture. And the picture itself is so interesting to me that, despite the opaqueness, it leaves me wanting to know more about it. Hopefully the DLCs clear up some of the abruptness from the ending.
I'm with SU on every point except story. I love this story and the protags monologues are the only dramatic device capable of driving the plot regarding her unique tie to Polaris and how/why she got to the bureau. Compared to AlanWake, the facial animations are a big improvement.
This review is spot on. I am playing it right now. I didn't grab me the way Alan Wake did. It is better than Quantum break. The RPG element was so pointless. The story is weird in a bad way and very inconsistent pacing. The RTX effect is very inconsistent. The camera exposure is really killing me. But lightning and reflections are great. But the texture popping is bad. I have to say that I never so disappointed with Remedy game like this before.
I really really enjoyed the story. Each to their own I guess. For me it was a breath of fresh air, something very different from the normal. Might add I think the whole online SCP community thing is pretty lame.
Huh, really? I mean, Control and SCP are similar to each other in various ways so it’s interesting that you think it’s lame. I don’t judge you for it, just curious as to your reason. But seeing as this comment is a year old, I don’t see it being likely that there may be a response to this reply anytime soon.
Just a note I haven't seen, you don't get her inner monologue. We get internal one sided dialogue with Polaris, but it's still just her speaking to something. Also the janitor clearly also can hear that internal conversation.
Skillup is the reviewer king for me, but I think he should make a remake of this review, or a remaster. Lol.. looks like he rushed throughout the game content and some of his opinions on this one looks like he misunderstood the game as a whole
I absolutely LOVED this game from beginning to the end. I found the story, the location, the lore, the characters and the atmosphere to be EXTREMELY fascinating. Such a unique game and a breath of fresh air!
If This games really used SCPWIKI as an inspiring agent. hiding Great findings and stories within logs , tapes and tales. Its also borrowed from there. The real fun in SCP wiki is mostly outside of the SCPs main articles, but in the exploration logs and MTF stories.
1. Control's story is not just about the events that happen in the game. It is about the lore that you found in all those documents, audio logs, and video reels. What happened in your childhood, how you got there, who are these things, what is Hiss, where it is from, what the hell is even going on. It seems like you missed everything because, for unknown reasons or because you were streaming, you were negligent towards this game. This game has so many great moments that it would be a crime to not suggest it to any gamer. 2. That Janitor Ahti is probably one of the best characters to ever come in any game. That Finnish accent, his aura of mysteriousness and power, and much more that I can't say without spoilers are just fantastinen. 3. Jesse, the protagonist is not spewing her inner thoughts as exposition but she is talking to an entity called Polaris that resides inside her, questioning what Jesse thinks and questioning what Polaris thinks and how they both should handle a situation. This point you made about Exposition and flashing it explicitly in your review is so stupid brother. 4. Facial animations are so good in this game including lip movement. What are you smoking by comparing it to ME: Andromeda. Even the "bad footage" you showed to prove your point wasn't that bad. This point is not even subjective and can not be called as personal preference. If you just zoom slowly into footage of any person talking normally you could say oh look it looks unnatural. I am not hating on Skill Up and agree with you on 1-2 points here and just trying to be as polite as possible, BUT this has got to be one of the most unfair reviews I have ever seen on youtube. For people who love lore oriented games, or just graphic nuts or just action-loving cuckoos... This game is atleast 9/10. For others who care about none of these, this game is still 7/10 and you guys should try it. This game would still be an enjoyable experience and good enough as this game offers something we have never seen before.
Agreed. It feels like Skill Up is really too harsh / plainly wrong on a lot of shortcomings of the game. On a side note, it's clear that they invested a lot of resource into facial animations, but I still feel that the facial animations are a bit weird? I can't tell what it is. I mean it's weird that when playing the game, I don't feel it. But when watching the gameplay on youtube, something just feels not right? I think it's because there are too much movement on the face, compared to the overall body movement and head movements. I'm not an expert on this so I don't know. Yeah, I don't know why, it's not low quality animations, but it just reminds me of Andromeda. Obviously, not as bad as it, but it jsut feel like they got something similar wrong?
I love how when a reviewer doesn’t like something you like, you just dismiss his opinion by calling him “stupid” or “unfair” and then responders saying “he only likes looter shooters anyway” 😂 like come on, reviews are opinions grow up!
So far I’m loving this game. Except for one thing - navigation. Navigation is hell in this game. The map is so bad and unhelpful and what’s frustrating is that the side content is so good you need to explore these areas using •a map• Becomes infuriating. Otherwise I enjoy it. Inner dialogue and all.
Im currently going through mission 4 or 5 (on the way to the black rock quarry), and the main story isn't really grabbing me. It's the side stuff: the lore, collectibles, videos, that lure me into this game's world. Also, I hope there's more time spent with Emily Pope because she is immediately charming.
I couldn't agree more, I really enjoyed the game but it just felt like the things that SHOULD gel...didn't. It feels like the story and combat were really lopsided in their own aspects. The combat's AMAZING, but the enemies you fight with are all dull. The lore is FANTASTIC, but the main story was uninteresting, how, with such deep and vivid lore written in all the found documents, is the story so damn flat. It felt like they were building up all these different aspects for some big reveals only for us to not really get any, and in such an outlandish universe, how are all the enemies just glowy people?! Like i said, i still enjoyed it, but man just the inconsistency...it just feels like the story/enemies/characters dont live up to the amazing lore and combat design.
I usually find SkillUps reviews spot on but this one I have to disagree with. I'm enjoying this thoroughly. Better than I expected and one of the games of the year.
I'm afraid I have to disagree, Ralph. Lots of the shortcomings you mentioned are some of the things I enjoyed the most. As far as I'm concerned, Control is a GOTY contender.
Control is currently my favourite game of all time not because of the story but because of the parts. Almost every point raised here is completely true and the concept of a director's cut of control makes me cry just thinking of reliving the game but with a story as groundbreaking and masterful as everything else it does. I know it's not a thing that usually happens maybe ever but a director's cut is honestly going to put this game in the greatest of all time category.
Can I disagree with you 1,000%? Just the opposite of what you propose is true; how *Control* brings everything _together_ is what is most remarkable about this extraordinary game.
Honestly, a perfect breakdown. If it was a shorter game with less gamified stuff, and just a carefully crafted game like Alan Wake, this would be an all time classic.
I have to say seen as an exploration game this is great. It has a hypnotic rhythm with it's shoot and toss which works well with the twisting environment. The oldest house is the star of this game.
Finally played this & I have to say that I really love the video gamey stuff like having to kill certain enemies for upgrades. I guess if you play games mosty for the story then you might be let down but if you just enjoy all kinds of games then you'll love this.
The weirdest part about this game to me is that it feels like a Live Service Looter Shooter except it got turned into a single player story focused game. All the systems, mission design, level design, UI, map, the materials, enemies, mods, controls, camera, etc. It feels right out of early Destiny and Warframe. I think that's what brings parts of this game down, to me at least. It feels unfocused and stuck within the trappings of a modern looter while trying to be a unique action adventure game.
The mods do feel a bit much at times but at the same time if they went barebones with it gamers would be complaining about no sense of character progression.
I’m throughly enjoying the game and I’m probably less than half way done. In regards to the inner monologue complaint, I think it was an effort to keep Jesse relatable since she’s our player character and they didn’t wanna make her too guarded or mysterious so players wouldn’t feel disconnected, at least that’s how I feel so it didn’t bother me. Remedy love their narration though just about all they’re games use it as a storytelling device.
I completed the game yesterday, have 44/46 achievements, probably like 15ish hours, and only had issues with framerate in one specific area on the Xbox One X. But god DAMN do i wish i had RTX on PC. That just looks absolutely incredible. EDIT: i watched all the TV and projector things i found, and listened to all the audio recordings, and i fully intend to read all the files. They add so much more to everything going on.
I think this game is going to be really divisive on how some people see it. A lot of the things he doesnt like were the things i liked the most. The inner monologues were things that get to see what the character is thinking, the other characters are all professionals talking to their new boss. And Ahti stands out because everyone else isnt also wierd. But everyone likes different things so i understand
Hmm... first sterling now you. How is this game so divisive lol first time I don't agree with you. I think its a masterpiece. Flawed sure but still the best game Remedy has made since Alan Wake.
To really get into the lore of the game you need to read all the pieces of data scattered around. And they really expand on the story with more detail about every little thing. I'm only halfway through but liking it all right now.
its the “video gamey” stuff for sure, the mods, inventories, and every enemy encounter just being a random spawn in a room youve been in 100 times already and laboriously dispatching them when just trying to backtrack.
I know it would sound weird, but I could smell this game. I used to visit a place like this, while it still had remnants of 60s design and architecture and it always had this sweet heavy smell of wood, dust and old things. This game nails that look and feel perfectly, for that alone I can forgive it any other flaws.
YES! The inner dialogue was kinda okay at the start, good when you first meet the janitor but absolutely annoying later on. Second time trying to play this game for me and it's good, but during most of the cutscenes or forced conversations it's usually "yap yap yap exposition bla bla".
Lol he's scared people will dislike him for hating the game so he doesn't want to review it...grow some balls and give your opinion...I love Sekiro but I'm open to see a review of someone with a negative opinion of it ...especially when it would be as detailed as SkillUp would make it
finished the main game as well as both AWE and foundation DLCs. Played it on my PS5. Not a single frame drop and very very smooth and fast. Loved the game
@@MrCipasa Aw I still replay Mass Effect 1 like once every three years before I finish the trilogy. ME1 is replayable because the story is so freaking good and the mechanics are serviceable enough to keep it playable.
@@MrCipasa ME1 doesn't have planet probe grinding like ME2. And there's enough good stuff to keep you immersed like writing, acting, music and choice. Also the plot structure is less reliant on first playthrough decisionmaking than ME2 (because 2nd playthrough of ME2 you know to do all side missions before Reaper IFF.)
28 Minutes from a reviewer for which I have HUGE respect. However, are we so wrapped up in the small details of a game that I did not hear ONE TIME if the game was FUN. Which I kinda thought was the reason for not only playing a game, but something the reviewer should at least try to express. There was so much of "How I would do it better" there wasn't much time for "I had a lot of fun". Was the game fun? Would you suggest to your friends to buy/play it? This is the info we kinda need, how you would do things and/or your opinion of how they did something wrong are immaterial to the review of a game.
Imagine this game and its destruction physics combat mixed with vanquished's fast paced 3rd person movement shooter combat. That would be one of the most perfect combat loops ever
I kinda agree with the basic gist that Control is a game where its individual elements are actually really amazing and well done, but somehow the flies in the ointment sour the experience somewhat. My favorite part of the game is the lore and atmosphere - the game is obviously heavily inspired by the SCP Foundation mythos of which I'm a big fan, with the basic premise of a secretive organization dedicated to finding, containing, and learning about the supernatural, and this game is the closest we'll ever get to being the best SCP Foundation game despite not being one. Hell, it's a lot better at being SCP Foundation than many of the other games released with the name, and immersing myself into the various lore and stories behind what happened was an absolute joy. Unfortunately though the game is ruined by a lot of things, and for me it's mainly due to the inclusion of a frankly messily looter-shooter RPG system with randomized loot. Narrative is something we need more in looter shooters, but Control isn't supposed to be one nor does its narrative make it out to be such, so having said mechanics combined with how egregious the inventory management and loot RNG is implemented makes the thing a chore. Also, I can't really point out in an objective way why I feel this way, but despite Control having incredibly good combat mechanics that feel amazing to play (especially the best implementation of a physics-based throwing system I've seen in a game since Half-Life 2), for some reason I abhor getting into combat here. It's very much unlike say, the recent Outriders demo where I absolutely look forward to kicking ass and taking names, whereas in Control I actually dread getting into a combat encounter even when my character has become akin to a demi-god. I rather prefer to just keep running till I hit a sidequest or an interesting lore entry, and that the combat feels more like a hindrance to my immersion of the world.
I'd much rather see something in the style of a john woo shooter only with the grit of Max Payne Or just a remake of Max Payne 1&2 that would be so amazing!
I'm playing this game and I don't feel engaged at all. I love how it looks, the architecture and the destructibility but I don't find the gameplay compelling and the story is meh. I loved Alan Wake waaaay more... and Max Payne of course.
I am playing through Control myself and I quite like it. I'm not very far into it as yet. I agree with a lot of your review though. The one thing that constantly springs out to me is the thought that they've done something like motion capture, but then hand animated the motion capture motions onto their model rigging... which sounds as weird as it sounds. Just look at Jesse, I always think she's jutting out her jaw in a strange sort of facial mannerism, as if she's trying to overcompensate for underbite or something. But I can't imagine that the actress who plays her would actually do that though (she's the same woman who played Beth in Quantum Break incidentally).
Apart from the performance complaint (I’m playing on a base PS4, hoo boy) I disagree with all your other issues with the game, though by the sounds of things I might be taking my time with it more than you were. I’m taking care to explore everywhere, read everything and complete each side quest, where I think players focussed on main story predominantly will miss out on a lot. Also the world is so so immersive and haunting
"X-Files crossed with Twin Peaks". Well, seeing as their previous-previous game, Alan Wake, was basically a love letter to Twin Peaks, and Quantum Break was... Somewhat X-files-ish, this looks like a natural progression. I do feel sad that we're not getting a next Alan Wake game.
There are some old indie/low budget game set in the SCP. If you like it, look up the games and check them out. They should be very inexpensive. Nice review. Thank you.
I had EXACTLY the same experience as what you described in the first minute with 2017's PREY, couldn't fault it but it just lacked soul. Deus Ex Mankind Divided was similar, that game is pretty much PERFECT in just about every way but the well told and written story just didn't grab me or make me anxious to complete each excellent mission.
Thanks to Squarespace for sponsoring this video. If you want to set up your own website (and get a discount while doing it), hit this link for more info: www.squarespace.com/skillup
Skill Up I just like listening to your voice Ralph
This Review is so damn on point. You described the game so perfectly, it is just exactly how i experienced the game. The bad characters and story made me stop playing at sec level 3 but i kind of liked the gameplay.
@@quecksilber457 Same as Quantum Break.....just an awful story and bad acting
@@DV-ou1yu Yeah i passed that one completely. :) Too high price tag to even think about.
@@quecksilber457 free on game pass, still deleted it before the paint dried!!!
I think Ralph didn't like it because he couldn't empathize with a character that *wants* to save their brother
Yes but if you get to give your brother a kick up the ass at the end game for making you go save him anyone with brothers knows thats well worth the effort :D
this comment made my day, thank you sir.
LMAO that's it
Hahaha that legit made me lol
That's why it's his subjective opinion, sunshine
I just fell for the game when I saw the mission objective:
"Subdue the refrigerator."
fun boss he was.
nothing worse than an unsubdued fridge...
Just don't blink
@@chabbab6698 bro you know it!
Just started it.
And its that quirkiness that I actually love about it
I honestly think the inner dialogue was an attempt at a creative design choice, as she is talking to herself and polaris, i thought it was rather interesting, different, and i dont think it ruins anything, does the game need it, no, but its there and thats fine with me
I think it almost ruins the game like no joke it's to much and the panning to her is very annoying they should of chilled a bit i can understand super hard to understand parts done this way but come on every 5 minutes.
@@KahlDragonborn perhaps rather than giving her a thought, than have what she thought out loud be said, they should of givin her internal dialogue that was more natural, rather than feeling forced, but at the end of the day gameplay was the key part of it all
Agreed. One of the reasons i had to stop playing.
This review really frustrates me because we can usually rely upon reviews here that give the game designers credit for the way they try to tell their story. Death Stranding was given a pass when Hideo Kojima continues to pull some the same exact shit that he criticizing Remedy for.
Yeah I was fine with the inner monologue and kinda liked it
Rarely disagree, but I actually really loved this game. Loved all the little bits of lore scattered around the world, the eerie atmosphere and the quirky introspective character was also quite charming. You really feel like a bad ass and the explorative elements were really cool. facinating world and hope it does well and we see more.
Game is amazing. Hope they flesh out this new world with Control, Alan Wake etc
Agreed at first I didnt like jesse but then I realised she's a bit awkward and has a tick...and I liked her even more
I'm so real please help Guardians know something is wrong. They are not charming and smiley it's mirth they laugh as us while driving the Universe right into an iceberg. They are not finishing stories to create monsters then leave them plot holes to escape through. I is all real or will be.
just played it. I thought everything looked fucking cool. But I hated the dialogue and the story was too convoluted for my taste. Some of the sections like Ahti's maze was bloody cool tho. Combat was also very fun despite being a tad repetitive
I went down a SCP rabbit hole lately and it's made me appreciate this game even more. I now realize that some world building and story stuff that I thought didn't make sense or just felt off was 100% intentional.
I think we need more games like this, where you get that power fantasy. Is ok to have Dark Soul like games every now and then, but these things where you litteraly tear shit up are awesome too.
TechYK infamous ?
Nah this game could be hard too. esseJ kicked my ass so many times. The boss felt like BS
Aren't most AAA games power fantasies though? Witcher 3, RDR2, God of war, Doom?
@@КирилЦанков-в2з Dark Souls is not xD
and where do they literally tear shit? but a dictionary.
Ahti the janitor is played by Martti Suosalo, one of the absolute top Finnish actors. His Finglish and directly translated Finnish proverbs and idioms he keeps using are hilarious. Death Staranding has Norman Reedus, Cyberpunk 2077 has Keanu Reevers... and Control has Martti Suosalo. :D
How is he Finnish ?? He's got brown skin
@@tastycookiechip Well he is always in low lighting. Seesm pretty damn white to me when not. You can google him and you see he looks the same in real life.
@@tastycookiechip You do know it's possible to have brown skin and be Finnish, right?
@@tastycookiechip ..Finns can't have brown skin?
I liked his ingame performance and missing more of him. Newer knew him before, but here is truely special.
"he talks funny" says the Aussie with the Aussie accent.
@@lawjef so ... we all talk funny to someone
If I may recontextualize for a moment (this vocab drop brought to you by: Reckless Abandon), it's possible his use of "talks funny" is in reference to the cadence/tone of the delivery as well as the awkward phrasing and odd word choices in the dialog that make up the disquieting and cryptic narrative device here; it's also entirely possible he's referring to the character's "accent", in that you can't really place its origin - like an amalgamation of several dissimilar accents that don't quite mesh, almost like they're fighting each other - giving the sound of his voice an unsettling quality and its own air of inscrutability (to borrow the drinking game-worthy watchword from Zero Punctuation's review of this game).
This has been, "A Stranger Leaves Nonsense Reply, as if They Actually Finished College".
Oi we sound faaarkin beaut ya caarnt
Australians sound more normal than yanks
What surprised me the most about this game is it's level design, I was expecting another linear experience in the style of other remedy games, and what I got was a kind of metroidvania exploration-type game, pretty cool even if it's a bit more linear than your typical metroidvania game.
I got excited about that too. But going back and exploring areas that weren't previously accessible didn't amount to much. In Metroid I would get power up's or upgrades. This game I get.. Notes and mods (that I quickly cash in).
"he talks funny" - Ahti actually has 100% proper Finnish - "reilu meininki" - accent
you finns have a word for everything, and one word can mean like 5 things, based on the contexts
am i correct about this?
I really love the directly translated Finnish proverbs and idioms he keeps using. :)
@@frickzjee Yeah, pretty much.
As a Finn, I 100% approve how Ahti speaks.
Thanks, I was actually wondering where he was supposed to be from (only a few hours in). I was guessing one of the baltic states, so I wasn’t to far off geographically.
Finally finished this on game pass. Honestly this is one of the best games I’ve played in the past few years. The pacing, writing, cut scenes, map layout etc were all exceptionally good. The game just oozes creativity and great ideas. This is the first game where I read all the documents and other text that I usually skip over in other games- it was all so well written and really contributed to the experience. The combat is the most fun I’ve had in any game ever. Seriously- launching fire extinguishers at people will never get old. Looking forward to playing through the DLC.
Quite bold to call the writing and cut scenes good
Am I the only one who kept thinking "stop shooting and just throw shit!"
Definetly no. I was too all the time. Throw > shoot
Agreed, I only ever used my gun if I had no energy left.. Would rather feel like a Jedi force throwing stuff around than just another shooter.
I can understand the complaints but I think they're strengths of the game. Not weaknesses. The hidden areas and lore in this game are incredible.
Games like this don't come along very often and people being cheap about spending $60 on them, while happily blowing $90 on the Super Deluxe Edition of Same Tired Franchise, is why we don't get more games like this.
I agree
Exaclty!
(to the second paragraph) I get your points but I feel like they're a oversimplification of a much broader issue with Gaming consumers and the overall market around gaming. But none the less valid
I dont want more boring games like this shit.
No thx.
@@kefkapalazzo1092 did you even play the game?
Great review! You make very good points about the main story and the way it shoves narrative exposition, but honestly, I don't think it makes a big difference for people who were going to like this game anyway. This game, like 2017's Prey (which you also referenced in the review) feels like it was custom-made for the type of slow, cerebral player who likes to go out of their way to seek out worldbuilding bits, lore videos, audio logs, inter-office correspondence, etc. So it's fine that most of the quality content in the game is hidden behind side-quests that most players bee-lining through the main story won't ever see. Because the ones that will are the ones that will appreciate it the most. And these are the players that are falling head-over-heels in love with this game.
Control is definitely my GOTY for 2019 so far. I agree with you about the unnecessary gamey feeling mods and upgrade systems, but if you fall in love with the world, these things really don't make a difference. Again, it's built for a specific kind of player. The story is a crazy mashup between The X-Files and Twin Peaks and the game does its own take on this paranatural chaos. If you're into this stuff, you get completely absorbed and nothing tends to damper your enjoyment of the world. Not even the hiccuping framerate or the poor facial animations or the ham-handed lore exposition. The world, the lore, the level design, the visual design, and the aesthetic restraint of the game is just so damn top notch that it's hard to believe how they pulled this stuff off. The Oceanview Motel, the Ashtray Maze, the Self-Reflection side quest, and so many more elements of this game are off-the-charts good. I honestly haven't played anything like this and we probably won't get a game like this for a long time. I had an absolute blast with it and I really hope more people pick it up, because it's got a very addictive quality to it and it's an incredibly well-packaged title all around.
I feel like I am one of the players you mentioned, as I lost myself in this game for ages. Loved every minute. Not for everyone, but will definitely be a cult classic.
No joke, my thoughts mirror your own almost exactly. Or rather, γlɈɔɒxɘ Ɉƨomlɒ nwo ɿυoγ (oʜoʜ) ɿoɿɿim ƨɈʜϱυoʜɈ γm ,ɘʞoį oИ.
I'm playing through it right now (about two thirds done I think), and I'm searching every nook & cranny, hoovering up every single Altered Item document, Threshold Kids video, doing every sidequest, searching for every hidden location etc.
The gamey elements honestly don't bother me (maybe the reviewer just has burnout from playing so many games).
I can understand the complaint about the mods, but I think they give the player more choice in how they want to play and I haven't had trouble with space for them. I just got the Eternal Fire mod for the Grip by doing a mini-game and it was definitely worth the effort :)!
@@ManlyOBeeferton what's this mini game you speak of i want that mod lol
I went down a SCP rabbit hole lately and it's made me appreciate this game even more. I now realize that some world building and story stuff that I thought didn't make sense or just felt off was 100% intentional.
I almost never finish games. But Ive spent hours in this world and am nearing completion. I have to disagree with you for the first time ever dude but to each their own man.
Glad you enjoyed it mate. I know a lot of people are loving it.
Its not that its a bad game, it just it feels kinda meh at the end, somewhat generic in parts, and the weapon modding seemed to serve as only a common pitfall I see with 3d games, which is just the ability to craft stuff forced into the game even if it really isnt made for it. but at individual parts its amazing but in the end its kind of a let down hopping straight into the repetative end game with only a new outfit and a short song that was played earlier in the game
@@commandofoxer4334 did you do the other side quests? there are you know a lot of outfits. not just the one at the end. and did you watch the new hotline after the ending? think its the devs saying we plan on DLC. so yes you can just go around doing the repeatable quests. after all the real side quests are done. but the devs have a plan.
You haven't played many good games then lmao. This one easily will go on my never play even if it's free list. Just looks super repetitive in a way that I haven't seen in a long time. Unsatisfying combat and bland environment makes it looks soooooo blegh that I hope I never see it again as it slightly annoys me
For the first time ever? Really? I find myself always disagreeing with his opinions. Which is the reason I watch these god awful videos to begin with.
I echo the same sentiment as a lot of people here but this is the first time I disagree with you as well. Control was AWESOME. Great story. If you're into abstract movies or appreciate directors like David Lynch then I think you'll love this game. The team at remedy are CLEARLY influenced by Twin Peaks and the twilight zone. There;s a lot going on with the story and a lot of it is told through abstract imagery and obscure texts and files you find around the map. I really love how confident this game was in allowing its story to unfold the way it did. Loved it.
It seems like a love letter to all of those kinds of supernatural and bizarre shows/movies. It has elements of a Kubrick film with bits of Fringe, X-Files, and others.
This is a huge love letter to SCP.
Couldnt agree more, one of the best games I have played, and a lot of that was because it combined an intense and interesting atmosphere and setting *with* a great combat system. I couldnt disagree with SkillUp more on this, one of the best games Ive played in memory, like an exquisitely rich fine wine I find myself trying to put it down after a while so I dont over indulge and can extend its lifespan.
Great story? Lol ok buddy
We got a new 8 minute Old Gods of Asgard (Poets of the Fall) track. That's good enough for me.
Legit the best part of the entire game. Shame I cant show it on TH-cam without getting copy-striked.
@@SkillUp I'm thinking both Sam Lake and Marko Saaresto are on the same alchemical journey, which might help interpretation of the ending? Haven't finished it yet personally.
Max Payne put me onto these guys when I was a kid, nice to hear they are still about making good music!
I thought that was a reference to Alan wake
Know what's really annoying about that though? If you go back to the location where it plays in the story, Jesse puts the headphones back on and it starts playing again. Only for some dumbass reason you can't go through the whole maze again, only like the first 1-2 rooms before you get teleported back out, so the song only loops the first 30ish seconds
Ralph's mistake in approaching this game (articulated at 12:00 - onward) was in reading the collectables after the experience. The main story itself is just OK, but it feels *way* more impactful if you take the time to engage with the various multimedia, from the ultra-creepy threshold kids, to the various memos describing the functionality of the Oldest House, to just random material like workers griping about their job, weird notes, etc. Each space within the building takes on far greater resonance, and frankly the combined effect, along with the level design and combat, made this (for me) a superlative experience, one of the better games of this gen.
What a weird way of attempting to rationalize a difference of opinion and playstyle as being wrong. He played the game how he wanted to and recounted his experience.
If that was such an integral part of the designers intended experience to the point that not engaging with them until the end massively compromises the game, then that’s on the designers, not the users.
Either way, I dove pretty deep into the lore while playing and personally I like the themes a lot but the execution of the overall narrative is not particularly engaging or well written, with the collectibles not changing that for me in any way. I also find jesse to be painfully uninteresting, so I agree with Ralph.
@@peen2804 Having an opinion about an opinion is weird?... Weird.
I was completely drawn in and enthralled by this game. Things like the uncanny facial animations added tot he overall eerie and uneasy feel. But that's of course very subjective. This game just kept exceeding my expectations. If you take your time to explore you are really really rewarded, and not with some lame collectible, but with an insane boss fight (refrigerator). I really don't agree that the side stuff should be combined with the main story. That would take the authentic feeling of exploration away and honestly be a huge detriment to the experience. After the story concluded I just kept playing. I didn't want to leave this insane world, I wanted to explore every nook and cranny, see everything there is to see - something I usually never do. This is GOTY for me so far. Best single player experience I've had since God of War.
TAKE...CONTROL
So, one thing that I find interesting. Many games affect us differently depending on when and how we encounter them. Sometimes, the difference between an awe inspiring experience vs ho hum here's another video game, is simply a matter of timing and greatly altered by what is going on with the individual player at the time they're playing.
Ralph didn't get the video game high from his experience that many other gamers obviously did. Nothing wrong with that. We all get to have our own opinion. What I appreciate about Ralph is his passion and excellent ability to articulate the video game experiences we all know and love. Even when I don't agree with his opinion I still love his reviews.
I love how the art style is both eerie and minimalist at the same time. I might play this game just for the A E S T H E T I C S.
The Wanderer 100% thought the same!!! I fuck with the abandoned office building shit!
I... I don't see it, sorry but I prefer games with a little but more detail. especially if they are going for a realistic looking game. the only thing about this game that looks really good in my opinion is the lighting, the rest is just meh.
I've been playing the game the last few days and find myself literally walking around admiring the brutalist architecture instead of sprinting to the next objective. I'd say it's def worth buying on a sale for that alone.
@@thespanishinquisition7560 You're correct. Everything about the game starts to become really "gamey" but the lighting and level design are phenomenal. Shame there isn't more to do in it.
the brutalist architecture definitely add that creepy moments, but I kinda hate the black rock dreamy levels. it's boring & looks like animus levels from AC series LOL
I rarely disagree but this time I do. I love the game. My only negative is the damn respawning enemies lol. I see why they do it tho. Other than that I'm all in. The story is a little confusing at first but it's more clearer. Love the channel
This game looks and sounds what I heard absolutely amazing and build right to my tastes.
15:00 That janitor guy finally sold it to me though! Hes not creepy... Hes just finnish. 😂🇫🇮
It really seems like you rushed though playing a serious game with a deep story that introduces content though reading various documents because you were streaming and didn't want to lose viewers by making them bored. I think it truly takes about 30 hours to get the entire story. So many reviewers who said it's a 15 hour game obviously skipped the sidequests and background stuff. IMO this game was incredible and had obvious influences from the masterful novel, House of Leaves.
Facts. Reviewers rush these games
HOUSE OF LEAVES is what it keeps reminding me of too! So great!
This is all I needed to hear. I’m buying this game and it’s season pass on pc right now
Mr. Emeraldz Make sure to buy the Ultimate Edition! Cheaper and it comes with the DLC - I got screwed and bought them both full price and now they’re making me buy it again if I want to play on the new consoles with the new tech - it kinda sucks - but if you haven’t bought it yet, I’d definitely go Ultimate Edition
That book changed me in high school lol
2:04 Bro...Why the hell did you hop into that incinerator? Not gonna lie it was kinda funny. To be honest I loved the game. I’ve been waiting for a good single player experience for a while, and Control exceeded my expectations.
Now it has issues here and there yes. Especially how after you beat the game and all the side quests you have nothing to do. A new game + would have been good day 1, and I hate that you start to get the high rarity mods really close towards the end. We’ll have to wait for the Devs to release new content for the game. Because Remedy shows here, that they know what it takes to make a good game.
But I can safely say without a doubt that players will find something to enjoy within control. Because despite all it’s issues. It’s still a good game.
Agreed on all points.
It kind of feels like a scratch board (no pun intended) of Alan Wake 2 ideas.
chiffmonkey Definitely.
@@chiffmonkey it's actually is. Watch IGN's interview with Sam Lake.
Look at the season pass it already has 2 story dlc planned. Got to wait to see if the 25 bucks is worth it tho
The most fun I have had with a video game since Uncharted 4. Really , really love CONTROL. What a glorious triumph this game is.
Same, i had a hard time putting it away when i had to go to bed. Been years since a game did that to me
That’s a shockingly low bar.
I feel mixed about this review...
Basically, after watching the video, I went and played the game.
I'm only like 30 min into the game now, but I feel like Skill Up have some serious misunderstanding of the game?
I mean, it's very clear early on, our main character, Jesse, is talking to someone inside herself. We don't know who it is, it might be a remnant of her brother, it might be some kind of AWE, or it might even be the player themself, manifesting as a AWE.
However, it feels werid just disregarding it as a problem. As it's clearly a core part of the way Jesse explores the FBC.
(PS: I still want to play the game unspoiled so please don't tell me about Polaris _(:з」∠)_)
So, how did it go? :D
I like how you made all this effort in the comment , then never came back after only playing 30 mins. What a waste.
Smh come back and own your correction of SkillUp. Its been 9 months, a lot can happen in that time
How'd it go?
@Wade Because the aspect of the game that SkillUp complained about was made clear in 30 seconds, when he cleared the entire game and still didn't understand it? That's how.
Agreed , does feel like it's missing something. After watching many reviews I decided to buy the game . I played it till the end and while it is a good game , I found the story to be weak. You sort of just jump into a bunch of WTFs
l7aNgeR _ have u played The Foundation DLC yet? It starts to answer a ton of questions & makes you question things you thought you knew for sure. And the AWE DLC comes out probably mid August, which will show what happend to Alan at the end of Alan Wake if you played that back in 2010
Yeah, it's missing Lightsabers.
You can even get a Jedi outfit.
Wish remedy could make a star wars game after this. They would do it justice
@MysteryRomanticGames Then give me a new jedi story about a bounty hunter that can wield the force but dont like light sabers so he uses blasters and laser weapons... and let them make that game, why not? XD
But the inner dialogue has an actual reason told by the story... I didn't mind it at all. Not finished yet, but so far I'm loving this game.
Have to disagree on this one. Love this game for whatever reason you dont
SCP stands for Special Containment Procedures. Their motto is: Secure. Contain. Protect.
From the About the SCP Foundation webpage: "The Foundation maintains an extensive database of information regarding anomalies requiring Special Containment Procedures, commonly referred to as "SCPs"."
Snarky McSne it’s alctually a cool place for stories and stuff. My favorite was the wonder train one, a child’s toy train that somehow sentient, no one knows how or why, but it pretty friendly and left to wander the facility freely chugging around peoples feet, been known to bump up to against people’s feet for attention, sometimes if an employee hears its train whistle sound continually they’ll find it flipped on its side sounding for help and it’ll remember them and bring them gifts on a little trolley as if thanks, or even once helped a employee who lost their keys by finding them and bringing them to them on a little trolley.... the site has a lot of creative people behind it, glad to see it booming with more attention lately.
This video speaks to exactly the feelings I have with this game. There are these moments of wonder and great action undercut by one dimensional characterization, a truly awful and tedious inventory system, and lore hidden behind dry documents that slow the game to a halt but are paramount to the enjoyment of this world. While I play it I’m semi invested and intrigued enough to put a couple of hours in, but once I set it down I feel no real desire to come back any time soon. So close to greatness, but not enough cohesion to make the experience truly memorable or addictive.
I went down a SCP rabbit hole lately and it's made me appreciate this game even more. I now realize that some world building and story stuff that I thought didn't make sense or just felt off was 100% intentional.
@@maineman5757 I can see that adding enjoyment, but it can't really fix the charisma-free main character and meandering plot/ repetitive visuals. This game needed a Fox Mulder-type character as the lead. Someone we could care about outside of the mission they were on and that could cut the dry atmosphere and tension, which I found overbearing instead of intriguing by the end. I feel like this game is almost but not quite there a lot of the time, though I'm glad I played it and there were some stunning moments.
Honestly I think everyone’s trippin I took this game really slow and I’m blown away at the detail and what this game has to offer I understand everyone has their view on what’s good and not but holy moly I think somethings wrong with how people are viewing this game this is a real surprise and with how much detail the developers put into this game you just don’t see this type of shit everyday shnarf.
Dude... punctuation
I agree. You know what else has this level of detail? The Secret World, believe it or not. This game is a dead ringer for a scenario in that game.
The main story is still terrible.
I really liked their choice for bosses. It means people who don't like big boss fights can still progress the story at their own pace, and come back and deal with the bosses on their own time...or not...or try a boss, but leave it if it feels too tough, or come back later when they have more skills or better mods. Progress is not blocked by a boss fight that is too tough, but they are still there, ready to give you a boss fight if you want to take on the challenge. It honestly was a HUGE plus for my feeling on the game.
I like this game a lot, it combined Dead Space, House of Leaves and Akira, some of my favorite things ever. The Oldest House is worth visiting.
Well, nice video, relevant analysis, as usual. You had good points.
Thing is, I can't help but forgive the flaws. While I agree with every weaknesses you pointed out, none could throw me out of the experience, quite the contrary actually. I felt like dealing with mods was just a menial task I had to do as the director, like every job has. I basically just despised Emily, with her unethical littleness of mind and her dark hair roots. I felt like P6 didn't really mattered, because he actually doesn't. And hopefully I could hear Jesse's inner voice since I'm basically Polaris, and hopefully she didn't had anything interesting to say as the good cosmic horror hero figure she is. That may sound weird, and irrelevant, but I feel like Control's story's strenght is to be purposefully ordinary, mundain, generic on every level. And I think it's on purpose because of how good Ahti and the lore are. I really enjoyed the game, unlike anything I played in the last 5 years, and I wonder if it's story's uncanniness isn't part of it.
The only thing that really bugged me was the lack of polishment on facial animations, like if they took the mocap files out of the system and threw them on the RIG without revision. I assume this is due to team restrictions but that still is an objective flaw. Nothing to write home about tho.
The game also runs smoothly high settings on my golden potato, being Vega 64 eGPU, i7 8565U and 21:9 1080p display. It usually shows some hardcore CPU bottleneck with physics and particle effects, and it didn't this time. And I know It's not good performance value, thank you.
I loved this game so much. It resonated with me in so many levels.
The only thing “missing” from Control is the lack of award it has for being the 2019 Game of the Year!!!! Control should be the standard for what developers model their worlds on. The focus on the story & the more linearity in its progression while simultaneously being a semi-open sandbox setting is flawless. We need more games like this.
I love the creativity, strangeness and jaw-dropping visual effects of Control. I hate the terrible optimization though. Even now the game runs like mud on the PS4. It’s probably the number one thing that takes me out of the experience. You can reliably drop the frame rate by just pausing and unpausing the game.
Jesse's inner dialogue is, like almost everything in Control, more than it appears. It seems that it's just her thoughts to herself and a way for the player to know what she's thinking. It does have that function, but it's narrative purpose goes beyond that. Jesse is talking to not just herself, but also to Polaris, an entity that you learn more about as the game goes on and who I found myself questioning whether it was to be trusted. Is Polaris the actual source of the Hiss? Is Polaris the real antagonist, distorting Jesse and the player's perception of events? While some of the questions may be more interesting than their answers, I found them very intriguing.
For some reason I thought she was taking to Alan when I first started playing. Like she was somehow aware that she was a character in the story and the writer was Alan. So the Polaris reveal was a bit of a letdown 😅
I love your content and really appreciate the effort and time you put in to reviewing and critiquing a game. You are one of the most thorough, thoughtful, and well spoken creators out there and I would strive to make my own content of the same quality level. That being said I had a hard time with this particular video because I fell in love with Control more than any game in a really long time. Like you said in the review, the world is so damn intriguing and I just want to learn more, and keep discovering its secrets. One of the things you knocked the game for was how much interesting content the player has to seek out or read about on their own. But I don't see how that's a negative, the people who are more cerebral and invested will squeeze 100% out of the game (like myself) and the normies will just enjoy the combat and get nothing else from the game. We all have that friend who plays amazing games with brilliant stories who painfully skip every cutscene and disregard every insanely cool aspect of the game other than the actual gameplay. Ive learned you cant help those people, and its not up to the game to make sure every player knows everything and has seen everything on offer. I know everyone has different opinions about systems and aspects of a game, but I was just surprised at what aspects of the game you didn't like. I think all your points are valid, but some of the critique comes off as unnecessarily harsh or maybe just vary specific and nit picky. Everyone is different though, and are effected by things in their own unique way, and I guess that's the whole point. I think im just in love with this game and desperately want everyone to love it and experience it the way I did. I also can't wait for the future DLC and im hoping since it's releasing so far after launch that it will be some meaty content, and not your typical 2 hour add on DLC. Anyways keep on making great content, im always checking to see if you have new videos, so you're doing something right even if you didn't love my favorite game of 2019.
I love Skill Up's content as well, but he really dropped the ball here, due to streaming the game and not engaging with the collectables as they emerge in the game itself. It's like he missed 2/3rds of the game's combined narrative and then rushed through it post-game.
@@sartavin because if you get immersed in the story you have to rush... the fucking world is ending, i want to save it, i don't want to wander around exploring, the FUCKING WORLD IS ENDING. this game would have been 10x better if they had slowed it down and allowed me to feel relaxed enough to explore.
@@friendsquadzulu Funny, I never felt that way, except in Foundation DLC. Mostly it was Jesse looking for her brother and trying to figure out her role as the new director. I didn't feel much urgency in the main quest until near the very end, the majority of the game was exploring this creepy place and marveling at how they put it together.
Maybe most people need to slow down and smell the roses, rather than rushing through the field they just payed full price for.
Adhd dude, people are consuming sheep these days, they cant consume fast enough
Press X to Start he probably didn’t even purchase it and not to mention the guy is streaming the game and talking while playing it instead of playing the game on his own.
@@TheTrailerCREAT0R which ruins the entire experience
I got this on xbox game pass. I had to rush the game because my subscription was about to run out
Every time I see a game with physicals manipulation, it just makes me want to replay the underappreciated Singularity.
I was just playing this yesterday. Too bad it never got a sequel.
Damn that game was short though.
Really like singularity, does that game similar to control?
@@ethan007 I would say that games like Infamy are probably closer to Control but Singularity just holds a special place in my gaming history so certain things remind me of it more than others.
didnt finish it, but I remember it being a great game.
20:15 I'd be more impressed by this if the paper wasn't literally despawning before it hit the floor
A concession so that the game can even run on current systems. :)
Definitely respect the alternate take, but I personally loved it. For me, the individual elements are so cumulatively surprising and unique, that even if they don't fit together quite like I expected them to, what I'm left looking at is a puzzle that takes some real thought in order to discern the meaning. There are gaps and seams between the singular puzzle pieces, but I can still see the full picture. And the picture itself is so interesting to me that, despite the opaqueness, it leaves me wanting to know more about it. Hopefully the DLCs clear up some of the abruptness from the ending.
I'm with SU on every point except story. I love this story and the protags monologues are the only dramatic device capable of driving the plot regarding her unique tie to Polaris and how/why she got to the bureau.
Compared to AlanWake, the facial animations are a big improvement.
This review is spot on. I am playing it right now. I didn't grab me the way Alan Wake did. It is better than Quantum break. The RPG element was so pointless. The story is weird in a bad way and very inconsistent pacing. The RTX effect is very inconsistent. The camera exposure is really killing me. But lightning and reflections are great. But the texture popping is bad. I have to say that I never so disappointed with Remedy game like this before.
I really really enjoyed the story. Each to their own I guess. For me it was a breath of fresh air, something very different from the normal. Might add I think the whole online SCP community thing is pretty lame.
Huh, really? I mean, Control and SCP are similar to each other in various ways so it’s interesting that you think it’s lame. I don’t judge you for it, just curious as to your reason. But seeing as this comment is a year old, I don’t see it being likely that there may be a response to this reply anytime soon.
Just a note I haven't seen, you don't get her inner monologue. We get internal one sided dialogue with Polaris, but it's still just her speaking to something. Also the janitor clearly also can hear that internal conversation.
Skillup is the reviewer king for me, but I think he should make a remake of this review, or a remaster. Lol.. looks like he rushed throughout the game content and some of his opinions on this one looks like he misunderstood the game as a whole
that cleaner guy ahti is general Finnish guy and Finnish accent talking english. Pretty normal.
I absolutely LOVED this game from beginning to the end. I found the story, the location, the lore, the characters and the atmosphere to be EXTREMELY fascinating. Such a unique game and a breath of fresh air!
No one is you going to use the reduce dash cost.
Me: Laughs nervously
LOL Me too, 29% reduced is amazing in a pinch :P
Same
Oh, an Epic release... maybe if it was released on GoG I'll take a look
If you want it on PC you can still avoid Epic by purchasing from the Windows/Microsoft store, if that's a tolerable option for you.
@@novachikun thats even worse thab epic
If This games really used SCPWIKI as an inspiring agent. hiding Great findings and stories within logs , tapes and tales. Its also borrowed from there.
The real fun in SCP wiki is mostly outside of the SCPs main articles, but in the exploration logs and MTF stories.
Vinicius Oliveira ah, yes
Love the game (9/10) but please fix the frame rate issues.
@Top kek meh, if the last of us was a 6 this is an 8 for me. much less dull than any naughty dog game in the last decade.
"It's basically SCP the video game"
Boy do I have news for you
1. Control's story is not just about the events that happen in the game. It is about the lore that you found in all those documents, audio logs, and video reels. What happened in your childhood, how you got there, who are these things, what is Hiss, where it is from, what the hell is even going on. It seems like you missed everything because, for unknown reasons or because you were streaming, you were negligent towards this game. This game has so many great moments that it would be a crime to not suggest it to any gamer.
2. That Janitor Ahti is probably one of the best characters to ever come in any game. That Finnish accent, his aura of mysteriousness and power, and much more that I can't say without spoilers are just fantastinen.
3. Jesse, the protagonist is not spewing her inner thoughts as exposition but she is talking to an entity called Polaris that resides inside her, questioning what Jesse thinks and questioning what Polaris thinks and how they both should handle a situation. This point you made about Exposition and flashing it explicitly in your review is so stupid brother.
4. Facial animations are so good in this game including lip movement. What are you smoking by comparing it to ME: Andromeda. Even the "bad footage" you showed to prove your point wasn't that bad. This point is not even subjective and can not be called as personal preference. If you just zoom slowly into footage of any person talking normally you could say oh look it looks unnatural.
I am not hating on Skill Up and agree with you on 1-2 points here and just trying to be as polite as possible, BUT this has got to be one of the most unfair reviews I have ever seen on youtube.
For people who love lore oriented games, or just graphic nuts or just action-loving cuckoos... This game is atleast 9/10. For others who care about none of these, this game is still 7/10 and you guys should try it. This game would still be an enjoyable experience and good enough as this game offers something we have never seen before.
Agreed. It feels like Skill Up is really too harsh / plainly wrong on a lot of shortcomings of the game.
On a side note, it's clear that they invested a lot of resource into facial animations, but I still feel that the facial animations are a bit weird? I can't tell what it is. I mean it's weird that when playing the game, I don't feel it. But when watching the gameplay on youtube, something just feels not right? I think it's because there are too much movement on the face, compared to the overall body movement and head movements. I'm not an expert on this so I don't know.
Yeah, I don't know why, it's not low quality animations, but it just reminds me of Andromeda. Obviously, not as bad as it, but it jsut feel like they got something similar wrong?
Sadly, all TH-cam reviews flow like this....rushing, streaming, etc....plus he is a fan of looter shooters over stuff like this so that says it all
I love how when a reviewer doesn’t like something you like, you just dismiss his opinion by calling him “stupid” or “unfair” and then responders saying “he only likes looter shooters anyway” 😂 like come on, reviews are opinions grow up!
Despite writing so many words, your rebuttal can be summed up as "no u".
So far I’m loving this game.
Except for one thing - navigation.
Navigation is hell in this game. The map is so bad and unhelpful and what’s frustrating is that the side content is so good you need to explore these areas using •a map•
Becomes infuriating.
Otherwise I enjoy it. Inner dialogue and all.
Im currently going through mission 4 or 5 (on the way to the black rock quarry), and the main story isn't really grabbing me. It's the side stuff: the lore, collectibles, videos, that lure me into this game's world. Also, I hope there's more time spent with Emily Pope because she is immediately charming.
I couldn't agree more, I really enjoyed the game but it just felt like the things that SHOULD gel...didn't. It feels like the story and combat were really lopsided in their own aspects. The combat's AMAZING, but the enemies you fight with are all dull. The lore is FANTASTIC, but the main story was uninteresting, how, with such deep and vivid lore written in all the found documents, is the story so damn flat. It felt like they were building up all these different aspects for some big reveals only for us to not really get any, and in such an outlandish universe, how are all the enemies just glowy people?! Like i said, i still enjoyed it, but man just the inconsistency...it just feels like the story/enemies/characters dont live up to the amazing lore and combat design.
I usually find SkillUps reviews spot on but this one I have to disagree with. I'm enjoying this thoroughly. Better than I expected and one of the games of the year.
I'm afraid I have to disagree, Ralph. Lots of the shortcomings you mentioned are some of the things I enjoyed the most. As far as I'm concerned, Control is a GOTY contender.
Control is currently my favourite game of all time not because of the story but because of the parts. Almost every point raised here is completely true and the concept of a director's cut of control makes me cry just thinking of reliving the game but with a story as groundbreaking and masterful as everything else it does.
I know it's not a thing that usually happens maybe ever but a director's cut is honestly going to put this game in the greatest of all time category.
The Ingame Chapter even says "Finnish Tango" and not "Swedish Tango" :>
Can I disagree with you 1,000%? Just the opposite of what you propose is true; how *Control* brings everything _together_ is what is most remarkable about this extraordinary game.
"I'm hungry, what time smoko"
i lold
famous aussie proverb
Honestly, a perfect breakdown. If it was a shorter game with less gamified stuff, and just a carefully crafted game like Alan Wake, this would be an all time classic.
"SCP: The Video Game"
SCP: Contaiment Breach would like a word.
SCP Secret Labratory offline
I have to say seen as an exploration game this is great. It has a hypnotic rhythm with it's shoot and toss which works well with the twisting environment. The oldest house is the star of this game.
Finally played this & I have to say that I really love the video gamey stuff like having to kill certain enemies for upgrades. I guess if you play games mosty for the story then you might be let down but if you just enjoy all kinds of games then you'll love this.
The weirdest part about this game to me is that it feels like a Live Service Looter Shooter except it got turned into a single player story focused game. All the systems, mission design, level design, UI, map, the materials, enemies, mods, controls, camera, etc. It feels right out of early Destiny and Warframe. I think that's what brings parts of this game down, to me at least. It feels unfocused and stuck within the trappings of a modern looter while trying to be a unique action adventure game.
The mods do feel a bit much at times but at the same time if they went barebones with it gamers would be complaining about no sense of character progression.
I’m throughly enjoying the game and I’m probably less than half way done. In regards to the inner monologue complaint, I think it was an effort to keep Jesse relatable since she’s our player character and they didn’t wanna make her too guarded or mysterious so players wouldn’t feel disconnected, at least that’s how I feel so it didn’t bother me. Remedy love their narration though just about all they’re games use it as a storytelling device.
Never seen so many people disagree with your reviews. Still deciding whether to pick it up this weekend
I completed the game yesterday, have 44/46 achievements, probably like 15ish hours, and only had issues with framerate in one specific area on the Xbox One X. But god DAMN do i wish i had RTX on PC. That just looks absolutely incredible.
EDIT: i watched all the TV and projector things i found, and listened to all the audio recordings, and i fully intend to read all the files. They add so much more to everything going on.
I think this game is going to be really divisive on how some people see it. A lot of the things he doesnt like were the things i liked the most. The inner monologues were things that get to see what the character is thinking, the other characters are all professionals talking to their new boss. And Ahti stands out because everyone else isnt also wierd. But everyone likes different things so i understand
Hmm... first sterling now you. How is this game so divisive lol first time I don't agree with you.
I think its a masterpiece. Flawed sure but still the best game Remedy has made since Alan Wake.
To really get into the lore of the game you need to read all the pieces of data scattered around. And they really expand on the story with more detail about every little thing. I'm only halfway through but liking it all right now.
This game played Porcupine Tree over its credits so therefore, it is a good game
its the “video gamey” stuff for sure, the mods, inventories, and every enemy encounter just being a random spawn in a room youve been in 100 times already and laboriously dispatching them when just trying to backtrack.
I know it would sound weird, but I could smell this game. I used to visit a place like this, while it still had remnants of 60s design and architecture and it always had this sweet heavy smell of wood, dust and old things. This game nails that look and feel perfectly, for that alone I can forgive it any other flaws.
YES! The inner dialogue was kinda okay at the start, good when you first meet the janitor but absolutely annoying later on. Second time trying to play this game for me and it's good, but during most of the cutscenes or forced conversations it's usually "yap yap yap exposition bla bla".
You know what I really feel is missing? Sekiro review 🤔
Needs an easy mode 🤣
Lol he's scared people will dislike him for hating the game so he doesn't want to review it...grow some balls and give your opinion...I love Sekiro but I'm open to see a review of someone with a negative opinion of it ...especially when it would be as detailed as SkillUp would make it
Sekiro sucked. There, reviewed
@@namenullvoid the majority disagree with you and ralph
justin why?. Not really. That game just doesn’t have lasting appeal. Its just meh
finished the main game as well as both AWE and foundation DLCs. Played it on my PS5. Not a single frame drop and very very smooth and fast. Loved the game
You know she's almost always talking to Polaris. Its not an internal monologue.
'The topography of the map coalesces into...' 'it was bad. It was bad and it made me sad.' I love this script.
This game feels like the first installment that's impossible to revisit when the better-funded sequel comes out.
Witcher 1.
@@chiffmonkey yep, and mass effect 1
I like to call this the Mass Effect.
@@MrCipasa Aw I still replay Mass Effect 1 like once every three years before I finish the trilogy. ME1 is replayable because the story is so freaking good and the mechanics are serviceable enough to keep it playable.
@@MrCipasa ME1 doesn't have planet probe grinding like ME2. And there's enough good stuff to keep you immersed like writing, acting, music and choice. Also the plot structure is less reliant on first playthrough decisionmaking than ME2 (because 2nd playthrough of ME2 you know to do all side missions before Reaper IFF.)
28 Minutes from a reviewer for which I have HUGE respect. However, are we so wrapped up in the small details of a game that I did not hear ONE TIME if the game was FUN. Which I kinda thought was the reason for not only playing a game, but something the reviewer should at least try to express. There was so much of "How I would do it better" there wasn't much time for "I had a lot of fun". Was the game fun? Would you suggest to your friends to buy/play it? This is the info we kinda need, how you would do things and/or your opinion of how they did something wrong are immaterial to the review of a game.
Ron Harris ACG covers those bases well.
"...the most transfixing aspect..." "...where monolithic protean topography must be purged..." Boi just swallowed a thesaurus this morning.
Imagine this game and its destruction physics combat mixed with vanquished's fast paced 3rd person movement shooter combat. That would be one of the most perfect combat loops ever
Normally agree but not this time. Wonderful art design and an eerie atmosphere with great story telling.
I kinda agree with the basic gist that Control is a game where its individual elements are actually really amazing and well done, but somehow the flies in the ointment sour the experience somewhat. My favorite part of the game is the lore and atmosphere - the game is obviously heavily inspired by the SCP Foundation mythos of which I'm a big fan, with the basic premise of a secretive organization dedicated to finding, containing, and learning about the supernatural, and this game is the closest we'll ever get to being the best SCP Foundation game despite not being one. Hell, it's a lot better at being SCP Foundation than many of the other games released with the name, and immersing myself into the various lore and stories behind what happened was an absolute joy.
Unfortunately though the game is ruined by a lot of things, and for me it's mainly due to the inclusion of a frankly messily looter-shooter RPG system with randomized loot. Narrative is something we need more in looter shooters, but Control isn't supposed to be one nor does its narrative make it out to be such, so having said mechanics combined with how egregious the inventory management and loot RNG is implemented makes the thing a chore. Also, I can't really point out in an objective way why I feel this way, but despite Control having incredibly good combat mechanics that feel amazing to play (especially the best implementation of a physics-based throwing system I've seen in a game since Half-Life 2), for some reason I abhor getting into combat here. It's very much unlike say, the recent Outriders demo where I absolutely look forward to kicking ass and taking names, whereas in Control I actually dread getting into a combat encounter even when my character has become akin to a demi-god. I rather prefer to just keep running till I hit a sidequest or an interesting lore entry, and that the combat feels more like a hindrance to my immersion of the world.
I'd much rather see something in the style of a john woo shooter only with the grit of Max Payne
Or just a remake of Max Payne 1&2 that would be so amazing!
Nick I don’t think Rockstar will give up the Max Payne IP, even though they’re clearly not doing anything with it :(
John wick story done in the style of Max Payne?
The first two Max Payne games made with the Northlight engine would be amazing I would pay full price for that.
Remember when people were complaining about reading the lore of Destiny over playing it? So now I guess it’s just ok for any other game.
I'm playing this game and I don't feel engaged at all. I love how it looks, the architecture and the destructibility but I don't find the gameplay compelling and the story is meh. I loved Alan Wake waaaay more... and Max Payne of course.
I am playing through Control myself and I quite like it. I'm not very far into it as yet. I agree with a lot of your review though. The one thing that constantly springs out to me is the thought that they've done something like motion capture, but then hand animated the motion capture motions onto their model rigging... which sounds as weird as it sounds. Just look at Jesse, I always think she's jutting out her jaw in a strange sort of facial mannerism, as if she's trying to overcompensate for underbite or something. But I can't imagine that the actress who plays her would actually do that though (she's the same woman who played Beth in Quantum Break incidentally).
Apart from the performance complaint (I’m playing on a base PS4, hoo boy) I disagree with all your other issues with the game, though by the sounds of things I might be taking my time with it more than you were. I’m taking care to explore everywhere, read everything and complete each side quest, where I think players focussed on main story predominantly will miss out on a lot. Also the world is so so immersive and haunting
"X-Files crossed with Twin Peaks".
Well, seeing as their previous-previous game, Alan Wake, was basically a love letter to Twin Peaks, and Quantum Break was... Somewhat X-files-ish, this looks like a natural progression.
I do feel sad that we're not getting a next Alan Wake game.
There are some old indie/low budget game set in the SCP. If you like it, look up the games and check them out. They should be very inexpensive.
Nice review. Thank you.
Average Joe D Boiiiis
I had EXACTLY the same experience as what you described in the first minute with 2017's PREY, couldn't fault it but it just lacked soul. Deus Ex Mankind Divided was similar, that game is pretty much PERFECT in just about every way but the well told and written story just didn't grab me or make me anxious to complete each excellent mission.