Control Is Free Again On Epic

Alright, listen up, you beautiful basket cases. It’s time to talk about that game. You know the one. The one that’s been given away more times than a cheap hooker’s business card. Yeah, I’m talking about Control. It’s free. Again. On Epic. 🙄

Now, before you start sharpening your pitchforks and lighting your torches, hear me out. I know, I know, we’ve all got it by now. Probably on like, five different platforms. Epic, PS Plus, that Humble Bundle you forgot you bought – it’s like a damn STD that just keeps coming back. But here’s the thing, if you’re still one of the uninitiated, the poor souls who haven’t yet had their minds bent by this game, then for the love of all that is holy, grab it. Even if it’s from that launcher everyone loves to hate.

For those of you living under a rock, Control is a mind-bending action-adventure game by Remedy, the same twisted geniuses behind Alan Wake and Max Payne. It throws you into the shoes of Jesse Faden, the new director of the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), a shadowy government agency that deals with all things paranormal and weird. Think X-Files meets SCP Foundation, cranked up to eleven with a dash of Max Payne’s chaotic gunplay.

The FBC’s headquarters, the Oldest House, is a brutalist masterpiece that is constantly shifting, twisting, and generally breaking the laws of physics. It’s a labyrinth of concrete corridors, seemingly endless offices, and hidden dimensions that you’ll be navigating while battling interdimensional nasties. The story is a dense, bizarre trip into the unknown that will keep you hooked if you are into that kind of thing. And the gameplay? Oh man, the gameplay. You get telekinetic powers, a shapeshifting gun, and the ability to rip chunks of concrete from the walls and hurl them at your enemies. It’s like being a force-wielding badass, as some folks have pointed out, but with a bit more cosmic horror thrown in for good measure.

I have to admit, when I first played it, I was kind of confused. The game doesn’t hold your hand, it throws you into the deep end and expects you to swim. But once it clicks, you get sucked in, like one of those poor sods that get hoovered up by a fridge.

Let’s get into the meat of it – the combat. It’s fast-paced, fluid, and incredibly satisfying. You’re not just mindlessly shooting enemies; you’re also throwing objects, levitating, and mind-controlling your way through combat encounters. The sound design is top-notch too – that little whistle when you pull something to your hand? That’s the stuff that makes me moist, let’s be honest. And don’t even get me started on the environmental destruction. Stacks of paper go flying, walls crumble, and the whole place looks like a warzone by the time you’re done.

There is a certain satisfaction in ripping a chunk of concrete from a wall and hurling it at some poor bastard that’s in your way, that never gets old. It’s just so visceral. It’s not just the big obvious things that get destroyed either; it’s the little things too. And that’s what makes the environment feel so alive and dynamic. It’s like a modern-day Max Payne with telekinesis and a whole lot of weirdness.

But it’s not just the combat that makes Control so great. The game’s world-building is phenomenal. The Oldest House is a character in itself – a constantly shifting, labyrinthine structure that’s full of secrets and surprises. You’ll spend a lot of time exploring its corridors, offices, and hidden dimensions, uncovering the mysteries of the FBC and the paranormal forces they’re trying to contain. It’s like a mix of X-Files, Fringe, and the SCP Foundation, all rolled into one glorious, mind-bending package.

The story itself is a slow burn, unfolding through documents, audio logs, and environmental storytelling. It’s not a linear experience either, but more of a jigsaw puzzle where you have to piece the whole picture together, and it’s a rewarding experience to unravel it all. Some people find that tedious but I think it gives the game more depth. And the way the Old Gods of Asgard lyrics tie into the game? Pure genius. I spent 55 hours listening to them and the AWII soundtrack this year, and I regret nothing.

There’s a secret boss that is basically an SCP. It’s a fridge that you can’t stop looking at. Once you get too close it sucks you into another dimension and then you have an epic boss fight. There’s a recurring motel that can transport you across dimensions by pulling on a light string 3 times. And the janitor? Don’t even get me started on the janitor. The Oldest House is basically a containment facility for a bunch of anomalies and powers that appear in the world. Halfway through the game you get to explore the actual containment facility and read up on all the anomalies. It is a great world-building experience.

But enough about the good stuff. Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: The Epic Games Store. I get it. It’s not Steam. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles. The UI is clunky. It’s like that one friend who always shows up late to the party, but they brought the good booze. But honestly, if you let something like a launcher stop you from playing a great game, you’re missing out big time. I mean it is free stuff, you know? You just click play and that’s it. It’s not like you need extra functions to play a single-player game.