Remedy Entertainment compiles all the content released to date with the version optimized for next-generation consoles.
When 505 Games and Remedy Entertainment announced that original Control buyers would not be able to enjoy the optimized version on PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, the reaction from players was as expected. The anger became palpable and the editor tried to justify her decision in every possible way, each one more implausible. They said then that they had done additional development, so it was “impossible” to offer the improved version to those who already had the game on their shelves. Even those who bought the Deluxe Edition, which included the season pass, will have to get hold of Control: Ultimate Edition if they want to harness the power of the new consoles.
This new version introduces all the contents of the Deluxe Edition, that is, the base game and its two expansions, The Foundation and AWE. What it does not allow is to move the saved game of the original game to the new platforms, a gibberish that has forced us to start from scratch. As an alternative, you can use the game saved in the Ultimate Edition of PS4, which as it is compatible with the title on current platforms is also capable of transferring the saves to PS5, as confirmed by 505 Games.
The Ultimate Edition is exactly the same game as the original, so all the mechanics remain intact. The title combines moments of exploration with intense combat full of lights and speed. Although we urge you to read the original Reviews to discover all its keys, it is roughly a third-person combat system that mixes shootings with special powers. Therefore, we can launch elements of the environment against creatures, create a protective barrier, fly through the air or avoid the bullets quickly.
Two options, fluidity or graphics?
In August 2019, Control went on sale on consoles and PC. The compatible version offered a number of advantages over the title on PS4 and Xbox One, among which was the ability to play it at 60 fps. Meanwhile, users of previous-gen machines had to settle for a locked framerate at 30 fps. Especially on the base consoles, the game had performance problems, but it also happened with the PS4 Pro version, the one we used in FreeGameTips to analyze it. Being a demanding game (it puts many elements on screen and implements a complex physics system to destroy elements of the stage), the drops were constant, not to mention the slow loading of textures. And for slowness, the times to load when starting the game or between death and death.
The PS5 version doesn’t look as good as it does on a good PC, but Remedy’s work has been satisfying. For those who lived the experience in the previous machines, the jump is almost generational. The performance issues have been blurred, and more importantly, there is a mode that focuses on framerate. In this way, if we activate the mode dedicated to performance we can experience a smooth and fluid gameplay. This is how Control is more enjoyable, because the battles unfold at high speed, with all kinds of onscreen effects. The resolution in this case is native 1440p, upscaled to 4K, the same as on Xbox Series X (the Series S version retains 60fps, but runs at 900p, upscaled to 1080p). The game already improved a lot in stability with the backward compatibility of Series X and now in its Ultimate version it takes a leap to the important front.
The second option is to activate the graphics mode, which introduces ray tracing, but in return it runs at 30 fps and the resolution drops to 1220p. There is no doubt that there is a considerable visual improvement, with very natural reflections that add greater complexity to the different elements of the environment. All in all, we recommend prioritizing performance, at least during combat (that is, most of the time).
As exclusive to the PS5 version, the Finnish developer has used the special functions of the DualSense controller. We perceive Jesse’s steps thanks to the vibration and also the different powers. On the other hand, adaptive triggers exert different resistances depending on the weapon you are using. It is an add-on that does not clash and that integrates very well into the gameplay, like the activity cards. This functionality was not yet active before launch, but later it will be possible to access missions directly from the console menu.
The puddles are ray traced.
Take control of the Federal Office
Remedy Entertainment follows its own creative trail to design an action adventure with light metroidvania touches. In Control, players step into the shoes of Jesse Faden, a woman who has spent the last years of her life searching for her kidnapped brother. Everything happened quickly, in the blink of an eye. The two brothers found something that should not have been found, so the Federal Control Office acted and took one of them away. Now, years later, Faden has found the headquarters of the OFC.
As soon as he enters the building’s doors, Jesse discovers a bleak panorama. He directs his steps towards the director’s office, but he finds his corpse and a bloody pistol at his feet. When he touches the weapon, something awakens within him the powers that will serve him to fight the hiss, the parasitic race that has poisoned the place and the organization’s employees. Suddenly, she is the new director of the Federal Office of Control. Its mission? Cleaning the headquarters of the corruption filtered through all the pores of the building, while discovering what was the fate of his brother and his role in this story, which we can now relive with a new face lift in the next gen.
Base Reviews with the PS5 version. We have also tested the updated XSX.
CONCLUSION
Control: Ultimate Edition on PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S does not reach the level of the PC version, but it does represent a generational leap from the version that came out on the old consoles. In addition to the texture issues being resolved, load times have been drastically reduced and resolution has increased over PS4 and Xbox One. However, what has most caught our attention is that it works so solidly . In performance mode, the title runs at 60 fps, which gives it a necessary fluidity for these types of action games. Ray tracing is sacrificed, available through graphics mode. This effect considerably improves the appearance of the product, but considering that the framerate drops to 30 fps, it is not the most recommended option. On PS5, Remedy has added support for the DualSense controller, a number of features that have been successfully integrated. For the rest, the same game of 2019, with the same successes and defects.
THE BEST
- Solid console performance at 60fps, finally!
- Reduced loading times
- Good use of DualSense
- Ray tracing, if only to enjoy the environment
WORST
- The botch with saved games
- The dubbing is still very poor
- That previous editions are not updated for free
Very good
A game with a remarkable finish that we will enjoy and remember. A good buy, highly recommended for lovers of the genre. It is well cared for at all levels.
