CONTROL |OT| Welcome to This Oldest House of Leaves

[Inkvoterad]

Question regarding ways to find hidden areas, spoilertagging just in case

Spoiler

So is it a thing with many hidden areas that you can shoot down walls and find small hidden places? I was just kinda fucking around shooting at things and seeing how the destruction was, and i ended up finding this one wall i could see the other end of. Thought it was an effect basically but i could shoot down the concrete around it and enter it. Was a small little room with 2 lootboxes. Are there many of these? If so, what do i look for? I just kinda fucked around and didn't realize this was a hidden area until it was showing the light on the opposite side.

 

[Bloodbathnbyond]

Ok I need the soundtrack to this game. I've heard three or four songs that are really good. The sound design in this game is top notch.

 

[Kyuuji]

Just a heads up if PS4 people aren't aware but there's another dynamic Control theme in the store for £2.50.
Inverted pyramid split with two black and white sets of that ink/paint mixture effect that's in red in the game.

It's a little annoying that it's out of focus but I'm on a 55" 4K so YMMV.
Still works well as a neutral background I'd thats your jam:

This was the dynamic preorder theme (below).
The walls shift continuously and the camera pans across from left to right and back.

Bonus screenshot

 

[ak1287]

We agree that the map is a awful right?

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No

 

[Krathoon]

I am tempted to return my xbox version and go for that ps4 digital deluxe.

 

[tulpa]

We agree that the map is a awful right?

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nope! couldn't be better.

 

[ymgve]

nope! couldn't be better.

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The map is pretty bad when multiple areas overlap each other, like in the Panopticon.

 

[NTGYK]

Anyone else rolling with the Astral Dive suit? I like it, has a Dead Space vibe to it, changes the game a bit from the standard getup.

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How do you get these outfits

 

[haveheart]

The more I progress, the more I think this will be one of my GOATs. I can't believe what I'm seeing, hearing and feeling.

 

[tulpa]

The map is pretty bad when multiple areas overlap each other, like in the Panopticon.

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why? because it's just an approximation that will give you an idea of where you are but not an exact diagram, and forces you to explore and learn the areas? no that's intentional and it's a fantastic design choice

 

[kambaybolongo]

why? because it's just an approximation that will give you an idea of where you are but not an exact diagram, and forces you to explore and learn the areas? no that's intentional and it's a fantastic design choice

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If the map is just supposed to be a rough approximation they shouldn't make it look 1:1 with the levels.

 

[tulpa]

If the map is just supposed to be a rough approximation they shouldn't make it look 1:1 with the levels.

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what?

 

[Krathoon]

How do you get these outfits

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It is a ps4 exclusive. I think all of the ps4 versions have it.

 

[Rezon]

The map is pretty bad when multiple areas overlap each other, like in the Panopticon.

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why? because it's just an approximation that will give you an idea of where you are but not an exact diagram, and forces you to explore and learn the areas? no that's intentional and it's a fantastic design choice

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the map overlaying is pretty bad and annoying, don't know what layer the map even is showing me half the time, DOOM 2016 had a fantastic map even if 5 floors were overlapping

and I don't really buy the design choice excuse, a map should be used to know where you are/ where you're going, if the map doesn't do that, it's just a bad map.

 

[ket]

How can you have a Metroidvania with an intentionally bad map

 

[tulpa]

the map overlaying is pretty bad and annoying, don't know what layer the map even is showing me half the time, DOOM 2016 had a fantastic map even if 5 floors were overlapping

and I don't really buy the design choice excuse, a map should be used to know where you are/ where you're going, if the map doesn't do that, it's just a bad map.

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nah. i'm really glad the game's map doesn't look like that. extremely glad it doesn't have map markers and minimaps and compasses telling you where to go and what to do. that would be awful.

How can you have a Metroidvania with an intentionally bad map

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it's intentionally good. an intentionally bad map would have a bunch of map markers and pointers and an exact diagram of every level telling me exactly where i need to go. that wouldn't work with the approach and design this game is going for at all. love the throwback to when you actually had to explore and discover things for yourself rather than having everything spoonfed to you! great choice Remedy

 

[newmoneytrash]

the map overlaying is pretty bad and annoying, don't know what layer the map even is showing me half the time, DOOM 2016 had a fantastic map even if 5 floors were overlapping

and I don't really buy the design choice excuse, a map should be used to know where you are/ where you're going, if the map doesn't do that, it's just a bad map.

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This map is perfect for DOOM, but I don't think it's necessary here. Control's map functions perfectly for the pace and tone of the game, I like it a lot

 

[nilbog]

How do you get these outfits

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As mentioned the Astral Dive suit is ps4 only but there are a few hidden in the game.

Dive suit is pretty nice maybe there is one similar found later.

 

[Qudi]

Just a heads up if PS4 people aren't aware but there's another dynamic Control theme in the store for £2.50.
Inverted pyramid split with two black and white sets of that ink/paint mixture effect that's in red in the game.

It's a little annoying that it's out of focus but I'm on a 55" 4K so YMMV.
Still works well as a neutral background I'd thats your jam:

This was the dynamic preorder theme (below).
The walls shift continuously and the camera pans across from left to right and back.

Bonus screenshot

Click to shrink...

Is there music in the dynamic theme you bought?

 

[Kyuuji]

Is there music in the dynamic theme you bought?

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Yep. One where it sounds like things being played backwards with a bassline behind it for a bit. Mixes it up to a more muted one and then back again.

 

[FelipeMGM]

You can unlock one

Spoiler

in the Luck Research Room. There's a puzzle you have to solve in the room next to all the lucky objects using said objects.

That's the only other one I have besides the pre-order one.

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wait, there's a puzzle there? All it happened to me was that everything started to blow up after hitting those buttons. I thought it was pretty funny beeing the luck and probability office lol

 

[ket]

nah. i'm really glad the game's map doesn't look like that. extremely glad it doesn't have map markers and minimaps and compasses telling you where to go and what to do. that would be awful.

it's intentionally good. an intentionally bad map would have a bunch of map markers and pointers and an exact diagram of every level telling me exactly where i need to go. that wouldn't work with the approach and design this game is going for at all. love the throwback to when you actually had to explore and discover things for yourself rather than having everything spoonfed to you! great choice Remedy

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That's more or less what this game does tho? The objective marker is on by default, the map always has your objective spelled out, and you can track/untrack missions any time you want. Story characters also always tell Jesse exactly what she has to do too.

Yeah there's office signs that you can use to navigate but otherwise Control guides the player like basically any other AAA game. The main difference is that the waypoint marker is on your map instead. That's it.

 

[leng jai]

I'm only 4 hours in and the respawning enemies are already getting tedious, just feels like padding.

 

[tulpa]

That's more or less what this game does tho? The objective marker is on by default, the map always has your objective clearly listed, and you can track/untrack missions any time you want.

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nope, it highlights a general region but doesn't give a precise objective marker. there's an overlay that comes on when you're standing directly next to an objective but that's pretty much it. perfect balance between pushing people in the right direction and making them explore for themselves. unless you think highlighting the panopticon on your map as an area to explore is really the same as giving you an exact map marker

Yeah there's office signs that you can ise to navigate but otherwise Control guides the player like basically any other AAA game. The main difference is that the waypoint marker is on your map instead. That's it.

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you're wrong

 

[Bardoon]

I hated the mold boss I beat him by

Spoiler

putting on highest tiers mods for health, levitation using less energy and launch using less energy. Health and energy were completely upgraded. Make sure to fly around and shoot while doing so. Once energy refills, try to land to launch the things blowing up near you at the mold boss then start levitating again. Standing on the ground is a death sentence.

good luck.

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Thanks. I'll give it a try when I play tomorrow. Although I don't think I have enough to upgrade health and energy fully, so maybe it's a fight I'll have to return to later.

wait, there's a puzzle there? All it happened to me was that everything started to blow up after hitting those buttons. I thought it was pretty funny beeing the luck and probability office lol

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You need to be able to get into the room next to the room with the objects (iirc it needs a clearance pass). But there's a whiteboard with a puzzle on it, once you solve it you'll unlock a new outfit. When things are blowing up it's because it hasn't been done correctly

 

[Kyuuji]

Spoiler: Early OoP

Reading the safe OOP background like

 

[nihilence]

I might have to set a image to wallpaper on Xbox, the style is so good.

 

[tulpa]

Spoiler: Early OoP

Reading the safe OOP background like

Click to shrink...

 

[StrappingYoungLance]

Gotta agree about the map, I don't think it actually does encourage exploration - particularly when it comes to backtracking. It's far too difficult to see what rooms actually connect and what don't, what floors are being represented or recognise much of what you're looking at. There are spots where I've known I'll have to come back later but it's far too difficult to make much of a mental note looking at the map so instead most of the time I'm just hoping I'll stumble on the secret again when doing something else. That isn't great for a game with Metroidvania elements. This isn't even about needing map markers, a radar or a minimap, I do think the absence of those are totally okay decisions. The map itself though just feels borderline useless.

It's still a great game! Not every design decision needs to be defended just because it was a deliberate decision.

 

[Kyuuji]

Click to shrink...

Perfect.

 

[tulpa]

Gotta agree about the map, I don't think it actually does encourage exploration - particularly when it comes to backtracking. It's far too difficult to see what rooms actually connect and what don't, what floors are being represented or recognise much of what you're looking at. There are spots where I've known I'll have to come back later but it's far too difficult to make much of a mental note looking at the map so instead most of the time I'm just hoping I'll stumble on the secret again when doing something else. That isn't great for a game with Metroidvania elements. This isn't even about needing map markers, a radar or a minimap, I do think the absence of those are totally okay decisions. The map itself though just feels borderline useless.

It's still a great game! Not every design decision needs to be defended just because it was a deliberate decision.

Click to shrink...

i wrote a day before the game came out that the map and the way it's handled is one of my favorite parts about the game and i stand by that. i don't really get how making it hard to see how rooms and levels precisely connect sometimes discourages exploration? i would say just the opposite

 

[ket]

nope, it highlights a general region but doesn't give a precise objective marker. there's an overlay that comes on when you're standing directly next to an objective but that's pretty much it. perfect balance between pushing people in the right direction and making them explore for themselves. unless you think highlighting the panopticon on your map as an area to explore is really the same as giving you an exact map marker

you're wrong

Click to shrink...

1) The objective marker is pretty much always on the room where you need to go next and even in the instances where it isn't the marker is so close to where you need to go that you'll usually find the room you need to go fairly quickly. It's pretty hard to get lost in this game.

2) Yes, I am? The characters tell you where to go all the time! The map marker pretty much shows you exactly where you need to go! Just because there's a modicum of navigation skills required doesn't mean Control isn't spoonfeeding you any less than a AAA game like AC Odyssey on exploration mode.

 

[tulpa]

1) The objective marker is pretty much always on the room where you need to go next and even in the instances where it isn't the marker is so close to where you need to go that you'll usually find the room you need to go fairly quickly. It's pretty hard to get lost in this game.

2) Yes, I am? The characters tell you where to go all the time! The map marker pretty much shows you exactly where you need to go! Just because there's a modicum of navigation skills required doesn't mean Control isn't spoonfeeding you any less than a AAA game like AC Odyssey on exploration mode.

Click to shrink...

are we playing the same game? how far are you? you must be very very early if you're regularly seeing the overlay, it basically disappears at one point and the areas that get highlighted are large and contain several layers.

super funny though though. one minute people are complaining that the map is too confusing and i'm getting lost, the next minute it's just like any other AAA map and it tells you exactly where to go, it's impossible to get lost.

 

[ket]

are we playing the same game? how far are you? you must be very very early if you're regularly seeing the overlay, it basically disappears at one point and the areas that get highlighted are large and contain several layers.

super funny though though. one minute people are complaining that the map is too confusing and i'm getting lost, the next minute it's just like any other AAA map and it tells you exactly where to go, it's impossible to get lost.

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I've nearly beaten the game and have been playing it since last week

 

[ymgve]

are we playing the same game? how far are you? you must be very very early if you're regularly seeing the overlay, it basically disappears at one point and the areas that get highlighted are large and contain several layers.

super funny though though. one minute people are complaining that the map is too confusing and i'm getting lost, the next minute it's just like any other AAA map and it tells you exactly where to go, it's impossible to get lost.

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Sounds like you got bit by a PS4 bug. The map never disappeared for me on PC. (Apart from the areas that clearly say UNMAPPED AREA)

 

[sosainas]

Performance on PC is really bad, right?

 

[Team_Feisar]

Man, my TV broke down yesterday so I played the last 4 hours in PSVR Cinema mode.
The Resolution is subpar of course , but the atmosphere is almost oppressive at times, duenl to the immersivness of the headset and the large virtual screen.

 

[tulpa]

I've nearly beaten the game and have been playing it since last week

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weird that you didn't notice then! i guess all the people talking about how they're getting lost and find it confusing that the objective system doesn't tell them exactly where they need to go just don't know what they're talking about. and also all the critics and players who highlighted that the game doesn't give you precise markers were also wrong. i can argue against people saying the map is too imprecise and they don't know where to go. can't simultaneously argue against people saying the map is just like any other AAA and it tells you exactly where to go, lol. can't juggle it

Sounds like you got bit by a PS4 bug. The map never disappeared for me on PC.

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i never said the map disappears? i said you rarely see the spinning overlay that appears when you're right next to an objective after a certain point in the game. i played on PC and i'm on my second playthrough

 

[ymgve]

weird that you didn't notice then! i guess all the people talking about how they're getting lost and find it confusing that the objective system doesn't tell them exactly where they need to go just don't know what they're talking about. and also all the critics and players who highlighted that the game doesn't give you precise markers were also wrong. i can argue against people saying the map is too imprecise and they don't know where to go. can't simultaneously argue against people saying the map is just like any other AAA and it tells you exactly where to go, lol. can't juggle it

i never said the map disappears? i said you rarely see the spinning overlay that appears when you're right next to an objective after a certain point in the game. i played on PC and i'm on my second playthrough

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Sorry, I misread. But there is a bug where the rooms in the map display disappear, leaving only the text labels.

 

[tulpa]

Sorry, I misread. But there is a bug where the rooms in the map display disappear, leaving only the text labels.

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no worries!

 

[StrappingYoungLance]

i wrote a day before the game came out that the map and the way it's handled is one of my favorite parts about the game and i stand by that. i don't really get how making it hard to see how rooms and levels precisely connect sometimes discourages exploration? i would say just the opposite

Click to shrink...

Because using it at times feels about as helpful as strapping on a blindfold. The map should aid with navigation and help streamline the process of exploration. Instead it's basically only as helpful as a compass. When needing to get from a-to-b the map barely helps at all with figuring out what door or path leads where, meaning that exploration and backtracking becomes a chore of "maybe this door? Nope that's that room I've been to and don't need. Nope that's a toilet. Nope this looped in the opposite direction etc" until you stumble on the right path. It hinders the process of finding those areas you haven't yet explored or need to come back to later. That's not what maps are supposed to do.

 

[DeaDPooL_jlp]

This game is gonna end up topping Alan Wake for me and I didn't see that coming. Even outside of strictly Remedy's catalog of games this is gonna end up being one of my favorite, if not favorite games of the year. I am running into a bit of stuttering on PS4 now that I have acquired a few abilities but it's not really ruining the game for me. Although I hope they do a next-gen patch cause I would easily play it again.

 

[Conkerkid11]

Got something a bit earlier than I should have, due to the nature of having a bunch of objects to play around with and telekinesis in order to get to places I shouldn't be able to yet.

Spoiler

quack quack

 

[tulpa]

Because using it at times feels about as helpful as strapping on a blindfold. The map should aid with navigation and help streamline the process of exploration. Instead it's basically only as helpful as a compass. When needing to get from a-to-b the map barely helps at all with figuring out what door or path leads where, meaning that exploration and backtracking becomes a chore of "maybe this door? Nope that's that room I've been to and don't need. Nope that's a toilet. Nope this looped in the opposite direction etc" until you stumble on the right path. It hinders the process of finding those areas you haven't yet explored or need to come back to later. That's not what maps are supposed to do.

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it's definitely designed so that you'll eventually want to stop using it because you've learned how to navigate. it does aid with navigation imo, but that aid is very limited. it will point you in the right direction. i strongly believe the map in this game should not assist you too much. the levels are clearly designed and understandable in their own right.

 

[SofNascimento]

Lmao nah

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A map wasn't even meant to be there is the first place.

 

[StrappingYoungLance]

it's definitely designed so that you'll eventually want to stop using it because you've learned how to navigate. it does aid with navigation imo, but that aid is very limited. it will point you in the right direction. i strongly believe the map in this game should not assist you too much. the levels are clearly designed and understandable in their own right.

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Yeah, I think we're gonna have to agree to disagree because ultimately we want different things out of our maps. That's okay, though.

I do think they've done a solid job of signposting most areas, which makes up for a lack of detail in the map. It can just be a bit more frustrating when you want to get more specific about nooks and crannies and such.

 

[gdt]

Any word on length?

 

[tulpa]

Yeah, I think we're gonna have to agree to disagree because ultimately we want different things out of our maps. That's okay, though.

I do think they've done a solid job of signposting most areas, which makes up for a lack of detail in the map. It can just be a bit more frustrating when you want to get more specific about nooks and crannies and such.

Click to shrink...

yeah i mean i would personally be happy if the game had no map. but i understand for most people that would be pushing it too far. what bothers me more is that people dispute that it was intentional. whether you like it dislike it ultimately is opinion but the map isn't that way just because they don't know how to create a precise map. remedy said as much pre-release

Any word on length?

Click to shrink...

entirely dependent on how much exploration, side quests and document hunting/reading you're gonna do. i did everything and it was well over 20 hours. you could probably do the main story path in more like 10-15

 

[Magic Mushroom]

Performance on PC is really bad, right?

Click to shrink...

Not for me.

 

[Nameless]

Rob Zacny's pitch convinced me to go Control over Astral Chain when I've been leaning slightly in the other direction. Do we have any clue what to expect from the DLC? Might go ahead and grab the Deluxe Edition.

Edit, since the release dates don't seem to be clear for the first one, and even less so for the second, I'll think I'll wait for those.