It feels like a lifetime ago already since Remedy Entertainment developed Max Payne and revolutionized the entire genre of third person shooters. Yet, despite releasing titles that were consistently good and high profile since then, none of them had quite the same impact as Max Payne once had. Always working with their in-house engines, they’ve pushed the limits in terms of technology with every title, constantly doing something inventive and innovative. And, if nothing else, every project they’ve worked on since 2001 was ambitious and full of really unexpected concepts and interesting gameplay and narrative ideas.
And up until Quantum Break, their previous title, I’ve also found their games consistently fun to play on their most basic mechanical level. I still find Alan Wake boring as a whole, yet the combat feels so satisfying. Max Payne 2 has way too many tedious and annoying sections, but it can be so gratifying to play. Quantum Break, though? It was… bland. Boring. Full of awesome visual flair, but feeling empty. And I was worried that Control might be the same. Luckily, it’s not the same this time.
