Control Season Pass enhances the supernatural third-person action-adventure game Control, developed by Remedy Entertainment. In this title, you step into the shoes of Jesse Faden, who becomes the Director of the Federal Bureau of Control after an otherworldly invasion by the Hiss. The pass unlocks additional content that deepens the narrative and expands the gameplay, set within the shifting architecture of the Oldest House. Available on Xbox One and Xbox Series, it builds on the core experience of mastering abilities and uncovering secrets in a world where reality bends.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around exploration and combat in a reactive environment. Jesse wields the Service Weapon, a versatile gun that transforms into forms like Grip for standard shooting, Shatter for close-range blasts, Spin for rapid fire, Pierce for high-damage shots, and Charge for explosive bursts. Supernatural powers include Launch for hurling objects telekinetically, Evade for quick dodges, Levitate for aerial movement, Seize to control enemies, and Shield to block attacks. These abilities upgrade through a skill tree, allowing combinations that adapt to different situations. Combat emphasizes strategy, using the environment to your advantage, such as throwing debris or manipulating surroundings during fights against Hiss-infected foes.
Exploration involves navigating the Oldest House, a brutalist building that changes layout, revealing new areas as you gain abilities. Collectibles like case files and audio logs provide lore, while modifiable loadouts let you equip mods to enhance weapon performance or personal attributes. The system encourages experimentation, blending shooting with paranormal tactics in encounters that demand quick thinking.
Game Modes
Control focuses on a single-player campaign with main story missions that follow Jesse's journey to contain the Hiss and search for her brother. Side missions offer additional challenges, often involving Bureau agents or strange experiments. A free update introduced Expeditions, a mode where you tackle time-limited challenges in a separate area, requiring efficient use of abilities to survive waves of enemies and complete objectives.
The Season Pass adds content through two expansions, each with its own story arcs and missions. These integrate seamlessly into the main game, providing hours of extra play without separate modes.
Expansions in the Season Pass
The Foundation expansion sends Jesse into caverns beneath the Oldest House to stabilize the Astral Plane's collision with reality. It introduces new abilities like Shape to manipulate crystal formations and Fracture to break through barriers, along with fresh enemies and side missions.
AWE expansion explores a sealed sector affected by Altered World Events, connecting to Remedy's broader universe. It features new weapons like the Surge mod for sticky grenades and encounters with unique threats, including crossovers from other titles.
Is It Worth Playing?
With Metacritic scores around 85 for the base game across platforms, Control has earned praise for its innovative mechanics and atmospheric storytelling. The Season Pass extends this with meaningful additions that enhance replayability, especially for those intrigued by the lore. Current support includes the Ultimate Edition, which bundles everything and offers optimizations for Xbox Series consoles. It suits players who enjoy narrative-driven action with a mix of exploration and combat, though the challenging difficulty might test newcomers. If you appreciate games that blend mystery with superpowered fights, this pass delivers value in expanding an already compelling experience.
