Control Ultimate Edition PEGI (Xbox One)

The physical copy does not work properly. You get to the maintenance elevator section early on and it won't allow you to progress as the game requires a download. However nothing is or will download. Turns out 505 have no idea how to fix this and so should not be selling a broken product. And neither Amazon

If telekinesis, hauntings and supernatural occurrences were real (and all but commonplace) . . . and if the US government’s response to this was to try to cover up the truth of this reality, lest supernatural powers were to fall into the wrong hands, you would get the world of Control.The Federal Bureau of Control is a law enforcement and investigative branch of America’s secret services, (modelled on the FBI) with huge resources and countless employees, who put their lives on the line every day just by showing up for work.You play as Jessie Faden, entering the FBC’s headquarters (known as The Oldest House) in downtown New York for the first time in her life, despite having searched for the place since her childhood. Jessie hopes to find her missing brother, taken into the FBC’s custody as a child many years ago, following an Altered World Event (AWE) which resulted in several deaths and Jessie’s entire hometown, the ironically named Ordinary, being removed from all maps and erased from official existence.This combination of third person action shooter, mystery detective drama, science fiction, “Psy Fi,” adventure is truly unique. The solutions to the intriguing mysteries that Jessie wants answers to only ever lead to more mysteries, but there is great satisfaction to be had in uncovering these multifarious secrets and their divergent plot lines buried in the very foundations of The Oldest House, a living architectural artefact in its own right, which now serves as the headquarters of the FBC. This location becomes as much of a character within the main story as the rest of the weird and wonderful players Jessie meets, as well as the stage upon which this drama is set for the entire duration of the game.Depending on your own play style, this game can be a fast and furious shootout which never lets up, or a meditative puzzler, rewarding exploration with great stories, in game points with which to build up your own psychic abilities and weapons, and quirky performances from an excellently well chosen cast of colourful characters who complement the unusual story perfectly.Initially released on the last generation of consoles, the game has been given a little extra love and attention in the graphics department for the Xbox X (and PS5) with truly spectacular results. Easily Remedy’s best and most successful game to date, it simply needs to be played to be appreciated. Fans of Doctor Who, The X Files, the Professor Quatermass movies, or any of the more quirky sci fi adventure stuff that’s out there, are going to have a blast with this. You will encounter graphics and images that seem crafted for the latest generation of consoles, occasionally stunning effects and unlike any other game out there.Jessie is a charming protagonist who, rather than being creeped out by the horrors that leap out from the shadows, responds with an assertiveness and a type of irony that says, “I expected as much,” to the world, taking validation and even satisfaction at her discoveries and taking life and death battles in her stride. No shrinking violet here, but a determined and charismatic loner, an unstoppable force, able to accept aliens from other worlds with no more loss of composure than if she were meeting a foreigner from another country. And, due to the great performances from the cast, she comes across as believable and committed, with a legitimate gripe and a determination to get to the bottom of things and save her brother at all costs. The subtle direction and production helps to sell this outlandish story, as does the commitment of the cast.Whether your there for the breathless gunplay or prefer taking the time to play detective, she’s just believable enough to bring this bizarre and enthralling world to life.There are also some highly addictive mini games that crop up as part of the story line, such as the arcade machines known as Shüm and Shüm 2, or the Jukebox Challenges (they aren’t what they sound like) but you risk getting involved in something that may cost you many hours of compulsive replays before returning to the main story of the game.For me, this was pretty close to the perfect video game experience, but these things are always a question of taste. What is beyond question, however, is that the graphics are superb, stability sound, (options exist for tinkering, depending on your system) story line unique, the cast’s performances are wonderful, the script is first rate, and the production values are top tier. What’s not to love? Can’t wait for the next generation sequel!

At only 12 hours to play through it, this game isn't good value for money.Very little variation in the missions, too easy for even a less than average gamer to beat, it doesn't really engage the player.I won't be replaying it, instead my copy has gone in the pile for trade in.

What I dislike about this particular product / game is that does not work properly and company has not sorted the issue out

Do yourself a favour and do a quick Google search. This game has a serious unfixedable glitch preventing 80% of the game from being played. Level 3 elevator glitch.