When you start hearing a name repeatedly and praise goes hand in hand with it every time, the good game alarm goes off immediately in your mind. This was the case of Control, the work of Remedy Entertainment that went unnoticed in 2019, but with the passage of time began to gain the affection of the press and the public. The GOTY nominations at The Game Awards two years ago prove it.
Now, in 2021, we are ready to play Control Ultimate Edition , the definitive version of the game. PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, the new generation consoles, are the beneficiaries of this graphic improvement for the science fiction title.
Available from today, February 2, in digital format, it will not be possible to acquire this physical edition until March 2. However, we have already been able to test the different graphic modes and the news regarding the PS5 DualSense.
Ray-tracing vs 60 fps: the graphic battle
In short, Control Ultimate Edition offers greatly improved load times, improved frame rates, higher resolution, less stuttering when exiting the pause menu, and support for platform-specific features.
Is it a remarkable reality or a fact that goes unnoticed by the player? Everything that is written in the text is based on the PS5 version , so the screenshots with comparisons are made from the Sony machine.
As is usual in conversions to the new generation, we have two display modes: performance and graphics . Both can be exchanged during any moment of the game, to our liking.
The first of them allows us to prioritize 60fps with a native resolution of 1440p and upscaled to 4K , both in Series X and PS5. Series S, meanwhile, maintains 60 FPS in this mode, in exchange for 900p of native resolution and scaled to 1080p.
On the other hand, the graphics mode lowers the frame rate to 30, although it includes ray tracing technology , with transparencies and reflections. Native resolution and scaling are maintained on Series X and PS5, while Series S does not enjoy this mode.
Once the doubts have been clarified and the bases established, it’s time to start comparing the performance of the game in the two modes. In the beginning, I decided to use the performance mode, since being able to enjoy the show that Control supposes with a higher frame rate is appreciated. And the result is frankly positive.
In all the hours that I have dedicated to the title, I have not suffered a single drop in frames, neither slight nor pronounced . Of course, the cotton test is to demand compromising situations from the game, like mass shootings and destruction everywhere, but not for those.
Remedy decided to bet on a system of physics and effects that is still spectacular today. Wood splinters into hundreds of pieces, the concrete in the Immemorial House splits into multiple pieces, and glass flies away. Not even causing as much vaudeville as possible did the game slow down.
That is why the approved is with a note in this section. Although in its day Control suffered a problem of frame drops, with this edition that problem seems totally part of the past. Which allows us to enjoy superb action scenes in high quality more than ever.
Although of course, many others will appreciate the fact of being able to enjoy a higher resolution and the technology that all games want to embrace: ray-tracing . After having put it in performance mode, I switched to graphics mode to see the difference.
As they point out from the study, non-transparent reflective surfaces and other elements such as crystals are the points to go to see the change. Here are some comparisons.
Performance mode
Graphics mode
Performance mode
Graphics mode
Performance mode
Graphics mode
Performance mode
Graphics mode
Of course, the most striking thing affects the reflections. Yes, we can actually see Jesse reflected in the glass now, while appreciating more detail in the lights against the surfaces. However, it hasn’t been a sweet enough incentive for me to stay in this mode for pleasure.
The festival of chaos that fighting brings is much more enjoyable with the highest possible frame rate. Also, the reflections of Jesse, the Hiss or other elements do not attract especially attention during the fights or the walks around the complex, so the sacrifice of frames is not so attractive . Don’t get me wrong, the game is perfectly enjoyable in both cases, although my best times have been spent with the performance mode.
Be careful, even in this mode there are no frame drops. Although we return to the 30 fps of the normal version of Control, at no time have I suffered the dreaded drops, not even with ray-tracing . A round of applause in this regard for the company.
The only negative point is one of the promises made for Control: Ultimate Edition. The profit commitment also applied to the moments in which the frames disappeared when returning to action from the pause menu and that problem persists . It is a very specific situation that is solved in less than two seconds, but the detail is important.
PS5 and DualSense, a delight
If for something PS5 has attracted attention in its little more than two months of life, it is for its command, the DualSense. A true revolution in this class of devices that proudly boasts haptic vibration and adaptive triggers.
Its application in Control is really good. Absolutely all the steps that Jesse performs is registered on the remote, with light touches of vibration that simulate the footsteps of the protagonist. You can even distinguish the floor you walk on, whether it is metal or carpet.
However, the true display of sensations occurs with weapons. From the standard Weapon, through the Piercing or the Swivel; each and every one of them have their own vibration system and a specific trigger resistance.
In fact, I strongly believe that anyone could recognize the weapon by turning off the TV and using only the DualSense for reference . For example, the standard weapon sends vibrations to the hands with each shot and forces us to press R2 a little more to fire the shot. Like a real trigger. When the magazine is refilled, a small touch warns us that we can re-empty the projectiles on the enemy.
La Giratoria is brutal too. It acts like a kind of machine gun and the trigger sends small bounces while we keep it pressed. Although the real wonder is the Perforante, which begins by charging the controller and when it is about to release its charge, it forces a tremendous vibration to the device , as if it were really containing the energy.
Of course, the loading times are minimal . There is no time to get lost, quick trips between checkpoints are almost instantaneous and loading from the PS5 main menu, either starting the console or from sleep is really fast.
Finally, another addition is the Activity cards, which are no more than a mere anecdote. They show the percentages of advancement in different trophies and the point in the story where we are. Little use in this regard, really.
Vida Extra’s opinion
Control Ultimate Edition is the best version of the Remedy Entertainment title. Whether you are one of those who enjoy higher resolution or the one who prioritizes higher frame rates, you will have a great time unraveling the mysteries of Hiss and the Agency.
Do you have enough reasons to visit the Immemorial House again? If you’ve already gotten all the juice out of the game on PS4 and Xbox One, the choice becomes very personal . If you are one of those who have never touched the game, do not hesitate, it includes all the expansions and it is a mandatory purchase.
Despite everything, the biggest drawback continues to be that disastrous dubbing into Spanish that has caused so much controversy and laughter on social networks. A review would have been the crown jewel for the title. Although of course, here we have come to talk about technological improvements and Control Ultimate Edition complies in each and every one of the sections .
Control Ultimate Edition
| Platforms | PS5 (analyzed version), PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC |
|---|---|
| Multiplayer | Not |
| Developer | Remedy Entertainment |
| Company | 505 Games |
| Launch | February 2, 2021 (digital) March 2, 2021 (physical) |
| Price | 39.99 euros |
The best
- Complies with what is expected at the graphic level
- It does not suffer at any time and improves the previous versions
- The DualSense is used wonderfully
Worst
- The map and the Spanish dubbing are there again
