Control: AWE Review

Control AWE is not what I expected. Those entering this DLC expecting Alan Wake’s great return should not. Instead, this DLC feels more like a preview of what Remedy is planning for the future of Control and Alan Wake. It connects these universes officially and teases what the developers have in store. Rather than an addition to Control, AWE introduces what’s to come.

AWE takes place after the events of the core game. When heading to the elevator of the Executive Sector, Jesse gets a vision of Alan to head to the Investigation Sector. Inside, she learns that a sentient shadow has taken over the area, and the entire sector was abandoned after a calamity. The Altered Objects inside have been left behind, and most importantly, a deadly test subject has escaped.

This DLC is meant to connect Control to Alan Wake, so expect plenty of optional collectibles that show how the FBC contacted and interviewed people in Bright Falls. You’ll get a lot of information not only on how Bright Falls has remained a hotspot for supernatural activity, but also on how the former director was already showing signs of his eventual betrayal.

It can feel overwhelming at times as the game tries to explain how these 2 universes are connected, even opening a couple of cans of worms that add to the growing mountain of questions.

Those coming into this DLC expecting answers about the core game or The Foundation DLC should not. Like Alan Wake’s grand return, the DLC is more of a prologue to what's to come. Similar to Spider-Man’s The City That Never Sleeps expansion or Mass Effect 2’s Arrival DLC, AWE is what Remedy is planning to do for the future.

The Investigation Sector is mostly the same as the areas you explored in the core game. The developers did try to incorporate new elements, such as areas being closed off due to inactivity or the Darkness blocking off areas that require destruction. You also see lots of remnants of what happened in the sector during its evacuation, such as bodies still littered about, barricades to keep out what was chasing them, and quarantined sectors.  

They also tried to go for this horror direction, as Jesse is hunted by an experiment within the sector that has been upgraded due to the Hiss’ resonance. This also introduces a new enemy type: a jetpack ranger with a grenade launcher and no TK abilities.

It worked with Alan Wake because he was just an ordinary guy, but Jesse can literally throw forklifts. It’s hard to feel scared or powerless when you're playing someone with god-like abilities.

Jesse also gains access to a new service weapon upgrade, a grenade launcher. It’s okay and does heavy damage when upgraded. The issue is that since you’re facing a lot of flying enemies, the service weapon's precision options are much more ideal.

Unlike The Foundation, where you had a large new area to explore and incredible Altered Objects to cleanse, AWE falls short in both categories. You’re mostly exploring similar-looking areas, and the Altered Objects you encounter include one that hints at the possibility of alien life, which could’ve been amazing.

However, they mostly just offer fetch quests with little payoff. Unlike the Television or Camera from the Foundation, which provided distinct side missions that used the object, this is just tedious busywork. There is an arcade machine with optional combat challenges, but it's more of an extension of the Jukebox missions already offered.

The final boss encounter is interesting but underwhelming. For example, you see this creature killing Hiss in a scripted event, but when you face it in active combat, they work together. This could’ve been an interesting concept: different interdimensional threats attacking one another in a huge battle. Instead, it’s just a battle where you sometimes turn back on the generators.

AWE's greatest appeal is the collectibles. They provide much more context into the world of Control by showing that Jesse isn't the first to discover Altered Items or the FBC. Keeping these things secret has been troublesome, and the FBC has its share of mistakes and false abductions.

We also see that these dangerous items can be artificially created through horrible acts, and there's a market for these items. People sell supernatural items, fully aware of the destructive potential they hold. It's truly amazing, but we only get a glimpse into these things.

AWE is an average expansion. It provides more Control, which is great, but it’ll only appeal to diehard fans of the game. The Investigation Sector promised a huge abandoned area where Altered Objects have gone amok due to a lack of security, or more information on the people who sell and create Altered Objects.

If you’re wondering what Remedy has in store for the future of Control, then AWE will provide the answers along with lots of questions. AWE is a lukewarm ending to Jesse’s tale in Control that could’ve had more of a bang.