Control Resonant Rewards Your Patience

The Besties discuss Control Resonant, Remedy's surprising pivot from third-person shooter to open-world action game and technical sequel to 2019's Control. The hosts explore how this genre shift actually works despite being unconventional, emphasizing that the game rewards patience as players acclimate to its systems and mechanics. The episode frames Control Resonant as a successful risk that defies typical sequel expectations by fundamentally reimagining what the franchise can be. Beyond the main game discussion, the hosts also address the release of Gears of War: E-DAY, contextualizing it within the broader industry turmoil at Xbox, including significant layoffs and organizational changes that have cast a shadow over the franchise's return. The episode touches on how external industry factors affect game releases and player reception. As with typical Besties episodes, the show concludes with a full list of games and media discussed, available on their website, and promotes their Patreon for bonus content.

Verdict: A solid mid-tier episode that delivers on its title with competent discussion of an interesting genre pivot and relevant industry context, but lacks the depth, concrete tips, or infectious energy that would elevate it to must-listen status.

Leisure rubric

• Enthusiast depth 3/5 20%

  The hosts demonstrate solid knowledge of Control Resonant's genre shift and mechanics, but the show notes don't reveal deep technical analysis or insider expertise about Remedy's design philosophy.

• Useful tips or discoveries 2/5 20%

  Show notes mention the game 'rewards patience' and works 'once you get your sea-legs,' suggesting some practical guidance, but no concrete tips, builds, or specific recommendations are evident from the description.

• Fun to listen to 3/5 15%

  The framing suggests engaging discussion of an unexpected genre pivot and industry context, but without hearing the audio, the show notes don't convey infectious enthusiasm or distinctive personality.

• Substance 3/5 15%

  The episode covers two substantial topics—Control Resonant's mechanics and design philosophy plus Xbox's layoff crisis—but the show notes provide limited detail on depth of exploration or whether discussion stays focused or drifts.

• Delivers on its title 4/5 15%

  The title 'Control Resonant Rewards Your Patience' directly addresses the game's learning curve and payoff, which the description confirms is discussed; the episode appears to deliver on this promise with some additional Xbox industry conte

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  At 59 minutes covering two games plus industry commentary, the pacing seems reasonable, though show notes don't indicate whether the episode is tight or contains padding.

How we score Leisure

Worth it if you're interested in Control Resonant's design philosophy, curious about how genre shifts can work in sequels, or want context on Xbox's current turmoil.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.