Push and pull

It has been a long time coming, but I have finally returned to the world of Control. Playing the original on Xbox One meant that I had to wait extra long to get the DLC expansion because of, you know, well marketing dollars, but it feels good to be back. Control’s The Foundation DLC gives players a chance to do what they have wanted to do since finishing Remedy’s latest game; explore more of that world. The Foundation is only available upon completing the game so there may be minor spoilers abound, but rest assured the return of Jesse Faden is worth checking out.

Jumping into The Foundation requires the player to have finished the main campaign. The story continues the research done at the Oldest House and involves a new object of power that Jesse, now Director, must investigate. This DLC pack brings exactly what I wanted from more content, a chance to explore more of the lore behind this odd world. There are more data files and pieces to read and it expands on the history behind the building.

MSRP: $14.99 (standalone) $24.99 (season pass)
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, PC
Price I’d Pay: $14.99

This DLC brings a new area to the world and it sticks to it. Most of the corridors are fairly similar in design outside a few unique puzzles. There are a couple new abilities for Jesse to obtain, but most of the enemies are familiar from the main campaign. The end sequence sticks with the tradition set by the core game and is a really interesting take on a game mechanic. One of the best things about Control was its moments, and this one ranks right up there with some of the best. The Ashtray Maze still reigns supreme, but the music for this one is just as good.

Jesse’s new abilities are definitely in line with the rest of the game. Both powers revolve around crystals. One lets players create them and the other destroy. What is unique about this mechanic is the game lets the player decide which one to take first. This changes how the DLC is played, and the way the game presents the choice is really cool. I really liked these new powers and hoped they would be integrated into the rest of the game, but that is likely a lot more work than will happen.

This DLC will run players about four to five hours and delivers just enough to get me reinvested in why I love this game. In addition to the new content Remedy has also delivered a patch (available to everyone who owns the game regardless if they bought the DLC) that has a few new features and improvements. The most notable improvement is the map. It is now much more legible and seems to load consistently. There is also a new shield bash move added to the skill tree as well as the ability to reassign points. Performance also feels slightly better than when I played the game at launch, but that is likely due to patches released since I last played it.

The Foundation is a great expansion that I had to wait too long to play. I really hate timed exclusive content, and especially DLC. If not for a review code I might have passed on this simply because Control was so far out of my mind at this point. I am glad that is not the case, and if you are like me forgot this existed, it is time to remember. I cannot wait for the second pack and to once again return to the Oldest House to learn more about the Bureau.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Expands the lore
  • Final section is amazing
  • Control is still awesome
Bad
  • Bland environment at times
8
Great
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.