Tips & Tricks

Welcome, Director Faden, to the Oldest House. The Federal Bureau of Control is a labyrinthine, ever-shifting entity, and surviving its many dangers requires more than just a powerful Service Weapon. This section will equip you with vital strategies, hidden secrets, and actionable advice to navigate the Hiss-infested corridors and uncover the truth.

Combat Mastery: Beyond the Service Weapon

While the Service Weapon is your primary tool for Hiss eradication, true mastery of combat in Control lies in the seamless integration of your supernatural abilities. Don't rely solely on shooting; combine your powers for maximum effect.

Launch is Your Best Friend: This ability is arguably your most versatile offensive and defensive tool.
- Offensive Launch: Don't just pick up small objects. Look for larger, environmental hazards like filing cabinets, concrete blocks, or even Hiss-corrupted enemies (once you unlock Seize). These deal significantly more damage and can often one-shot weaker Hiss.
- Defensive Launch: Use Launch to create temporary shields by grabbing debris and holding it in front of you. This is invaluable when facing Hiss snipers or heavy projectile users.
- Environmental Awareness: Always scan your surroundings for explosive barrels or Hiss nodes. Launching these into groups of enemies can clear entire rooms.
Shield and Evade: These are your core defensive maneuvers.
- Shield: While Shield can absorb a lot of damage, it's not impenetrable. Use it strategically against concentrated fire or when you need to close the distance. Remember, you can still move slowly while shielded.
- Evade: This quick dash is essential for avoiding incoming attacks, especially from charging Hiss Charged or the explosive projectiles of Hiss Elevated. Master its timing to dodge through enemy fire.
Melee for Health: Don't underestimate the power of a well-timed melee attack. While not a primary damage dealer, melee hits can knock enemies back and, more importantly, drop health pickups. If you're low on health and surrounded by weaker Hiss, a quick melee combo can turn the tide.
Energy Management: Your abilities consume energy. Keep an eye on your energy bar and allow it to recharge during lulls in combat or by taking cover. Modifiers that boost energy regeneration are highly valuable.

Exploration & Collectibles: The Oldest House's Secrets

The Oldest House is brimming with secrets, lore, and crucial upgrades. Thorough exploration is rewarded handsomely.

Look Up, Look Down, Look Everywhere: The FBC's architecture is often vertical. Many hidden areas, chests, and collectibles are located on ledges, behind false walls, or beneath collapsed structures. Use Levitate to reach seemingly inaccessible areas.
Control Points are Your Sanctuary: Always cleanse and activate Control Points. They serve as fast travel locations, save points, and a place to upgrade Jesse's abilities and the Service Weapon. Cleansing them also often rewards you with Source, the primary currency for upgrades.
Case Files & Research: These documents provide invaluable lore, expanding on the bizarre history of the FBC and the nature of the Hiss. They also often hint at hidden areas or side quests. Take the time to read them.
Hidden Areas & Chests: Many areas contain hidden chests that require a keen eye to locate. Look for subtle environmental cues, cracks in walls, or unusual structural elements. These chests often contain valuable Weapon Forms, Personal Mods, and Source.
Board Collectibles: Throughout the Oldest House, you'll find various Objects of Power and Altered Items. Interacting with these often triggers side missions or provides unique insights into the FBC's operations.

Upgrades & Mods: Tailoring Your Arsenal

Jesse's abilities and the Service Weapon can be extensively customized to suit your playstyle. Don't neglect the upgrade menus.

Prioritize Core Abilities: Early on, focus on upgrading Launch, Health, and Energy. These foundational abilities will significantly improve your survivability and offensive potential. Consider investing in the "Seize" ability as soon as it becomes available; turning enemies against their allies is incredibly powerful.
Weapon Forms & Mods: Experiment with different Service Weapon Forms like Spin, Pierce, and Charge. Each excels in different combat scenarios.
- Spin: Great for close-quarters crowd control.
- Pierce: Excellent for armor penetration and long-range precision.
- Charge: High burst damage, ideal for taking down tougher enemies.
Equip Weapon Mods that complement your chosen forms. For example, a damage boost mod for Charge or a fire rate mod for Spin.
Personal Mods: These mods enhance Jesse's personal attributes. Look for mods that increase Health, Energy, or Energy Regeneration. Mods that boost Launch damage or reduce the energy cost of abilities are also highly recommended.
Crafting & Recycling: Don't hoard low-tier mods. Recycle them at Control Points to gain Source and materials, which can then be used to craft higher-tier mods or upgrade existing ones.

General Survival Tips

Stay Mobile: Standing still in Control is a death sentence. Always be moving, dodging, and using Levitate to gain a tactical advantage.
Headshots Matter: While not always critical, aiming for the head with the Service Weapon can significantly increase your damage output against most Hiss variants.
Understand Enemy Types: Learn the attack patterns and weaknesses of different Hiss types. Hiss Charged explode on death, Hiss Elevated fire projectiles, and Hiss Distorted are invisible until they attack. Knowing their tells will save your life.
Side Quests & Bureau Alerts: Don't ignore side quests or Bureau Alerts (randomly generated missions). They are excellent sources of Source, materials, and unique mods.
Difficulty Settings: Control offers a robust set of accessibility options, including granular difficulty adjustments. If you're struggling, don't hesitate to tweak settings like incoming damage or energy regeneration to find a comfortable challenge.