Control
Control

Game Progression & Story Beats — Control Guide

Navigate Control's game progression, Director. Follow key story beats and acquire crucial abilities to uncover the secrets of the Oldest House.

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Game Progression & Story Beats

Welcome, Director! This section will guide you through the labyrinthine corridors of the Oldest House and the unfolding mysteries of the Hiss invasion. Follow these steps to navigate the main story missions, acquire crucial abilities, and uncover the secrets of the Federal Bureau of Control.

Initial Entry and First Contact

  • Welcome to the Oldest House: Your journey begins as Jesse Faden enters the FBC Headquarters.
    • Objective: Locate the Director's Office.
    • Key Item: The Service Weapon. After interacting with Zachariah Trench's body in the Director's Office, you will undergo the "Director's Override" ritual, bonding you to the Service Weapon and granting you the ability to cleanse Control Points.
    • Strategy: Familiarize yourself with basic movement and combat. The initial enemies are relatively weak Hiss Charged and Hiss Guard. Utilize the Service Weapon's default "Grip" form.
  • Unknown Caller: Following the initial events, you'll be tasked with restoring power and exploring deeper into the Executive Sector.
    • Objective: Restore the power to the Executive Sector.
    • Location: Head towards the Communications Department. You'll encounter more Hiss and learn about the importance of Control Points for fast travel and healing.
    • Ability Unlock: After restoring power, you'll gain the Launch ability, a powerful telekinetic attack essential for combat and environmental puzzles. Practice using it to throw objects at enemies.

Unlocking Core Abilities and Expanding the Bureau

  • Directorial Override: This mission focuses on securing key areas and understanding your new role.
    • Objective: Cleanse the Executive Sector Control Point and proceed to the Maintenance Sector.
    • Strategy: Use your newly acquired Launch ability to clear debris and defeat tougher Hiss enemies, such as the Hiss Demolitionist.
    • Key Item: Collect any available Source (blue glowing shards) from defeated enemies and destructible environments. Source is vital for upgrading your abilities and the Service Weapon at Control Points.
  • Old Boys' Club: Your first major foray into the Maintenance Sector to find Head of Operations, Emily Pope.
    • Objective: Reach the Maintenance Sector and locate Emily Pope.
    • Location: Navigate through the NSC Power Plant. Be prepared for environmental hazards like steam vents.
    • Ability Unlock: During this mission, you will acquire the Shield ability from the "Sealed Threshold" Object of Power. This defensive ability is crucial for mitigating damage from ranged Hiss attacks and can be used to block projectiles.
  • Threshold: This mission delves into the mysterious Black Rock Quarry.
    • Objective: Investigate the Black Rock Quarry and secure the area.
    • Strategy: The quarry introduces new enemy types and more complex combat scenarios. Utilize Shield to protect yourself while closing the distance to Hiss Elevated or when facing multiple Hiss Rangers.
    • Key Item: Look for hidden chests containing Weapon Forms and Personal Mods. Weapon Forms diversify the Service Weapon's capabilities (e.g., Shatter, Spin), while Personal Mods enhance Jesse's stats.

The Search for Dylan and Deeper Mysteries

  • My Brother's Keeper: The search for your brother, Dylan, leads you to the Research Sector.
    • Objective: Access the Research Sector and find Dylan Faden.
    • Location: The Research Sector is vast and contains many optional side quests and collectibles. Prioritize the main path to advance the story.
    • Ability Unlock: You will gain the Evade ability, allowing for a quick, short-distance dash. This is invaluable for dodging incoming attacks and repositioning during combat.
  • The Face of the Enemy: This mission focuses on confronting a significant Hiss threat.
    • Objective: Confront the Hiss-corrupted Former in the Panopticon.
    • Boss Strategy: The Former is a challenging boss. Utilize your Evade ability to avoid its ground slams and projectile attacks. Focus on launching objects at its eye when it's vulnerable. Keep moving and use cover.
    • Key Item: After defeating the Former, you will gain access to the Levitate ability, allowing you to float and traverse large gaps. This fundamentally changes exploration and combat, opening up new areas.

Confrontation and Resolution

  • Finnish Tango: With Levitate, you can now access previously unreachable areas and continue your pursuit of the Hiss.
    • Objective: Navigate the Executive Sector using your new Levitate ability to reach the Prime Candidate Program.
    • Strategy: Practice combining Levitate with Launch for aerial attacks. This is particularly effective against Hiss Elevated and other flying enemies.
  • Polaris: The climax of your journey, leading to a direct confrontation with the source of the Hiss invasion.
    • Objective: Reach the Black Rock Prism and confront the Hiss.
    • Final Confrontation: Be prepared for a series of intense battles against various Hiss types, culminating in a final boss encounter. Ensure your Service Weapon is upgraded and you have a good selection of Personal Mods equipped.
    • Post-Mission: After the main story concludes, the Oldest House opens up further for exploration, side missions, and acquiring any remaining collectibles or upgrades.