Remedy Entertainment’s Control is a masterfully eerie blend of action and the supernatural, set within the mysterious Oldest House. With its labyrinthine design, cryptic storytelling, and complex mechanics, the game can be a daunting experience for newcomers. To make your journey smoother, we’ve compiled 11 essential tips that delve into everything from navigation to combat strategies, helping you unlock Jesse’s full potential.

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1. Mastering Navigation and the Map

The Oldest House is a confusing maze by design, with shifting architecture and multiple vertical levels. The map is helpful but often misleading due to its flat, semi-transparent layout. To navigate efficiently, focus on memorizing key landmarks and fast-travel points. Control Points serve as crucial hubs—cleanse every one you find to unlock fast travel, ability upgrades, and respawn points. Use the Sector Elevator at Central Executive to access new floors directly, making traversal less painful.

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2. Finding Hidden Areas for Extra Ability Points

Exploring hidden areas is a rewarding endeavor, granting valuable ability points needed to enhance Jesse’s powers. Keep an eye out for seemingly inaccessible ledges, locked doors, and destructible walls. Abilities like Levitate and Launch are indispensable for uncovering these secrets. Platinum hunters should note that a portion of these hidden points is required to max out Jesse’s abilities.

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3. Efficient Use of Board Countermeasures and Bureau Alerts

Board Countermeasures are essentially bounties you can pick up at Control Points. Choose countermeasures that match your current mission’s location to maximize efficiency. Bureau Alerts are timed events similar to public quests in games like Destiny, offering valuable rewards for successful completion. However, failure or death during an alert means forfeiting the rewards.

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4. Strategic Ability Upgrades: Focus on Mobility

While upgrading health first is a solid choice, investing early in Levitation and Evade significantly improves mobility in both combat and exploration. Levitation allows you to bypass vertical obstacles and reach hidden areas, while Evade keeps you agile in fights. Prioritize these abilities alongside health to enhance both your offensive and defensive capabilities.

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5. Effective Mod Management

Weapon and personal mods enhance various aspects of Jesse’s combat abilities. Regularly clear out low-level or duplicate mods to free inventory space and gain Source Points. Focus on mods that boost health regeneration, energy recovery, or weapon damage to balance sustainability and offense. Avoid crafting mods early on—drops are often superior.

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6. Choosing the Best Service Weapon Forms

The Service Weapon’s modular nature lets you adapt to different combat scenarios. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Grip: A reliable all-rounder for mid-range combat.
• Shatter: Best for close-quarters and shielded enemies.
• Pierce: Ideal for long-range sniping and armored targets.
• Charge: Useful for groups and AOE damage.
• Spin: Lacks the punch of other forms—skip upgrades for this one.

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7. Master Combat with Mobility and Abilities

Combat in Control is fast-paced and punishes stationary players. Utilize Evade and Levitate to stay mobile, combining them with abilities like Launch for maximum impact. A good strategy is to rotate between weapon fire and abilities to allow energy to recharge while maintaining offensive pressure.

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8. Efficient Resource Management

Materials for upgrading the Service Weapon are tied to different sectors of the Oldest House. Revisit earlier areas if you find yourself lacking specific resources. Source Points should be reserved for unlocking new weapon forms and upgrading your most-used abilities.

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9. Complete Side Missions for Abilities and Lore

Side missions offer more than just ability points—they expand the lore and provide unique abilities. NPCs like Emily Pope, Arish, and Dr. Underhill often have missions with substantial rewards. Tackle these missions early to unlock powers that make main quest battles easier.

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10. Using Launch to Reach Hidden Areas

The Launch ability is not just an offensive tool—it can also be used for platforming. Pick up and gently place objects to create temporary platforms, allowing you to access higher areas or cross gaps that would otherwise be impassable.

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11. Take Your Time: No Side Mission is Missable

Control does not lock out side missions or exploration. Feel free to backtrack and complete unfinished business after the main story. This freedom allows you to gather resources, mods, and ability points at your own pace, making late-game encounters more manageable.

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Conclusion

The Oldest House is a mystery box packed with secrets, threats, and powerful tools waiting to be discovered. By following these tips, you’ll not only survive its challenges but thrive within its shifting walls. Embrace the weird, adapt, and become the Director the Bureau needs!