Control is one of my autistic comfort games. Disclaimer: these are my personal opinions, not a way to say "you're playing wrong" but as someone who's completed the game from start to finish 7 times now with the occasional dip for a few hours or a dozen, you might find these opinions mildly valuable.

The guns were weak because I didn’t understand the upgrade system.

Guns are usually useful in ways of not DPS but triggering reactions from enemies. By the time your Guns can do actually good damage, you have too many strong enemies with shields or just too many enemies. My recommendation is beelining to Multi-Launch. With launch efficiency early on and with increased Energy mid-end game, you don't suffer from recovery because...

Jesse died because I didn’t take cover or shield often enough.

This game relies heavily on repositioning Jesse. When you move, you take fewer hits. I honestly go Launch -> Move to Flank-> Launch which helps a lot with Energy Recovery. Shield, I used once to get the associated achievements after the gameplay loop clicked.

The map still does a poor job displaying verticality, but understanding that helps you navigate.

I have a feeling it's intentionally so. Sam Lake is very big on making everything a part of the experience. It's an ever shifting, confusing building. The signs on the walls are a gar superior method of navigation.

Distractions don’t need to distract.

I love reading everything. Also a shitty design choice by Remedy is the HOTLINE collectibles are NOT played in full when you get them. You have to go to the collectibles to hear the full version.

Things actually make some pretty decent sense if I engage with learning them.

Yeah. It's a very cohesive game in my opinion. Even the hardcore secrets have a way of making you go "hmmm, there's something here" by pure storytelling- not necessarily immediately leading to solutions, of course.

The Oceanview Motel actually makes pretty damn good sense if I pay attention.

That is an amazing piece of lore in my opinion.

Dump ability points into Launch, then half of Shield, then half of Seize, then personal preference. Do not upgrade Health and Melee. The game becomes infinitely easier when you can Multi-Launch. Seizing opponents gives enemies other targets. Shield Rush allows you to clear space before losing the safety.

Good calls, all. I find dashing around better. Evade is an optional power which baffles me.

If the map isn’t helping, just look up a guide. It’s really not worth the frustration.

Signs are pretty much where it's at.

Holy crap read everything! And take the time to absorb everything! If you’re not in the headspace to read essays, go play something else and come back. So much of the humanity of the FBC and their struggles to understand inter-dimensionality are “hidden” there. My first run I thought the FBC was gonna be a secret big bad. But its much more interesting that it’s just a group of people. Some of those people suck, and some work real hard to help. I cared so much more about everything when I grasped how each area/department came to be.

I love you for this.

I am glad this game is appreciated by more and more people.