Out of Control

Growing up in the Philippines in the beginnings of modern technology, I had always been into gaming. The staple then was going to internet cafes to play online multiplayer games or the single player campaigns that were available. In some places, you can even play on consoles and play there. Like most of my peers, I spent my free time spending my parents' money playing for hours and hours.

It wasn't until I was gifted my own laptop that I stopped going. I could say that the amount of money spent on going to and from the internet cafes and staying a couple of hours at a time would be equivalent to the price of the laptop, but that's probably untrue. Laptops were a luxury I was lucky enough to have, so beggars can't be choosers. 

I couldn't play every game that I wanted to, but at least I could play some. Minimum system requirements were merely a suggestion when trying to run a game. If it makes it past the menu screen, it's fair game. Before I start, I usually make sure it's on the lowest possible setting. If I could do without it, it stays off. Who needs textures?

I would try everything and anything to play a game beyond my laptop's capabilities. I've played Batman: Arkham Asylum (and Arkham City), Skyrim, Bioshock: Infinite, and even the Tomb Raider reboot. Sometimes, I would have to make sure the camera is looking at the ground to avoid loading the environment just to play the game. This is what I had to get used to to play anything. 

When I started working, I bought a PS3, a full year after the PS4 came out. I was adamant about playing all the games that I missed. Owning a console made playing games easier just on the fact that I didn't have to think about system requirements and such. I still own a gaming laptop now though, albeit now behind in terms of graphic capabilities. 

Years later, I now own a PS4 Pro and a 4K TV. So, I am in no way behind, apart from high end PCs. But that didn't stop me from playing with a handicap. 

With the new TV, I was quick to play new games. The most recent one, at the time, was Control. From the get go, I was so entranced by the look and feel of the game. I finished it rather quickly, and could not stop talking about it. I told everyone who could play the game to drop everything. This was the best game no one is talking about. 

My brother who was visiting from the Philippines wanted to try it, but was put off almost immediately. He told me he didn't want to play it because there was a delay. 

Control, when it first came out, was buggy on consoles. I knew I wanted to play this game, but I decided to wait until a more stable version was available. By September, I read that it was ready. When it was on sale, I jumped on it, played it over the course of a few weeks, loved it, could not stop talking about it. 

When my brother pointed it out to me, I was in denial. Then he grabbed the TV remote, turned on a setting, and the game ran smoothly. Normally. So when the DLC came out, I went back to the Oldest House, and it felt like a new game.

I guess I'm just used to the lag.