Jukebox missions are absolute trash

[McFrugal]

Strict time limit
Higher level mobs than normal
AND a random gameplay modifier like "enemies and the player do +100% damage" which of course makes you die repeatedly
Just one of these would've been enough. All three together means even the easiest jukebox mission is nearly impossible when you get your first token. I cannot imagine a reward that would be worth this.

Who was in charge of combat balance for this game? They completely failed. Enemies with guns are basically harmless, but rocket launchers are somehow all over the place and in expeditions enemies will frequently spawn behind you. That means you can get hit by a rocket before you even see the enemy, resulting in 1 hp left and needing to scramble for some of the ♥♥♥♥♥♥ health fragments enemies drop, hoping a stray bullet doesn't wing you and finish you off. Plus if you do get hit, the screen goes completely red and you can't see anything.
There needing to be oneshot protection like that should've been a red flag that they needed to tone down enemy damage or reduce the number of rocket launcher enemies. But no, just slap a bandaid on it so that it doesn't always kill you! Idiots.

[Doktor Headshot]

The weird thing is those jukebox "missions" are indeed the same unique mission with four islands and final boss fight and with just different modifiers. I think, however, the worst design choice here is the timer: not only it is not adequate at all to the mission's difficulty but it also never freezes. I am close to the game's 100% completion and, perhaps, this is the peak of frustration of the game. Let's hope for some relief later!

[dj8472]

Use this mod to customise the time
https://www.nexusmods.com/control/mods/19?tab=description

[Doktor Headshot]

Thanks for the tip but I think I will give a few more shots without any "external aid"... I would like to boost Jesse at her maximum possible and see how it will go. Since I made first mission (with 1 coin) with Jesse boosted above 50% and since I learnt almost all relevant locations of the targets, I am confident I can do last mission as well once she is completely boosted. I also noticed that second mission was somewhat easier than the former one... Perhaps Developers are asking me both to learn the scheme and to boost Jesse at maximum before attempting these missions?

[McFrugal]

What were the rewards?

[Doktor Headshot]

Originally posted by McFrugal:

What were the rewards?

I didn't get rewards from first mission because Jesse died in the same moment she killed the final boss in the hub island and the game was reloaded in the Executive sector (rewards are obtainable by opening a special crate in said island). Rewards from second mission were some rare modules for weapons and Jesse (nothing exceptional though). Now I am stuck at third mission and I am striving for the big prize: a new outfit for Jesse...

I wasted my coins by refreshing missions in order to get favorable modifiers for these missions. This might be an helpful tip: keep refreshing missions in order to have modifiers that make the game bearable but be aware that you will easily waste coins by doing that. You can see modifiers in bottom left side of screen as soon as you are asked to "accept" expedition; if you don't like current modifiers, then go back and try again and they will be different (this is what I mean for "refreshing missions").

[Tomberry64]

Originally posted by McFrugal:

What were the rewards?

Random mods/materials. You get a costume for finishing All Jukebox Missions/Difficulties. The general strategy here is to randomize the modifiers until you get the ones you're comfortable with, and speedrun through most of the islands. I think only one island forces you to fight all enemies, the rest, you can just focus on the objectives and ignore the enemies.

[Kweeb]

Theres a mod the replenishes health out of combat as well.

[dj8472]

https://www.nexusmods.com/control/mods/20

"By default, this mod will give you full health regeneration when out-of-combat, and health regeneration up to 20% (the critical health threshold) when in-combat. Regen limits are configurable."

[retroGRAD3]

Just use assist mode

[Augustus Gloop]

I honestly didn't know that about refreshing the modifiers. Makes more sense why they give you so many tokens and the ability to make more.

[Doktor Headshot]

Originally posted by Augustus Gloop:

I honestly didn't know that about refreshing the modifiers. Makes more sense why they give you so many tokens and the ability to make more.

Glad it helped! Good luck with your challenge! 😉

[KidDoc99]

Originally posted by McFrugal:

Strict time limit
Higher level mobs than normal
AND a random gameplay modifier like "enemies and the player do +100% damage" which of course makes you die repeatedly
Just one of these would've been enough. All three together means even the easiest jukebox mission is nearly impossible when you get your first token. I cannot imagine a reward that would be worth this.

Who was in charge of combat balance for this game? They completely failed. Enemies with guns are basically harmless, but rocket launchers are somehow all over the place and in expeditions enemies will frequently spawn behind you. That means you can get hit by a rocket before you even see the enemy, resulting in 1 hp left and needing to scramble for some of the ♥♥♥♥♥♥ health fragments enemies drop, hoping a stray bullet doesn't wing you and finish you off. Plus if you do get hit, the screen goes completely red and you can't see anything.
There needing to be oneshot protection like that should've been a red flag that they needed to tone down enemy damage or reduce the number of rocket launcher enemies. But no, just slap a bandaid on it so that it doesn't always kill you! Idiots.

I felt the same way so at work today I did some googling and apparently these were added as "end game raid" type content. You really aren't supposed to be able to do them when you first get a token, you are supposed to finish the main story and maybe even the DLC stuff then do these for an extra challenge.

That made me feel better because I was having a rough go with these as well.

[Augustus Gloop]

Originally posted by KidDoc99:

I felt the same way so at work today I did some googling and apparently these were added as "end game raid" type content. You really aren't supposed to be able to do them when you first get a token, you are supposed to finish the main story and maybe even the DLC stuff then do these for an extra challenge.

That made me feel better because I was having a rough go with these as well.

After several failed attempts I just figured the jukebox missions must be intended as endgame content.

[Caturix]

Originally posted by Augustus Gloop:

Originally posted by KidDoc99:

I felt the same way so at work today I did some googling and apparently these were added as "end game raid" type content. You really aren't supposed to be able to do them when you first get a token, you are supposed to finish the main story and maybe even the DLC stuff then do these for an extra challenge.

That made me feel better because I was having a rough go with these as well.

After several failed attempts I just figured the jukebox missions must be intended as endgame content.

I did every possible mission in Control. The damn Jokebox is the very last mission I have left. And this damn thing is balanced absolutely bad! The balancing is an weak point of the game in general. Some enemys are too weak, some too strong. But here they really f##ed up! You have to be incredible fast and can´t die more than one time. The three ilands from the right on are fine. But the left one, where you have to capture platform A B and C is terrible! Tons of enemys moving towards you while you are a sitting duck! And if you die, you have to redo ALL 3 plattforms. Seriously, what is this ♥♥♥♥? Who thought this was a good idea?

[CrumbleCat]

I gotta say, I'm not much of a fan of the arcade missions either. Its either a timer issue, or just me falling asleep at how long a mission is. Why even put this mindless trash in a narrative-focused game. Eeeeeeeh.

PS: The assist mode (in gameplay options) was a lifesaver.