Love the Game / Despise the Controls?

[Shadsie]

I'm probably going to sound weak for this, but...

I am enjoying Spirit Tracks - a lot. It's a charming game that runs on pure cute-fuel. It's like...everything in it is adorable (except maybe the possessed Zelda-corpse). Little trains, cute little put-put people on wheels, cute ghosts...

But, man, oh, man do I find myself muttering lots of un-cute things at the controls. Maybe it's just that I'm not used to working with a stylus (unless I'm doing digial painting) but I really think Nintendo could have implimented the controls better. I have some weapons that *don't turn off* when I need to sword slash something, then others that turn off right when I'm using them / mid boomerang-path or arrow-shot if I get hit by something even slightly. Oh, and then there's the control of Phantom Zelda - I've dunked Link into lava more than once because I accidently moved her or tried to use a weapon only for the game to think I wanted to jump or to control her.

They aren't game-wrecking for me, just really annoying compared to what I feel are much smoother controls in other games of the series.

What are games of the series that are like this for you? - You enjoy the atmosphere but find yourself using, shall we say... creative... language at the controls?

 

[Curmudgeon]

Wind Waker. for whatever reason, I struggled with the controls in this game. I don't know how many times I shouted at the tv "NO! Don't do that!" I threw a controller in frustration while playing, something I haven't done in nearly 20 years. It's probably just me. I can't seem to find much in the way of collaborative evidence anywhere.

 

[Krazy4Krash]

None. Every Zelda has had rock solid controls. I haven't found any of them difficult to use.

 

[JuicieJ]

As K4K said, there aren't any Zelda games with bad controls. Every single title has executed its control scheme flawlessly, both in terms of functionality and fluency with the game design. The DS games' controls are a bit weird and take time to get used to, but once I got the hang of them, I never complained. A bit off topic, but I would prefer future overhead titles to allow us to move with either the D-pad or Circle Pad. However, I would love for the attacks and item use to be through the touch screen, as it opens up more options for both of these.

Anyway, there hasn't been a control scheme in Zelda that I haven't enjoyed, as they all function well and are really fun once you get the hang of them. I wouldn't be able to say that I even mildly dislike any of them without being a liar.

 

[Spirit]

Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks are the two games i've had the most trouble with. No doubt I could sail through both games unhindered if the controls didn't force the stylus on me. Rolling in PH was annoying and for the longest time i kept taking a lot more damage than i should have been because of the mechanics of the controls. I won't say they were broken or unresponsive they were simply difficult for me to get used to and I'm still not fully there with them the stylus controls forced a way of playing on me that i don't usually do in Zelda games. For example you don't need to stop running or walking when you come across an enemy in a Zelda game, none of the 2D or 3D titles have made you do that, not even SS ,granted its a little harder in SS since you have to make use of the jump slash, but it didnt feel as foreign or as alien as the DS games do. I gave up on ST half way through (gave up on PH during the second to last visit of the TotK) and i don't see myself returning to them. I also hated the flute in ST too.

 

[RegalBryant]

I dont despise any, but all of them have ways of pissing me off.

 

[DarkestLink]

TP Wii version and SS. TP Wii controls were tacked on and while I loved M+ in SS, the controls were very faulty. Many struggled with stab until they learned the right awkward movement to do it and the game struggles to do the spin attack in the right direction. Shield bashing doesn't feel natural. And we shouldn't need to realign the items this much.

 

[gerudo_gal]

I had this problem with Spirit tracks as well. I actually quit playing because of it. I haven't beat SS yet (got it in November) because I struggle so hard to use the Wii remote (read a great article yesterday about how to solve that problem though). The biggest issue for me with new games on systems that I am accustomed to is the controls. For some reasons it always takes me a while to get used to them.

 

[Ventus]

The only games that I like but simultaneously hate the controls are Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. Now, both games have some degree of atmosphere, nice music and a decent plot. But, using the touch controls is simply an abomination to the Zelda series, in my opinion.

Like, when I'm using an item (any item) in ST, I want to quickly use it then switch back to the sword for CQC action. Touch screen sometimes doesn't register my taps (even mouse clicks don't register sometimes!), I end up taking damage which *isn't* what I'm looking for when I am trying to pass a level. Every time I play ST and PH, I feel "damn, if only I had button controls!" surging through my brain. D:

I would extend this to Skyward Sword, but I hate the game and its controls.

 

[Justac00lguy]

The DS installments for the Zelda series immediately come to my mind when I think of games that I liked but hated the control scheme...

However from revisiting Super Mario 64 about 6 months ago I can safely say the contols in this game where not that great infact they were extremely annoying! I do love Super Mario 64 but even though how good and charming the level design and gameplay is the game has really aged badly in terms of control's.

 

[Linknerd09]

I don't actually have any control problems with any Zelda games as far as I know. I sometimes hate the controls on the Gameboy games. It's a bit hard to maneuver them carefully. It takes precision time to make sure it turns out great.

 

[DarkestLink]

The DS installments for the Zelda series immediately come to my mind when I think of games that I liked but hated the control scheme...

However from revisiting Super Mario 64 about 6 months ago I can safely say the contols in this game where not that great infact they were extremely annoying! I do love Super Mario 64 but even though how good and charming the level design and gameplay is the game has really aged badly in terms of control's.

I felt this way about the awkward DS controls for the remake. Why do we need to hold a button to run? Shouldn't we be holding it to walk?

 

[papermaz]

I hoped that SS would use the same item controls that TP used (you know, pressing left, right or up on the d-pad to use an item), so the difference took a lot of getting used to after years of TP's system. And I still on occasion accidentally select the wrong item sometimes, especially if I do it too quick.

The DS installments for the Zelda series immediately come to my mind when I think of games that I liked but hated the control scheme...

However from revisiting Super Mario 64 about 6 months ago I can safely say the contols in this game where not that great infact they were extremely annoying! I do love Super Mario 64 but even though how good and charming the level design and gameplay is the game has really aged badly in terms of control's.

It's funny cos I had noticed this after I'd not played the game for a few years too. Great game, some great level design, but the camera can be annoying in some locations in the game, and some of Mario's movements (especially doing long jumps and even just turning on the spot) can be very cumbersome.

 

[A Link In Time]

I enjoyed the DS games but the controls definitely could have been further honed. I'm not a fan of the touch screen as well as the various gimmicks of the latest portable adventures such as blowing into the microphone. That said, the game is top notch, my favorite portable Zelda after The Minish Cap. I'm not sure how far you are in Spirit Tracks so I won't spoil the later game but the last dungeon enthralled me with its unique puzzle style.

The control learning curve in Zelda games is't very steep. There hasn't been an occurrence where the controls broke the game for me. I had the most difficult time accustoming myself to Skyward Sword's-took me at least five hours of gameplay to master-but it was a smooth ride from there.

 

[Shadsie]

I also hated the flute in ST too.

I don't want to give up on ST... I just got thorugh the cutest cutscene with Link and Zelda just after a big battle, and I really like how I can mark up my map with little notes... and... BUNNIES! MUST CATCH ALL THE BUNNIES! - I think that's my favorite thing to do in that game... rabbit hunting...

But... the DAMN FLUTE. ARRRRRGH. I hear you on that one. It's like, "Dear Nintendo, I will send you the medical bill for the asthma I shall incur because your picky Lokomos won't cut me a break. Also, my DS screen is covered in fine spittle."