Controller or keyboard & mouse

[NoobMaster69]

What would you recommend for this game?

[ShikenNuggets]

Personally I think it makes more sense to play with a controller. This sort of game usually works better with a controller, but people have played with KB/M perfectly fine.

Since you own the game, I would say to try them both and see which you prefer.

[XenolithicYardZone]

If this were something like Dark Souls we were talking about, controller without a shadow of doubt. 200%. Not even an argument.

But its not that cut and dry with this game. Both have advantages/disadvantages.

K+M:
Much more navigational freedom. You can run whilst moving the camera about unlike the controller where a normal grip would require you to alternate your thumb between the face button for sprint and the right thumbstick for rotation. Clawing the controller like you would for Dark Souls doesn't really work either since the attack/counter buttons are also face buttons and not the shoulder buttons. Also spinning around is much quicker with a mouse than the right thumbstick.

Can move the mouse about in combat to get a better picture of what's going on and better evaluate your options.

Unlike Xinput lacking controllers which require third part softwares like x360ce/Xpadder to get them working, any K+M will work fine.

Customizable keys. You can use the above mentioned programs to change controller button mapping but unlike K+M, on screen prompts will still show old button mapping.

Can assign takedown options to single keys instead of hard to remember button combos.


Controller:
More control of Batman with the left thumbstick instead of just the 8 directions with WASD.

Parts requiring a lot of dodging/rolling/jumping are much easier and less taxing on the thumb with the controller than the Spacebar button.

Quickfiring gadgets works better with the controller especially in certain combat situations where you need to move and quickfire. You never have to let go of the left thumbstick to quickfire gadgets unlike WASD.

Parts of this game where mouse/right thumbstick rotation are disabled are just better with a controller since you don't need the right thumbstick and you get much more controller with the left thumbstick than you would with WASD.


I say use both and decide for yourself or better yet, depending on the situation, alternate between them like I do. Horses for courses.

[ShikenNuggets]

Originally posted by XenolithicYardZone:

Can move the mouse about in combat to get a better picture of what's going on and who to attack next.

I do this all the time with a controller, but I can see why it would be easier with a mouse.

Originally posted by XenolithicYardZone:

Can assign takedown options to single keys instead of hard to remember button combos.

They're all only two buttons IIRC, they're not hard to remember.

[XenolithicYardZone]

Yeah its easier with a mouse. Not that you can't with a controller but you would need to keep switching your thumb between the face buttons and the thumbstick. For someone who's mostly a K+M guy and who claws the controller in Dark Souls, not being able to move the camera around at will feels like a handicap.

Sorry I wrote that more with Arkham City in mind since I am currently playing it. You're right - there are just two in Asylum but more than remembering the combo, what I really meant was one button's easier to press than two. Thumb mouse buttons 1 & 2 for takedowns makes things even easier.

Another thing that stops me from using my controller more is that you can't sprint attack easily like you can with a K+M. Unless you are actively pressing A with the middle part of your thumb and use the tip to press X, its rather difficult to pull off. Wish B was sprint and A/X the attack/counter buttons by default.

[ShikenNuggets]

Originally posted by XenolithicYardZone:

Yeah its easier with a mouse. Not that you can't with a controller but you would need to keep switching your thumb between the face buttons and the thumbstick. For someone like me who's mostly a K+M guy and who claws the controller in Dark Souls, not being able to move the camera around at will does puts me off.

Sorry I wrote that more with Arkham City in mind since I am currently playing it. You're right - there are just two in Asylum but more than remembering the combo, what I really meant was one button's easier to press than two. Thumb mouse buttons ! & 2 for takedowns makes things even easier.

Another thing that stops me from using the controller more is that you can't sprint attack easily like you can with the K+M. Unless you are actively pressing A with the middle part of your thumb and use the tip to press X, its rather difficult to pull off. Wish B was sprint and A/X the attack/counter buttons by default.

Actually, reading this, I'm thinking the main difference here is that you're much more experienced with KB/M, and I'm much more experienced with a controller (used to be primarily a console player). For looking around during combat I'm used to having my thumb jumping around all over the place, so I can work with that. As for takedowns, pressing two of the face buttons at the same time with my thumb isn't a problem at all for me (and same goes for sprint attacks, I can do those just fine).

So, the conclusion of all this is to just go with what you know. If you're more of a PC player then you may prefer the KB/M controls, whereas if you're more of a console player, the gamepad controls will likely be better for you. If you're not sure, try them both and see which you prefer.

[XenolithicYardZone]

Yup my point exactly. I have played with both and prefer the k+m whereas you the controller. Just goes to show that both work just fine. Use whichever option suits you better.

And yeah I am much more at home with a k+m. Only ever used a controller for Pes/Fifa before getting into Dark Souls. Had to learn to claw the controller to be able to sprint and move the camera around at the same time. As a console player I suppose it doesn't bother you that much and you're more comfortable just switching when needed.

One thing that I don't quite understand though is why aren't controller buttons customizable in game? Why force players to adapt to the default layout instead of allowing them to remap as they see fit? Maybe a console player such as yourself can help me understand why cause I really don't.

[ShikenNuggets]

Originally posted by XenolithicYardZone:

One thing that I don't quite understand though is why aren't controller buttons customizable in game?

I honestly couldn't say for sure. Console games typically don't have customization for the controls (not sure why, that's just how it is), so it could just be that developers who primarily develop for consoles (such as Rocksteady) simply overlook the option.

Though, even when I had the option, I've never felt the need to change from the default layout when playing with a controller.

[XenolithicYardZone]

Yeah I just find it strange. If you can change K+M layout, why not the controller? And its not like its not doable - if third party apps allow you to, why can't the devs just incorporate it by default?

I'd say that's because of your console past. Like you mentioned, with many console games, remapping isn't an option and as such, you've just gotten used to going with the default layout. But for K+M players who are used to remapping, its a bit of a sticking point e.g I play with ESDF instead of WASD.

I suppose if you wanna use a controller the game recognizes by default, you'll just have to live with the default layout. I can use x360ce to remap my Xinput controller (the irony :P) but then I lose out on vibration while the on screen prompts still remain the same so its not worth the hassle. Just wish the option existed in game.

[Cage_D]

Ps4 o x360/one controller all the way baby