Why is controller considered to be "better" for this game?

[SMJSMOK]

I don't really get it, can someone explain please? 2D platformers on PC were traditionally played with a keyboard. Why is this different? I reached both endings with a keyboard and the controls were never a problem for me. I actually tried borrowing my brother's gamepad but I didn't find any advantage in playing with that. I think there's no objective argument that one device is better than the other for this game...some people are more skilled with a keyboard and some people are better with a controller, and it's fine, it's a matter of preference. But why do I have to keep reading that using my keyboard is like not bathing during every loading screen? :-D

[glass]

I grew up playing on the keyboard. Playing precision games on the controller makes everything slightly harder. I did the first half on the controller. After finishing the game, I had to swap to the keyboard to do the 106%.

I think that it is probably the case that today's developers were from the console generation, they grew up playing on the controller, and hence, the keyboard is awkward for them, just like the controller is for me. That's why so many games recommend using a controller, even though it should be totally a preference thing.

[Lokei]

Cause controllers are for filthy casuals

[Dark Redshift]

I grew up with the keyboard and I stick to it for many games. Only certain games like Dying Light, Mirror's Edge, Sonic games in both 2D and 3D, Issac Rebirth and any console virtual machines are what I use the gamepad for. Everything else I use the good old fashioned typing slab.

Not to mention cursor keys instead of the overrated and terrible WSAD because they are generally better and I was used to them enough so that I only play games using the mouse in my left hand, despite being able to use a mouse in both. (Tomb Raider 2 and 3 were my first games and they are cursor keys only)

The games I use my controller for also include Super Meat Boy because I think the reason it is pushed on players of the PC version (say that 3 times fast) is because really hard platform games like Super Meat Boy, the original Flash Meat Boy, Abobo's Big Adventure and AVGN Adventures can increase the risk of RSI when using a keyboard due to making lots of keystrokes in very quick succession, sometimes with your hands in odd positions.

I was like that when beating AVGN Adventures 1 for the first time, as I hadn't connected my
Xbox One controller; my wrists felt like they'd been put through a cheese grater after beating the final boss.

Other hard platformers on PC like Duke Nukem 1 and 2, Commander Keen and Prince of Persia 1 and 2 I still use the keyboard for however.

Still, at least keyboards are better than the N64 and Wii controllers.

[SMJSMOK]

Originally posted by Dark Redshift:

Not to mention cursor keys instead of the overrated and terrible WSAD because they are generally better

Elaborate on this please. How are cursor keys "generally better"? I don't know what keyboard you have, but on mine they're exactly the same plastic buttons. I use arrow keys when I want to have my left hand free to press shift, ctrl, alt etc. (like in Meat Boy) and WSAD when I want to use the mouse with my right hand. I know some left-handed people who use arrow keys to move and hold the mouse in their left hand. My point is, the "best" solution is what works for you in a particular situation.

[Lokei]

Originally posted by SMJSMOK:

Originally posted by Dark Redshift:

Not to mention cursor keys instead of the overrated and terrible WSAD because they are generally better

Elaborate on this please. How are cursor keys "generally better"? I don't know what keyboard you have, but on mine they're exactly the same plastic buttons. I use arrow keys when I want to have my left hand free to press shift, ctrl, alt etc. (like in Meat Boy) and WSAD when I want to use the mouse with my right hand. I know some left-handed people who use arrow keys to move and hold the mouse in their left hand. My point is, the "best" solution is what works for you in a particular situation.

[Dark Redshift]

Originally posted by SMJSMOK:

Originally posted by Dark Redshift:

Not to mention cursor keys instead of the overrated and terrible WSAD because they are generally better

Elaborate on this please. How are cursor keys "generally better"? I don't know what keyboard you have, but on mine they're exactly the same plastic buttons. I use arrow keys when I want to have my left hand free to press shift, ctrl, alt etc. (like in Meat Boy) and WSAD when I want to use the mouse with my right hand. I know some left-handed people who use arrow keys to move and hold the mouse in their left hand. My point is, the "best" solution is what works for you in a particular situation.

The cursor keys are in the right shape; two lined up vertically, two on either side of the Down key. They also have conveinent arrows on them (the cursor directions) so video game or not, you know what they're for at first glance, especially in games. They are also separate from the rest of the keys, so you can easilly find them.

WSAD on the other hand, does not have good markers though that's less of a problem due to their positioning i.e. being in roughly a similar shape to the cursors. What's more of a problem however, is that WSAD is slightly off so it's easy to hit E instead of W, or Caps Lock instead of A etc. and that they are mixed in with the other keys, so you'd need to hunt around a lot for them in order to just move.

I understand WSAD is for people who need the mouse in their right hand, but they always default to those keys in many games after the 90's, which in turn affects the other keybindings so they are in a comfortable position.

So whenever I start a newer game for the first time like Doom 4, Wolfenstein the New Order, or the Deus Ex prequels, I need to spend X amount of time in the options menu fixing the controls to something sensible. It's unnecessary to be forced to do and it's annoying.

I wouldn't mind as much if the cursor keys were the default instead of WSAD but at least with an option to toggle default controls for WSAD movement, sort of like a "righty flip" mode. That would help cut down on the fiddling.

[CubPCGamer]

I don't see any reason why controller should be better than keyboard.

I use the keyboard and am up to world 3 but the keyboard never seems to be making the controls harder than they would be with a controller.

Probably the reason some people prefer a controller is because it's more comfortable to hold, but I wouldn't say it's any better for the actual gameplay.

[XIII]

I've seen people talking about how keyboard has some additional input lag in Super Meat Boy. Not sure how much of that is true, though.

Otherwise they are pretty much even, since a game like SMB works best with digital input anyway (compared to analogue sticks). Controller might be better because of the ergonomic form, and the buttons 'clicking' faster because they need to be pressed down for a shorter distance.

On the other hand, the 360 pad has a pretty trash digital pad, but that doesn't matter as much in a game like SMB, where you (afaik) only need left and right. Otherwise PS3 pad is better for SNES-like games.

Of course all comes down to what you're used. A good controller can feel completely wrong if you always used another type of device device.

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

I completed most the normal world with a keyboard. However to get the final ending I had to go with a controller. One advantage a controller could have over a keyboard is not having to deal with a double input. You cannot input both left and right at the same time. Other than that, stop whinning about keyboards vs controllers. If you like one over the other, fine, stop trying to justify it on a community forum that your choice is superior. Gamer self therapy is stupid.

[Lokei]

I can't even use a controller so in games like rocket league it's harder for me to rank up.

[SMJSMOK]

Originally posted by GamesChan:

stop whinning about keyboards vs controllers. If you like one over the other, fine, stop trying to justify it on a community forum that your choice is superior. Gamer self therapy is stupid.

Did you even read my post? What you're saying (everyone should go with what they're most comfortable with) is exactly my position as well. The reason why I wrote this post is that the devs (and lots of other people) say that gamepad is a better input device for playing SMB...so I wanted to know why.

[CubPCGamer]

Originally posted by GamesChan:

I completed most the normal world with a keyboard. However to get the final ending I had to go with a controller. One advantage a controller could have over a keyboard is not having to deal with a double input. You cannot input both left and right at the same time. Other than that, stop whinning about keyboards vs controllers. If you like one over the other, fine, stop trying to justify it on a community forum that your choice is superior. Gamer self therapy is stupid.

Why would double input be a problem if you don't hold down both left and right at once?

[PapitaNoob]

Originally posted by CubPCGamer:

Originally posted by GamesChan:

I completed most the normal world with a keyboard. However to get the final ending I had to go with a controller. One advantage a controller could have over a keyboard is not having to deal with a double input. You cannot input both left and right at the same time. Other than that, stop whinning about keyboards vs controllers. If you like one over the other, fine, stop trying to justify it on a community forum that your choice is superior. Gamer self therapy is stupid.

Why would double input be a problem if you don't hold down both left and right at once?

Because of the speed nature of the game you have to do a lot of inputs in a very short period of time making it possible to hold left and right at the same time. As a former user of the keyboard I have experienced that and it is the reason why I switched to controllers. Also the keyboard seems to have some input lag, may just be my own perception though but in order to do fast and precise maneuvers I find it easier on controllers.

[aoterroroa]

I was curious about this as well and ended up plugging in a PS4 controller (which I really like using for a bunch of games) after completing roughly two thirds of the game using a keyboard - and I definitely prefer a keyboard. Felt a lot snappier and more precise to me. I'm well aware that it's the opposite for some people though. It's all personal preference and what you're used to.

[Lex]

i can beat the game in an hour with both but i perfer controller because i dont destroy my pinky finger while playing instead i destroy my thumb which is more perferd for me lol. its 100% choice i perfer controller just because i feel more relaxed and less worried about my left pinky falling off.