How is the game with the controller ?

[IvanGrozny]

What is your impression of the controller support? Is it any good?

[tom tomorrow]

As someone who usually prefers m+kb, I actually prefer using a controller for this game. Controller support is extremely well implemented. And because it's a game best played in long sessions, the comfort of a couch and controller is really quite ideal.

[Zunnoab #931]

I wouldn't say extremely well implemented when some functionality doesn't exist, such as selling wares together (as far as I know) and the lack of the ability to toggle the helmet graphic (which is a simple checkbox with mouse/keyboard). You also get to see all characters' inventory at one time with the mouse/keyboard and moving items around is a total pain with the controller compared to the drag/drop mechanic.

Then there's the fact that (as far as I can tell) they decide to give you a smaller hotbar with a controller, without a separate setting to choose how it works for you?

All that said I do prefer the controller for simple usage, but it's a shame it's kind of clunky how it's handled. You don't get to choose your control, but instead it decides on its own at the "Press X (or whatever) to start" screen. I switch to the keyboard/mouse when dealing with inventory, which means I need to save, exist to the main menu, hit say Escape to get back to the "press whatever to start" screen, and then hit the button on whichever control I want to use. Couple that with the "the player controller has disconnected hit a button on the controller to quit (with no option to switch to another control method" is extremely sloppy design.

I love the game and I do like the controller controls for the most part. But due to those concerns and especially the lack of features even being implemented for controllers I would not say it's extremely well done. It just is mostly well done.

[tom tomorrow]

Inventory management is undoubtly faster and easier with m+kb, but what you just described sounds not only tedious, but pointless. Why would you quit out to switch control schemes to manage inventory? How is that faster than just doing it with a controller? Also, you can toggle helmet graphics with a controller. And having a smaller hotbar is inconsequential.

Considering the fact that almost no other game in this genre even attempts to implement controller support, I'd still say it's extremely well done.

[Zunnoab #931]

Originally posted by Tom With The Weather:

Inventory management is undoubtly faster and easier with m+kb, but what you just described sounds not only tedious, but pointless. Why would you quit out to switch control schemes to manage inventory? How is that faster than just doing it with a controller? Also, you can toggle helmet graphics with a controller. And having a smaller hotbar is inconsequential.

Considering the fact that almost no other game in this genre even attempts to implement controller support, I'd still say it's extremely well done.

How do you do the helmet with the controller?

Also, having to open a menu, then choose to pick up the item, then navigate to another slot, and then choose to put the item down is way WAY WAY WAY slower then drag and drop, and that's ignoring the ability to drag between party members with mouse/keyboard. I do it when I plan to sell things or sort through loot. It is significantly slower with the controller, unless the controller has a drag/drop mechanic I'm unaware of. It's a pity you can't open up multiple bags at once to drag between with the keyboard/mouse, but without drag/drop it's a nightmare if dealing with a large stash of items in my opinion.

The hotbar thing is a minor annoyance, but it is still an annoyance to see a hotbar half the size it could be with the controller. As I said, I do primarily play with my controller. I just don't think it's perfect. Well done sure, but I'd not say extremely well done personally.

[Bunny Girl Senpai]

I think it comes down to personal preference. PC interface is way better than controller. Your skill book, hot bar, inventory management is all much easier on the eyes on PC.

Even though the interface is better on PC, I prefer controller because it's what I am used to from playing xbox so much. And it's not a big deal for me to hide helmets with my keyboard then reload the game in controller mode.

[IvanGrozny]

Originally posted by Zunnoab #931:

Originally posted by Tom With The Weather:

Inventory management is undoubtly faster and easier with m+kb, but what you just described sounds not only tedious, but pointless. Why would you quit out to switch control schemes to manage inventory? How is that faster than just doing it with a controller? Also, you can toggle helmet graphics with a controller. And having a smaller hotbar is inconsequential.

Considering the fact that almost no other game in this genre even attempts to implement controller support, I'd still say it's extremely well done.

How do you do the helmet with the controller?

Also, having to open a menu, then choose to pick up the item, then navigate to another slot, and then choose to put the item down is way WAY WAY WAY slower then drag and drop, and that's ignoring the ability to drag between party members with mouse/keyboard. I do it when I plan to sell things or sort through loot. It is significantly slower with the controller, unless the controller has a drag/drop mechanic I'm unaware of. It's a pity you can't open up multiple bags at once to drag between with the keyboard/mouse, but without drag/drop it's a nightmare if dealing with a large stash of items in my opinion.

The hotbar thing is a minor annoyance, but it is still an annoyance to see a hotbar half the size it could be with the controller. As I said, I do primarily play with my controller. I just don't think it's perfect. Well done sure, but I'd not say extremely well done personally.

Does the combat fluidity suffer a lot becuase of the short hot bar ?

[Wojtasky]

I play 10 minutes then i turn off pad and return to M+KB

[Kinzuko]

its slower with a controller (i use a steam controller to play this game) but its playable and controller does let you take back stat changes on level up unlike KB+M

[Zunnoab #931]

Originally posted by IvanGrozny:

Originally posted by Zunnoab #931:

How do you do the helmet with the controller?

Also, having to open a menu, then choose to pick up the item, then navigate to another slot, and then choose to put the item down is way WAY WAY WAY slower then drag and drop, and that's ignoring the ability to drag between party members with mouse/keyboard. I do it when I plan to sell things or sort through loot. It is significantly slower with the controller, unless the controller has a drag/drop mechanic I'm unaware of. It's a pity you can't open up multiple bags at once to drag between with the keyboard/mouse, but without drag/drop it's a nightmare if dealing with a large stash of items in my opinion.

The hotbar thing is a minor annoyance, but it is still an annoyance to see a hotbar half the size it could be with the controller. As I said, I do primarily play with my controller. I just don't think it's perfect. Well done sure, but I'd not say extremely well done personally.

Does the combat fluidity suffer a lot becuase of the short hot bar ?

Only if your hotbars aren't organized. It's easy to forget new abilities on other bars too but that isn't the game's fault.

[lockethiago]

Controller is much better. While you have the real feeling of controlling the character as oposed to telling them where to wlak to, you have an additional function which is to check your surroundings with a single push of a button. Also you can rotate the camera in a much fluid way. Only downzie is that some actions take 2 clicks to achive while on K&M you can just press a shortcut key. I've played both ways for a good while and controller is much better to me.

[Godwoken Dovahkiin]

Terrible, Larian has clear favoritism for controller too sadly since you get aoe loot and select multiple items. Other than that M+KB is 100000% faster and better.