Controllers vs Keyboard and Mouse

[tzojesse]

Opinions of which is better and why? (I'll be playing on a high-end PC)

[Black Blade]

I think it depends on the game, some games I prefer to play with controller some are better with K/M
Overall my self I prefer to play with Controller for platformers or fighter and prefer m/k for FPS or strategy but really depends on the game and self preference

[ReBoot]

Totally depends on the game. Shooters? Mouse hands down. Always use the mouse for shooters. Other genres, like platformers or spectacle fighters are made for gamepads. RTS of course are best played with the mouse. I have the mouse on my right and my gamepad in front of me, behind my keyboard, I can reach for it when I play something that's better with it.

[Zekiran]

High end pc I would stick with the mouse/keyboard that works best for your hands and reflexes. If you're *used* to controllers, I would guess that having one would be fine for anything, but... if you've got a machine that can handle a nice 1600dpi mouse, that will always trump any controller.

[Ogami]

Both are equally good. Each for their range of games.
I use keyboard and mouse for strategy games, simulations, RPG, shooters and anything complex that has a lot of buttons and menus.
I use a gamepad for 3rd person action games, fighting games, racing, sport games and anything arcade like.

Both are essential for me.

[Radene]

Depends on the game. Platformers you usually want a controller for.

[LexMulder]

Like the people above me already said, it depends on the game. But personally I enjoy playing more with a controller most of the time.

[sfnhltb]

Very much depends on the game, I always have both available - generally brawlers, some platformers (particularly ones with ranged weapons and lots of enemies), sport sims, driving sims, some tps, some twin stick shooters will be on a controller for the finer direction controls with the analogue stick, others will be mouse and keyboard.

The main deciding factor is what is important - do you need to make fine adjustments in direction (of movement or shooting), in which case a controller will be best, or quickly pick out a specific location on the screen, in which case mouse/keyboard will be best.

Your question seems odd though - if you are specing out a high end pc why do you only have 2 USB ports available for either mouse/keyboard or a controller, if that is not the issue (and usually a high end pc has dozens nowadays) then why would it be an either/or situation in the first place?

[Start_Running]

Lets see.

As others have said, depends on the game.
FPS are best with mouse and keyboard.
2d Platformers are generally un biased.

[Kargor]

Originally posted by tzojesse:

Opinions of which is better and why? (I'll be playing on a high-end PC)

Depends on the game. I usually avoid using keyboard and mouse if possible, but since controller support still isn't considered to be mandatory on PCs, some games just don't do it at all, or not very well.

[Kargath]

Mouse and keyboard for shooters, strategy, and other games where you need precise aiming. Controller for fighting, platforming, racing. Don't listen to the snobs who insist on mouse and keyboard for everything.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Generally depends on the game.

Some games pretty much require some sort of pointer, either a cursor on the screen or a camera perspective, that is finely movable in all directions in a plane.

Those basically require mouse and/or touchpad. Mouse for perspective and very fine movements. Replicating that even with an analog stick can be difficult, and may require aids such as aim assist.

If you need to make complex movements, that basically requires a touchscreen or otherwise needs to detect hand/finger motions (e.g. Wiimote) rather than simply translate simply movement instructions. If you've ever tried using a mouse to write a word, you'd know how difficult it is.

Aside from that, it can kinda go either way. A number of people prefer gamepads for stuff like platformers and top-down action games, probably because they're just used to playing those games on consoles and handhelds (since those games used to be rare on PC), but I use keyboard for them and I like it just fine.

I like keyboards because they allow me a whole range of keys. Instead of just using my thumbs for most things, I get to use all ten fingers. Playing something in the style of Mega Man X becomes way smoother when you can use different fingers to hold a charge shot, activate dash, and jump off a wall at the same time.

However, keyboards lack analog functionality. Mouse can do this, and so can analog sticks, but keyboards are entirely digital -- you're either moving or you're not. (There are some fine-tuning mechanisms, such as the run button, obviously.)

Occasionally you get a game that did a bad job porting gamepad controls to PC. A few don't have proper key rebinding options (or might not even allow you to rebind keys at all). There are third-party apps with which you can get around these limitations.

[Mav]

I use mouse and keyboard for everything. It doesn't affect my performance, but some games are clearly made with K&M or controller in mind.

But since this is PC....YOU get to choose because YOU control it. Just use whatever you like more and have fun ;)

[Zefar]

FPS is best played with mouse and keyboard.

Properly supported Mouse and keyboard for Third person shooters will also be better with M+K.

Properly supported Hack'n'slash games like Dark Souls, Nioh and others like it will be better with mouse and keyboard. Nioh went as far as not support mouse at all. Gamepad only. Dark Souls hasn't really had proper support and it just feels like something that is tacked on.
DarkSiders 1 and 2 had better support and I did better with M+K because I could control the camera far easier.

2D Platformers where you have full 360 degree aim will benefit a lot from mouse+keyboard. Soldat which is an old 2D game is a good example of how mouse will just make you so accurate.

Originally posted by Mischievous Protagonist Quint:

However, keyboards lack analog functionality. Mouse can do this, and so can analog sticks, but keyboards are entirely digital -- you're either moving or you're not. (There are some fine-tuning mechanisms, such as the run button, obviously.)

Occasionally you get a game that did a bad job porting gamepad controls to PC. A few don't have proper key rebinding options (or might not even allow you to rebind keys at all). There are third-party apps with which you can get around these limitations.

If the game would support walking and run command this wouldn't be an issue.

[僕の名前 (仮)]

It's a lot easier to aim with mouse.

[Stolas! ❤]

If I could use my mouse and keyboard on a ps4 I would ;(