Why were the controls changed from TxK?

[bcass]

Making the controls worse to make the game more difficult isn't a good game design decision IMO, but I'll shut up about it now and order a PSVT so I can play the best version. BTW I completed T4K this afternoon on PC, but it seemed to have crashed on the end message screen - it wouldn't let me do anything, I couldn't even return to desktop. Only way out was to reset the PC, and when I inspected the scores, it hadn't saved my final score.

[InfernalGrape]

bcass, so do you only used stick or tried dpad (i guess.. for now... using big picture remapping or smth like that)

?

[bcass]

I'm using a wired Xbox 360 pad, early model, so the dpad is awful, so would only really use the analogue stick. I don't use big picture mode, Steam just seems to know that I'm using an Xbox pad and most things work straight away. Only playing at 60fps btw.

[Jamesac]

Making the controls worse to make the game more difficult isn't a good game design decision IMO, but I'll shut up about it now and order a PSVT so I can play the best version. BTW I completed T4K this afternoon on PC, but it seemed to have crashed on the end message screen - it wouldn't let me do anything, I couldn't even return to desktop. Only way out was to reset the PC, and when I inspected the scores, it hadn't saved my final score.

I honestly can't see how controls that do exactly what you tell them to, when you tell them to do it, can be considered "worse". It took a game or three to dial in, sure, but it works perfectly once you adapt.

I'm using a 360 pad too, analog-only. I can't imagine trying to play much of anything requiring precision with the 360 d-pad.

[bcass]

I honestly can't see how controls that do exactly what you tell them to, when you tell them to do it, can be considered "worse".

Play TxK to find out.

[Jamesac]

The thing is, at no point have I argued with the Tempest 4000 controls. I move and shoot without thinking about my hands at all, and the claw doesn't do anything I don't tell it to. That's the very definition of good controls. Hell, it's basically perfect controls. Playing TxK wouldn't make the response I've experienced in my Tempest 4000 play-time any less good.

[bcass]

Sorry Jamesac, but you're being quite blinkered here. Come back when you've tried TxK. I'm not alone on this one. Several others here have noted this issue, as have other people on other forums. It's not a matter of taste, it's night and day when you've played with both control setups, IMO. You like the current controls? Great. Compared to TxK they're not as nice. Bit difficult for you to argue against that until you've tried TxK, but even then I doubt you'll admit it now, given how defensive you're being about it.

[Jamesac]

I. Do. Not. Have. A. Vita.

I'm not saying Tempest 4000 is better or worse than TxK. Not having a Vita, I would have no way of saying it one way or another. I'm specifically saying the Tempest 4000 controls do exactly what I ask, when I ask, and that's all I'd expect from them. That's the whole of it right there.

[bcass]

I. Do. Not. Have. A. Vita.

And here endeth the argument.

[Jamesac]

There is no argument about the Vita. You keep saying I'm telling you something I'm not. My whole point, from the very beginning, is that I can play the game instinctively with the controls as they are and you keep rattling on about another game on another system despite me saying right up front that it's got nothing to do with my views on Tempest 4000 due to never having gotten to play TxK. This is not about "better" or "worse", it's about functionality. I found Tempest 4000's controls to work in a way that requires absolutely no effort, freeing up my brain to deal with the chaos rising up the web. That's it, that's the whole thing.

[bcass]

I found Tempest 4000's controls to work in a way that requires absolutely no effort, freeing up my brain to deal with the chaos rising up the web.

Great, I'm happy for you. You should try out TxK one time, it's awesome. Easily the best version.

[InfernalGrape]

I don't know about other people experience, but with analog stick for me it was slightly uncontrollable which was noticable if i need to precise movement to 1 step to the next sector of grid (why? well, to 100% get certain powerup, to shoot those flowers, to not bump into electric thing on the rim coming to me soon etc etc), for example. On my stick when i slightly tap sometimes it didnt even move, and sometimes it moved already too much; and at some point it felt like i had input lag. I decided it was just dead zones or something bad with my gamepad (sometimes its really glitchy with me and really got me killed in bullethells where one wrong tiny movement means death) so i switched to dpad, on which i enjoyed it pretty much and it worked logically.

[Misfit]

Giles, can you do a video of how you play?

It strikes me that some people seem to flow and others are more precise and the newer control affects the latter more.

I want to be the flow crowd but don’t seem to be successful that way...

Bcass, TxK is is my favourite too. Had your idea of using a PSTV but not sure if it was using a dualshock or being on the big screen lost the immersion. But I felt far more detached from it and ended up selling the PSTV. So it may not be your dream game when scaled up/not on the vita controls.

[ESY]

For those of you that haven’t clicked with the controls, relax. It will, if you let it. The controls are perfect. And I have TxK. It’s a great game and the controls are a little more “digital”, But I actually like T4K better. So, Giles/Jeff - don’t you dare change a fucking thing!

[PVB]

For those of you that haven’t clicked with the controls, relax. It will, if you let it. The controls are perfect. And I have TxK. It’s a great game and the controls are a little more “digital”, But I actually like T4K better. So, Giles/Jeff - don’t you dare change a fucking thing!

Bit late now, but giving options for controls should always be considered, if not for accessibility reasons, just to allow other playing styles.

With T2K you only had the much slower and per-web-segment movement, allowing precise steps to move. Other games have developed that to more flowing, inertia-based movement.
It would’ve been nice to have either system as options, but that’s it for now.