Honestly, it really depends on the game and what control scheme it was designed for.
Controllers are absolutely dog crap at RTS, and anything else that is heavily GUI based. Controller mouse emulation is zero fun, and some games really need more shortcuts than controller buttons will allow. Highly competitive FPS games need fast mouse response as you observed, but there’s plenty of other FPS titles that are good enough on controller (e.g. Halo).
At the same time, keyboard keys have a different response and feel than controller buttons. Fighting, platforming, and other games make excellent use of what controllers have to offer.
A good example of what I’m talking about is comparing Diablo 2 to Diablo 3. The latter is a dream to play with a controller, and the game mechanics have been streamlined pretty much for that. Meanwhile, Diablo 2 absolutely requires mouse and keyboard to be playable.
donuts@lemmy.world 2 days ago
You don’t have to defend or attack any of them. Different use cases fit different devices.
Best example is GTA V. A lot of people using kb/m for the running and shooting, and the controller for driving and flying.
MirthfulAlembic@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Definitely agree. I used to be a KB/m only person, but have changed my opinion since using a controller for a while out of necessity. Some games are simply better with a controller.
Some are much worse. FPS will never translate well to controller for me. No idea how CoD people play on console. It feels like trying to throw a ball with someone else’s hand by manipulating their elbow.
chiliedogg@lemmy.world 2 days ago
The newer Doom games play well on a controller because precision movement matters more than precision aiming, so even on PC I play with a controller.
Having an analog stick instead of WSAD makes the movement much more fluid, and a double-barreled shotgun, rocket launcher, or chainsaw don’t exactly require pixel-perfect aiming.
TwanHE@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Nowadays you can achieve the same with analog keyboards. Took a bit of getting used to having control over the speed/angle by how deep your pressing the keys but works great.
donuts@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Aim assist, generally speaking. That’s how they try and make it “fair” for console users.
MirthfulAlembic@lemmy.world 2 days ago
I’ve never played a game where aim assist was done well enough for me. It’s either too little or too much. That is probably me though.
Elgenzay@lemmy.ml 2 days ago
Worst example is the Nintendo Switch controller. The triggers are binary so you can’t control your throttle in racing games.
Super Mario Sunshine used the analog triggers on the GameCube to differentiate a partial press where you can move around while spraying water or a full press where you can’t move, and the control stick is instead used to aim.
Consequently, in the Switch port, you can no longer half-press, so emulating the GameCube version is a better experience than playing the official Switch port.
donuts@lemmy.world 2 days ago
For Sunshine, they mapped RT to half press and RB to full press, so there isn’t really any practical change, except hitting a different shoulder button instead of partially pressing the same one.
I do agree on lamenting the triggers being digital though. I played a lot of Rocket League and the lack of fine grained controls alone was enough to not really enjoy it on Switch.
Blackmist@feddit.uk 2 days ago
I still lament the loss of analogue face buttons from the PS2 controller.
It was mostly used on racing games where newer analogue triggers are a lot more precise, but it can make emulating older games tricky.
Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Yup. 90% of what I play use keyboard & mouse, but some games are straight-up better with a controller.