as excellent as many games are their control schemes can sometimes be a chore
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top 10 great video games with bad controls
for this list we’re looking at the
for this list we’re looking at the finest of games that lack in one key
finest of games that lack in one key
finest of games that lack in one key area controls B it’s slow and archaic
area controls B it’s slow and archaic
area controls B it’s slow and archaic movement uncomfortable key
movement uncomfortable key
movement uncomfortable key configurations or troublesome cameras
configurations or troublesome cameras
configurations or troublesome cameras these otherwise fantastic games suffer
these otherwise fantastic games suffer
these otherwise fantastic games suffer from some degree of questionable design
number 10 alone in the dark it’s classic
number 10 alone in the dark it’s classic survival horror with some not so
survival horror with some not so
survival horror with some not so injuring elements alone in the dark
injuring elements alone in the dark
injuring elements alone in the dark released in 1992 by info grams was a
released in 1992 by info grams was a
released in 1992 by info grams was a pivotal entry into the budding horror
pivotal entry into the budding horror
pivotal entry into the budding horror game genre its blend of n innovative 3d
game genre its blend of n innovative 3d
game genre its blend of n innovative 3d graphics with iconography drawn from the
graphics with iconography drawn from the
graphics with iconography drawn from the works of HP Lovecraft made for a
works of HP Lovecraft made for a
works of HP Lovecraft made for a chilling experience may God forgive me
chilling experience may God forgive me
chilling experience may God forgive me yet it was not without some clunky
yet it was not without some clunky
yet it was not without some clunky design both of the playable characters
design both of the playable characters
design both of the playable characters edward carnby and emily Hart would move
edward carnby and emily Hart would move
edward carnby and emily Hart would move in a sluggish manner and are difficult
in a sluggish manner and are difficult
in a sluggish manner and are difficult to maneuver it’s an aspect of the game
to maneuver it’s an aspect of the game
to maneuver it’s an aspect of the game that has not improved with age
number nine Metal Gear Solid portable
number nine Metal Gear Solid portable ops huh what was that huh previous
ops huh what was that huh previous
ops huh what was that huh previous entries in the Metal Gear series have
entries in the Metal Gear series have
entries in the Metal Gear series have had questionable control setups in the
had questionable control setups in the
had questionable control setups in the past but portable ops on the PSP might
past but portable ops on the PSP might
past but portable ops on the PSP might just be the worst of the lot because of
just be the worst of the lot because of
just be the worst of the lot because of the system itself
the system itself
the system itself Oh answer me what in portable ops
Oh answer me what in portable ops
Oh answer me what in portable ops players take on the role of elite
players take on the role of elite
players take on the role of elite soldier Naked Snake in a mission to deal
soldier Naked Snake in a mission to deal
soldier Naked Snake in a mission to deal with the renegade Fox unit I’m counting
with the renegade Fox unit I’m counting
with the renegade Fox unit I’m counting on you big boss call me snake while the
on you big boss call me snake while the
on you big boss call me snake while the game largely succeeds at delivering on
game largely succeeds at delivering on
game largely succeeds at delivering on 10 stealth action the design of its
10 stealth action the design of its
10 stealth action the design of its camera controls intended to compensate
camera controls intended to compensate
camera controls intended to compensate for the PSP’s lack of second control
for the PSP’s lack of second control
for the PSP’s lack of second control stick leave something to be desired what
stick leave something to be desired what
stick leave something to be desired what are you talking about please drop the
are you talking about please drop the
are you talking about please drop the act
act
act for instance hitting the left shoulder
for instance hitting the left shoulder
for instance hitting the left shoulder button centers the camera behind snake
button centers the camera behind snake
button centers the camera behind snake which doesn’t help in a game where you
which doesn’t help in a game where you
which doesn’t help in a game where you need to pay attention to your
need to pay attention to your
need to pay attention to your surroundings simply apply the right type
surroundings simply apply the right type
surroundings simply apply the right type of pain to the right degree at just the
of pain to the right degree at just the
of pain to the right degree at just the right location number 8 Tomb Raider
sometimes a game’s flaws are tied to
sometimes a game’s flaws are tied to innovation such is the case with Tomb
innovation such is the case with Tomb
innovation such is the case with Tomb Raider one of the first major 3d action
Raider one of the first major 3d action
Raider one of the first major 3d action platforming games so you think all this
platforming games so you think all this
platforming games so you think all this talking is just holding me out with its
talking is just holding me out with its
talking is just holding me out with its focus on adventurous heroine Lara Croft
focus on adventurous heroine Lara Croft
focus on adventurous heroine Lara Croft its balance of gunplay and exploration
its balance of gunplay and exploration
its balance of gunplay and exploration and a variety of scenic locales the game
and a variety of scenic locales the game
and a variety of scenic locales the game certainly made its mark
however this early PlayStation title was
however this early PlayStation title was also subject to a difficult to manage
also subject to a difficult to manage
also subject to a difficult to manage camera and rigid movement controls not
camera and rigid movement controls not
camera and rigid movement controls not exactly the best setup for a game about
exactly the best setup for a game about
exactly the best setup for a game about precise jumps and careful movement
number 7 jet force Gemini complexity can
number 7 jet force Gemini complexity can be magnificent but not if the player is
be magnificent but not if the player is
be magnificent but not if the player is left out of the loop rare were tasked
left out of the loop rare were tasked
left out of the loop rare were tasked with producing the Nintendo 64
with producing the Nintendo 64
with producing the Nintendo 64 third-person shooter jet force Gemini
third-person shooter jet force Gemini
third-person shooter jet force Gemini about an elite squad battling an insect
about an elite squad battling an insect
about an elite squad battling an insect Army while widely praised for its high
Army while widely praised for its high
Army while widely praised for its high production quality and good level pacing
production quality and good level pacing
production quality and good level pacing the game’s control scheme was less than
the game’s control scheme was less than
the game’s control scheme was less than beloved
weapons fired in a continuous and
weapons fired in a continuous and awkward stream which could be rectified
awkward stream which could be rectified
awkward stream which could be rectified by using a semi first-person mode except
by using a semi first-person mode except
by using a semi first-person mode except the controls for moving then suddenly
the controls for moving then suddenly
the controls for moving then suddenly switch to the n64 see buttons it’s at
switch to the n64 see buttons it’s at
switch to the n64 see buttons it’s at once abrupt and uncomfortable but
once abrupt and uncomfortable but
once abrupt and uncomfortable but thankfully with the recently released
thankfully with the recently released
thankfully with the recently released rare replay bundle the game has been
rare replay bundle the game has been
rare replay bundle the game has been patched to allow for dual analog aiming
number 6 dark souls prepare to die
number 6 dark souls prepare to die edition there’s a fair challenge and
edition there’s a fair challenge and
edition there’s a fair challenge and then there’s sincere issues impeding
then there’s sincere issues impeding
then there’s sincere issues impeding player ability you would have done
player ability you would have done
player ability you would have done better to rob to the undead asylum for
better to rob to the undead asylum for
better to rob to the undead asylum for dark souls prepare to die edition a PC
dark souls prepare to die edition a PC
dark souls prepare to die edition a PC port of a 2011 console RPG the latter is
port of a 2011 console RPG the latter is
port of a 2011 console RPG the latter is the case the core game’s brooding
the case the core game’s brooding
the case the core game’s brooding atmosphere piecemeal narrative and
atmosphere piecemeal narrative and
atmosphere piecemeal narrative and consequence Laden role-playing mechanics
consequence Laden role-playing mechanics
consequence Laden role-playing mechanics were embraced by many but a combination
were embraced by many but a combination
were embraced by many but a combination of bizarre default controls a lack of
of bizarre default controls a lack of
of bizarre default controls a lack of on-screen prompts for mouse and keyboard
on-screen prompts for mouse and keyboard
on-screen prompts for mouse and keyboard commands and an inaccurate camera way
commands and an inaccurate camera way
commands and an inaccurate camera way down the experience given the game’s
down the experience given the game’s
down the experience given the game’s fixation on precision and patience all
fixation on precision and patience all
fixation on precision and patience all these issues seem counterintuitive
number 5 Grand Theft Auto 4 maybe I sure
number 5 Grand Theft Auto 4 maybe I sure driving should be enjoyable not a chore
driving should be enjoyable not a chore
driving should be enjoyable not a chore Grand Theft Auto 4 puts players in the
Grand Theft Auto 4 puts players in the
Grand Theft Auto 4 puts players in the role of Niko Bellic
role of Niko Bellic
role of Niko Bellic an immigrant who enters the criminal
an immigrant who enters the criminal
an immigrant who enters the criminal underworld of Liberty City seeking
underworld of Liberty City seeking
underworld of Liberty City seeking vengeance as a whole the games sobering
vengeance as a whole the games sobering
vengeance as a whole the games sobering yet endearing take on crime life mixed
yet endearing take on crime life mixed
yet endearing take on crime life mixed with the scope of game mechanics makes
with the scope of game mechanics makes
with the scope of game mechanics makes for a thoroughly engaging experience
for a thoroughly engaging experience
for a thoroughly engaging experience except when behind the wheel when driven
except when behind the wheel when driven
except when behind the wheel when driven by players cars are slippery to handle
by players cars are slippery to handle
by players cars are slippery to handle and far too easy to crash owning perhaps
and far too easy to crash owning perhaps
and far too easy to crash owning perhaps to a looseness of controls whatever the
to a looseness of controls whatever the
to a looseness of controls whatever the reason for this design choice were not
reason for this design choice were not
reason for this design choice were not quite fans number 4 Mass Effect speaking
quite fans number 4 Mass Effect speaking
quite fans number 4 Mass Effect speaking of piloting less than intuitive vehicles
of piloting less than intuitive vehicles
of piloting less than intuitive vehicles there’s one key weak point in Bioware’s
there’s one key weak point in Bioware’s
there’s one key weak point in Bioware’s acclaimed 2007 action role-playing game
over the course of Mass Effect players
over the course of Mass Effect players are given occasional command of the m35
are given occasional command of the m35
are given occasional command of the m35 Mako infantry fighting vehicle a large
Mako infantry fighting vehicle a large
Mako infantry fighting vehicle a large tank like transport to drive through
tank like transport to drive through
tank like transport to drive through environments
at its best the Mako comes with a
at its best the Mako comes with a noticeable learning curve yet for many
noticeable learning curve yet for many
noticeable learning curve yet for many players
players
players it lacks smooth maneuvering and could be
it lacks smooth maneuvering and could be
it lacks smooth maneuvering and could be easily flipped or stuck in locations if
easily flipped or stuck in locations if
easily flipped or stuck in locations if you want a good example out of the Mako
you want a good example out of the Mako
you want a good example out of the Mako try using the game’s cover mechanic
try using the game’s cover mechanic
try using the game’s cover mechanic after playing the two sequels and you’ll
after playing the two sequels and you’ll
after playing the two sequels and you’ll see how flimsy it is number three
see how flimsy it is number three
see how flimsy it is number three Scribblenauts
this sleeper hit DS game fulfilled great
this sleeper hit DS game fulfilled great promises though at a cost Scribblenauts
promises though at a cost Scribblenauts
promises though at a cost Scribblenauts the third Nintendo DS game by developer
the third Nintendo DS game by developer
the third Nintendo DS game by developer v sell offers players the opportunity to
v sell offers players the opportunity to
v sell offers players the opportunity to summon any object out of a database of
summon any object out of a database of
summon any object out of a database of thousands coupled with the game’s
thousands coupled with the game’s
thousands coupled with the game’s non-linear puzzles it proved to be a
non-linear puzzles it proved to be a
non-linear puzzles it proved to be a popular mechanic there was just one
popular mechanic there was just one
popular mechanic there was just one issue everything is controlled to be a
issue everything is controlled to be a
issue everything is controlled to be a touchscreen from character movement to
touchscreen from character movement to
touchscreen from character movement to typing in object names
while not a problem in theory the
while not a problem in theory the occasional imprecision of the
occasional imprecision of the
occasional imprecision of the touchscreen interface and
touchscreen interface and
touchscreen interface and less-than-ideal pathfinding can
less-than-ideal pathfinding can
less-than-ideal pathfinding can interfere with the players efforts and
interfere with the players efforts and
interfere with the players efforts and muddle their commands number 2 resident
muddle their commands number 2 resident
muddle their commands number 2 resident evil terrifying though it may be the
evil terrifying though it may be the
evil terrifying though it may be the 1996 survival horror gem had some issues
1996 survival horror gem had some issues
1996 survival horror gem had some issues what is it
what is it
what is it maybe it’s Chris Resident Evil combined
maybe it’s Chris Resident Evil combined
maybe it’s Chris Resident Evil combined pre-rendered backgrounds with 3d
pre-rendered backgrounds with 3d
pre-rendered backgrounds with 3d characters running around along with
characters running around along with
characters running around along with some b-movie style horror elements and
some b-movie style horror elements and
some b-movie style horror elements and carefully controlled player limitations
unfortunately this comes at the cost of
unfortunately this comes at the cost of free movement characters turned slowly
free movement characters turned slowly
free movement characters turned slowly can only move in a limited number of
can only move in a limited number of
can only move in a limited number of directions and are restricted by fixed
directions and are restricted by fixed
directions and are restricted by fixed camera angles
this tank like control scheme while
this tank like control scheme while arguably effective at building tension
arguably effective at building tension
arguably effective at building tension is also strenuous and unnecessary to the
is also strenuous and unnecessary to the
is also strenuous and unnecessary to the players experience the remake has the
players experience the remake has the
players experience the remake has the option to remove the traditional 3d
option to remove the traditional 3d
option to remove the traditional 3d movement but with the shifting camera
movement but with the shifting camera
movement but with the shifting camera angles it’s easy to get disorientated
before we reveal our top pick here are a
before we reveal our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
working with number one
working with number one Kid Icarus Uprising I know isn’t it
Kid Icarus Uprising I know isn’t it
Kid Icarus Uprising I know isn’t it wonderful
wonderful
wonderful while Pitts returned to the gaming world
while Pitts returned to the gaming world
while Pitts returned to the gaming world was loved for its great use of 3d
was loved for its great use of 3d
was loved for its great use of 3d effects tongue-in-cheek humor and
effects tongue-in-cheek humor and
effects tongue-in-cheek humor and energetic action the controls have a
energetic action the controls have a
energetic action the controls have a massive list of problems whoa you are
massive list of problems whoa you are
massive list of problems whoa you are kidding movement and shooting is
kidding movement and shooting is
kidding movement and shooting is controlled with the Nintendo 3ds Circle
controlled with the Nintendo 3ds Circle
controlled with the Nintendo 3ds Circle Pad and L button while aiming is
Pad and L button while aiming is
Pad and L button while aiming is controlled with a touchscreen
controlled with a touchscreen
controlled with a touchscreen simultaneously the discomfort caused by
simultaneously the discomfort caused by
simultaneously the discomfort caused by holding the system with one hand makes
holding the system with one hand makes
holding the system with one hand makes it difficult to enjoy the otherwise
it difficult to enjoy the otherwise
it difficult to enjoy the otherwise remarkable game listen yes be careful
remarkable game listen yes be careful
remarkable game listen yes be careful not to fall a stand was bundled with the
not to fall a stand was bundled with the
not to fall a stand was bundled with the game to reduce hand cramps except using
game to reduce hand cramps except using
game to reduce hand cramps except using that has a player more than likely to
that has a player more than likely to
that has a player more than likely to sit in the hunched position causing back
sit in the hunched position causing back
sit in the hunched position causing back aches and that’s just the default
aches and that’s just the default
aches and that’s just the default controls the alternative options are
controls the alternative options are
controls the alternative options are even worse but my hands cramped just
even worse but my hands cramped just
even worse but my hands cramped just thinking about them and I think that you
thinking about them and I think that you
thinking about them and I think that you are going to love this game or hate it
are going to love this game or hate it
are going to love this game or hate it all based on the controls which isn’t
all based on the controls which isn’t
all based on the controls which isn’t where you want to turn people away from
where you want to turn people away from
where you want to turn people away from your game you want to make it as
your game you want to make it as
your game you want to make it as inviting as possible do you agree with
inviting as possible do you agree with
inviting as possible do you agree with our list you’re not the only one
our list you’re not the only one
our list you’re not the only one interested in those things
interested in those things
interested in those things what great games controls really hurt
what great games controls really hurt
what great games controls really hurt your experience for more impressive top
your experience for more impressive top
your experience for more impressive top 10s published daily be sure to subscribe
10s published daily be sure to subscribe
10s published daily be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
”
Be First to Comment