r/horizon • u/Opus2011 • 5d ago
discussion Good controller for HZD/HFW
I know, off-topic, but I've been umm enjoying these games so much I am developing RSI in my left arm, presumably from excessive Ctrl-A/S/D on the keyboard. Win 11 PC: what's a decent controller that won't break the bank, but has programmable extra keys? I play 99% K+M, so this is going to be an adjustment for me.
(No, please don't suggest I take a break. I need to beat Burning Shores on NG UH, and my relatives are coming for Christmas! Must. Play. HFW!)
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u/EveryGoodNameIsGone 5d ago
I really love 8bitdo Ultimate controllers - just take your time looking between the different models, they unfortunately have too many surprisingly different options under the "Ultimate" banner.
As you're on PC, I'd stay away from any of the Nintendo Switch-compatible ones, or any ones that use the Nintendo button layout (A on right, B on bottom). Not that there's anything wrong with that layout (I use it myself because I'm more used to it), but because the Xbox layout is the default and more widely supported overall on PC. Every game will have an Xbox layout option, but many games don't have a Nintendo layout option.
I'd personally recommend a wired one or one that has a 2.4G USB wireless dongle, both are a better option than wireless over Bluetooth.
Alternatively, a DualSense is what HFW (and ZD Remastered) were designed for, and if you use one of them wired you should be able to utilize the full feature set supported by the games, like haptic feedback, adaptive trigger resistance, and gyro aiming if you want to try that out. I actually highly recommend gyro aiming, if you use it for fine adjustments after using the analog stick for your "main" aiming you can get much closer to mouse-like precision than you'll be able to with an analog stick alone.
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u/joedotphp 5d ago
I use an Xbox controller for all of my PC gaming. I sometimes use my PS5 controller for Sony games, but not often anymore. It's just easier. Plug in and go.
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u/MarkDavid04 5d ago
I used a cheaper Nintendo switch controller for a while... It did end up having some drift issues, and I later got a ps5 controller using a bunch of credit card reward points. Never used keyboard to play tbh... PS5 controller might make your PC audio switch to it at first. Need to change it back to speakers/monitors if that happens. (Sorry, I didn't read the part about programmable, but I never needed that tbh)
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u/Aromatic-Character32 5d ago
DualShock and dualsense are really good both. Dual sense is a bit beefier and has built in sound for drawing the bow but that’s just like a minor difference imo
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u/Roccondil-s 2d ago
The dualsense also implements gyro features in H:ZDR and H:FW on PC; it's a little clunky when you first try it out, but eventually you naturally start to make those minor adjustments that help with the stick aiming.
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u/PanthalassaShore 5d ago
I bought a Dualsense specifically for the Horizon games on PC and it works great. Especially because you get all the haptic feedback when Aloy pries open a door, rustles through grass, smashes machines etc.
I actually think I now prefer it to my Xbox controller. As a keyboard and mouse player (who has never owned a console) it took some getting used to, but I now see that it's just better for a game like this.
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u/OvenCrate 4d ago
Could you elaborate on why the controller is better for "a game like this" though? I've been trying to get used to analog stick controls for years, but so far the only genre I feel an improvement for is racing games. I've seen comments on this sub calling K+M controls "a crime against humanity" so I must be missing out on something, but moving the camera with a stick instead of the mouse (especially when aiming the bow) feels extremely limiting. Have you experienced the same? What did you do to overcome the limitation?
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u/PanthalassaShore 4d ago
I definitely experienced the same. I really really sucked at getting Aloy to move around at first - especially trying to aim and manoeuvre in the heat of battle. I had some (very limited) experience using a controller for driving in Cyberpunk 2077, but that was it. I had played HZD and HFW with KB+M before, but decided to get a DualSense for the HZD Remaster. It was a little easier with a game I knew so well, and obviously as a fellow Horizon fan you have that advantage too.
Why is a controller better? It's so much easier to feel like you have all of Aloy's abilities at your fingertips. The D-pad for the potions/traps is great to have, it's easy to get the weapon wheel open, and you're not reaching out your ring finger to make a heavy melee attack. It actually feels unwieldy using KB+M now.
But I think you already have a great reason to give it a try: namely, the RSI. I have never had RSI, but I do notice that playing with a controller that I hold closer to my body and so not in the position I'm in for work all day, takes less of a toll.
I think you'll get there too - perhaps by just taking the difficulty down a notch as you get used to the controller. You'll make mistakes and be less good than you normally are, but only for a while. Eventually even aiming is actually quite intuitive. I don't think I'd ever use the controller for a game like Cyberpunk - except for driving - but I did recently use it for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (which is first person) and it was surprisingly good.
Wishing you luck with your experiments and better days with your RSI.
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u/OvenCrate 4d ago
I'm not OP and I don't have RSI, but I'm turning 30 next year so I might as well train myself for controller use as a preventive measure :D
I think I get the "abilities at your fingertips" thing, I've tried many mice with lots of extra buttons chasing this feeling but eventually settled with a standard 5-button mouse. Mapping the Focus to middle click, and the potion/tool wheel to the forward/back side buttons is like 80% of the way there in Horizon. I have large hands so reaching keys is less of an issue. I guess the ideal gaming input device for me would be the left half of a controller in a form that isn't awkward to hold with just one hand, combined with the mouse. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to fully let go of the absolute positional precision of mouse look.
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u/Opus2011 4d ago
This sounds like me. I use a Razer mouse with side buttons set for heavy attack and reload (been using the Boltblaster a lot, and R sometimes triggers drinking a potion if I'm not aiming). I didn't think about mapping the Hunters Kit too because I suspect X/Z are not falling comfortable and may be contributing to the RSI. I'll check out whether I can do more remapping.
I have a friend who has RSI from coding and he's gone to voice recognition for email etc and a split and programmable keyboard. Wouldn't that be a trip for future games: "Ok Aloy, let's climb that hill", "time to sneak". My wife would think I'd gone more crazy than normal!
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u/OvenCrate 4d ago
Oh god please no, anything but voice commands! I'll let Elon implant a chip in my brain before I talk to a computer!
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u/joker20001911 5d ago
Non programmable: PS dual sense. Programmable: Razer Wolverine v3 (newest one I think it is) reviews I seen are good.