Summary
Most video games strive to be as accessible as possible, which is certainly a novel course of action to take. However, this leads to the vast majority of titles adopting the same control schemes and gameplay loops, which can become rather tiresome after a point for players who want to check out something new. Thankfully, some games got this memo andtried to innovate in some form or another, and titles that try to implement original controls instead of sticking to what works should be praised for the same.
After all, there are only so many times that players can press certain buttons to perform the same actions over and over again before they need something different to stimulate them. Switching up the way a controller’s input works can go a long way in keeping players engaged from the get-go as they strive to master these unique controls and become experts in a game that can be tricky in the early going.
One ofthe quirkiest games gamers can check out,Katamari Damacylets players take on the role of a prince who must undo his father’s harm and form planets to populate the cosmos once again. He achieves this by rolling a ball around that causes anything and everything to stick to it. This may sound silly, but players will slowly but surely get into the idea of avoiding larger objects and trying to increase their size as much as possible until the entire level is theirs to mess around with.
To roll this celestial sticky ball around, players use both analog sticks. This lends a ton of weight to the player’s movement, making them feel like they’re pushing themselves to roll around this massive object and accomplish a level’s goals. It also helps them make precise movements if they need to avoid certain hazards and large objects as they try to roll over everything in sight, eventually bringing them one step closer to forming another star or planet.
Dark Soulsis one of the greatest video games ever made, paving the way for future games to try and emulate its success in some form or another. This applies to combat, too, with numerous video games opting to use shoulder and trigger buttons to let players attack, to the point where this has become commonplace in gaming. So, most gamers would be surprised to learn that this was far from the industry standard back whenDemon’s Soulsandits sequel implemented this control scheme.
It’s funny in hindsight to see gamers complain about this control scheme when it allowed for players to dodge and heal on the fly while preparing their attacks. It may not seem all that unique, butDark Souls' massive success turned this unorthodox way of attacking into the norm that more and more players have become used to. It’s just one of the many ways thatFromSoftware’s magnum opus shaped the gaming landscapefor years to come.
3QWOP
A Hilarious Game Where Players Use A Designated Key For Every Limb To Move The Character
Bennet Foddy is a developer notorious for turning the simple act of moving around into one of the most ludicrously challenging parts of any video game, and shades of the same can be seen inQWOP. This absurd video gamebecame a viral phenomenonback when it launched, with players being tasked with controlling one of the unwieldiest track runners of all time to cross the 100m finish line by individually controlling his thighs and calves.
This makes for a hilarious yet frustrating time as players continue to fall over numerous times before finally making progress. Even then, players need to learn how to skillfully manipulate this runner’s muscles so that they can cross the finish line. Despite the game being as goofy as they come, the sense of achievement when players attain this seemingly impossible goal is something that very few games can match, showing why Bennet Foddy has become a reputed video game developer courtesy of this viral hit.
The Nintendo DS was a unique portable console where many games utilized the dual screen to make for unique gaming opportunities. It can be argued thatThe World Ends with Youwas the best use of this gimmickon the handheld, with players understanding what made this title so special in the eyes of many when they initiated combat. This action RPG allowed for simultaneous combat scenarios where players controlled one character with the D-pad and buttons and the other with touch controls.
As one would expect, combat was frenetic and chaotic yet felt great once players got the hang of things. It was an excellent way to use the Nintendo DS, and it’s a shame that re-releases of this game had to sacrifice this mechanic to work on a single screen. If players happen to own a DS, then playingThe World Ends with Youis downright mandatory to see how creative developers could get with the handheld’s hardware.
While the remake ofBrothers: A Tale of Two Sonsallows for co-op play, anyone who wants to experience the unique gameplay of this title that made it such an underrated hit in the first place should play this game in the single-player mode. It may seem absurd, but using the analog sticks and shoulder buttons on each side of the gamepad to control both brothers made for a satisfying and unique gameplay loop.
It helps that the simple yet fun gameplay ofBrothers: A Tale of Two Sonsis held up bya surprisingly emotional narrativethat manages to make players shed tears despite the game featuring no intelligible dialog. It’s an impressive achievement that proves why this game helped Josef Fares become a reputed name in the industry.
