I'm planning on getting around to playing The Witcher 2 pretty soon here after I have finished my exams for this year. And I've just been wondering what the pros and cons are for using either the mouse and keyboard for play or the controller. And which do you guys recommend?
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Game » consists of 16 releases. Released May 17, 2011
The sequel to 2007's critically acclaimed role-playing game, The Witcher. Players again take control of Geralt of Rivia in this story-focused adventure.
Mouse and keyboard or controller?
I would tell you that this PC RPG is better with PC hardware on the PC but I have no reason to say that. The interface is designed for analog sticks.
I played with the M+K just fine, tried the controller but did not like it in Witcher 2:
- Due to the mouse controlling the camera i was able to much more preciecely go after my targets, in fact all my playthrough were without ever using the lock-on feature, as an added bonus because i was not using lock-on I was able to switch targets instantly on the fly completely fluidly to whatever i wanted while still maintain pinpoint precision.
- Going through long inventory menus is always easier with the M+K this is not even debatable, it's pure time and hassle savings.
- Looting everything is easier on the controller as you only push one button, on M+K it's 2 actions.
- Character movement is of course more natural with an analog stick rather then WASD.
I thought it was far better with a controller, especially now that the Enhanced Edition has fixed a few of the issues it had before.
Gameplay is probably better with a controller, but the menu is downright painful with one. Of course, this was before the enhanced edition was released and I've heard that it has been improved.
I tried it with both KB+M and a 360 controller and ended up sticking with KB+M, though I did rebind some combat functions to Mouse4 and Mouse5 for ease-of-access.
@Tennmuerti said:Do tell.Character movement is of course more natural with an analog stick rather then WASD.Utter nonsense.
@zaglis said:
@Tennmuerti said:Character movement is of course more natural with an analog stick rather then WASD.Utter nonsense.
One is analog, the other digital. The analog one is a lot more precise and natural feeling. I couldn't play The Witcher 2 with the equivalent of a d-pad.
I was just playing Witcher 2 moments ago. I've switched to controller after the first hour and it's been fantastic.
What the fucking hell@zaglis said:
@Tennmuerti said:Character movement is of course more natural with an analog stick rather then WASD.Utter nonsense.One is analog, the other digital. The analog one is a lot more precise and natural feeling. I couldn't play The Witcher 2 with the equivalent of a d-pad.
This is the first time I have ever heard someone compare WASD to a d-pad. And I have read a lot of stupid shit.
@zaglis said:
@MikkaQ said:What the fucking hell This is the first time I have ever heard someone compare WASD to a d-pad. And I have read a lot of stupid shit.@zaglis said:
@Tennmuerti said:Character movement is of course more natural with an analog stick rather then WASD.Utter nonsense.One is analog, the other digital. The analog one is a lot more precise and natural feeling. I couldn't play The Witcher 2 with the equivalent of a d-pad.
Well, it is. They both have binary input, either on or off, and have inputs for the 4 cardinal directions. They can both recognize 8 directions though combinations of inputs. They're almost identical except that WASD uses three fingers and a d-pad uses a thumb.
So far the only stupid shit i'm reading in this thread is yours.@MikkaQ said:
What the fucking hell This is the first time I have ever heard someone compare WASD to a d-pad. And I have read a lot of stupid shit.@zaglis said:
@Tennmuerti said:Character movement is of course more natural with an analog stick rather then WASD.Utter nonsense.One is analog, the other digital. The analog one is a lot more precise and natural feeling. I couldn't play The Witcher 2 with the equivalent of a d-pad.
Nor have you even bothered to make a case for your position.
If you are calling other people on their bullshit the onus is on you to state exactly why they are in error and you are correct.
Otherwise it's just a childlish slinging of insults.
@MikkaQ said:
@zaglis said:
@MikkaQ said:What the fucking hell This is the first time I have ever heard someone compare WASD to a d-pad. And I have read a lot of stupid shit.@zaglis said:
@Tennmuerti said:Character movement is of course more natural with an analog stick rather then WASD.Utter nonsense.One is analog, the other digital. The analog one is a lot more precise and natural feeling. I couldn't play The Witcher 2 with the equivalent of a d-pad.
Well, it is. They both have binary input, either on or off, and have inputs for the 4 cardinal directions. They can both recognize 8 directions though combinations of inputs. They're almost identical except that WASD uses three fingers and a d-pad uses a thumb.
That's sort of a simplified way of looking at it. It's not purely 1 stick vs WASD, it's 2 sticks vs WASD and mouse (as they both work in correlation). While a stick is better than WASD a mouse is also better than a stick.
As for the game, I tried it with both back when I played it and I greatly prefered the M/K. You deal with a lot of menus and iirc not only did you have the easier time with a mouse, but I seem to remember the menus also being better streamlined.
@Ares42: Well my point was that when you have a game where aiming with the mouse isn't important (like an RPG, or action-adventure or platformer) than I'd rather take the accuracy of an analog stick, if only so I can alternate between running and walking animations more naturally. If I'm aiming and shooting, then yeah I'd much prefer a mouse.
Although I thought the menus in Witcher 2 handled really nicely with a controller, I didn't feel like I was using an interface intended only for cursors, which is refreshing in a hardcore PC RPG.
I much preferred the controller with Witcher 2, but scrolling through a long inventory list could get tedious. Just try both.
Mouse and Keyboard:
- Better camera control, better targeting
- Easier to access quick menu(Although I think it is fixed in 360 version)
-Better inventory management, general interface access
- Magic and item shortcuts
- Able to lock walk/run, Witcher 2 doesn't have analog walk movement so walking is pretty awkward with the controller.
- Quick save
- Able to pick individual loot
Combat is better with a controller, menus are better with the mouse/keyboard. I don't understand why they lock you out of one control method when you start using the other (did they ever change that?). So, I would say go with the controller if you're having trouble with the combat, and stick with the keyboard and mouse if the menus are driving you nuts.
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