Games that are great with a gamepad?

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mazeroth

Golden Member
Jan 31, 2006
1,821
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I'm strictly a KB+M PC gamer but recently finished up a theater room in my basement with a 1080p Epson 8350 projector and a 100" screen. I've been playing some console games down there and really like it. I've tried a few PC games with a KB+M (Serious Sam, Just Cause 2, GTA SA etc.) and while the big screen is nice I just prefer to play these games on my computer at a desk. I decided to buy the Prince of Persia 5 pack during Steam's sale a few days ago, remembering how much I loved Sands of Time, and am playing it with my 360 wireless controller with wireless adapter which is great.

So, what other games play very well with a controller that are PC only? If you want to mention some console games that have PC ports that rock that will work as well. I do have a 360 and Wii but would much rather play them on my PC as it's 10x faster (3570k, 6850) and on a 100" screen you really need 1080p with settings up there.

Thanks.
 
JujuFish

JujuFish

Lifer
Feb 3, 2005
11,448
1,055
136
This question comes up a lot.

I love playing third person action(-adventure) games with a controller, like the Prince of Persia series, Assassin's Creed series, and the Batman Arkham series.
 
HeXen

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,838
39
91
most any games that work with gamepad i play with one. Farcry 3 for example, playing hardcore mode and no trouble, get used to a gamepad long enough you can play just as well, some need some sensitivity adjustment. I used to top the charts in UT quite often using a gamepad
 
Barfo

Barfo

Lifer
Jan 4, 2005
27,539
212
106
I like Arcade Racers a lot, pretty much all of them are better with a gamepad than KB.
Latest I've been playing is Driver San Francisco, crappy console port (requieres a quad core) but fun game.
 
Attic

Attic

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2010
4,282
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Batman

Dishonered

Skyrim

Dark Souls

Half Life Episode 2+3

Darksiders 1+2


These are the games i've enjoyed playing from the comfort of a sofa with a gamepad playing on a screen ~10ft away for LONG periods of gameplay.

With your setup you need a game that you can dive into for 8hours at a a time IMO. For those sessions ya gotta be comfortable and the game has to get better as time goes on and ya get deeper.
 
M

mazeroth

Golden Member
Jan 31, 2006
1,821
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I really appreciate all the input. I did do a search for "controller" in titles and found a few similar threads so that is a big help as well.

I see Tomb Raider is a flash deal going on right now on Steam. I'm interested in two of the games in their pack (Anniversary and Legend) and both are showing as Partial Controller Support and not Full Controller Support. Does this mean I will be forced to use my keyboard+mouse for some things and that my 360 controller won't cut it?
 
Nvidiaguy07

Nvidiaguy07

Platinum Member
Feb 22, 2008
2,846
4
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ive recently played deus ex hr, and the new xcom with a 360 controller and theyre both awesome. also borderlands, and batman. The first play through of portal/portal 2 i played with kb+m, I'm now playing some new content with a 360 controller and its just as good, but more comfortable.

nice to see the controller is being accepted more and more. I remember a time when i would be flamed on here and anywhere else for suggesting this.
 
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KaOTiK

KaOTiK

Lifer
Feb 5, 2001
10,877
8
81
On Steam now there is a link for controller enabled games that will work for Big Picture Mode that should be a good place to get an idea (the link is right above the daily deals and below the Steam Holiday sale banner)
 
cmdrdredd

cmdrdredd

Lifer
Dec 12, 2001
27,052
357
126
A lot of the newer FPS games support gamepads if that's your thing. Far Cry 3 and other titles in the single player campaign/story would work well with it I think. Depends on the type of game. Far Cry is a little bit slower paced than CoD or something similar so twitch movements aren't as necessary.

Also Assassin's Creed (at least part 3) is great with a controller.
 
Sulaco

Sulaco

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
3,825
46
91
The Arkham games.

I'm as stuck up a KB+M guy as there is, but the Arkham games definitely feel better with a gamepad, IMHO.
 
Nvidiaguy07

Nvidiaguy07

Platinum Member
Feb 22, 2008
2,846
4
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notable games that don't but should: The whole mass effect series, and modern warfare games. So dumb that they don't since im sure it would be so easy to implement, since the games are designed for console in the first place. I can understand not having support when the game is PC only, but youve already got the whole thing done, just put it on PC for christ sake.

And theres nothing that pisses me off than people who say kb+m>gamepad. No one is questioning that when playing fast twitch shooters its better, but its about enjoying the game. I could care less if im the best or not when im playing a single player game to enjoy the experience. To those people, if your still around, suck a fat one.

I should mention that when i played deus ex, i played with both, and found both fine and enjoyable. the only difference was i could sit there on my couch in my living room and play with a controller, whereas i couldn't do that with a keyboard. So for me 90% of the time, controller wins.

As much as i want to give mass effect a shot, playing a game that long on a keyboard and mouse seems grueling. Its a story driven game, so i dont see the fuss of needing kb+m.

As to whoever mentioned torchlight with a gamepad, is that even possible?
 
crisium

crisium

Platinum Member
Aug 19, 2001
2,643
615
136
Mass Effect is definitely better with a kb/mouse, and not because of shooting. Landing off a 3 character ability combo by pressing 4-1-5 (just an example) is much quicker than can be done on gamepad wherein you either have to accept a delay and possibly be too late to have it be effective, or you have to pause the game to select the powers quick enough and that just wastes time and isn't as smooth feeling. I'm not arguing that it shouldn't support gamepad, because it should and shame on EA for not making it do so, but don't let the lack of it turn you off from the series. Having played some of the series on both, I can tell you k/b + mouse is better for Mass Effect.
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams hasn't yet been mentioned. It's a platformer, and is also on consoles, so no big surprise; but it's plug in and go w/ a XB360 controller, and configuring any other is quick and easy.
 
Nvidiaguy07

Nvidiaguy07

Platinum Member
Feb 22, 2008
2,846
4
81
crisium said:
Mass Effect is definitely better with a kb/mouse, and not because of shooting. Landing off a 3 character ability combo by pressing 4-1-5 (just an example) is much quicker than can be done on gamepad wherein you either have to accept a delay and possibly be too late to have it be effective, or you have to pause the game to select the powers quick enough and that just wastes time and isn't as smooth feeling. I'm not arguing that it shouldn't support gamepad, because it should and shame on EA for not making it do so, but don't let the lack of it turn you off from the series. Having played some of the series on both, I can tell you k/b + mouse is better for Mass Effect.
Click to expand...

Someday I might give it a shot, but I know from past experiences, most games that are long and are only k+m i usually give up on. There are times when i just dont feel like sitting at my desk, and id rather sit on the couch, or in bed, or at least lean back and play, and its just not possible without a gamepad. Im guessing the games are about 30 hours each at least, which is a long time to have my hands in that position. When i play BF3 or something like that, i can only play so long without having to take a break.

I think if implemented correctly, a gamepad can easily be just as good for single player games. Deus ex is a great example. I actually felt better with the gamepad than with k+m.

Any chance they will add controller support someday? I've tried pinnacle and xpadder in the past, but it never works the same as built in controller support. The aiming is always off, and the buttons are never right.
 
G

gladiatorua

Member
Nov 21, 2011
145
0
0
Console ports usually work with controllers, 3rd person action... games, most of the Valve catalog.
Assassin's Creed series should work really good with gamepad. Or driving games.
Don't touch FPS with controller. Just don't. If you really want to, try appropriating some surface for mouse and keyboard or gaming keypad.
 
cmdrdredd

cmdrdredd

Lifer
Dec 12, 2001
27,052
357
126
gladiatorua said:
Console ports usually work with controllers, 3rd person action... games, most of the Valve catalog.
Assassin's Creed series should work really good with gamepad. Or driving games.
Don't touch FPS with controller. Just don't. If you really want to, try appropriating some surface for mouse and keyboard or gaming keypad.
Click to expand...

It depends on the FPS. I do understand from a purest standpoint that a mouse is more precise for aiming. I get that, but you can have a lot of fun sitting back on the sofa with an Xbox controller in Far Cry 3, Bioshock, or Metro2033.
 
T

tential

Diamond Member
May 13, 2008
7,348
642
121
Attic said:
Batman

Dishonered

Skyrim

Dark Souls

Half Life Episode 2+3

Darksiders 1+2


These are the games i've enjoyed playing from the comfort of a sofa with a gamepad playing on a screen ~10ft away for LONG periods of gameplay.

With your setup you need a game that you can dive into for 8hours at a a time IMO. For those sessions ya gotta be comfortable and the game has to get better as time goes on and ya get deeper.
Click to expand...

These are all the games I've considered/played so I just wanna bump this and let you know that these are the games to look at.

Xcom Enemy Unknown was also very very easy to play on a game pad. I think any developed for consoles and ported to PC is good with a game pad. Other aspects of the game may suffer though because some companies simply don't try too hard to port.

My planned hometheater involves allowing for 1080p gaming but I'm slowly becoming unsure of this due to the quality of the PC games I looked at that I'd be interested in playing.
 
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