Bit Blot Forum
Aquaria => General => Topic started by: Perfectblue on January 17, 2009, 07:12:28 am
-
Hello everyone I am loving this game so far; however, the controls are very awkward for me at best especially in combat scenarios where I am having to change naja's forms and dodge projectiles. Additionally I find the quick swim burst frustrating as well, as the majority of the time naja will undesirably cling to a nearby wall. Ive tried just using the mouse, and the mouse + keyboard. Are there any mods or tips you guys might have to make controlling naja a little more fluid and intuitive?
-
Are you pulling my leg? ??? :) Sorry to disagree, but Aquaria's controls are the most fluid and intuitive of all the two-dimensional games I've played. For changing forms and casting spells you can use the number keys - as for clinging to a wall and not being able to dodge enemy particles: that's a matter of skill or equipment quality, not a problem with the game. The shield spell is also incredibly effective at reflecting enemy projectiles. I hope my post will help you reap more enjoyment from the game. :) Welcome to the forums, blue.
[EDIT]: Mouse only controls work well, but you might want to use the space bar for boost and the number keys for spells.
[EDIT]: Like Silverflagon says, this post is the product of mock outrage. :)
-
I use mouse and WASD and I personally found the controls to be perfectly intuitive. Changing forms can be done with the numbers 1-8 for ease, and you can still move while doing this. Also, Naija's wall clinging can be really useful for moving faster, because she kicks off of and attaches to walls I think faster than her swimming speed burst..... you can basically hop along walls at rapid speeds. It's a favorite passtime of mine :)
-
If you're using mouse only, I could see that being a problem.. but other than that it should be fine. Only problem I had was needing a third hand to get a good grip on the targetting control-stick when using a 360 controller.
-
I played almost the whole thing using a USB game controller (a Saitek P2500, for the inquisitive). I just left auto-targeting on, and swimming/aiming etc was no problem. Being able to use an analog stick for moving about seemed infinitely easier than using the mouse or keyboard, evevn if I did have a bit of a time with button-function overlap. Also, since you're using your thumbs instead of clicking, you can pretty much kick the crap out of anything and everything with energy form shots, even unenhanced. The whole game seemed quite easy, although still immensely enjoyable.
-
I lovbe the controls, you just need to get used to using the shortcut keys Perfectblue. The wall clinging can be used for so many things and if clinging was made any harder then climbing would be almost impossible :o So when she clings next time you dan't want her to just click on her and she will let go and swim normally :D
And don't worry Chibi is just pulling your leg, he isn't really upset at your post lol
-
Eheheh.. Unlike most people it seems I used only the mouse for almost the whole time playing and didn't have problems... But maybe I'm more dextrous at singing than some (since I also didn't find the simon says boss to be that hard) or something like that.
I hope you find a control scheme that works for you! WASD and the mouse seems like a good option for when you need to be swimming and shooting at the same time. Its kinda like a 2D shooter game if you play it like that. ;D
-
I mostly use the shortcuts when things get hectic, but for grabing a rock or plant leaves etc. I prefer to have her singing the notes.
Thinking about shortcuts, there isn't one for calling Li is there, or have I missed that one?
-
Yeah - AFAIK, there is no such shortcut. One of these days, I'm going to try playing the entire game without using shortcuts (if I can muster up the willpower). :)
-
Perhaps Alec might tell us that there is one but so far I haven't found it? Unless you can call the Dual form shortcut, the shortcut key for calling Li?
-
The spirit form also calls Li to you, when you turn back to normal form.
-
Really? I think Aquaria controls beautifully. Also keep in mind you can revert to Naija's normal form by hitting X
-
There's enough different control types to please everyone I feel.
Personally I use a gamepad (similar layout to a PS2 pad, but 6 buttons instead of 4 and 2 shoulder buttons) and map the unused buttons and d-pad to shortcuts. Makes for a very nice control scheme.
But there's always the mouse for extra control (sometimes needed when singing).
-
I used a gamepad and found it very easy to control. Though I did need to use third party software to map the form hotkeys to buttons on the gamepad. For the beginning portion of the game I didn't use hotkeys and it was more challenging, since I had to stop swimming to sing. Which can be dangerous depending on the situation.
-
Yeah - AFAIK, there is no such shortcut. One of these days, I'm going to try playing the entire game without using shortcuts (if I can muster up the willpower). :)
I actually played the entire game without using shortcuts, and ONLY the mouse =)
It just felt like such a waste using the shortcuts when the system for the mouse was so brilliant.
-
Perhaps perfectblue needs a new mouse, only using an old one can make things quite difficult?
-
That would make things a little difficult - especially if he's using a ball mouse or a mouse with less than 800 dpi.
-
That would make things a little difficult - especially if he's using a ball mouse or a mouse with less than 800 dpi.
I wore out one mouse, or the silicon pads under it and I found that playing Aquaria with it was getting to be very difficult, I now have a laser mouse that doesn't need a ball so no more needing to clean it ;D I did say laser but really I have no idea what it is and again I should be in bed not talking a load of rubish in here :o
-
Are you unwell? :-\ :)
I've never been able to tell the difference between optical and laser mice - apparently, laser mice work on more surfaces and don't depend on the surface's color.
-
I'm not 100% sure of the technological differences themselves (I think it's just a standard LED compared to a laser diode) , but laser mice usually have a much larger DPI, which means better accuracy.
Also, in my experience, laser mice don't get any of the whizz-off-to-the-corners or "crawling" that optical mice almost always have.
Tbf, my experience with optical is limited, since I moved straight from ball -> good quality laser, but every optical mouse I've used on someone else's machine has always had the whizz-off or crawl effects, regardless of the price of the mouse or the surface used (yes, even single-colour high quality mouse pads).
-
Well I'm not sue what this mouse is but I use it on a graphed cutting mat and I have no problems with crawl or shooting of the side?
Ok it says 'wheel mouse optical' underneath and it's a Microsoft one. In fact this exact mouse and looking at this leaves me none the wiser?
http://www.sharplogic.in/products.aspx?pcode=SL00085 (http://www.sharplogic.in/products.aspx?pcode=SL00085)
Chibi I have just been spending too long on my computer and very little time in bed, ie not enough sleep leaves a person unable to string things together properly ::)
-
Alright is it, do same the I. ;D I've lost count of the number of times I've seen that mouse - it seems almost ubiquitous in computer labs.
-
Alright is it, do same the I. ;D I've lost count of the number of times I've seen that mouse - it seems almost ubiquitous in computer labs.
Well that hardly surprises me because that is the kind of place my son works and he bought this one for me :D I don't buy any hardware and most software without asking his advice first.
I do sometimes go to certain computer forums to find free software for my computer without asking him though, such as Aquaria and a handy one that stops flash adverts loading unless I allow them :D I get a little button where the ad or game should be instead and just click it if I want it to load it's stopped FF crashing so often..... >:(
-
Well I'm not sue what this mouse is but I use it on a graphed cutting mat and I have no problems with crawl or shooting of the side?
Ok it says 'wheel mouse optical' underneath and it's a Microsoft one. In fact this exact mouse and looking at this leaves me none the wiser?
http://www.sharplogic.in/products.aspx?pcode=SL00085 (http://www.sharplogic.in/products.aspx?pcode=SL00085)
It's just a plain optical one.
I should point out I'm not saying that everyone has the horrid effects that I get from plain optical mice, just that in my experience I always find they occur.
I used a model very similar to that one at uni computer labs with plain blue mouse mats and often had the crawl/shoot off side effects for example.
Must just be the way I use mice. :P
-
Alright is it, do same the I. ;D I've lost count of the number of times I've seen that mouse - it seems almost ubiquitous in computer labs.
Thats cos it's a great little mouse. Cheap and works really well. I have one I bought second hand from Value Village, it works great despite huge amount of use. It's also one of the few mice that I've never had compatibility problems with. OH, and it has a clicky wheel; everyone loves clicky wheels.
-
Well I'm not sue what this mouse is but I use it on a graphed cutting mat and I have no problems with crawl or shooting of the side?
Ok it says 'wheel mouse optical' underneath and it's a Microsoft one. In fact this exact mouse and looking at this leaves me none the wiser?
http://www.sharplogic.in/products.aspx?pcode=SL00085 (http://www.sharplogic.in/products.aspx?pcode=SL00085)
It's just a plain optical one.
I should point out I'm not saying that everyone has the horrid effects that I get from plain optical mice, just that in my experience I always find they occur.
I used a model very similar to that one at uni computer labs with plain blue mouse mats and often had the crawl/shoot off side effects for example.
Must just be the way I use mice. :P
Or I don't have the crawl effect because of the graphed out cutting mat mincus, I must admit that it doesn't work so well if it comes of the mat onto a plain surface.
-
Alright is it, do same the I. ;D I've lost count of the number of times I've seen that mouse - it seems almost ubiquitous in computer labs.
Thats cos it's a great little mouse. Cheap and works really well. I have one I bought second hand from Value Village, it works great despite huge amount of use. It's also one of the few mice that I've never had compatibility problems with. OH, and it has a clicky wheel; everyone loves clicky wheels.
I'm not sure about the clicky wheel, because if I whizz it too hard I click it by accident and that opend up another tab in FF and I must be one of the few people who doesn't like tabs? lol
-
I'm not sure about the clicky wheel, because if I whizz it too hard I click it by accident and that opend up another tab in FF and I must be one of the few people who doesn't like tabs? lol
You're insane!!! Tabs are the life force of good, organized, sensible browsing. I would die without tabs.
-
I would die without tabs.
Same here - whenever I used the computer labs in my old school, I would hit ctrl-t and wait expectantly - finally remembering and installing Firefox. :) To each his/her own. ;)
-
I remember browsing without them... sometimes these times hunt me in Nightmares!
Oh, and Silver, try the Addon "Colourful Tabs", makes it soo much better. This way you have to like it! ;D
-
I guess that I am just old fashioned but tabs really irritate me for some reason though I can understand why you would like them, just consider it one of my foibles ::)
-
Sorry to get back on topic, but I had no idea Aquaria could be played with the mouse and keyboard :o (So far I only used R to Roll and get rid of the "leeches"...) This opens up a whole new world of gameplay for me. Maybe I'll even stop dying every couple minutes and finally progress in the game !? :D
-
Some areas are incredibly difficult without the keyboard (namely form shortcuts, X to revert, and, less importantly, WASD for accurate positioning). Also, it is impossible to platform jump up to some areas without quick changing between beast and nature form.
-
Uhm, it honestly doesn't matter with what form you platform jump, beast does not jump higher on surface than any other form. It does jump higher out of the water.
And I personally switch between mouse and mouse and keyboard and only keyboard quite some time, most of the time because I'm lazy, or other times when I want to aim while swimming towards another direction, which is only possible with WASD. And of course, all the hotkeys for form changing. I still don't understand how I got through 3/4th of the game with singing.
-
There are sections you can only reach by jumping out of the water with beast form, switching to nature form, then shooting at the peak. Uhm, yes. :)
-
Sorry to get back on topic, but I had no idea Aquaria could be played with the mouse and keyboard :o (So far I only used R to Roll and get rid of the "leeches"...) This opens up a whole new world of gameplay for me. Maybe I'll even stop dying every couple minutes and finally progress in the game !? :D
You have every right to steer us back on course Bloup, I hope that you will really enjoy the game now you know more about the controls :D
-
I think the WASD is a pain in the ass, but only because it's making Ninja Form teleport a little more complex to implement and I've never needed it playing the game.
-
I always had problems with the controls. I got pretty frustrated when I went back to play the game and I wanted to catalog all the save points and do a speed run while getting no items. That was a bad idea because it was too difficult for me and I was never that good to begin with.
I should try those alternative controls people have mentioned (especially the gamepad), because I think I used the mouse only. Boosting was really difficult. Sometimes it won't go off for a while and other times I can do it repeatedly.