Which do you prefer? Why?
I’ll be honest, I prefer dpads, they are more compact, more tactile and more precise. If I could I’d not use an analog stick in smash bros and just use dpad.
It’s all about timing, just like face buttons. Platforming or fighting games, you gotta have that instant response. Aiming or acceleration needs the precision of analog. So, “depends on the game” is my hot take…
Depends on the game
A good example is the Ori games compared to Hollow Knight. Ori moves at a different speed depending how much you push the thumb stick so it feels more precise to use them. In Hollow Knight you move the same speed with the thumb stick no matter how little it is pressed so the d-pad feels better.
Usually analog sticks, but it depends on the game. Something like shovel knight is better with the dpad.
I just happen to play more games that are better with analog sticks.
Dpad for games that were intended for dpad, analog if the game was intended for analog.
Analog for dpad games feels awkward in my experience, and dpad for analog games is not even an option.
As with most, depends on the game. 2D I generally prefer D-pad, even if the game has 8 directions. For 3D, there’s really no choice.
My cursed option: I like playing fighting games with the d-pad.
Also a stray opinion: I hate games that mix the two on moment to moment gameplay. Using D-pad for pause menus while moving with the Analog, fine. Using d-pad to use items during live gameplay, like in soulslikes? Terrible.
I would have thought Dpad was the obvious choice for fighting games due to combo button combinations. Is it more common for players to use the joystick?
A fightstick is the ideal for anyone wanting to invest in the genre, as it provides both precise control and a wide array of movements that neither d-pad or analog can reach.
It was a joke-y cursed option because d-pad are not only wildly uncomfortable but also quite inefficient when it comes to the high speed sequences
Analog stick. Most of the time I end up finding that the dpad on my 360 controller doesn’t feel as good to me compared to as an analog stick. That, and the majority of games I used to play growing up used analog stick for movement, so it’s engrained in me.
Part of the issue there is actually the 360 controller, from my experience. It has one of the worst D-pads ever made. That said, platformers and fighting games are typically the only ones I use a D-pad on anyway, so if you don’t play those you’d likely never use it.
Usually the analog stick. I’m just more used to it so it feels more natural most of the time. But some games do play better with a dpad, so there are exceptions.
I prefer Dpad for platforming and top down as being able to move precisely diagonal is more important than speed control, plus the analogue stick wears out quicker and dpad allows switching directions faster. Analogue for driving and therpy gamess
