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[BossLackey]

My first love in video games, as I'm sure is the same for many of you, is the humble 2D side-scrolling platformer. In my case, it was the the platformer. Super Mario Bros. (plus Duck Hunt of course).

With it came my first and still favorite video game input device: the simple yet effective "d-pad".

Just look at it.

It's just a simple cross with four directions, but hidden behind it's simplicity is pure input bliss. Your thumb barely has to move yet you can achieve not just four inputs but eight with diagonals! The digital nature combined with the tactilely-distinct shape and the very short travel distance makes for incredibly precise movement in 2D games.

It's perfect.

And yet, more and more, I have been struck with an awful feeling. The feeling of booting up a new 2D game and tapping right on the d-pad only to be met with...nothing.

This game uses the analog stick for traversal, with the d-pad being, at best, relegated to switching items or at worst, assigned to not a single action.

These games remain fantastic and I can't say they are diminished in any appreciable way by the omission of d-pad traversal. And they have good reasons usually, often due to a 360 degree aiming mechanic which can be great and of course require a stick.

But there's nothing like the snappiness and precision of a d-pad and the frequency with which these types of games are abandoning it is up.

I hope we don't some day live in a future where it's forgotten.

Long live the king. Long live the d-pad.

 

[DaleinCalgary]

I like sticks better

 

[BossLackey]

I like sticks better

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

I am 100% with you OP. We are an oppressed class.

The d-pad is amazing. That feeling of making a jump in a platformer, and gently tapping the opposite direction to correct your move and stick the landing just right? It makes me wanna cum. It's fucking good. It took me some while to warm up to it since I didn't really grow up with it, but a good arcade stick is just as, if not more, intoxicating.

There are some 2D games that use the analog stick properly, but those are very, very few. Some of the more modern games that force the analog stick were clearly built by people born after 2000 who have no joy in their life.

 

[kevboard]

it is annoying yeah.
many of them at least actually use the analog stick in some way that wouldn't work on a dpad (like 360° aiming etc.) but those who barely do anything with it and just use it as a Dpad replacement are fucking annoying.

the Link's Awakening remake for example... like, wtf... not a platformer, but still.

I am also not a fan of 360° in a 2D side-view game either. so even if a game uses the stick for that, I'm not really a fan.
8 way digital aiming is superior because it's snappier

 

[MMaRsu]

2d games with a stick is a crime against humanity

 

[ssringo]

I too am a d-pad aficionado for 2d games. However, stick control only really bothers me when they try to make it a simple 1-to-1 replacement. Meaning there's no difference in a slight tilt or full tilt or using double tap to run/sprint (which should be illegal with a stick).

 

[Evolved1]

i've been using an arcade stick to play 2D or retro games, and it's been pretty awesome. thought i'd grown out of these games. while i agree an analog stick is pretty shit, i don't like the feel of dpads anymore.

 

[Sooner]

2d games with a stick is a crime against humanity

I agree for side-scrollers, but not 2D overhead games where you move in full 360 degree directions.

 

[od-chan]

I really don't see a "benefit" in using the D-Pad, like not at all. Except when speedrunning, then a D-Pad becomes an absolute necessity.

I'll just use whatever is more comfortable on the gamepad I have, which most of the time are the sticks.

 

[Crayon]

You are right. Doesn't actually come up that often, but when it does, hope I got the game on steam so I can remap to the dpad.

 

[BossLackey]

i've been using an arcade stick to play 2D or retro games, and it's been pretty awesome. thought i'd grown out of these games. while i agree an analog stick is pretty shit, i don't like the feel of dpads anymore.

So this is a very interesting road. I too love using an arcade stick and actually played the first 4 Castlevanias recently with an aracade stick and it...felt great. I play a lot of fighting games and have multiple sticks. Somewhat recently get a leverless and have been wanting to try it out on 2D games as well, which I think could be great.

That's all to say, if there's any input device that could beat out a d-pad, it's an arcade stick.

 

[Physiognomonics]

Analog sticks are great when the game actually requires analog controls. Otherwise they suck and d-pad is better.

In the same way games that use both analog controls and a run button feel awful.

 

[amigastar]

One problem is the DPad has a weak quality nowadays, at least my Xbox controller i use on PC has a weak one. i just remember the Gamecube controller Dpad, shit was whack.
Just a sidenote but has anyone played Mario 64DS on the DS with Dpad, makes my thumb hurt. On the 3DS the game was so much better with the analog stick even if it was designed for a dpad for the DS.

 

[Fess]

A distinct 8-way arcade joystick or C64 Tac-2 is even better

 

[Holammer]

That's why I use Dualshock/sense controllers. Dpad is great and placed in a good position.
Sticks can work in a 2d game, but only if the movement is variable.

 

[ultrazilla]

I like sticks better

 

[Evolved1]

So this is a very interesting road. I too love using an arcade stick and actually played the first 4 Castlevanias recently with an aracade stick and it...felt great. I play a lot of fighting games and have multiple sticks. Somewhat recently get a leverless and have been wanting to try it out on 2D games as well, which I think could be great.

That's all to say, if there's any input device that could beat out a d-pad, it's an arcade stick.

Yeah for me, the “aha” moment was when I was struggling to enjoy a Vanillaware game, because both the analog and dpad just didn’t feel right. I ordered a PS5 compatible arcade stick (with touchpad, all functions) on a whim and then everything clicked. It doesn’t work for everything, but when it does, I can really enjoy those games now. There’s even an element of nostalgia associated with remembering being a kid, playing TMNT in the arcades and dreaming of having something like that at home someday. Well I recently played through the new TMNT game on a big 4K screen… and I have to say… dream basically realized.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

My first love in video games, as I'm sure is the same for many of you, is the humble 2D side-scrolling platformer. In my case, it was the the platformer. Super Mario Bros. (plus Duck Hunt of course).

With it came my first and still favorite video game input device: the simple yet effective "d-pad".

Just look at it.

It's just a simple cross with four directions, but hidden behind it's simplicity is pure input bliss. Your thumb barely has to move yet you can achieve not just four inputs but eight with diagonals! The digital nature combined with the tactilely-distinct shape and the very short travel distance makes for incredibly precise movement in 2D games.

It's perfect.

And yet, more and more, I have been struck with an awful feeling. The feeling of booting up a new 2D game and tapping right on the d-pad only to be met with...nothing.

This game uses the analog stick for traversal, with the d-pad being, at best, relegated to switching items or at worst, assigned to not a single action.

These games remain fantastic and I can't say they are diminished in any appreciable way by the omission of d-pad traversal. And they have good reasons usually, often due to a 360 degree aiming mechanic which can be great and of course require a stick.

But there's nothing like the snappiness and precision of a d-pad and the frequency with which these types of games are abandoning it is up.

I hope we don't some day live in a future where it's forgotten.

Long live the king. Long live the d-pad.

I really can't stand a 2D platformer that uses only analog, to the point that I am unwilling to even play it. Dpad is a requirement for me for this type of game - unless there is very imprecise movement involved.

 

[BossLackey]

A distinct 8-way arcade joystick or C64 Tac-2 is even better

I have square gates on all my sticks, BUT I have been very interested in making one of those an octagonal gate for this exact purpose.

 

[Feel Like I'm On 42]

I agree with this completely. Switch's 4 button d pad design is the worst because you can't easily roll your thumb to transfer directions. It's also not good for fighting games.

I was crushed to see the Switch 2 using the exact same design! Like wtf Nintendo, you only had 8 years of feedback of why the d pad sucks to fix it...

 

[Feel Like I'm On 42]

One problem is the DPad has a weak quality nowadays, at least my Xbox controller i use on PC has a weak one. i just remember the Gamecube controller Dpad, shit was whack.
Just a sidenote but has anyone played Mario 64DS on the DS with Dpad, makes my thumb hurt. On the 3DS the game was so much better with the analog stick even if it was designed for a dpad for the DS.

Dualsense D pad is a big downgrade from ps4 d pad, especially for fighting games. The ps4 d pad was snappier and just felt better to use.

Then there's the Series X d pad which may be better but it's so fucking loud! the plastic hitting against plastic was not a genius move from MS ..I swear these companies seem incapable of making good decisions these days.

 

[dreamcastluvr]

Agreed. If a retro-style 2D game tries to force me into using the thumbstick and there's no way around it to use the d-pad, then it's a no-play for me. The way around it that sometimes works is this:

Notice in the middle there is a switch to make the d-pad act as the left or right stick. It's not a perfect solution, however, as some newer 2D games require you press the thumbstick for some actions.

 

[rm082e]

I also like sticks better.

I can't explain why, but Geometry Wars is the line in the sand. I know it's not a platformer or metroidvania, but for whatever reason after spending time playing that series of games, I don't want to play 2D games with a d-pad anymore. To my brain, the d-pad is for quick actions, not character movement.

If I go back and play Super Metroid or Symphony of the Night, the D-Pad feels natural. If I play a new game in that style, the stick feel natural. It makes no sense.

 

[Duchess]

Agree. When I start a 2D platformer, I expect to be able to control the character with the D-Pad.

 

[touchfuzzy]

I agree with this completely. Switch's 4 button d pad design is the worst because you can't easily roll your thumb to transfer directions. It's also not good for fighting games.

I was crushed to see the Switch 2 using the exact same design! Like wtf Nintendo, you only had 8 years of feedback of why the d pad sucks to fix it...

It doesn't take a whole lot of brain processing to understand why it was designed this way and why they didn't change it.

 

[snapdragon]

I just want to say that every stock controller EVER besides the Saturn and Genesis has a horrendous, imprecise D-pad that can seriously screw you over in Metroidvania games and especially fighting games
the design was mastered 30 YEARS ago and these companies still insisted on using this 4 way + shit, I do not get it

 

[snapdragon]

It doesn't take a whole lot of brain processing to understand why it was designed this way and why they didn't change it.

there should be a way to switch out the left joycons buttons with a more traditional D pad almost like on the victrix controllers

 

[violence]

When a game pulls that shit on me, you better believe I’m remapping it with this controller.