Trying to compile a list of games where the developers touted the lack of virtual controls as a benefit, where some games are actually enjoyable vs those that played awkwardly. Any suggestions? So far I have: Good: Tilt To Live Infinity Blade Bad: Chop Chop Caveman
I think Chop Chop Caveman is good. You may have to compile your own list, since your taste is, well, idiosyncratic.
I'd say Infinity Blade had bad controls... but maybe that's just me. Anyway... here are some suggestions... I used "great" and "bad" because there are way too many games in between... GREAT: Eliss (excellent multi-touch) Space Ninja (one of the first accelerometer-based games) Canabalt (Probably the most simple controls ever, but flawless and smooth.) Touchgrind (innovative, realistic finger-board simulation) Labyrinth 2 (The most precise, realistic tilt controls on the whole app store, by far.) BAD: Infinity Blade (The dodge buttons are so small and placed in the very corners of the screen, making them hard to hit. Attacking is clumsy, swiping the screen wildly and mindlessly. The turn-based gameplay limits the controls to taking turns of dodging for a while, then swiping like mad, then repeating that over and over again.) Super Mega Worm (Although the game is tons of fun, the controls need a lot of getting used to. The slider is hard to decipher, the D-Pad is too sharp...) Red Conquest (The controls themselves aren't bad, but there are so many weird controls everywhere that do certain necessary things that many people just quit the game out of frustration because the controls are so hard to learn.)
The dodge buttons work fine. As for the wild, mindless swinging, it's a shame you didn't understand the gameplay mechanics as they are some of the most simple and intuitive controls on the iOS platform. I think your are describing your expectations and not what the game is. It's a sword fighting game, plain and simple - that's it, sword fighting. It's like saying, "Well I didn't get to walk around the boxing ring and examine the locker room, therefore the controls are horrible!" But what value would that bring to a 1 vs. 1 sparring game? Probably not much. Also there are other elements that you seemed to have not discovered, parry works amazingly, magic spells, and also 3-4-5 hit combos can be achieved, as well as jump strikes downward and uppercut swings. String all of these together, plus the addition of gear values and a remarkable background environment and you have a fun fighting game. Infinity Blade - A Knight Fighting Sim, not an exploration rpg.
Tap left side of screen = dodge left. Tap right side of screen = dodge right. Dodging isn't limited to the small buttons. While I'm at it, blocking works by tapping the shield or dead middle of the screen.
I agree with that. With the addition of these to the good list: - Real Racing 2 - Modern Combat 2 (and any other FPS game by Gameloft) - Jet Car Stunts - Plunderland
i'm a bit confused by your initial post. games without virtual controls? The iDevice is ALL virtual controls. That said, the PathPix series is one of the best iDevice games I've ever played, control-wise. If you go and play the same kind of puzzle on a computer with the mouse, it just doesn't feel as smooth and responsive as touch. It was meant for this platform.
Though this was never said... Virtual controlls don't limit you to a set ammount of buttons, controll elements and the placement of both of those.
Not to shamelessly self-promote but... One of the reasons I designed my game was because I hate virtual buttons and thumbsticks. So, if I may be so bold, I'd like to add Ring Blade to the list of games without virtual controls that actually works with the touch screen. (It's one of the things all reviewers has said they like about it). iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ring-blade/id420836339?mt=8 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0U5PxA1PFk
I don't think any iPhone game has good virtual controls. More like serviceable at best. Games like Chaos Rings and Pizza Boy are good examples of games that control decently most of the time. Now when it comes to awful controls, every single FPS.
Somehow this topic has changed from being about games with no virtual buttons (more explanatory than "controls"), to games with virtual buttons.
you have obviously only gotten to the first 3 bloodlines or so in infinity blade It is much much deeper than that you need a lot more strategy with parrying and comboes and such in order to have any level of success later in the game and you can change the size of the dodge buttons edit: sorry, forgot what i was going to say i would add starfront as good, and so is battleheart, dead space, black pegasus, and nova lego harry potter is okayish, but bfbc is absolutely terrible
GOOD *** MC2 DoDonPachiR (all Cave games) Fight Night WORKABLE *** COD Zombies Street Fighter IV Solomon's BoneYard BAD ***Touch Racing Nitro NIGHTMARE *** LEGO Harry Potter (even with stick)
