Just wanna say that I’m loving the steam deck so far overall, but wow I just started playing rogue legacy and I realized the dpad is basically unusable for me.

I personally love modern and retro platformers and not having a decent d-pad is very disappointing. For now I’m just using an xbox controller instead, but I would love to see this improved with the next iteration of the deck.

Just wanted to get peoples thoughts on this topic!

  • erwan@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    I got used to the analog stick for direction, even for retro games.

    To the point that I only use the d-pad as 4 buttons (like most modern games use it) or sometimes to navigate in menus.

  • kadu@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    It’s not ideal for 2D games, it’s better suited as an item wheel or navigating menus. It is however a thousand times better than the dpad found on pretty much all models of Xbox controllers, from the 360 to Series.

    In a portable device, nothing beats the Vita dpad as far as I’m concerned, insanely good. The GBA SP one is also good, if size-adjusted.

  • silent_clash@lemmygrad.ml
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    1 year ago

    People complain about the d-pad being slippery, but to me it helps me do inputs in fighting games more easily.

  • Donny@lemmy.worldOP
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    1 year ago

    Thanks everyone for the responses! I guess it really all is personal preference! I ended up just switching to the analog stick like a few commenters and I’m getting used to it. Not sure why but I just can’t get used to the dpad.

  • Brawler Yukon@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I don’t mind it, but I’ve never been super particular about my d-pads.

    I have occasionally had it misreport a down input as right or down-right, but I very much suspect that’s not an actual hardware misreport and is just due to the position of the d-pad relative to my grip. Since my thumb is angling up to the pad from down-right, it’s much more likely that I might have just rolled a little closer to inputting right than I intended to.

  • Derrek@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Pretty much any controller I put through the Tony Hawk test. THPS/THUG games I find require the most inputs and use of all but the analog sticks.

    I find manualling the trickiest thing to do on the Site Deck Dpad. Not quite sure what it is but I think it has to do with how close my thumb is to my hand due to the pad being so close to the edge.

    I do have a bit better luck playing THPS on an 8bitdo than the steam deck pad.

    Fun tidbit: if you get the 8bitdo pro 2 controller, it has a switch on the back so you can alter it from Steam Deck (X) to a Windows PC (D) to Nintendo Switch (S) with the flick of a button. A universal remote

  • gerco@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    I’m not happy with the dpad, either. It’s ok in menus and such, but for actually playing anything it’s terrible. I end up mapping the left stick to dpad if the game needs it.

  • Nibodhika@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I find it very good, played hours of Rogue legacy and tons of Dead cells with them and have absolutely no complains. Sure the PSX d-pad is better, but it’s still the same or better than an Xbox controller one which is what I was using before because my PSX controllers are connected to my PlayStation.

  • Cmar@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I don’t mind it and think its pretty ok, but the PSX dpad is still my favourite.

  • Underwaterbob@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    I was worried about it since 2d platformers and Metroidvanias are my bread-and-butter and reviews weren’t good. I don’t think it’s that bad though. I got used to it quickly enough.