Pikmin 3 Control Scheme Question

[Crimnonin]

I'm about halfway done with Wind Waker HD and I was thinking of what my next game would be. I'm currently deciding between SM3DW, DKCTR and Pikmin 3. However, I am leaning towards Pikmin because, to be honest, I've been playing a lot of platformers recently and I wanted to try something different. I did play Pikmin 2 so I am familiar with the basic concept.

However, I did some searching online because I wanted to know which controller most people used to play with. There doesn't seem to be an overwhelming consensus. Most of the information I found came from about a year ago, when Pikmin 3 came out in the first place. However, recently there was a patch that changed some of the gamepad's stylus controls. Still, information as to which one feels the best is limited.

If you have played Pikmin 3, which is your favorite control scheme and why? Do you think the updated gamepad controls are any good? Let me know what you think, because this game does look very interesting and I want to be prepared for when I do eventually buy it.

 

[Cheezey Bites]

I really like the new control scheme, and it's by far my favorite. I always felt with Pikmin that I was fighting against the controls rather than the game's challenge, now it feels like I'm actually controlling the game and I'm just fighting the Pikmin's dumb AI, but it still feels better!

I really disliked the Wiimote control scheme personally though, as I always felt the games wasn't pointing where I was, and I could never properly adjust; if you can adjust to that then I can't tell you which is better, but the classic controls are fairly safely the worst, giving you finicky and inaccurate control over your units along with a slow moving cursor.


By theory the game pad controls should be better, with much smaller distances, more tactile response and a hold more conducive to fine motor skills potentially allowing more accuracy and speed than ever before, but it's worth checking out both to see which you adapt best to.

 

[Crimnonin]

I really like the new control scheme, and it's by far my favorite. I always felt with Pikmin that I was fighting against the controls rather than the game's challenge, now it feels like I'm actually controlling the game and I'm just fighting the Pikmin's dumb AI, but it still feels better!

I really disliked the Wiimote control scheme personally though, as I always felt the games wasn't pointing where I was, and I could never properly adjust; if you can adjust to that then I can't tell you which is better, but the classic controls are fairly safely the worst, giving you finicky and inaccurate control over your units along with a slow moving cursor.


By theory the game pad controls should be better, with much smaller distances, more tactile response and a hold more conducive to fine motor skills potentially allowing more accuracy and speed than ever before, but it's worth checking out both to see which you adapt best to.

I noticed in Mario Kart 8 that looking between the TV and gamepad was pretty difficult. After all, if I take my eyes off the road for a moment to look at the course map, I find myself driving into a wall or off a cliff. Does Pikmin 3 have the same problem, or can you actually see what's happening on the gamepad?

 

[D-idara]

I noticed in Mario Kart 8 that looking between the TV and gamepad was pretty difficult. After all, if I take my eyes off the road for a moment to look at the course map, I find myself driving into a wall or off a cliff. Does Pikmin 3 have the same problem, or can you actually see what's happening on the gamepad?

That's a matter of practice, I can look at the Gamepad map easily now after practicing a lot and choosing not-so-tough sections to look down.

Also, for Pikmin 3, I strongly recommend Wiichuck + Gamepad, it's amazing.

 

[Cheezey Bites]

I noticed in Mario Kart 8 that looking between the TV and gamepad was pretty difficult. After all, if I take my eyes off the road for a moment to look at the course map, I find myself driving into a wall or off a cliff. Does Pikmin 3 have the same problem, or can you actually see what's happening on the gamepad?

Sorry, I missed your question somehow; you can see what's happening on the game pad with off-screen play. You miss out on the real-time map with stylus controls (why they didn't have an option to put it on the screen I will never know), but the increase in accuracy might be worth it. The map is pretty important because of the multiple captains though, so if you can use the Wiimote give it a shot.

 

[Crimnonin]

It's kind of annoying how you have to be using two different controllers at once to get an optimal playing experience. It seems like the map can only be used with the game pad. Apparently this game revolves around multitasking and managing different parts of the map at the same time. So if I use the Wiimote setup, I have to put the Wiimote down, take the game pad off its stand, pull out the stylus, and then put it all back.

Seems like the wonky controls are an exhausting hurdle to overcome for me. I might be better served just buying DKCTF for simplicity.