How to fix GoldenEye 007’s control issues on the Nintendo Switch [Updated]

Update (5:35 PM ET): As user Cuesport77 points out on Reddit, Nintendo offers a system-level button remapping feature that can bypass most of the issues highlighted in this article. Going into your Switch’s system settings and swapping left and right analog stick inputs (and inputs for any other button you want) can help provide a more standardized “dual stick” control for your games.

This is not the most convenient option. golden eye To other Switch games (and back when you can) golden eye). These customizations also don’t seem to be available for controllers connected to the system when in portable mode.

Nevertheless, Ars regrets not realizing this option existed before publishing the story below.

original: After 25 long years, players can finally enjoy the official port of . golden eye 007 However, those playing games on Nintendo Switch are faced with a series of cumbersome and uncustomizable control schemes that hit hard when transitioning from the N64’s “Batarang” to the Switch’s Joy-Cons.

as Rhea intended

Anyone who’s played a console first-person shooter in the last few decades expects a basic control paradigm that works across genres. Please look back. Decades of muscle memory have trained console shooters to expect this fundamental split.

how many people golden eye What fans forget (or perhaps didn’t know) is that the N64 original was one of the first titles to use that kind of left-thumb/right-thumb control dichotomy. golden eyeThe ‘1.2 Solitaire’ control scheme built into the , maps lateral movements to the often-ignored N64 D-pad (located under the left thumb), while turning and looking around are the system’s single was controlled by the analog stick (positioning in this case). , under the right thumb).

Experienced players know that this layout feels more natural than the “1.1 Honey” default. This is a jerky mix of forward/backward movement and left stick left/right rotation, looking left/right sidesteps and up/down of the directional C button.and even if many golden eye Players ignored it at the time, but it existed as an intended (and very advanced) control option 25 years ago.

Indeed, many have committed golden eye Players have definitely learned to strafe in circles and aim quickly using the best golden eyecumbersome default control scheme. Still, there’s a reason his subsequent FPS control designs have become more similar. golden eye‘1.2 Solitaire’ and its movement separation and rotation/gaze to different thumbs. Ultimately, the “dual stick” split feels like the most natural way to do first-person movements with a console controller.

flip the switch

Unfortunately, golden eyeThe transition to the switch reversed the old left and right thumb muscle memory. Now when you select “1.2 Solitaire” from Switch’s built-in control options, correct The stick is used for lateral movement (I’m standing here for the directional C button). left The stick is used to look around (you can also use the directional buttons on the left Joy-Con to move, but without turn/look control on the right stick this is not a very useful option) .

Some players have already changed their FPS controls to this kind of “southpaw” control scheme and will find themselves familiar with the “flipped” switch controls here. But the vast majority of players probably feel like they’re playing in a mirror and have to relearn the control instincts that have been burned into their thumbs for decades.

Nintendo doesn’t offer game-level or emulator-level customization options, reconfiguring these controls to better suit your expectations [Update: There are system-level customization options, though; see above]Compare with the Xbox version of . golden eyereleased today as part of rare replay Or an Xbox Game Pass subscription.

On Xbox, games default to a new control scheme designed specifically for Xbox controllers. The left stick controls movement and the right stick controls rotation/gaze. Additionally, the Xbox version allows complete customization of any game function for any button or direction on the controller.

Earlier we talked about how the Switch’s N64 emulation left a lot to be desired in terms of controls. The lack of control customization options golden eyeHowever, it’s an FPS that relies heavily on your ability to intuitively move and aim.

partial solution

The best solution to this Switch-based control problem would be to pick up one of the official Switch Nintendo 64 controllers Nintendo sells on their website. But with $50 controllers almost always sold out these days, this isn’t a viable option for many (not to mention useless when playing in portable mode).

That said, after a morning of tinkering and experimenting, I’ve found a solution that works best for me. golden eye The problem with the switch was, counter-intuitively, flipping the Joy-Con. Hold the right Joy-Con in your left hand and vice versa, golden eye1.2 Solitaire’s controls finally approached the ‘normal’ feel of left stick movement and right stick rotation/look around I was looking for.

There are some obvious problems with this control “solution”. Joy-Cons were clearly not designed to be held like this. Even with the standard rounded wrist strap attachment attached, the Joy-Cons don’t fit comfortably in the wrong hand.

Analog sticks (currently placed left stick on ‘low’ and right stick on ‘high’) to shoulder buttons (currently face buttons (you have to press A and B buttons with the ‘wrong’ thumb) A cumbersome, extremely long reach to.Obviously, this solution won’t work if you’re playing the Switch in portable mode either.

Still, it’s the best option I came up with golden eye On the Switch it feels like what I would expect. It’s a shame because Nintendo could easily fix this with some kind of remapping option in their Switch N64 emulator. [Update: Or including easier switching options for the system-level control customization mentioned above]However, as it stands, the only version of golden eye 007 It’s also one of the worst control options available for online play.