I have never used a controller in my life before, how to git gud?
I have never used a controller in my life before, how to git gud?
yea, i’ve never owned a gaming console before. as a kid, my parents wouldn’t buy me a controller just for playing games, but now that i’m an adult with more money, i bought this one using cash from a hackathon. the black version looks really cool with the lens effect on the buttons and the lights—it feels great in hand. i started testing it right after it arrived, and the first game i played was burnout paradise remastered. i chose it because racing games are tough on keyboards, and i wanted to try something familiar. it worked well, especially with the haptic feedback and crash scenes that really made the experience intense.
the controller had strong vibrations and a solid feel, though i was surprised by how much it simulated real-world impacts. in burnout paradise, the cars were empty, but the feedback made it feel like you were driving through a haunted world. the pain from crashes was transmitted clearly, which was both shocking and thrilling.
later, i tried other games but found them hard to control. if you’re looking for practice, start with games that have responsive controls and good haptic feedback. when you struggle, switch to a mouse or trackpad—it can help you regain confidence.
The response is straightforward: just follow what you enjoy. Maybe some roguelikes and fighting games appeal. There’s no “learn by playing” message—just “I can only play until I can use it.”
Honestly, focus on games you love with the controller—it will work. Practicing in the same way random games help is effective. Why invest in a car for driving drills when you can hone your skills with the one you enjoy? It’s not really a sport where you isolate specific actions like hitting a batting cage or shooting free throws. It’s a bit confusing, because as an adult you understand that improvement comes from consistent practice of what matters. Just enjoy the process.
Controllers are mainly suited for non-shooting or aiming titles. For driving or running—such as side-scrolling games—use the mouse and keyboard for better accuracy. In games like GTA, I rely on a controller for vehicles and then switch to mouse and keyboard during combat. It takes some time to get comfortable with the transitions.
Repeated practice helps with button control in fast-paced mini-games. Ideal games include those designed for controllers, avoiding long-range combat. Fallen Order, Survivor, and any action-adventure titles work well—just keep using the mouse when needed. Yakuza also provides solid gameplay.
It seems you're getting used to the experience. Racing games work well with controllers because the controls are generally simple. I’d suggest adjusting the acceleration and braking on the R2 and L2 buttons if you can. On the other hand, having too many buttons and offset WASD makes it hard to manage safely. You’d likely need at least four hands to handle everything effectively—combining WASD, shift, F, space, and possibly a tab for camera control while using your mouse. It does sound like a well-designed setup if everything is balanced.
It's actually just practice. There is no magic method that makes you learn it faster. I had one friend who never played on a controller. One evening of FF7 couch coop and he quickly got the hang of it. It's not that hard. I'd say the hardest part is learning to play shooters on a controller, but I'd generally recommend to stay with KB+M for these games.