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[Deft Beck]

I tend to play with the D-pad, unless there is a mechanic where you need to aim with precision. I think that gamers who came of age during the late 90s might play platformers with analog sticks, while others will play with the D-pad. I also navigate menus with the D-pad and resent games where you must do so with the stick.

How about y'all?

 

[Aizo]

For some reason, it feels very inaccurate when I use an analog stick. Maybe it's just tradition.

 

[DunderHassan]

Pretty much always D-pad, can't match the precision with joystick.
This is why I stopped playing Unepic on PC, a 2D metroidvania which seemed great but for some reason that goes beyond my understanding doesn't support D-pad movement.

 

[Oneself]

Mostly the dpad (98%)

 

[Fliesen]

depends on whether or not the movement is digital or analog, really.

if there's only "run right" and "don't run right", using an analog stick feels weird.

 

[Reset]

Dpad.

 

[Bulbasaur]

D pad is the only correct answer

 

[Crayolan]

D-pad unless the controller's d-pad is shit.

 

[CrazyHorse]

D-pad unless the controller's d-pad is shit.

For me all of them are bad except the SNES. I hate the Wii U d-pad.

 

[Jonneh3003]

Dpad most of the time but for Rayman Origins, Legends, Super Meat Boy and Ori and the Blind Forest I found the analog stick better. Not sure why.

 

[Maximo]

What kind of monster would use the joystick?

 

[Durante]

If it's a precision platformer, arcade stick, otherwise (if it's analog) a thumbstick.

 

[Miker]

D-pad if movement is digital, like in most platformers. Stick if not, like in Donkey Kong Country Returns Tropical Freeze.

 

[DownGrader]

I haven't played played gamepad games till 2010s (yikes!), and D-pad is my way to go in 2D platformers and menu selections. Yeah, I am getting pretty annoyed if some game doesn't allow me to navigate the UI with a D-pad...

 

[AppleSeason]

d-pad. On PC, I will use a DS2 or DS4 to play them. On PS3 and 360, games that required the use of the d-pad would be purchased on PS3.


A nasty case is 3DS. With Shantae and The Pirate's I was hurting using the d-pad and L in that position.

 

[eXistor]

I find analogue to be unplayable for 2D games, so D-pad.

 

[Shizza]

I almost always use the D-pad for 2D games.

 

[vaderise]

Analogs feel weird in 2D games so i always use D-Pad.

 

[Samus4145]

Analog stick because it feels more akin to an arcade stick to me.

 

[Whales]

I'm too used to the analog stick so I use that.

But I know that the dpad in this case is superior by far

 

[KingBroly]

D-pad

 

[FrontalMonk]

I use d-pad unless the d-pad is shit (so, 360 games).

 

[Revolutionary]

Depends on how the analog control feels in the game. If it's a bit too unwieldly then i'll switch to dpad.

 

[Yarbskoo]

Usually d-pad. The last thing I need is to accidentally move the analog stick too far vertically and trigger a jump or a duck when I don't want one.

 

[Xav]

Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze - Analog stick

All other 2D platformers - 2D-Pad

 

[LeleSocho]

i play every 2D game with the d-pad.

 

[Deft Beck]

Analog stick because it feels more akin to an arcade stick to me.

Funny, since arcade sticks would have had digital inputs, right? It's like a big d-pad on a stick, in effect.

 

[sixteen-bit]

D-pad if it lets me

 

[brawly]

Usually dpad. Exceptions are DK Tropical Freeze and Rayman O/L.

Also anything on Xbox One is default stick, cause the dpad is total pish.

 

[NightShift]

D-pad but there have been a few games where the analog stick has felt better. I just can't think of any off the top of my head.

 

[ChryZ]

D-pad for digital on/off inputs, analog stick when the game was designed around analog inputs (think: sneak, walk, run).

 

[TylerDurden4321]

I'd love to play with a d-pad but only Nintendo d-pads ever felt right and in the right position. The Xbox One d-pad is too stiff/clicky, the ps4 d-pad doesn't feel right and could be in a better position, I don't need to say that the PS/360 d-pads were even worse, right?
(actually, the Vita d-pad is kinda "ok" for me)

 

[NoKisum]

Dpad most of the time but for Rayman Origins, Legends, Super Meat Boy and Ori and the Blind Forest I found the analog stick better. Not sure why.

Substitute Super Meat Boy with 'Splosion Man, and this post is me.

 

[retroman]

D-pad for life!

 

[Duxxy3]

Usually the analog stick.

Especially this generation where I don't like either d-pad, at least for anything more than menus. I preferred the DS3's d-pad. I wish Sony had stuck with that or gone with the vita d-pad.

 

[GametimeUK]

Neither, I use touch screen on my phone for emulated 2d games.

 

[Tapejara]

D-pad 99% off the time.

 

[MrCunningham]

D-Pad = Most everything
Arcade Styled Joypad = Arcade style gaming and fighters.
Analog Stick = Never.

 

[gelf]

D-pad when I can. On PC I have a Sega Saturn adapter and will use that pad when possible. Some games like to use multiple sticks though (eg right stick for aiming arrows) so an old school simple digital pad like that is not always viable. I would love someone to make a pad that's just a rip off of the Sega Saturn fat controller with an extra analog stick bolted on.

One things for sure though is I will never use the trash 360 d-pad, it's barely usable for even navigating menus.

 

[JediLink]

When I play Fez on the 360 I use the analogue stick cause the D-Pad is garbage.

 

[Earthpainting]

While my Xbox controller is my default controller on PC, I still have a Dual Shock on stand-by for whenever I need to play a 2D platformer, or an overhead game without diagonal movement.

 

[nded]

Unless the game specifically accounts for analog movement, it's D-pad for me.

 

[phanphare]

d-pad for me

Unless the game specifically accounts for analog movement

unless this, like tropical freeze. then I use the analog stick.

 

[Wolfgunblood Garopa]

It's why the recent Strider is one of the more puzzling releases of all time. It's unfathomable how a developer could expect players to be ok with using the analog stick for twitch movement.

 

[Anteater]

dpad

I usually use analog stick first for some reason, maybe I'm just comfortable with it, but when I need to be more precise I find myself playing better with a dpad, I make more mistake with the stick

 

[boredandlazy]

Dpad.

 

[Tripy73]

D-pad is more responsive.

 

[correojon]

On consoles DPad, on PC analog due to the XboX360´s shitty pad. But now that I´ve got myself a X1 controller I´m discovering the joy it is to play Super Meat Boy or 1001 Spikes with a DPad.

 

[Red]

I don't think it's always true that sticks are less responsive, but they often feel less precise. I use sticks sometimes in games that don't require pinpoint precision. I also used them in platformers on XBox 360, since the mashed-potato feel of its d pad was somehow even worse than using a stick. I finished nearly 80% of Super Meat Boy that way.

 

[hikarutilmitt]

I tend to play with the D-pad, unless there is a mechanic where you need to aim with precision. I think that gamers who came of age during the late 90s might play platformers with analog sticks, while others will play with the D-pad. I also navigate menus with the D-pad and resent games where you must do so with the stick.

How about y'all?

Everything this. It bothers me when a game is made that force you to use analog and doesn't let you use the d-pad despite the movement being purely digital. I tested a game at PAX South and gave them (respectfully) feedback about this very thing, because I was expecting to be able to use the d-pad and couldn't.