Gameplay Design: Dual-Analog Combat

Mass Effect’s gameplay was burdened by an overly complex control scheme, which made navigating the menus a game within itself. A gameplay system can not exist in a vacuum, but must be built around the control scheme, as the control scheme dictates how the player engages with the game. Yet, this is not necessarily a limiting thing; using buttons for different functions, in a context sensitive manor, can engage the player in new ways.

The control scheme presented below is intended for a sword-fighting, character driven game, such as Knights of the Old Republic or Assassin’s Creed. The scheme relies on the dual-analog sticks. which control one hand of the character. When the player engages in combat, he automatically locks onto the first enemy; the player can swing each analog stick in different directions, to control the movement of the swords. The player navigates with the triggers and bumpers. The combat works in a flow of offensive/defensive, where the players attacks are first pushing forward onto the enemy; if he overextends his attacks, the enemy could take the offensive, and force the player to parry the attacks against him.