next »

[Deliverance]

More specifically 3/4 overhead view but both are applicable.  I have been working on a game that has occasionally involves shooting.  Ultimately its a simulation game but there are a few portions that might require you to use a gun or bow and arrow to shoot at a hostile.  I've already  decided I want the controls to be completely keyboard with no mouse.  So I was curious what are some examples of top down and 3/4 overhead view games that do shooting right without a mouse?  If possible, please describe the system in place so I don't have to download every game mentioned.

[-Ross]

Swords of Ditto's keyboard aiming was pretty comfortable and intuitive for me. You just fire on key-release, and while the key is pressed you can swing the aim around smoothly. You can't fire precisely very quickly, but your projectiles are large enough (and maybe there's some kind of auto-aim) that it doesn't really matter.

[J-Snake]

Interesting. Do you mind elaborating on the game you want to make (if it is not supposed to be kept secret)?

I've already  decided I want the controls to be completely keyboard with no mouse.

I would like to know your motivation for it, just out of interest.


This lends itself well to the snes era. I will throw in some footage but won't claim which game does the shooting well, that's for you to decide. But I can state some important points to watch out: The main point of concern (if there are any) is diagonal shooting in 3/4 perspective. Plus, if you want to make shooting comfortable an aim lock feature helps, so you can strafe and keep your aiming direction at the same time. Otherwise the action might get quite cumbersome, like in soldiers of fortune, for example. But if the shooting is only occasional you might get away without caring about these points too much.


True Lies:




Soldiers of Fortune:




Jurassic Park:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwPoIS1UYDg&t=1025s

Zombies ate my neighbors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0tBqLu_yk0

Pocky & Rocky:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WuOClruvLE

Alien Breed (strict top down, has sequels you can also look up):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aoRv7zguNI

[Deliverance]

@J-Snake, sure I can elaborate on the game a bit.  I'm a fan of simple controls and want to make this game to where it can be played with an NES controller even.  Here's a screenshot for reference:

Basically it's a simulation game where you level by doing simple tasks like fishing, gathering herbs, hunting, and most of all completing side quests for NPCs.  There will also be a few hostiles sprinkled around as you try to complete some of your task such as wolves, bears, zombies, just the normal stuff you would see in nature.  For self defense and hunting the player can equip a bow or a revolver.But like I said, shooting is a very small part of the game.
Current Controls: You move the character in 8 directions with the arrow keys.  Press and hold Ctrl to aim your weapon.  Now you use the arrow keys to rotate the reticle (it will be preset in front of regardless of what direction you are facing) into 32 possible directions.  When using the bow you simply release Ctrl to shoot an arrow.  When using the revolver, you have to press space to shoot.  This system works very well for hunting and premeditated aiming but can be a challenge when facing hostiles.

[raigan]

IMO 4-dir or 8-dir aiming will be more fun. Here's another SNES game that has 8-dir shooting and works well:

[J-Snake]

I'm a fan of simple controls and want to make this game to where it can be played with an NES controller even.

That's nice and idea sounds good, but there is one contradiction within the philosophy:

Press and hold Ctrl to aim your weapon. Now you use the arrow keys to rotate the reticle (it will be preset in front of regardless of what direction you are facing) into 32 possible directions.

That's rather cumbersome. You are using a conceptually digital system (the digipad) to emulate something conceptually analog (thumbstick/mouse). It doesn't flow well. You can either adapt the gameplay to match its native input system, or you can change the input system to match the gameplay. Otherwise, there will be something ugly about your system, but it is ok if that is what you want.

[larrylateleaf]

One option: maybe consider just having those shooting sections be auto-aim, if combat skill isn't crucial to the experience.

[J-Snake]

Btw. here is a nice and possibly helpful opinion piece on overhead 8-directional shooters:

https://cxong.github.io/2016/04/a-review-of-overhead-8-directional-shooters

[Deliverance]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.  Since I cannot decide myself, I think I'm going to opt for player choice.
Basically the player will be able to choose between two methods depending whether they have the bow or the revolver equipped.
Bow: Press CTRL to shoot in 8 directions style like in Gunman's proof.  If you hold CTRL you can aim in the 32 directions for fine aiming, works good for hunting but not fast paced scenarios.
Revolver: Hold CTRL to lock your direction and press SPACE to shoot.  Similar to that True Lies game.  This way you can strafe and keep face a direction.  Handy when trying to shoot hostiles that are chasing you or duck behind cover but not useful for hunting since the movement could spook the wildlife away.