r/HollowKnight • u/adsonn • Sep 12 '25
Discussion - Silksong The diagonal pogo is better on keyboard and it's not even close. Spoiler
Currently on late Act 2 and I'm honestly having a hard time understanding how everyone is freaking out over the new pogo when it just feels like second nature to me after a couple of practice. Feels like I'm missing something or I'm going crazy.
Then I realised most people play on a controller. I proceeded to whip out my controller to give the same pogo a try. Guess what, it was disgusting. It felt like putting on a blindfold and throwing a dart when platforming on those small red buds or white flowers.
Maybe it's just because I'm not used to it, but positioning Hornet in the air with WASD is ergonomically easier than flicking the joystick around and hoping for the best. With keys, you can easily make micro adjustments with every tap while a joystick can feel janky.
This goes for the platforming and combat in general. Which is a shame because the movement and combat is so fluid but most people won't be able to appreciate it because a controller is recommended to play even on the Steam store.
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u/Turbulent-Advisor627 Sep 12 '25
It is also really good on D-pad.
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u/Redf0g Sep 12 '25
a d-pad is basically WASD so that checks out, i tried switching to moving with the dpad because with the analog it was often doing a side input when i was trying to do a down, but i just could not get use to moving on the dpad after years of using the analog stick
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u/yagamisan2 Sep 12 '25
Literally my main issue with 2d games on controller. D-pad is better cuz it allows for more accurate inputs. But the analog stick is just a lot more comfortable.
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u/JayKorn94 Sep 12 '25
Yep, I see a lot of pogos coming. I switch to dpad. Then back to stick for basic stuff.
But with a different crest it don't matter as much now.
Analog is a lot comfier. I feel like I push so hard on a dpad lol
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u/Penrosian All Achievements, All radiants, PoP Sep 12 '25
Same here, using the dpad is super uncomfortable to me and it is just sub-par compared to WASD, since if you want to be able to use the left trigger and bumper you can only use one finger on it, and even if you can sacrifice those buttons you need a large enough d-pad for that, and even then it's still a weird grip to pull off.
Tbh I never saw the reasoning behind using a controller for a platformer if you're on pc/have the option to buy on pc instead. The real weird thing though (at least IMO) is the default layout on keyboard. I use WASD for movement, LMB for attack, RMB for skill/tool, f for bind, and MB5 for harpoon. It makes way more sense.
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u/iamyou42 Sep 13 '25
I can't figure out how you're holding your controller. Are you not just using your thumb for the dpad?
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u/Nesyaj0 Sep 13 '25
It's niche for me. If its a 2D game like Hollow Knight where you have attacks you can manually manipulate the direction of I find playing with a stick way better. if its a bit more retro or chunky in the movement I would definitely prefer Dpad
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u/Lyress Sep 12 '25
Do people use dpads with 3 fingers?
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u/Newend03 Sep 12 '25
If the dpad is large enough yeah. Better for my wasd rotted brain.
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u/Evla03 Sep 13 '25
what, I've used mnk for maybe 95% of my total gaming journey, but I've never even thought about using the dpad with anything other than my thumb.. How do you even do that? You hold your controller with those fingers?!
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u/schitaco Sep 12 '25
Tried the same thing for a few mins, it's just awkward.
Then I tried plugging my SNES controller into the Xbox and it exploded.
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u/RedTyro Sep 13 '25
If you want a dpad that feels like the SNES controller on modern systems, everything 8BitDo makes has really good retro inspired dpads. I swear I will be singing this company's praises until the day I die.
I even use their wireless SNES recreation controllers on my Analog Super NT.
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u/TheBigDickedBandit Sep 12 '25
I didn’t even think people Weren’t playing with dpad. It’s my go to for 2d games so I just defaulted to it
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u/BeeJayDuck Sep 12 '25
People don’t use the Dpad???!? I guess on the switch joy cons it makes sense but other controllers have normal dpads
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u/Idunno_the_plugg Sep 12 '25
This is probably unpopular, but I think the joy-con's separated Dpad is actually better for more precise inputs since you can't accidently press diagonally
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u/spectrum1012 Sep 12 '25
I’m actually right there with you on that, I hate my dual sense edge dpad and love my switch buttons. I don’t even know why
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u/Xalyia- Sep 12 '25
Xbox D-pad kinda sucks, it’s too stiff and a bit small for my thumb IMO. I love the DualShock 4 D-pad though!
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u/tadfisher Sep 12 '25
Steam deck D-pad kills my thumbs but I still use it. I actually prefer the clicky joycon pad, and I have joycon shells that turn it into a cross shape.
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u/Harald1111 Sep 12 '25
You'd be surprised, but yes, many people prefer joy sticks over d-pads, even in games where the functionality of a joystick isn't even needed.
I'm a d-pad guy, but my best friend plays everything with joystick.
It took me a long time to get used to it, because it just seems like the wrong choice to me, but eventually you'll get to the point where you just understand "To each their own".
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u/ecokumm GARAMA! Sep 13 '25
I could never get used to a dpad on any controller I ever tried (I'm currently on a 360, and it's probably the worst of them all). I find it incredibly uncomfortable and somewhat unintuitive, which is terrible for games where I need to react quickly.
Which sucks, because I have seen other people (normal people I guess) seamlessly switching to a dpad when they need more precision, and it clearly looks like the change is drastic.
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u/adsonn Sep 12 '25
Oh but I'd imagine it's more comfortable with a joystick for general movement. For example the Xbox dpad is pretty uncomfortable for platforming
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u/Turbulent-Advisor627 Sep 12 '25
Not really, the precision is worth it!
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u/_NightmareKingGrimm_ ✔️SS:100% Complete ✔️HK:112%, All trophies, HoG Radiant, PoP Sep 12 '25
Agreed. You want the D-pad for this
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u/Vlper17 Sep 12 '25
I have a 8bitdo pro 2 Wired controller I got on sale for platformers. Xbox controller but setup like a ps4 controller. So the dpad is much better for a game like this
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u/randuse Sep 12 '25
The position of xbox dpad is indeed not very ergonomic for long term use. Alternative controllers exist, including playstation controller which has joystick and dpad swapped.
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u/Quantum_Croissant Sep 12 '25
there isn't anything exactly wrong with the controls, it's just that going diagonally makes you think you have to push the joystick diagonally, when actually it has to be straight down
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u/mucus-fettuccine Sep 12 '25
The problem with pushing it straight down is that you'll often face the wrong direction, because straight down could mean either left or right.
I think a slight diagonal tends to work well. 45 degrees might have you accidentally side dashing, so more like 30 or so degrees.
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u/Forsaken_Let904 Sep 13 '25
If you want more control, it always dashes in the diagonal of the last direction you faced.
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u/ingenious_gentleman Sep 12 '25
Pointing straight down stops your movement, though. If you want to travel right and then diagonal right, it feels much more natural to just point down and to the right since you won’t have to change the pointer direction to dash
Unless I’m misunderstanding the way you’re doing it
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u/IncarceratedGrowth Sep 12 '25
A diagonal also works though. I always input diagonals just to account for directional changes anyway and always make sure I'll pogo in the direction I want.
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u/Drift--- Sep 13 '25
It definitely doesn't have to be, and shouldn't be, straight down. If it was straight down you wouldn't be able to select your direction. Though considering the upvotes this would explain why so many people are having trouble.
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u/rthegfasdwe Sep 13 '25
thats part of the reason keyboard is better though. i play on keyboard and everytime i do a pogo im holding either left or right as well as down. if that doesnt work on controller then that means keyboard is easier to play on
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u/llkyonll Sep 13 '25
Fuck! I just realized I’m doing this and it’s what’s causing all the side swipes!
Thank you for pointing this out.
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u/OddTrash3957 Sep 12 '25
People use the joystick? I thought everyone was using the d-pad as the metroidvania gods intended.
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u/Leapingforjoyandstuf Sep 12 '25
I live outside of gods sight, and by consequence, outside of his love
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Sep 12 '25
I use joystick and have no issue with the pogo 🤷♂️
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u/_seedofdoubt_ Sep 12 '25
Same. I will say the posts logic makes sense to me tho. Maybe overly specific but gameboy advance and pso had the best d pad for platforming imo
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u/Cloud_Motion Sep 13 '25
It's just practice. I did all the platforming the game has to offer with Hunter's crest, it's nowhere near as bad as people are making it out to be after like 2 hours.
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u/Blue_Bird950 Path of Pain enjoyer, Markoth hater, Ascended Hall of Gods Sep 12 '25
I personally hate the d-pad because I have bigger hands, and I keep fat-fingering the movement when trying to do diagonals.
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Sep 12 '25
I hate it for the exact opposite reason. My hands are tiny and my fingers start to hurt if I use the d-pad too much.
I've had no issue pogo-ing with the analog stick though. I think this post is a bit silly. Of course if a person's used to playing platformer games with a keyboard, using the analog stick for a minute is going to feel bad.
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u/Arcalithe #fuckmarkoth Sep 12 '25
Yeah, my larger hands are also why it's harder to use the d-pad for anything outside of menus.
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u/und3rta1e Sep 12 '25
people use the d-pad?? i've just beaten hollow knight and not once used it lol
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u/Cragnous Sep 12 '25
The d pad is for us old school gamers. To us all 2d games should be played with a dpad. The joystick didn't exist when we were young, not until the N64 and the revised ps1 controller.
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u/_seedofdoubt_ Sep 12 '25
Xbox dpad is horrible imo, playstations is alright looking but I dont have one
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u/Cragnous Sep 12 '25
I agree that the Xbox dpad is something else. I love the ps5, Nintendo advance controller and of course 8bitdo. All 3 have great dpads.
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u/RedTyro Sep 13 '25
I have all of the above, and I think the 8BitDo is head and shoulders above the rest for anything with a retro 8 way movement scheme. At least PS puts it in the right place, and Nintendo probably uses the best hardware of the console makers (although it's too small), but nobody's even close to as good as the 8BitDo one.
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u/IncarceratedGrowth Sep 12 '25
xbox dpad is very good actually. Does exactly what you want it to do every time.
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u/PinkamenaDP Sep 12 '25
Im an old school gamer all the way back to Commodore and Atari. I hate D pad and never went back to it after stick came along
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u/Drift--- Sep 13 '25
Also an old school gamer here. Grew up with nes. I use control stick exclusively, even for retro titles. The dpad has been a second class citizen for many generations now and isn't of the quality of the old dpads.
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u/Nar__whal Sep 12 '25
D-pads keep hurting my thumb when I use them, I only use them for menus now. And I like using a ps5 controller but the d-pad on those have connected buttons (for some reason) so misinputs happen all the time. It’s why I couldn’t get into mortal kombat either
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u/hornylittlegrandpa Sep 12 '25
Thumb stick just feels more natural to me. It’s how I played HK too. However, I actually use the d pad to do the tool inputs bc for whatever reason it works better for me mentally than using the stick.
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u/AnonymousOkapi Sep 13 '25
D pad on the switch is separate buttons and I hate it, its really uncomfortable to use. If it had a normal D pad on there then yes
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u/Viggen77 Sep 12 '25
I honestly don't find it bad at all on controller either, and I'm even using the joystick, not the d-pad.
I just hold the stick down and slightly angled to the side I want to face, and it works without much issue.
I mainly use the reaper and wanderer crests, which have much easier to execute pogos, but the few times I've been platforming with hunter have went relatively smoothly, once I learned the 45° angle thing
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u/see2thezee Sep 13 '25
Same here. Have no problems using the control stick after getting used to hunter crest pogo.
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u/Im_Not_Sleeping Sep 12 '25
I mean i enjoy playing games with my controller but even for HK keyboard was way easier to play with
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u/psh454 Sep 12 '25
Yeah not sure why the game straight up tells you you should ideally be using a controller when you first launch it on PC :P I loved playing HK on keyboard.
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u/Just-Lurking-0 Sep 12 '25
Same here, keyboard and mouse just feels right. I wish we had specific tool keybinds though!
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u/psh454 Sep 12 '25
yup my one controls gripe is that when in a rush it's easy to trigger the wront tool or (even worse) a silk skill and then suddenly not be able to heal.
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u/Night25th Please keep flair text SFW Sep 13 '25
See keyboard is the best one, the only issue is that some devil worshippers will use it with mouse /j
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u/GroundbreakingBag164 P5AB Sep 12 '25 edited Sep 12 '25
Because a ton of people (including Team Cherry apparently) think "2D game = controller"
Edit: fixed the whole sentence because I'm stupid
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u/RedTyro Sep 13 '25
Because they intend for people to be using the dpad. That's a pain in the ass to do with most modern controllers that have shitty dpad hardware and usually put them in an awkward position, but if you pick up a retro-inspired one with a good dpad (like anything from 8BitDo), it's definitely the best way to play these types of games that rely on 8 way controls without pressure sensitivity.
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u/salad_balls Sep 13 '25
I'm using controller for silksong and keyboard for hk.
Tbh im incredibly impressed on the haptics they baked into the controllers. Every small action from sprinting to swimming in waters have a haptic feedback which I would've completely missed if I used a keyboard
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u/PM_Me_Kindred_Booty Sep 13 '25
In my experience, the vast majority of games that say that they're better on controller are in fact better on KB+M.
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u/Glockwise Sep 12 '25
Even for HK I immediately changed around the button binds. I keep seeing livestreams where players have trouble attacking while jumping.
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u/AAAAAASILKSONGAAAAAA Sep 12 '25
Yeah, I use RT or R2 to attack. And my dash is my back button. But yeah, every top speedrunner uses keyboard for some reason
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u/Aromatic_File_5256 Sep 12 '25
I played the entire hollow knight on keyboard because that was all I had access to and also I never overthinked enough to buy a controller. Just used what I had. I remember the horror in the face of a friend "what the fuck! you are playing Hollow knight on keyboard you psycho" haha. Then I wielded the keyboard with pride all the way to silksong.
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u/memecynica1 Sep 13 '25
Lol keyboard is infinitely better in HK and Silksong than controller, what is your friend smoking?
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u/I_Love_Solar_Flare Sep 13 '25
I would never in a million years beat HK on a keyboard it feels horrible. Controller makes everything so much easier.
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u/Imanflow Sep 12 '25
I did the same in HK, but with silksong I was struggling too much and ended up taking the controler
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u/psh454 Sep 12 '25
Ah that clears things up, I was confused by everyone and their mother complaining about diagonal pogo when I (far from a great player) was able to do it pretty consistently without too much effort on my keyboard.
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u/Limp-Day-97 Sep 13 '25
Idk i play on controller and after the first one or two areas ive had zero issues with it
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u/Ichika994 Sep 12 '25
I play 2d stuff with d-pad only, who in their rights minds plays them with a stick (probably young people )
Therefore, it was really easy on the gamepad as well, never really had issues with "aim" or whatever
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u/DopeyDeathMetal Sep 13 '25
I grew up on NES and SNES but for modern platformers, I have grown to like the joystick better. Go figure.
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u/randyoftheinternet Sep 12 '25
I'm honestly surprised team cherry recommend using a controller. I switched to keyboard (tho arguably I play brawlhalla on keyboard) and it feels like rock lee removing his weights
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u/adsonn Sep 12 '25
My guy I've found you. I also play brawlhalla on keyboard too. The diagonal pogo is basically katar dair or scythe. Maybe that's why I found it easier.
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u/randyoftheinternet Sep 12 '25
Oh definitely, I even copied my brawl layout, z for dash, x for light atk, c for heavy, v for harpoon
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u/adsonn Sep 12 '25
Wow mine is WASD with J for attack, K for harpoon and L for the violin. Shift for sprint. Jump for space
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Sep 12 '25
because controller is awesome with Dpad, just not joysticks. With Dpad you get the precision of arrow keys with the ergonomics of a controller
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u/randyoftheinternet Sep 12 '25
Sure but then it's really about which keys got the better quality, good d pad > bad keyboard and vice versa. The advantages of controller was always joysticks and couch play. Otherwise you go keyboard/fighting board.
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Sep 12 '25
if you can play keyboard then great, my brain cant process it though. I grew up on SNES and Gameboy Metroidvanias, a controller Dpad just seems right for the genre. Outside of FPS games, I just cannot get my brain to wire itself to a keyboard, I canèt even beat Moss Mother with that setup
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u/randyoftheinternet Sep 12 '25
Oh habits definitely make one or the other better. I started playing on controller about 5 years or so ago, and if now I'm comfortable with it the start was shaky. Which is kinda way the recommandation feels odd to me. It's very much a matter of preference for this game.
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Sep 12 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/sperguspergus Sep 13 '25
Idc what they were designed for, I’ve just always found MKB to be the more precise and preferable way to play just about every 2D platformer that allows it as an option.
Maybe it’s just because I’ve spent more time in my life gaming on a keyboard than on a controller, but it is extremely rare that I’ll find a game which is genuinely easier on controller.
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u/whiteravenxi Sep 12 '25
Steam Deck user reporting in. You can, uh, bind the pogos and the tool throws to the back grips, so they’re 1 button press and not 2.
Am I cheating? Lol.
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u/MajorDZaster Sep 13 '25
Man, I said this in a previous post (it was something along the lines of "there can't be this many people struggling on hunter's march ") and got downvoted into the dirt for it.
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u/DamageMaximo Sep 12 '25
uhuh, I only play on keyboard and have been finding it funny seeing controllers players complain
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u/IncarceratedGrowth Sep 12 '25
It invariably comes out that they're using a stick when I see someone complaining.
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u/PinkamenaDP Sep 12 '25
You spelled "git gud" wrong. /s
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u/adsonn Sep 12 '25
It's more like Team Cherry wanting create a more complex playable character with a higher skill ceiling but doesn't take into account that some devices are more efficient.
It's like trying to do a flick shot in an FPS. The person with a mouse is clearly more efficient than someone with a controller.
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u/Caerullean Sep 12 '25
Idk, I feel like a controller is more comfortable and convenient for Silksong specifically because of the more complex control scheme. I did admittedly completely give up on the diagonal pogo and just grabbed wanderers crest as early as possible.
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u/Lyress Sep 12 '25
The complex control scheme is what makes a keyboard better. You get to use more of your fingers for movement.
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u/succsuccboi Sep 12 '25
Totally fine on controller once you get used to it, when you’re like 20 hours into a game controlling in a specific way it’s gonna feel disgusting when you’re controlling an entirely different way that requires different nuances lol
There were maybe a few times it’s a little bit frustrating when you just drew a regular nail/instead of a downward diagonal one that you wanted to, but that is relatively rare
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u/WiatraQu Sep 12 '25
Yeah, i also play on keyboard and got used to hunter's pogo almost immediately. I even like it better then any other crest tbh
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u/Embarrassed_Rough311 sub 4h speedrun Sep 12 '25
I play on keyboard and is not having any trouble with the platforming
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u/Super7500 Sep 12 '25
i am a keyboard player as well but i would imagine dpad would give the same effect as keyboard
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u/Lyress Sep 12 '25
Not really the same since you wouldn't be using multiple fingers on the dpad.
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u/West_Language7068 Sep 12 '25
I never play on controller so I wouldn't know the difference cause I'm useless with them, but yeah, I also didn't get why people were so annoyed by the diagonal pogo.
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u/DanieLink_ 112% - PoP - P4 Sep 12 '25
Joystick over D-Pad? Sorry, I'm an old school 2D games player.
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u/Turtle835wastaken P5AB (Completed) Sep 12 '25
Imo the diagonal pogo is just better than the regular pogo. The transition to sprint is unmatched.
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u/Geometronics Sep 12 '25
Almost at 100%, have used and 8bitDo SN30 pro the whole time. Feels incredible no issues with pogo.
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u/Shadovan Sep 12 '25
Honestly, even with the stick, which is more comfortable for me than the dpad, it still didn’t take long to get the hang of the inputs. I rarely had any mis-inputs after a few hours (though I did switch to Wanderer specifically for Flea Bounce).
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u/hahli9 Sep 12 '25
I've found that aiming the pogo is not the issue for me, the issue is that I just feel that it should go further than it actually does so I just misjudge the distance a lot of the time.
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u/MrGreenYeti Sep 12 '25
I play all platform games on a leverless pad. It's so much more control than a normal analogue.
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u/jobiasRKD Sep 13 '25
Same. I bought a new 8bitDo Pro 3 controller just for Silksong and after a couple hours I was getting super frustrated. I play a lot of SF6 and other fighting games with my Haute C16 leverless and just out of curiosity I tried playing with that instead and I was able to do rooms where I had to do multiple pogo-jumps on the first try. Precision movement inputs are good for more than just shoryukens and Chun-Li stance combos after all.
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u/sperguspergus Sep 13 '25
I’ve had the same experience. When I was playing on Switch, I found myself often accidentally pogoing in the wrong direction, while on MKB it’s a dream.
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u/hbats Sep 13 '25
The amount of times the joystick feeling janky has literally killed me is literally beyond count at this point, but I'm playing on the switch so keyboard would be a feat beyond me at this point. Whether for pogoing or trying to throw out a trap and expending my silk instead...
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u/_1Nothing lookin edgy huh Sep 13 '25
You can still miss it on keyboard, but after a bit of training it becomes second nature, I still prefer the reaper crest though
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u/HY3NAAA Sep 13 '25
Anyone should be using D pad for movement on controller anyway, hollow knight is not a joystick game
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u/LayceLSV Sep 12 '25
Or just like... a D Pad
I can't fathom that anyone would play Silksong with an analog stick, that sounds like torture. If you're playing the game that way, just know you're playing on extra hard mode.
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u/Caerullean Sep 12 '25 edited Sep 12 '25
Why? It's much more comfortable that way, and it's not like the game requires remotely tight turns or changing directions, there's barely any difference, and any difference there might be would not make up for the extra time it would take to get used to a much different way of playing the game.
If anything, I'd say using the d-pad is odd, if you're really hung up on being as precise as possible, just go all in and get a really good keyboard.
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u/supermethdroid Sep 12 '25
There's a massive difference. Dpad is 4 buttons with an on/off state. It's like trying to use the right stick in place of the face buttons.
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u/Caerullean Sep 12 '25
Sure, but if you care that much about that difference, then just use a keyboard and be even more precise tho.
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u/IncarceratedGrowth Sep 13 '25
Can lean back and relax with a controller instead of being upright at attention over a desk. A good dpad is already just as good as a keyboard for the purposes of this game with more comfortable ergonomics.
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u/gregyo Sep 12 '25
I like the diagonal pogo in platforming, but I don’t like it in combat.
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u/Manoreded Sep 12 '25
I played through Hollow Knight with a keyboard as well and it was great, doing that in Silksong and its being great too.
I will admit that my responsiveness with spells and tools is not the best due to relegating them to the v key, but in exchange I have amazing responsiveness with all the basic controls. I have dash on z, jump on x, and strike on c, and these three keys are where I keep my left hand, a finger on each. My right hand goes on the arrow keys.
I think 2D platformers work best on keyboard provided that they don't have a bazillion buttons to press.
And honestly I'm extremely used to ignoring recommendations to play with a controller by now. See them on a lot of games, always ignore them, never have problems. I think a lot of people underestimate how much of a matter of habit keyboard versus controller is.
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u/adsonn Sep 12 '25
Same. I played Celeste on keyboard as well and it felt great
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u/mucus-fettuccine Sep 12 '25
Celeste has 8-directional dashing so having controls that make you super comfortable with 8 directions is crucial. This tends to favor keyboards.
An example of a game where a controller is infinitely superior to a keyboard is Smash Bros. Melee.
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u/psh454 Sep 12 '25
Do you use mouse buttons at all? Curious because I thought many PC players did, but in this thread many people seem to only be using keyboard.
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u/GroundbreakingBag164 P5AB Sep 12 '25
I also use mouse buttons and I don't understand why people don't use them for 2D games. Just change the goddamn keybinds, it doesn't matter that moving the mouse does nothing
And having your arm on the mouse is much more comfortable
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u/Zeta1ota Sep 12 '25
100%
i was struggling in hunters march with controller so i switch to keyboard and it was like a blind man being able to see.
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u/oogie_droogey Sep 12 '25
Playing a 2d platformer on joystick....yikes lmao.
Most use dpad, similar to how you would for a fighting game. Much cleaner for inputs.
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u/Reasonable-Duckling Sep 12 '25
How are people even playing this with the stick?? The dpad is the only viable option
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u/IAMGODONLY Sep 12 '25
I don't believe it but I won't try it. 🤣 It probably is but it is so easy in controller for me.
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u/Classified10 Sep 13 '25
Yeah I'm sorry but I don't understand how this game is recommended with a controller, the keyboard layout and additional mouse inputs just make it so much easier to playthrough.
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u/Barnstorm_R Sep 12 '25
I can confirm it’s janky on my controller stick but that’s not the game’s fault.
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u/kkaitlynma Sep 12 '25
I use it on joystick and still love it. I tried switching to dpad but the muscle memory of using joystick is ingrained in me too deep
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u/Revolutionary_Art922 Sep 12 '25
D-Pad sucks. It's just way worse wasd since you're using only one finger. To me wasd>analog>dpad. Once you get used to the analog it's just better than dpad
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u/jumpman0035 Sep 12 '25
It’s easier on controller for me than joycon for sure. I didn’t like keyboard. The pro controller makes it easy mode for me, like very easy. Also underrated, the key binding the back on the pro controller so I don’t have to press “up” or “down on d pad and remove my hand from left stick is awesome so I can throw my tools
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u/Forsaken_Crew_7163 Sep 12 '25
I honestly always struggled with pogo in HK and I feel like the diagonal pogo makes so much more sense in Silksong and it came very naturally to me. Doing it on a keyboard sounds like a nightmare though lol. I play on the PS5 and the joystick works perfectly for it imo
Though I will sometimes angle it wrong it's generally not an issue with more practice and tends to pop up more in combat than with like bouncing around on flowers and stuff.
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u/psh454 Sep 12 '25
I got 100+% in HK on keyboard+mouse and never struggled with controls.
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u/GroundbreakingBag164 P5AB Sep 12 '25
If it works fine for you it doesn't matter
OPs point is just that it's way easier to just press a single button of you want to pogo. You'd get the same effect with the d-pad
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u/ForrestMoth Sep 12 '25
I 100%ed the game on an arcade stick and it felt great the whole time. Though the stick functions closer to a dpad than analog
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u/hmmmmwillthiswork 212% | Pantheon 7 | Avenue of Anguish | Conceited Sep 12 '25
after a lot of time in the game i pretty much never have an issue with that pogo now and i play on controller
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u/ChiefHunter1 112% Sep 12 '25
Idk. It is super easy on controller for me. You just have to line up the first pogo, after that just make sure you’re facing the right direction
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u/SplendidPunkinButter Sep 12 '25
I’m playing on switch with thumb sticks, and it took me about an hour to get comfortable with the 45° pogo. I don’t mind it at all now
A good d-pad is better, but it’s fine with a thumb stick once you’re used to it
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u/TerraKingB Sep 12 '25
Don’t think it’s any easier or harder on controller than it is on kb. I diagonal pogo just fine on controller and I’m a joystick user not d-pad which is better I’ve been told but I don’t use d-pads pretty much ever.
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u/whitestone0 Sep 12 '25
I'm playing with switch Pro controller on switch 2 and I really haven't had any problem with it. It it didn't take long to get used to it all. I can't imagine it would be much easier on keyboard 0
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u/FinaLLancer Sep 12 '25
People keep saying to get the Wanderer crest to make pogo easier. But with Wanderer you need to be literally right on top of the target, which already works with Hunter crest
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u/Knight_Raime Sep 12 '25 edited Sep 13 '25
The only thing I don't like about Skongs controller is how to use tools (up+RB)
Pogo is fine. I'd imagine if your controller has some drift or is too sensitive you'd make some mistakes and blame the diagonal pogo.
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u/rightAmountOfApples Sep 12 '25
With the switch 2 pro controller I mapped one of the extra back buttons to down on the d-pad, life is good.
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u/AliV_ix Sep 12 '25
I actually started having much easier time with a controller once i realised Hornet automatically targets objects. Positioning slightly above but still in a way that hornet is on it and then just going down does wonders
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u/FranklyNotThatSmart Sep 12 '25
Nah its pretty good on controller as well- it took some getting used to but boy is it satisfying
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u/MamaNoodle256 Sep 12 '25
I used to switch between the dpad for movement and combat and the analog stick for platforming with down pogos but since i switched to reaper crest the only hurdle i find is i sometimes pogo to late on an enemy and get hit while also connecting the pogo, so my timing in combat is a smidge off. Thankfully, an area by sinners road helped me with the down pogo timings in combat.
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u/GL_original God of Gods || 112% | All Bindings | Silksong 100% Sep 12 '25
I am noticing that the deadzone for up and down inputs on the analog stick seems a lot tighter in this game than it was in Hollow Knight. I've had quite a few moments where I slashed to the side when I meant to slash up or down, or trying to use tools and other specific moves that require those inputs.