So I decided to check out the Steam sale, even though I hadn't had any plans to buy anymore games for awhile, and then I notice a Tomb Raider megapack, that includes every TR game ever, including the newest one (about Lara's origins) for less than $20. Since I played a lot of TR back in the day, I thought, "why not?" and bought the pack.
So I install them and boot up the original game. Remembering the schizo keymapping, I go to the control config and FINALLY figure out, 15 years after first playing the game, how to change the controls around. Yeah yeah, laugh it up, I wasn't that bright when I was a kid, and once I got the carpel tunnel-inducing default keymapping down, I never gave thought to changing the layout. So first thing I do, is remap the keys to a more logical layout. I decided to map them so they'd be as close to my TES games layout and noted, with some amusement, that every key was configured for use with my left hand. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, since I'm left-handed, until I remembered the old accusations of female night elf players playing with only one hand way back in WoW's early days.
But anyway, once I finished keymapping, I start a new game and start playing. It took a minute to adjust, and then a minute later, I realize that my right hand had found its way to the mouse and I was trying to use it to look around and steer. You know, like in EVERY game that's come out in the last 10-12 years. I forced my hand off the mouse and continued playing through the first level (missing one of the secrets
) and into the second. And the whole time I'm thinking, "This is
SO WEIRD playing with only one hand and not being able to use the mouse
period." I could only wonder how I'd done this years ago with two hands (and why it took so long to figure out how to change keys).
A big issue that I'm still getting used to is having to press a button and use the movement keys to look around instead of just mousing around to do the same. Not being able to reset the horizon height is a little weird too, but mainly because I keep the view more ground oriented, with the horizon way above my char's head, and on top of that, not being able to zoom out or in. Gah! Also, the autoaim for weapons is weird too. I mean, it's nice that the computer does it for you, but still. On top of that, the lack of proper strafing is making me pull my hair out. In TES, WoW, Fallout and other games, I pretty much do not ever use the turn keys, I only strafe and turn with the mouse, so I've also got to get used to keyboard-turning again. I haven't played any TR game beyond the sixth one, so hopefully the newer games have more mouse-friendly controls.
Makes one wonder how we got so good at these games with such limited control back in the day...but then again I suppose that's all there was at that point with system limitations and all or whatever.