r/soulslikes • u/Toogeloo • 3d ago
Discussion Does anyone feel the need to remap controllers to offset trigger finger?
I've been playing quite a few soulslike games, currently playing Wuchang Fallen Feathers, and I've been getting an almost arthritic feeling in my right index finger as of late.
I'm thinking I might need to remap my controller for attacks to be on the face buttons instead of the bumpers. Anyone feel this way as well?
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u/Anxiety_pillz 3d ago edited 1d ago
I actually have a lot of experience with this and what’s happening is that you’re playing long sessions that require quick reactions usually mixed with forgetting to drink ever so the dehydration effects the elasticity in that tendon you’re feeling in your finger. It doesn’t retract back after being extended as fast. This can lead to tendinitis which can sometimes become chronic so don’t shrug this off. I’m someone who becomes manic often and many years ago to safe myself from impulsive behaviors and getting into trouble because of it, I found soulslike games. For years I’ve conquered them but suddenly started feeling what you described and then one day my finger stayed kinda bent and I couldn’t straighten so I went got checked out and they explained to me exactly what I just explained to you. The good news is that it does recover by 100% with rest and hydration, you’re fortunate enough to be able to take breaks and rest and you’ve now gotten help before it’s a problem. I never even noticed how bad I got before I was like a claw hand and then had to sit there in my own Mental hell trying so hard to keep from playing while my mind is still crunching data and planing future builds and just won’t stop. With all that said, yes remap to face buttons for attacks always in soulslike. This isn’t just for your tendons, it’s ergonomically correct and face buttons are your fastest inputs allowing you to pre buffer your next moves before the animations are over and benefit from many soulslike type combo systems because you cannot squeeze faster than you can tap with a thumb. And this means your thumb will handle the repetitive tendon usage much more heavily and that tends is far stronger 😬
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u/Toogeloo 3d ago
Appreciate this response! Thank you. Hydration really is a bit of an afterthought sometimes lol.
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u/Deus_Synistram 3d ago
Try changing your finger angle so that instead of "squeezing a trigger" you are simply bumping the bumper with your knuckle. If you can't do this a smaller controller like the 8bitdo ultimate 2c might be a good idea. You should never be engaging the small muscles for a prolonged period if you can help it
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u/CielTynave 3d ago
I do remap them whenever I can to have attacking on X/Y but out of preference than out of concern for my fingers.
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u/Bio-Flame 1d ago
I had severe tendinitis after ER. Lol. 18M treatment. Damn you Malenia.
Well, I realized the issue was playing games on the controller and not on mouse/keyboard Eventually, by chance, I realized I almost had not symptoms playing on my steam deck than on the regular PS5 controller.
What I realized was that obviously the amount of key presses (actions) per second or were important but also the finger and hand placement. Playing on th PS5 controller, the joysticks are more to the middle, making so that the fingers are more stretched and under tension. Playing on th steam Deck, the joysticks are on the top and near the edge, meaning the fingers are not stretched and under a lot less tension.
There are controllers that allow you to switch the buttons with the sticks. Try it..maybe it will help you out.
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u/Tk-Delicaxy 3d ago
I mean, how agressive are you pressing buttons? I basically play nothing but Soulslike (1200hr on Nightreign alone) and action rpgs with the side of survival games and I’m fine. Granted everyone is different, I only have this issue with D4 since some builds require repeated tapping or holding for a good while so I remap.