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Configuring Your Controls
Properly configuring your controls will mean the difference between life and death in Forsaken
.
At the main menu, go to: Set Up Biker\Controls\Configure Keys and Buttons. If you're already playing, hit ESC, then go to Set Up Biker, Bike Controls, and Configure Controls. From either of these two areas, you can set up your keys and joystick buttons. Highlight a control, hit ENTER, and then hit the key you want to set for that control.
It takes some work to get the controls arranged just the way you want them. You will find which arrangement works best for your own needs, but if you're like just about everyone else who plays Forsaken
, you'll find the default control settings impossible to use efficiently. Put all of the most important controls (forward, reverse, slide left and right, slide up and down, roll left and right, weapon scroll, and primary and secondary weapons firing) within easy reach, and keep in mind that both of your hands will be needed just to move through the mazes.
Assigning a single key to multiple moves can, in special cases, save your skin. Forsaken
allows you to assign, say, "H" to, say, slide left, roll right, and slide down. When you hit "H" during play, you'll witness some funky moves. This is called "triple chording," and you can read more about this below. To assign multiple keys to a single control, simply highlight the control and hit ENTER, then the key. If a key had previously been assigned to this control, you will see "2/2" appear to the left of the indicated key, which means that you are looking at the second of two keys assigned to that control.
Controllers (mouse vs. joystick)
Don't use a keyboard as your only controller in Forsaken
. Even with a keyboard/mouse combination, you'll find yourself falling behind in multiplayer matches. The keyboard/mouse combination is okay for single-player missions against the computer, but you'll find the mouse is tiring after all of the lifting and rolling you have to do to keep your mouse on the mouse pad. This costs precious time, and continuous turning is impossible. The best combination is the joystick and keyboard. With a joystick, you'll see a huge difference in your ability to maneuver. Turns are continuous and you can combine moves far more efficiently.
The more buttons on your joystick, the happier you will be. You want each one of your hands to have as many buttons and keys within easy reach as possible. The less time you spend looking down for a particular control, the more time you'll have for concentrating on the game. Selecting buttons for specific controls is up to you -- there are thousands of combinations, but only one will fit you specifically.
Obviously, firing and directional controls are your priority. However, you should also consider the importance of being able to scroll through weapons, both primary and secondary, without relying on the number keys on the keyboard. If you have a lot of buttons on your joystick, assign one to scroll through primary weapons and one for secondary. Being able to quickly choose the proper mine in your inventory can help thwart a stubborn pursuer who'd otherwise nail you.
Maneuvering
It goes without saying that a moving target is harder to hit. Being able to maneuver across three axes takes a lot of getting used to, but with practice you'll literally be running circles around your opponents.
The first thing you must learn is maneuvering with auto-leveling turned off. If you're used to your bike automatically righting itself every time you whip through a turn, turning off auto-leveling is going to be an ugly experience at first. You will be extremely disoriented, but you've got to get used to it, because flying with it on is a shortcut to an early death. Remember, flying at funky angles of attack makes it tough on your opponent to hit you -- why make it easy on them by keeping yourself straight and level? Note that when you turn off auto-leveling, you should configure your controls to roll your bike. This will help you right yourself when you need to.
Combining your maneuvers, or chording, not only makes you a tougher target to hit but also has the added benefit of giving you more speed. Try flying straight while sliding left. This is an example of double chording, and you'll see your cycle moves faster flying diagonally than it does when flying straight ahead. If you fly straight ahead, then slide left and slide up, your speed is increased even more. Triple chording, or moving on three axes at the same time, is essential in Forsaken
. Sometimes you'll find yourself triple chording without realizing it, because, in a panic, you'll hit every control at once. If you can do the same thing and mean to do it, you'll start racking up kills.
As mentioned previously, triple chording can be extremely useful in special circumstances. Are you stuck in the blue gravity field of a Gravgon missile? By combining triple chording with a burst of nitro, you'll be able to wrest your Pioncycle free and give your assailant an unhappy surprise. The best way to execute such an escape is to assign a single key or button to perform a three-axis maneuver. You won't be needing to use this key very regularly (at least one hopes not), so assign a key that is at least accessible, if not within immediate reach. Choose, say, the letter "H" and assign it to, say, move forward, slide right, and slide up. When you get caught in a Gravgon's field, hit "H" and you and your nitro should be free in no time.
If you suddenly find yourself in the path of guided munitions, like a Solaris missile, don't panic -- triple chord! Actually, even double chording works here. Let the missile close in a bit, then at the last minute, thrust forward and slide left (or right) at the same time. The Solaris isn't all that maneuverable, so if you time it right, you should be able to fly right around it and watch it slam into the wall. You can even evade a Scatter missile by adjusting your timing a bit. Stuck in a tunnel? Triple chording in a tunnel takes even more practice. The goal is to slide forward, left (or right), and up without bumping into the walls. This means you have to find just the right angles so that you're flying straight through the tunnel while taking advantage of the speed triple chording affords you. Add a blast of nitro into the mix and you'll really be hauling.
When someone locks onto you and you are uncertain where it's coming from, don't sit in a room sliding back and forth trying to find where they are. For all you know, you're maneuvering square into your enemy's sights. Head in the one direction that you know is clear -- straight ahead. Look for a tunnel or a turn to duck into. If you have the opportunity to run away, take it.
Entering a big room from a small tunnel can be fatal if there's a heavily armed attacker waiting in the wings. They're waiting for you to come straight out of the tunnel like a normal person. Don't fall prey to this simple trap. Triple chord your way in. While you gyrate into the room, you might even spot the would-be assassin as they sit there with their mouth agape. Pay them back for their insolence.
Forsaken
takes a lot of practice, so don't get frustrated if you start out getting killed a lot. Remember that you can always go back to single-player games to practice and test new maneuvers. Of course, the best training comes from combat against human players because their unpredictability will constantly put you to the test. Have fun!
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