I just don’t get how they seem to be unplayable or completely impenetrable to so many people. I’d say it’s a generational thing but even many people who grew up playing PS1 games act like trying to figure them out in 2024 completely short circuits their brains
Now, would I want to play some hypothetical fast paced 3D action game from the 90s where they used tank controls because they didn’t know any better? No, but they work perfectly fine in slower-paced games like Resident Evil-style survival horror or the first five Tomb Raider games (though the camera kind of sucks in those, but it took a long time for 3D games to figure out how to handle that in general)
Maybe I’m just weird for enjoying tank controls. Some survival horror games that came out in the PS2 era like Silent Hill 2 and 3 gave you the option between 2D and 3D (tank controls) movement and I always pick the latter if I get the chance
Tank controls are a huge cognitive load compared to anything else. Specially when the camera jumps around between scenes. Hardly if ever do people control something remotely, so you have to train yourself to think that way.
Funnily enough, tank controls are supposed to mitigate the disorientation from changing camera angles. A lot of people complain about your character getting turned around when the camera cuts when using analog controls in the REmake and RE0 remasters