My hands shake, don’t move very quickly so games that require constant fast reaction/unassisted aiming are v hard
Andrea Chandler, via Twitter
My 4 year old had a stroke just after she was born and her right side is not coordinated enough to hold the controller in a way that really allows her to play with us. Well, thanks to Mario Kart’s new Auto Drive feature, she can now steer with her left hand and let the game drive for her or vice versa. I’m sure this feature will be an annoyance to many, but for my daughter, who would otherwise not really be able to participate, it is the best feature ever added to a Mario Kart game.
Keith & Molly, via Reddit
Assist modes are optional settings to compensate for lack of speed or precision, allowing gamers with difficulties in these areas to take part on a level playing field. They also have strong benefits for people who are simply less proficient at the game, allowing them to still experience the same progression and enjoyment.
They can be partial, for example requiring less accuracy for aiming, or full, for example carrying out all braking and gear changes completely automatically.
An obvious area of concern is the impact that this has on competitive multi-player, giving players a way to gain an unfair competitive advantage, but this is easily addressed through matchmaking preferences.
Best practice examples:
- Celeste assist mode
- Dirt 3 assists
- Even The Ocean options
- Forza Horizon 3 difficulty settings
- Mario Kart 8 assists
- Uncharted 4 accessibility settings
Category & Level:
- General (Intermediate)