Best tutorial of Game Controller in Zenless Zone Zero

With the recent official announcement of the collaborative controller between Zenless Zone Zero and GameSir, one can't help but ask: How can you experience Zenless Zone Zero to its fullest? My answer is simple: Use a controller! The unique combat feedback from the controller will have you hooked. So, let's dive into how to seamlessly use a controller in Zenless Zone Zero!

1. Learn About Controller Basics

Before using a controller, we need to understand the basic knowledge about controllers. The three most mainstream controllers on the market with different button layouts are from PS, Xbox, and Switch.

1.1 The Layout of PS Controller

The PS controller's button layout is symmetrical, with its analog sticks designed symmetrically and buttons placed in the upper-left and upper-right corners. Next, let's follow the PS controller to learn the names of each button.

Starting from the back, the left and right buttons at the rear are labeled "L2" and "R2," serving as the controller's left and right triggers. The front "L1" and "R1" are the shoulder buttons (Bumper).

Shifting focus to the front of the controller, there are four buttons on each side. The left side features the directional pad, while the right side includes the "X," "O," "Square," and "Triangle" buttons. The left directional pad remains consistent across all controllers, whereas the names and arrangements of the right-side buttons vary depending on the controller's layout.

The symmetrical analog sticks are labeled "L3" and "R3." PS controller users only need to memorize the appearance and placement of these buttons. On the controller's faceplate, there are two small buttons: the one marked with three vertical lines captures in-game screenshots, and the one with three horizontal lines serves as the menu button.

A unique feature of the PS controller is the touchpad at the center, which provides additional functionality. Lastly, the PS logo between the analog sticks doubles as the power button.

1.2 Layout of XboX and Switch Controllers

Next, let's take a look at the Xbox controller's button layout.

Looking from the top, the layout matches the PS controller exactly, but the button names differ. At the very back are the "LT (Left Trigger)" and "RT (Right Trigger)" buttons. Adjacent to the Triggers are the Bumper buttons "LB (Left Bumper)" and "RB (Right Bumper)," corresponding to the "L1" and "R2" buttons on the PS controller.

Shifting focus to the front of the controller, the button layout differs from the PS controller. The Xbox controller adopts an asymmetric design: the two analog sticks ("LS" and "RS") are not symmetrical, with one positioned at the upper-left and the other at the lower-right. The left directional pad matches the PS controller, but the right buttons are labeled "A," "B," "X," and "Y," corresponding to the "X," "O," "Square," and "Triangle" buttons on the PS controller.

At the center of the controller, button number 6 (marked in the image) is the screenshot button, while button number 7 on the right is the menu button. The large Xbox logo serves as the power button.

The Switch controller's layout actually matches the Xbox controller exactly. The only difference is that the positions of the "A" and "B" buttons on the Switch controller are reversed compared to the Xbox.

2. Controller Grip Style

After entering the game, simply press the menu button on the controller to switch to controller input. To revert to keyboard and mouse, press the "ESC" key.

The first step after launching the game is to open the settings and customize the controller's button mappings. Before doing this, it's crucial to understand proper controller grip techniques.

There are generally two grip styles: four-finger grip and six-finger grip.

Four-finger grip: Hold the controller with three fingers (excluding the thumb and index finger). The thumb controls the analog stick and front buttons, while the index finger operates the triggers and shoulder buttons. Its advantage is simplicity and comfort, but limitations include a lower skill ceiling due to fewer active fingers, which restricts simultaneous multi-button inputs.

Six-finger grip: Players place their middle fingers on the shoulder buttons, thumbs on the analog sticks and front buttons, and use additional fingers for stability. This method offers greater flexibility but becomes less comfortable during prolonged gameplay compared to the four-finger grip.

It's worth noting that both the "six-finger grip" and "four-finger grip" have a variant technique called the "C Hand." As the name suggests, this involves bending your hand into a C-shape, typically used with the six-finger grip.

Taking the PS controller as an example: When using the index finger (instead of the thumb) to form a C-shape and press buttons, gameplay skill ceilings improve. This allows the thumb to maintain constant control of the analog stick. However, the downside is the awkward hand positioning, which can lead to discomfort or soreness during extended play. New players are advised against adopting this grip.

Now that you've selected your preferred grip style, let's dive into the setup process!

3. "Four-finger Grip" Player Setups for Zenless Zone Zero

Next we'll use the XboX controller as an example, first let's look at the settings for "four-finger grip" players, as shown in the picture below, so that you cordwainers can adjust your basic buttons:

It is difficult for "four-finger grip" players to use the controller flexibly. For example, it is difficult to use Grace in the game. However, if we set up the controller as shown above, our EX attacks, dodges, and basic attacks will all be on the same side of the controller on the front side of the buttons and right next to each other. This makes it very easy to perform difficult moves with the controller, as we only need to press these buttons at the same time.

We've also switched the character switch buttons to "LB" and "RB" to make it easier to switch between agents at all times with our index fingers. "LT" and "RT" are the keys to trigger chain combos. This button setup is very suitable for newbies and is easy to understand. The downside is the low cap.

4. "Six-finger Grip" Player Setups for Zenless Zone Zero

Next, let's see how to set up the "six-finger grip" player, as shown in the picture below:

The "six-finger grip" setup allows for quicker use of skills and attacks than the "four-finger grip" player, and is naturally more flexible and coordinated. The above button setup allows most of the common buttons to be under our fingers at all times, making the upper limit of the "six-finger grip" player quite high.

5. Basic Input Settings of Zenless Zone Zero

After entering the input settings in the settings, we can find the "Camera Sen (X,Y axis)", the specific value can be adjusted according to the player's level of adaptation to the controller. I personally recommend keeping the sensitivity of the X and Y axes the same to help you get used to the controller faster.

The "Inverted Camera" setting is the default and does not need to be adjusted unless you are a long time player of the "Inverted Camera" single player game. Below that, we recommend turning on "Automatic Camera Rotation", which will help you rotate the camera during combat. It's also worth mentioning that it's a good idea to turn on "Controller Vibration", as this setting can greatly enhance the player's gaming experience.

When selecting from the main menu, both the stick and arrow keys can be used to select options at the same time.

6. Notes to Ensure Controller Function

If the controller lacks vibration feedback, navigate to System > Sound > More Sound > Speakers > Properties > Device (Enable) > Levels (Adjust Volume) > Advanced Default Format (Test). After clicking "Test," the controller will emit sound and produce slight vibrations.

After reading this article, I believe all proxies now know how to use a controller in Zenless Zone Zero! I'm sure you're already eager to jump into the game and experience this fresh gameplay.

Notably, GameSir officially announced yesterday that a collaborative mobilephone controller co-branded with Zenless Zone Zero will soon be released. As a rising manufacturer in the controller industry, GameSir combines technological advancements with a budget-friendly price! Let's look forward to this new collaborative controller!