Unique Hardware Uses

Titles which break conventions through interesting and unique uses of the hardware they are situated on. No specialty controllers, no purpose-built accessories.

Maximally uses the Joy-con feature set to the extent where most games don't require the screen at all.
Requires rotation of the Neo Geo Pocket for different instruments (eg. upside down for guitar, vertical for saxophone).
Uses IR camera in Joy-con for some tasks requiring hand signs.
At the end of the last extra world, the HD Rumble plays the Green Greens theme.
Has the player put their Wii Remote on a box and tap the box without physically touching the controller itself.
Edge case: Like Kaze no Klonoa: Moonlight Museum, certain segments have the player rotating the WonderSwan for vertical platforming. Implemented better here than in Klonoa.
Psycho Mantis tells you to put down your controller and makes it move using rumble. He also reads your memory card to spook you. The player also has to move their controller from slot 1 to slot 2. And the AP sensor uses the rumble. And Naomi heals you with the rumble. Rumble!
Loads a segment of the game into RAM so the player can insert a CD into the PlayStation. The metadata is then read to generate a monster.
Allows for two player single screen split screen with 3D TVs.
Wii Virtual Console release uniquely lets you save photos to the Wii message board.
Inkay can only be evolved into Malamar if the 3DS is upside down.
Takes advantage of the WonderSwan's secondary D-pad buttons by intended for the system to be held at an angle. Also uses every set of face buttons for different combinations.
The Ring-con does not count BUT the Joy-con's IR camera is used to determine heart rate.
Uses both Virtual Boy D-pads.
Loads entire game into RAM so the player can generate levels from inserted music CDs.
Spooky Search has the player moving around the room and listening to the Wii Remote's speaker to find ghosts and bring them back to the TV.
Uses face buttons and touch screen to control two characters in combat, having sequences play out differently across both screens.
Requires the player to push the Genesis' reset button to progress.
Very end game puzzle does something a little interesting with the screens of the DS 👻

3 Comments


1 year ago

zelda phantom hourglass has a part where you press an object on one screen onto the map on the other to solve a puzzle iirc

1 year ago

Didn't the original N64 release of Pokémon Snap also let you print out pictures you took at some store chain? I vaguely remember hearing something like that

1 year ago

It never came to fruition, but would Stop 'N' Swop count?


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