The 5-Minute, Open-Palm, Exploding Add Mess Technique
I'll be honest, my day is spent in a blur of typing and clicking. I have to click a point on a map to start a new quest, then tap my thumb at just the right (or wrong — see "Clicker Damage") moment during an argument or heated discussion. I use my mouse to avoid being hit by ghosts, clicking it as fast as possible until they disappear from sight. And then there's those times where I can't seem to beat a game because of the incredibly complex controls that are always way harder than they need to be.
So here's the deal: If you don't want to be playing mind-numbing games that are way harder than they need to be and you don't want to be blaming your anger on your incredibly difficult mouse sensitivity, then I have great news for you.
Here's a little secret of mine: Using an open palm and a little bit of effort, you can beat infuriatingly challenging games!
I've used this technique in every game I've ever played that has brain-numbing controls — including WoW, Minecraft, Terraria, Skyrim, The Binding of Isaac, Silent Hill 2 , Among the Sleep , and countless others — and have had amazing results.
Basically, you take your hand, open it up and rub the palm of your hand. You then push the tip of your index finger lightly into those controls (be they thumbsticks, triggers or face buttons) and start pushing them with all your might.
Watch out: That's right — when I say "push," I mean really push. Don't just tap. Don't just get some sort of reaction. Push until your finger feels like it's going to crush through the side of your controller (or keyboard, as the case may be). Push as hard as you can.
The one tip I have to this technique is that after you push, it can be beneficial to slide your finger around a bit. This makes motions that require precision a lot easier — and depending on the game, it can make the whole process a lot more fun!
But even though this is fun, there are some drawbacks. I'll tell you how to avoid them later on in this article.
Here's the basic process:
You can use this technique for any game with really hard controls. I've even used it for point-click, action-based games like WoW and Terraria . Here's a brief run-down on how to apply it to the most common challenges faced in today's games:
The Class Challenge:
How do I play a class that has really hard controls?
Before you can use the exploding open palm technique, you need to find a way to make up for your inability to click fast enough. This is usually done with your other hand. Pressing down on the control stick with one hand and using the other hand for A attacks works in most games for this. (Thanks to Justin and Sean for confirming that this works in Zelda: Breath of the Wild .)
You can also use your index finger to tap A or click on the screen. I recommend using your other hand to move the character and one finger from your opposite hand for tapping. If you're playing a game where looking around is crucial, like Binding of Isaac , you might want to swap those roles so you can move with one hand and explore with the other.
So now that you've got everything set up, here's how you do it:
If your controller (or keyboard, etc.) has left and right analog sticks, then using these two techniques in conjunction will be easier. My preferred way to use this technique is by using my left hand for the D-pad and my right hand for the left analog stick or the face buttons.
Don't be afraid to experiment, though! You might find that you like having your left hand on the face buttons. Or maybe you're like me and don't have a choice but to use your left hand for movement, so you'll want to use your right for everything else. Use whatever works!
Now, about those drawbacks... There are a few things that are really easy to mess up when using this technique. You should be aware of these before you try this out.
The Hardest Button Challenge: How do I use a button that's always hard to press?
If you have a button that's very hard to press, then applying the exploding open palm technique can make this even harder. But don't worry — I've got a solution for you!
First, move your mouse/trackball/hand away from the buttons that are having issues. This is really important! You want to position your hand as far away from the buttons as possible. This will help soften up your fingertips and make it easier for them to hit the buttons without pushing down with all your force (which we don't want).
Now that you've gotten your hand away from the buttons, what you do next is really up to you. There are a few ways I've tested it and found effective.
Basically, you'll want to tap on the other buttons after applying the technique. Your fingers will rest on those other buttons for extra emphasis when you push them. This will make it easier for you to hit the hard spots without pushing all that hard in the first place.
One thing I'm trying with this is doing something along the lines of: tap, tap, tap, press and move finger all around until buttons start responding (the middle-finger style). This feels like I'm hitting my fingers less since I'm moving around a bit more after tapping. I'm not 100% sure how well this really works, but it feels a lot better than just pressing hard with the palm of my hand.
So if the button you're trying to push is in a less-than-optimal location (like A on a Nintendo Switch), then you might want to move your hand like so:
The buttons I've circled are where I place my hands when hitting those buttons with this technique. It's also where I place my middle and ring fingers when I tap those buttons. The pinky is also an option for extra emphasis, especially for soft buttons.
Conclusion:
It's been two months since I started using this technique, and it's still my favorite way to "feel" the controls. I can't recommend it enough! If you feel like all the controls in your game are really hard to use, then give this a try! The results are guaranteed to surprise you.