Owlboy
A pixel-art adventure platformer about an owl-boy who flies and carries allies.
Where Owlboy comes up1 episode or test
- Hammering the button fires faster
- Holding the button fires slower
- Holding is simply penalised
- No choice to make
- Tapping carries its own tradeoff
- Holding charges a shot, another tradeoff
- Both options are worth choosing
Offer press versus hold only when both are worth choosing.
From Game design note on Owlboy and Mega Man X
What was said about Owlboy
Owlboy penalises holding the fire button, so press versus hold is no real choice. In Owlboy, holding the button fires slower than hammering it, so a player who holds is simply penalised. Since one option is strictly worse, there is no decision to make.
Mega Man X is the contrast: tapping and holding (the charge shot) each carry a distinct tradeoff. The source's verdict on Owlboy: "There's no choice to make." The lesson is to offer press versus hold only when both are worth choosing.
The Secret of Mario's Jump (and other Versatile Verbs)
Holding fire shoots slower than hammering the button, so holding is simply penalised and offers no real choice.
Owlboy penalises holding the fire button, so press versus hold is no real choice. In Owlboy, holding the button fires slower than hammering it, so a player who holds is simply penalised. Since one option is strictly worse, there is no decision to make.
Mega Man X is the contrast: tapping and holding (the charge shot) each carry a distinct tradeoff. The source's verdict on Owlboy: "There's no choice to make." The lesson is to offer press versus hold only when both are worth choosing.
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