Motion Controls

Movement and vision is controlled by the two joysticks. The use of the joysticks is a bit counterintuitive but you get used to it:

• The right joystick controls motion forward, motion backward and motion sideways without turning (sidestepping).
• The left joystick controls the view up and down, and turning left or right.

While this sounds straightforward, it means that you use the N/S motion of the right joystick and the E/W motion of the left joystick to move the character around, rather than all being on the one joystick.

Other features, in order of importance

• Right trigger: Fire!
• Y: swap weapon in hand with weapon on back
• Right index finger button: pick up weapon, open door, etc.
• Left trigger: throw grenade or fire second weapon
• B: punch
• Press right joystick: zoom vision (when using certain weapons)
• X: activate certain items such as portable force field
• Press left joystick: duck (rarely used)

Hints

1. You can use the B button to punch. This can be very effective. If you are up close, you can punch just about any enemy and kill him. Guys in heavy armour may take two punches. You can also jump onto a "Wraith" tank and punch the front of it to disable it. Punches are extremely effective against the Flood.

2. You can have two weapons, one on your back and one in your hand (or for some types, one in each hand). You switch between the weapon in hand and on your back by pressing Y. If you have a gun in each hand and you switch to the one on your back, the one in your left hand will be discarded.

3. To defeat a "Scarab": There two ways to get into a scarab. You can fly over it and jump out of the aircraft onto the top of the scarab. You can also fire at its leg joints until you damage one, at which stage it will crouch down. You can then jump into it at the back. It only stays crouched down for a short time, as it repairs itself and returns to full capacity. Once inside, you must make your way up to the top at the back where there is a giant glowing reactor. Shoot this until it turns red and a warning siren starts. Then you must abandon ship and run as fast as you can, as the scarab will explode.

4. If you want to drive a jeep ("Warthog") or tank ("Scorpion") you must go to the left side and press the right index finger button. All these vehicles are left-hand-drive. If you go to the other side, you'll end up being a passenger.

5. Turret guns are ones which are fixed to a turret or tripod. You can use them by pressing the right index finger button. You can then rip them off their housing by pressing B and lug them around. Turret guns normally have a lot of bullets in them, but they are heavy so you will be slow while carrying them.