Hello, dear reader, I hope you’re having a good day. I’ve uploaded a video on my channel Lunar Nebula LLC Gaming about the Nimbus controller by Steelseries, and its functionality in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) on iPad. I’ve also played Bastion with the Nimbus. I’m not being paid to write this blog by Steelseries or Aspyr, and it contains my opinions. The video on YouTube features Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) on iPad, a game with an age rating of 12+ on the App Store. KOTOR contains fantasy violence, some mature themes, and curse words. The postscript at the end of this article has a list of controls for KOTOR and some tips.
by Brian Petrilli AKA Jalinon
P.S.
Nimbus’ KOTOR Controls
*Connect the Nimbus to the device AFTER starting KOTOR. Not necessary with Bastion.
R Trigger = Camera Zoom
L Trigger = Out of combat inventory menu,
R Bumper = Select Target ->R, move R in options menu to equip menu and so on
L Bumper = Select Target -> L, move L in equip menu to options menu and so on
Y= short cut selection to “party, save, help, stealth, solo or party, and menu”; Quest menu -> Flips active and completed quests, etc.
B = cancel/deselect (doesn’t work when talking), exit menus and X controlled sub menu.
A= accept/start action, Accept Spent Skill points, Map menu -> Party Selection, Quest menu -> Sorts all quests, etc. Accept Saves. Get items.
X= Submenu selection switch, select powers and items by clicking again, use D pad to move yellow highlight in submenu (Force powers and items), DELETE SAVES, ADD/Remove Party Members, LEVEL UP FEATS (not listed on menu), Give items, Map menu -> Return to Hideout/Ebon Hawk, Quest menu -> Shows all quest items, Show Player Feedback to story in Messages menu, etc.
Example:
Quest Menu:
X: Quest menu -> Shows all quest items, Show Player Feedback to story in Messages menu,
Menu = Pause/Play in-game option. Stops time. Can also sub for A button in menus.
L Control stick = character movement. Sometimes character won’t stop moving. Can fix with touch controls.
R Control stick = camera movement. Sometimes Glitchy. Camera gets stuck. Simply saving fixed it for me. NOTE: pressing down the joysticks does nothing in KOTOR.
D pad = Move in menus and conversations, move left and right to level skills and move text in some menus.
*Touchscreen controls still work in game. Need for naming Saves, in case of glitches, etc.
KOTOR Tips: Always press B before opening a box. Prevents you from accidentally using an item if you pressed X or the D pad earlier and forgot. Menus and Actions- Note menus contain controller letters next to their selections. It’s neat!
Nimbus Controller Details
Lightning Connector Recharge port between Hold and Bluetooth activation buttons.
Bluetooth button on back activates Bluetooth. Generally automatic connectivity once the device you want to connect the controller to is on, with Bluetooth also on, and controller is turned on.
Hold button on the back turns off the controller. Also, confusingly shows battery level. The process is supposed to light up the 1, 2, 3, and 4 lights depending on battery level. Online research suggests all controllers register the ‘1’ light when turned on and connected to a device even if multiple are connected to the same device. Cannot verify.
The controller doesn’t sleep immediately when you put iPad on idle/sleep mode. It will eventually power down after several minutes. It seems to turn off immediately when Bluetooth is shut down.
- The Nimbus controller is similar to an Xbox or PS4 controller. The controller has a familiar design and weight to it. I don’t find it heavy, and it feels solid in the middle with lightweight handles. The D-Pad buttons are pressure sensitive according to the manual. I haven’t played any games with that feature. I like these bumpers better than the Xbox One controller’s because my Nimbus needs less pressure. Its battery should last 40 hours on a full charge according to its manual. It’s a little confusing to determine the battery level, but you can check it via the lights labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4 above the Menu button. The iPad’s battery will drain faster when using the controller. I prefer using the Nimbus with action games. I didn’t notice any lag from the Nimbus even when recording my review video of the controller (click the link above). Touchscreens still work with the Nimbus active. If the controller isn’t working with a game, check the Nimbus Companion app to see if it’s supported.
- The Nimbus Companion app is mildly helpful. The app is free. The search function will tell you if a game should work with the Nimbus based on its existence in the app. Games like “Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes” and “Hearthstone” aren’t available when searched for, ergo they don’t work with the controller. Also, the app doesn’t tell you if the controller will work with a game after any updates have occurred. There are no manuals or button lists for games on the app. You must experiment in-game to discover what the controller can and can’t do. Bastion’s menus are impossible to navigate with the Nimbus. You must still use the touchscreen for the iPad version. I can’t say if that’s an issue for Apple TV. The Nimbus does give you more control in games. It works great with Bastion’s combat and helps you micromanage in KOTOR. Just make sure you time your rolls and button presses properly in Bastion or it will queue several actions before you realize it.
- Would I recommend the Nimbus? There are several questions I would ask you, dear reader. First, do you like action games? Second, do you prefer gaming with a controller? Third, do you have an extra $50 after buying an iPad? You won’t get much out of the Nimbus if you prefer Strategy games or games with touchscreen innovations. If you love action games, always travel with your tablet as a portable gaming console, and/or want to use a controller, then the Nimbus is worth it. It works well when it works in the games I’ve played, and glitches haven’t been game breaking for me. It adds an extra layer of control and works as you’d expect a quality controller to. It really isn’t a necessity. If I wasn’t making videos on gaming via iPad, I wouldn’t have bought it. 50 dollars is not a small number when you’re trying to save money or manage expenses. If you’re not sure about it, you can always download the free companion app to see if the games you want to play with it are compatible.
by Brian Petrilli AKA Jalinon
P.S.
Nimbus’ KOTOR Controls
*Connect the Nimbus to the device AFTER starting KOTOR. Not necessary with Bastion.
R Trigger = Camera Zoom
L Trigger = Out of combat inventory menu,
R Bumper = Select Target ->R, move R in options menu to equip menu and so on
L Bumper = Select Target -> L, move L in equip menu to options menu and so on
Y= short cut selection to “party, save, help, stealth, solo or party, and menu”; Quest menu -> Flips active and completed quests, etc.
B = cancel/deselect (doesn’t work when talking), exit menus and X controlled sub menu.
A= accept/start action, Accept Spent Skill points, Map menu -> Party Selection, Quest menu -> Sorts all quests, etc. Accept Saves. Get items.
X= Submenu selection switch, select powers and items by clicking again, use D pad to move yellow highlight in submenu (Force powers and items), DELETE SAVES, ADD/Remove Party Members, LEVEL UP FEATS (not listed on menu), Give items, Map menu -> Return to Hideout/Ebon Hawk, Quest menu -> Shows all quest items, Show Player Feedback to story in Messages menu, etc.
Example:
Quest Menu:
X: Quest menu -> Shows all quest items, Show Player Feedback to story in Messages menu,
Menu = Pause/Play in-game option. Stops time. Can also sub for A button in menus.
L Control stick = character movement. Sometimes character won’t stop moving. Can fix with touch controls.
R Control stick = camera movement. Sometimes Glitchy. Camera gets stuck. Simply saving fixed it for me. NOTE: pressing down the joysticks does nothing in KOTOR.
D pad = Move in menus and conversations, move left and right to level skills and move text in some menus.
*Touchscreen controls still work in game. Need for naming Saves, in case of glitches, etc.
KOTOR Tips: Always press B before opening a box. Prevents you from accidentally using an item if you pressed X or the D pad earlier and forgot. Menus and Actions- Note menus contain controller letters next to their selections. It’s neat!
Nimbus Controller Details
Lightning Connector Recharge port between Hold and Bluetooth activation buttons.
Bluetooth button on back activates Bluetooth. Generally automatic connectivity once the device you want to connect the controller to is on, with Bluetooth also on, and controller is turned on.
Hold button on the back turns off the controller. Also, confusingly shows battery level. The process is supposed to light up the 1, 2, 3, and 4 lights depending on battery level. Online research suggests all controllers register the ‘1’ light when turned on and connected to a device even if multiple are connected to the same device. Cannot verify.
The controller doesn’t sleep immediately when you put iPad on idle/sleep mode. It will eventually power down after several minutes. It seems to turn off immediately when Bluetooth is shut down.