Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Freelook Button

 Freelook Button
type
FeatureClass
 Freelook Button
label
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button
page
FreelookButton
 Freelook Button
comment
One solution to an Event-Obscuring Camera and other camera issues is a designated Freelook button which switches the player from their normal gameplay controls to a player-view perspective of the game world (from either a first-person or over-the-shoulder view), allowing the player to look around using the same controls that would otherwise be used for their player movement.
Engaging Freelook mode has one notable side effect: Since the player's normal movement controls are now adjusting the camera instead, the player character becomes essentially fixed in place until it is released, and they may be vulnerable to enemy attacks. Some games will switch back to normal control if the player takes damage during Freelook mode, or allow limited evasive maneuvers without interrupting the Freelook. Other games may even allow the player to use their weapons/attacks in Freelook mode, enabling this function to provide precision aiming with projectile weapons (like everyone's favorite, the Sniper Rifle). Male Gaze might also be in play when players use this feature to direct the camera at particular locations, especially if the camera can be used while crouching, or if a bird's eye view option is available.
While the inevitable Camera Screw makes this a common feature in 3D games, it actually predates the development of 3D: Some 2D games provide a dedicated "look" button that allows the player to scroll their view of the level in a given direction (often with an accompanying sprite animation), and sidescrollers sometimes allow the player to hold Up or Down to scroll their view vertically (assuming the player is standing still first), as those directions are otherwise of little use in the sidescrolling genre. This commonly appeared in handheld ports of console games, due to the smaller screen sizes.
Freelook Buttons notably took off in the The Fifth Generation of Console Video Games. Since the Nintendo 64 only ever had one analog stick and the PlayStation didn't get any until two years after launch, camera controls were assigned to buttons* typically L2 and R2 on the PlayStation and the C Buttons on the Nintendo 64. This meant that there was no way the player could look up or down with any precision (if they could at all!), so developers added the Freelook Button to allow it* On PlayStation this was because developers couldn't be guaranteed that the player was using a DualShock with the second analog stick. With The Sixth Generation of Console Video Games, dual analog sticks were available on all systems and the Freelook Button became an antiquated feature.
This is not to be confused with games that allow simultaneous player movement and "free" camera control simultaneously via separate control sticks (which most First-Person Shooter games, like Quake, do by default). A Freelook Button is a means of toggling between player movement and camera control, usually because simultaneous control over both is not always possible (depending on the game's control scheme).
Compare Camera Lock-On, Camera Centering, Free Rotating Camera. A version of a Freelook Button that's designed for making screenshots is Photo Mode.
 Freelook Button
fetched
2023-10-07T04:46:12Z
 Freelook Button
parsed
2023-10-07T04:46:12Z
 Freelook Button
processingComment
Dropped link to ElHijoAWildWestTale: Not an Item - UNKNOWN
 Freelook Button
processingUnknown
El Hijo A Wild West Tale (Video Game)
 Freelook Button
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Freelook Button / int_17842d5f
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_17842d5f
comment
Fallout 76 has a free cam mode while building camps with the camera being allowed to move anywhere within the camp. A more limited version of this is available as "photomode" that allows players to take pictures and pose their characters during them.
 Freelook Button / int_17842d5f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_17842d5f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fallout 76 (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_17842d5f
 Freelook Button / int_1a8119af
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_1a8119af
comment
Dragon Quest VIII: Around towns, dungeons, and other non-combat areas.
 Freelook Button / int_1a8119af
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_1a8119af
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dragon Quest VIII (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_1a8119af
 Freelook Button / int_1c16db6b
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_1c16db6b
comment
DotHackR1Games made you available to go into First Person, though it's somewhat hard to navigate in that mode.
 Freelook Button / int_1c16db6b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_1c16db6b
featureConfidence
1.0
 .hack R1 Games (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_1c16db6b
 Freelook Button / int_310b3174
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_310b3174
comment
Operation Flashpoint has the normal movement and aim based on two controls. However, it includes an additional button that allows looking around without changing the player's aim or direction.
 Freelook Button / int_310b3174
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_310b3174
featureConfidence
1.0
 Operation Flashpoint (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_310b3174
 Freelook Button / int_3e5c6c5a
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_3e5c6c5a
comment
Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine have this, the latter allowing the player to aim FLUDD's spray nozzle at targets.
 Freelook Button / int_3e5c6c5a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_3e5c6c5a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Super Mario 64 (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_3e5c6c5a
 Freelook Button / int_464a2270
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_464a2270
comment
Epic Mickey: A first-person perspective with greater precision for using Paint and Thinner.
 Freelook Button / int_464a2270
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_464a2270
featureConfidence
1.0
 Epic Mickey (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_464a2270
 Freelook Button / int_5586ce95
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_5586ce95
comment
World maps in Mario Party and New Super Mario Bros. have a button that enables the player to scan the board without moving their piece/character.
 Freelook Button / int_5586ce95
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_5586ce95
featureConfidence
1.0
 Mario Party (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_5586ce95
 Freelook Button / int_61a1e6e6
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_61a1e6e6
comment
So Many Me: If you move one of the control sticks, you can move the camera around the level to see it all.
 Freelook Button / int_61a1e6e6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_61a1e6e6
featureConfidence
1.0
 So Many Me (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_61a1e6e6
 Freelook Button / int_66a1dcea
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_66a1dcea
comment
Tomb Raider: An over-the-shoulder perspective.
 Freelook Button / int_66a1dcea
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_66a1dcea
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tomb Raider (Franchise)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_66a1dcea
 Freelook Button / int_6bff288f
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_6bff288f
comment
In Banjo-Tooie, the "Amaze-O-Gaze Glasses" are an optional item that allows first-person view to zoom in or out.
 Freelook Button / int_6bff288f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_6bff288f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Banjo-Tooie (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_6bff288f
 Freelook Button / int_6ee28fa8
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_6ee28fa8
comment
Commander Keen: Keen could look Up or Down while standing in place, with accompanying sprite animation.
 Freelook Button / int_6ee28fa8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_6ee28fa8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Commander Keen (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_6ee28fa8
 Freelook Button / int_6f2d1072
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_6f2d1072
comment
MechWarrior Living Legends and Mechwarrior Online have freelook buttons which disable control of the BattleMech's torso and allow you to look around. When at maximum torso angle lock on a mech without an Abnormal Limb Rotation Range, using the freelook is critical because it can be used to get a few extra degrees of weapon articulation to blast someone.
 Freelook Button / int_6f2d1072
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_6f2d1072
featureConfidence
1.0
 MechWarrior (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_6f2d1072
 Freelook Button / int_74a4c704
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_74a4c704
comment
Kingdom Hearts offers a first-person perspective, but the player cannot move or attack while using it. In Kingdom Hearts II it was possible to move in the first person view, but certain attacks or magics returned the player to normal third-person view.
 Freelook Button / int_74a4c704
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_74a4c704
featureConfidence
1.0
 Kingdom Hearts (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_74a4c704
 Freelook Button / int_7529056
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_7529056
comment
Super Mario World allowed you to scroll the screen left or right with the L and R buttons.
 Freelook Button / int_7529056
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_7529056
featureConfidence
1.0
 Super Mario World (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_7529056
 Freelook Button / int_7aefccf3
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_7aefccf3
comment
Hotline Miami allows you to use a button to look around the level, which is pretty much necessary to plan your approach.
 Freelook Button / int_7aefccf3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_7aefccf3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hotline Miami (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_7aefccf3
 Freelook Button / int_7b2ca7a2
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_7b2ca7a2
comment
Bayonetta allows this when the right analog stick is pressed down for a few seconds. This is not stated in the manual.
 Freelook Button / int_7b2ca7a2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_7b2ca7a2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Bayonetta (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_7b2ca7a2
 Freelook Button / int_806c20e5
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_806c20e5
comment
The Demon's Souls 2020 remake added a "photo mode" for admiring the environment and taking screenshots. It allowed the camera to be moved a limited distance from the player character in any direction as well as freely rotated; it also paused the game, which cannot normally be done in any Souls game.
 Freelook Button / int_806c20e5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_806c20e5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Demon's Souls (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_806c20e5
 Freelook Button / int_8258e260
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_8258e260
comment
Super Mario Bros.:
Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine have this, the latter allowing the player to aim FLUDD's spray nozzle at targets.
Super Mario Galaxy has this feature, which provides excellent viewing for the game's outer-space Scenery Porn.
World maps in Mario Party and New Super Mario Bros. have a button that enables the player to scan the board without moving their piece/character.
 Freelook Button / int_8258e260
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_8258e260
featureConfidence
1.0
 Super Mario Bros. (Franchise)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_8258e260
 Freelook Button / int_8c87469c
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_8c87469c
comment
In Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, Link can maneuver in any direction in Freelook mode, as the freelook is handled exclusively by motion control.
 Freelook Button / int_8c87469c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_8c87469c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_8c87469c
 Freelook Button / int_a6f6433c
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_a6f6433c
comment
In the trilogy of Jak and Daxter games, this doubles as a means of precision aiming for projectile attacks like Yellow Eco or the Blaster gun.
 Freelook Button / int_a6f6433c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_a6f6433c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jak and Daxter (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_a6f6433c
 Freelook Button / int_a7939b19
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_a7939b19
comment
Aero the Acro-Bat: Holding the X button enabled the player to look around in any direction while Aero stood in place, with accompanying sprite animation.
 Freelook Button / int_a7939b19
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_a7939b19
featureConfidence
1.0
 Aero the Acro-Bat (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_a7939b19
 Freelook Button / int_a796bde8
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_a796bde8
comment
In the Metal Gear Solid series, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater added the ability to precision-aim firearms in this mode. It is also possible to engage this mode during some cutscenes.
 Freelook Button / int_a796bde8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_a796bde8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Metal Gear Solid (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_a796bde8
 Freelook Button / int_a90d239a
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_a90d239a
comment
Psychonauts: The first game allows you to go into first-person view by pressing down on the right control stick. This isn't handy for much more than getting a closer look at the minds you go through, though.
 Freelook Button / int_a90d239a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_a90d239a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Psychonauts (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_a90d239a
 Freelook Button / int_ae050a9f
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_ae050a9f
comment
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and all 3D Zelda games since then, have had a freelook function that also doubles as a means of precision aiming for tools like the Bow or Hookshot. Holding the shoulder button at the same time allows Link to sidestep left or right without leaving the freelook mode.
In Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, Link can maneuver in any direction in Freelook mode, as the freelook is handled exclusively by motion control.
 Freelook Button / int_ae050a9f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_ae050a9f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time / Videogame
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_ae050a9f
 Freelook Button / int_af552e7e
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_af552e7e
comment
In Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, the R button provided this function, allowing the player to look/scan/shoot vertically, at the cost of Samus not being able to move around. Metroid: Other M provides similar functionality by pointing the Wii Remote at the screen, allowing the player to look around (and shoot missiles) from a first-person perspective in a game that is otherwise played from a third-person camera.
 Freelook Button / int_af552e7e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_af552e7e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Metroid Prime (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_af552e7e
 Freelook Button / int_b4967d43
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_b4967d43
comment
Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic could look Up or Down while standing in place.
 Freelook Button / int_b4967d43
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_b4967d43
featureConfidence
1.0
 Sonic the Hedgehog (Franchise)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_b4967d43
 Freelook Button / int_bcb32dc6
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_bcb32dc6
comment
The SNES Shadowrun game, which was isometric.
 Freelook Button / int_bcb32dc6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_bcb32dc6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Shadowrun (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_bcb32dc6
 Freelook Button / int_c6e9c6cc
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_c6e9c6cc
comment
Super Mario Galaxy has this feature, which provides excellent viewing for the game's outer-space Scenery Porn.
 Freelook Button / int_c6e9c6cc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_c6e9c6cc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Super Mario Galaxy (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_c6e9c6cc
 Freelook Button / int_c834792e
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_c834792e
comment
Spyro the Dragon gives an over-the-shoulder perspective. Spyro even turns his head to look where the player is looking.
 Freelook Button / int_c834792e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_c834792e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Spyro the Dragon (Franchise)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_c834792e
 Freelook Button / int_d59e2ca4
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_d59e2ca4
comment
Although Quake permits movement and looking at the same time, it was still implemented in a way that followed the trope. By default, the mouse would move the player forward and back. The mouse-look key allowed freely rotating the camera with the mouse when held, but snapped back to normal after a few steps. Permanent mouse look required editing a configuration file ("+mlook" in autoexec.cfg), or getting one of the many source ports that enable it by default.
 Freelook Button / int_d59e2ca4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_d59e2ca4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Quake (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_d59e2ca4
 Freelook Button / int_df890a88
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_df890a88
comment
Rodina: Holding the alt key while piloting your ship makes mouse movement rotate the camera without rotating your ship. Releasing alt makes the camera snap back to face the same direction your ship does.
 Freelook Button / int_df890a88
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_df890a88
featureConfidence
1.0
 Rodina (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_df890a88
 Freelook Button / int_e030b382
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_e030b382
comment
PlanetSide 2 allows aircraft to freelook when the player holds down the middle mouse button, which locks them from using pitch and roll controls. The Liberator gunship's pilot-controlled gun used to be aimable in freelook for use against ground targets, but was removed on all but one gun because Liberators were murderizing the crap out of everything in the sky.
 Freelook Button / int_e030b382
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_e030b382
featureConfidence
1.0
 PlanetSide (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_e030b382
 Freelook Button / int_eab90aec
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_eab90aec
comment
Yakuza allows you to go into a first-person perspective in certain games by pressing an analog stick. Can lead to moments of Guide Dang It! when certain collectibles require you to be in first-person to collect them, as the game won't indicate you need to do so and the mechanic is otherwise unused.
 Freelook Button / int_eab90aec
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_eab90aec
featureConfidence
1.0
 Yakuza (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_eab90aec
 Freelook Button / int_f49c542c
type
Freelook Button
 Freelook Button / int_f49c542c
comment
Bad Piggies: While constructing your vehicle, you could tap the magnifying glass in the corner of the screen to view the whole area. This leads to a little fun in the "Flight in the Night" levels, where you can use it to look for sleeping Angry Birds.
 Freelook Button / int_f49c542c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Freelook Button / int_f49c542c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Bad Piggies (Video Game)
hasFeature
Freelook Button / int_f49c542c

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Freelook Button
processingCategory2
Various Video Game Views
 Spyro the Dragon (Franchise) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 FreeLookButton
sameAs
Freelook Button
 Bad Piggies (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 El Hijo A Wild West Tale (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 Epic Mickey (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 Gunpoint (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 Little Runmo - The Game (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 Metal Gear Solid (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 PlanetSide (Video Game) / int_17321f62
type
Freelook Button
 Portal Runner (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 So Many Me (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 Super Mario 64 (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 Ty the Tasmanian Tiger (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 Windom XP (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 Wonderland Adventures (Video Game) / int_a0604342
type
Freelook Button
 H.A.W.X. (Video Game) / int_17321f62
type
Freelook Button