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If you have a PlayStation 4, a PlayStation Vita and a copy of Fallout 4, there's good news: the Remote Play control scheme for Sony's handheld is pretty great. So if you find yourself away from your PS4, bedridden or in an extended stay in the bathroom, playing Fallout 4 via Remote Play is doable, thanks to some smart Vita-specific control tweaks.
The PlayStation Vita hardware is missing some control options that PS4 owners have access to on the DualShock 4 controller, namely the clicky L3 and R3 analog stick inputs and L2 and R2 shoulder buttons. Bethesda has moved those functions elsewhere on the Vita, to the system's D-pad and front touchscreen.
The D-pad controls, as you can see in the control diagram above, move the sneak input to the right D-pad input and VATS to up on the D-pad. Sprint is done by pressing down on the D-pad; perfect, as you'll likely be pressing up on the left analog stick anyway and the D-pad will be within reach. Pressing left on the D-pad brings up your favorites. Tap left and a little pop-up menu will appear; from there you can tap the D-pad again to select one of your favorite weapons.
The left and right side portions of the touchscreen are dedicated to bash/grenade/power attack, replacing the DualShock 4's R1 button. Tapping the center area of the screen toggles the game's camera and brings up the workshop. The rest of the Vita's control layout is pretty much the same.
The only other Remote Play controls worth noting are Pip-Boy-specific. Tapping the left and right sides of the Vita touchscreen tabs left and right, respectively, through the Pip-Boy interface, while tapping the center of the screen lets you sort items.
Maybe the best part of the Vita control implementation? There are no controls that rely on the system's rear touchpad.
We have Bethesda designer Josh Hamrick — who did similar work on Destiny's Vita-specific controls — to thank for Fallout 4's Remote Play control scheme.
To see what else is good in Fallout 4, read Polygon's review.
