• Download and browse the game's official linked PDF MANUAL
  
• You can get some of the info in this Guide as well as further technical details about the game at: https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Deathtrap_Dungeon

• Use the provided tools in the root game folder ('steamapps\common\deathtrap dungeon'): open 'nglide_config.exe' and set your preferences (check 'DDCONFIG.EXE' for some additional options but you can usually leave that one on defaults).
  
• Add the game to your GPU control panel list of .exes if it's not already there and max out any relevant settings for it. (Turn off threaded optimization if it's not off by default.)
  
• Note: Low FPS is tied directly into the game speed mechanics so it must be played this way in order to keep it balanced.

My Recommended Settings
(Use this as a baseline and then tweak from there if needed.)

• Screen resolution "by desktop" (your native resolution).
  
• Aspect ratio - "fit to screen" (I find that stretching to a wide format screen size does not compromise the visuals at all, but go
  with 4:3 if you simply want a more retro look).
  
• Both in-game and nglide Gamma settings work against one another so you can probably just go with tweaking only one or the other and be fine. I recommend making your game just slightly darker than default.

Disable Logos and/or Intro Movie
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Go into your 'steamapps\common\deathtrap dungeon\asylum\movies' folder and rename the first two files however you want (I just add an _ to the beginning.) Or disable them in any combination you like. Restore them any time by putting back the original file names.
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If you're going to play strictly "KB/M" then skip this section. For those interested in getting full controller support (including the option to use a fully working "xbox" styled steam controller configuration) then read on...

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A. Disable the controller in the game options
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While the game does support some controller functionality, you will be limiting the range of functions available to you.

For example, BACK ATTACKS require you to press RIGHT and LEFT ARROW keys simultaneously, but this function cannot be bound to a controller with the in-game settings. At the same time this breaks the ARROW keys on the keyboard, so even if that was somehow comfortable to do with a controller then those keys simply wouldn't do anything.

You also can't assign trigger buttons or enable controller 'mouse' support in-game. What you can do, however, to get every last bit of functionality into your controller, is to disable it inside this game and enable keyboard so you can simply map any and all keys to any button on your controller, even the triggers.

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B. Choose your mapping software
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Use your own mapping software if you have one that you prefer and create your own layout for the game. Or, with Steam's integrated controller configuration tool you can:

1. Do that yourself from scratch without any other software.
   
2. Use my configuration as a template for your own layout.
   
3. Or just use my configuration "as is" if all you need is a good "xbox-styled" layout.

If you're not going to be using my steam controller file then you can skip this section. Either way, you can click on the picture at the bottom of this section to get a full layout of the main controller layer.

1. Open the DtD page in your steam library.
   
2. Click "Controller Configuration" on the right of the page.
   
3. Select "Browse Configs" on the bottom of the new window that pops up.
   
4. Select "Community" on the left and "P!mp3d DtD Controller Config!" on the right. (steam://controllerconfig/245010/2665053174)
   
5. Select "Apply Configuration" and then "Done" to close the window. Unless you change or disable the file in the settings, then this controller configuration will automatically be applied every time you start the game. (So there's no need to ever go back there once this is set.)
   
6. Feel free to tweak the file to your own liking if you would like anything at all different. Just save it to your own personal file and name.
   
7. (You can reinstate the default controller setting at any time if you want to uninstall this configuration.)
   
8. Please vote for it if you find it helpful!

This configuration gives you full controller support in an xbox type layout without ever having to use mouse and keyboard if you don't want to. There's just one small adjustment you need to make before using it:

1. Bind your ATTACK key to Q in the game menu's keyboard options (or change it in the controller configuration if you prefer). The reason I set mine to Q is because I don't see the need for using something like CAPS LOCK for most gaming functions, especially for old games like this.

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"Onions have layers..." (and so does this file)
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There are 2 layers, the 'MAIN' one and the 'KEYS 1-8' one. You switch between them with the START button. The second layer is basically the same as the first, the only difference being that the BUTTON PAD (1-4) and D-PAD (5-8) will only input keyboard 'KEYS 1-8' while this layer is active. Switch again with the START button to go back to the main layer.

The numbering system in LAYER #2 is arranged in two clockwise arrangements. The BUTTON PAD starts with "Y" as "1" and then, following a clockwise pattern, ends at "X" as "4". Similarly, the D-PAD starts at "UP" as "5" and ends at "LEFT" as "8".






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Main Controller Features
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ESC/MAIN MENU is bound to the 'BACK' controller button.

All 5 Attack Directions + 2 Attack Buttons!

• Q/ATTACK is bound to both the "X" and 'RIGHT-TRIGGER' buttons for versatility. Use one or both, or you can always remap one of them if you prefer.
  
• Also, since you need to also input a direction in order to execute an attack, I bound RIGHT+LEFT ARROW to 'LEFT-THUMBSTICK CLICK' in order to enable the BACK ATTACK option.

MOUSE movement is enabled to the 'RIGHT THUMBSTICK' with LEFT-CLICK MOUSE bound to its 'RIGHT THUMBSTICK CLICK'. This enables you to not only navigate the game menus and make selections, but also move the camera more quickly in 1st person view (move it with LEFT THUMBSTICK for more precision).



SPACEBAR/ACTIVATE is bound to the "X" button in the main layer. Use this to also click past finished loading screens.

• Due to a bad patch in the base game, the steam version plays the same music track in every level of the game.
  
• You can purchase and play the GOG version to avoid this.
  
• Or you can use this very helpful guide to correct the Steam version of the game:
  https://cs2bus.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=391210236

For new players and those that may have simply forgotten some mechanics...

MOVEMENT

• The longer and faster you move, the further and higher you can jump. Just watch the red meter in the top left corner. While running, wait to build some extra momentum to max out the meter for situations where you may need it, like to clear a long jump.
  
• You can jump in all 4 basic directions while running or moving.
  
• Maxing out the SPEED METER by running for a long enough time enables you to do an impressive forward jump-roll when pressing JUMP. (Note: You can practice -and enjoy- this without much interruption by running straight through the starting area of the 1ST LEVEL all the way to the first closed gate. See how many forward rolls in a row you can time perfectly.)
  
• SLOW movement prevents you from falling down ledges while pressed.
  
• Use NORMAL movement and RUN most of the time.
  
• Using RUN will also make you spin around faster if you're looking to do something like a quick 180 degree pivot in the heat of close combat.

ATTACKS

• RIGHT+ATTACK (SLASH) is your bread and butter attack type since it covers a wide range in front of you, as opposed to the other attacks. If not sure how to attack at any given moment then you can always "default" with this useful attack.
  
• Hold down any button combination (except for BACK & PARRY) in order to carry out a series of stringed combos.
  
• You can also always start and change up your own combos without going into the set strings, just keep holding ATTACK as you switch directions.
  
• You can do a BACK ATTACK but it's 3 keys at once (by default: CAPS + RIGHT ARROW + LEFT ARROW).
  
• You can aim and fire any RANGED ATTACKS while in 1ST-PERSON view.

Since the manual icons are basically in much poorer resolution than in the game, I created this graphic and tables using the original manual text and clips of the menu icons from the current game. This should help to make learning and navigating the fixed menu layouts much easier. Descriptions are taken as verbatim from the manual.

NOTE: If you don't see all 4 of the description tables completed yet then please check back soon for updates! (WIP)

Quick-Reference Graphic: Icon Names
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Quick-Reference Table: Icon Descriptions

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⚔ Nexus Mods: wizardmirth[www.nexusmods.com] ☢

https://cs2bus.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1651978982
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