The Controls change slightly whenever the character is fighting in his powersuit, driving the Chariot or simply being a passenger of the Chariot (e.g. while his suit is repaired). As much as possible, the controls remain the same, or at least similar functions.
Embark Chariot: This must be used when near the Chariot. The Steam go inside the Chariot and the character now becomes a passenger (see Passenger controls below). If the suit was damaged, it is slowly repaired to full "health".
Movement: Pretty straightforward. The direction correspond exactly to the direction on the screen, since the game is displayed from a near top view.
Call Suit for Attack: In multiplayer, it is used to "tell" the other player using the suit to attack your target. Every time you press the d-pad in a direction, the player of this suit will get a vibration signal as well as a visual cue that is help is needed to defeat a specific enemy. In single player (or multiplayer with less than four players), it calls the AI controlled suit to attack your target. The AI will determine as best as it can the most appropriate attack needed.
Lock Target: As you move your character, a targeting logo will toggle to the enemy in front of the suit. Holding down the right shoulder button will keep the targeting logo on the current suit whichever direction you go.
Use Powerup: You will have to pickup a powerup in order to use it (see below). Powerups are single use.
Pickup/drop Powerup: In order to be used, the powerups must be picked up. You can also drop them by pressing Y again. Dropping a powerup near the Chariot's gunbarrel (at the back) will put it in the gunbarrel.
Ranged attack: Each suit has a ranged attack. This can be a musket shot, gas grenades, etc... Not all the ranged attack have the same power and rate of fire.
Melee attack: Each suit has a basic melee attack. This can be an axe, a whip, a staff, etc... Not all the melee attacks have the same power.
Disembark Chariot: You can disembark the Chariot and take control of your Steamsuit at any time.
Movement: Same as Steamsuit Controls (see above)
Call Suit for Attack: Same as Steamsuit Controls (see above), except that the Chariot doesn't target any enemies, so it only "reminds" the corresponding suit that is help is needed somewhere.
Overdrive Pump: In order to get an Overdrive boost faster than usual (the Overdrive charge itself rather slowly), you can "pump" it. By moving the Control Stick up and down repeatedly the Overdrive will charge itself faster.
Toggle Suit: The Chariot doesn't target enemies. Its targeting logo is always on a Steamsuit. Pressing the Right Shoulder button will change which suit is targeted. The targeted suit will be the one who receive the effects of the Secondary function (depends in which context).
Toggle Powerup: The Chariot has a large "gunbarrel" on his back, which is used to store powerup for later use. This button rotate the gunbarrel to change which powerup will be dropped when the Drop Powerup button will be pressed.
Drop Powerup: To drop the powerup in the gunbarrel's drop position. By the way, the Chariot, if it has still empty chambers in its barrel, will automatically pickup and store any powerup it goes over.
Secondary Function: Depends on the context: 1-Overdrive: If the Overdrive is fully charged, the targeted suit will receive the effects of an overdrive. 2-Reel In: If the targeted suit is Out of Action or has fell in a hole, trench, etc... It will be "reeled in" by the tube which links the two units. 3-Catapult: If the targeted suit in in the Chariot, the steam catapult will open and launch the suit high up in the air (useful to reach that lever high on the castle wall).
Fire Chaingun: The Chariot has 4 chainguns, the driver's one is a little larger and more powerful than the other. It only fire in front of the Chariot and is slightly unprecise, especially that the Chariot doesn't target any enemies, like the suits do. It is nowhere near as powerful as the suits weaponry, but it is nonetheless a good support weapon to slow down waves of incoming enemies while the suits deals with a few. The Chaingun might not do a lot of damage, but it has a great rate of fire.
Disembark Chariot: You can disembark the Chariot and take control of your Steamsuit at any time.
Turn Mini-Turret: Like the drivers, the passenger have control over a chaingun (slightly less powerful than the driver's). Unlike the driver's chaingun, the passenger's are able to turn (in an angle of about 90 degrees).
Call suit for attack: Same as for the Driver's. (see above)
Overdrive Pump: Same as for the Driver's. The passengers can help to pump also. The more players are pumping, the faster the Overdrive charges.
Fire Chaingun: You can guess what it does, aren't you?
On to the Camera View