Restoration Controls Guide: Master Every Action

Default Keyboard and Mouse Controls

Restoration is designed as a relaxing simulation where you revive forgotten video game cartridges. The controls are intentionally simple to keep the experience stress-free. Here are the default bindings:

Action	Key Binding	Notes
Interact / Pick Up	Left Mouse Button	Click on cartridges or tools
Rotate Cartridge	Right Mouse Button (hold + drag)	Rotate in any direction
Zoom In / Out	Mouse Wheel	Adjust view distance
Pan Camera	Middle Mouse Button (hold + drag)	Move view without rotating
Use Tool	Left Mouse Button	Apply cleaner, scraper, etc.
Cycle Tools	Q / E	Switch between available tools
Menu / Pause	Escape	Access settings and save
Toggle UI	H	Hide interface for screenshots

Tool-Specific Controls

Each restoration tool has unique interactions. Understanding these will help you clean cartridges more efficiently.

Wrapping Tear Tool

• Tear wrapping: Click and drag along perforated edges
• Speed: Faster drags tear larger sections
• Precision: Slow, short clicks for delicate areas

Sticker Peeler

• Peel start: Click on sticker edge
• Pull direction: Move mouse to control peel angle
• Speed control: Slower movement reduces tearing risk

Grime Remover

• Scrub motion: Click and move in small circles
• Pressure: Not simulated — no damage from hard scrubbing
• Effectiveness: Even coverage cleans faster

Step 1: Pick Up a Cartridge

Left-click on any cartridge on your workbench to lift it.

Step 2: Inspect the Condition

Use right-click drag to rotate and mouse wheel to zoom.

Step 3: Select Your Tool

Press Q or E to cycle through available cleaning tools.

Step 4: Begin Restoration

Left-click and drag on the cartridge surface to clean, peel, or tear.

Camera and Navigation Controls

Navigating your workspace is essential for comfortable gameplay. Restoration offers several camera options:

Action	Control	Alternative
Orbit Camera	Right Mouse Button + Drag	N/A
Zoom	Mouse Wheel	+/- keys
Pan	Middle Mouse Button + Drag	Arrow Keys
Reset Camera	R	Centers view on cartridge

Menu and Interface Controls

Managing your game session is straightforward:

• Escape: Opens pause menu with options to save, load, or quit
• Tab: Toggles your inventory of cartridges
• I: Opens detailed cartridge information panel
• F1: Shows control reference overlay

Save Management

• Quick Save: F5
• Quick Load: F9
• Auto Save: Triggers after completing each cartridge restoration

Customizing Your Controls

Restoration allows full remapping of all keyboard and mouse controls. To customize:

1. Open Settings from the main menu or pause menu
2. Navigate to the Controls tab
3. Click any binding and press your desired key
4. Confirm changes before exiting

Recommended Customizations

Player Preference	Suggested Change
Left-handed	Swap primary/secondary mouse buttons in OS settings
Trackpad users	Increase camera sensitivity in Settings
Small screens	Bind zoom to dedicated keys (Z/X)
Accessibility	Use toggle instead of hold for camera orbit

Controller Support

While Restoration's primary control scheme is keyboard and mouse, the game also supports:

• Xbox Controllers: Plug-and-play via USB or Bluetooth
• PlayStation Controllers: Requires DS4Windows or Steam Input
• Generic Gamepads: Basic functionality via XInput mapping

Controller Button Map

Gamepad Button	Action
A	Interact / Confirm
B	Back / Cancel
X	Cycle Tool Left
Y	Cycle Tool Right
Left Stick	Camera Orbit
Right Stick	Camera Pan
D-Pad Up/Down	Zoom In/Out
Start	Pause Menu

Advanced Techniques

Master these techniques to speed up your restoration workflow:

Efficient Peeling

• Start peeling from corners when possible
• Use quick, short mouse movements for stubborn stickers
• Zoom in close (mouse wheel) for precision work

Quick Tool Switching

• Memorize tool order for faster cycling
• Use Q/E rhythmically while keeping mouse still

Camera Management

• Reset camera (R) between each tool change
• Use orbit (right-click drag) to find the best angle before starting

Troubleshooting Controls

If controls aren't responding as expected:

1. Check input device: Ensure your mouse/keyboard is properly connected
2. Verify bindings: Open Settings > Controls to confirm your mapping
3. Reset to defaults: Use the "Reset All" button in Controls settings
4. Update drivers: Ensure your input device drivers are current

Common Issues

Issue	Solution
Camera won't orbit	Check if right mouse button binding is set
Tools won't cycle	Verify Q/E are not remapped to other functions
Menu won't open	Ensure Escape key is functioning in other applications
Controller not detected	Restart game with controller already connected

Accessibility Features

Restoration includes several accessibility options to make controls more comfortable:

• Toggle vs Hold: Change camera orbit and tool use to toggle mode
• Cursor Size: Increase cursor visibility in Settings > Display
• Color Blind Mode: Adjust tool highlight colors
• Reduced Motion: Disable camera smoothing for less movement

Enabling Accessibility Controls

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility
2. Enable Simple Controls Mode for reduced button complexity
3. Adjust Input Sensitivity slider for your comfort level

These features ensure that players of all abilities can enjoy the relaxing experience of restoring cartridges. For more details on game features, see our gameplay overview.

Summary of Essential Controls

For quick reference, here are the most important controls:

• Pick up cartridge: Left click
• Rotate cartridge: Right click + drag
• Zoom: Mouse wheel
• Cycle tools: Q or E
• Use tool: Left click on cartridge surface
• Pause menu: Escape
• Reset camera: R

Master these basics, and you'll be restoring cartridges comfortably in no time. The gentle learning curve is part of Restoration's charm — there's no rush, no pressure, just the satisfying process of bringing old games back to life.