History Main / CameraLockOn

* The ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'' makes use of this in a few different ways. In ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrime Prime 1]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes 2]]'' (the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube Gamecube]] games), this was used as a way to keep track of fast-moving enemies while staying mobile (as the games used [[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 Goldeneye]]-style controls where one normally can't move and aim at the same time). The [[UsefulNotes/NintendoWii Wii]] games (''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption Prime 3]]'', and the [[UpdatedRerelease Trilogy re-release]]), both feature manual aiming combined with the lock-on function, allowing the player to "lead" a moving target for better accuracy. In all cases, Missiles and Super Missiles fired while locked on have homing capability.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Rayman}}'' series first used this in ''VideoGame/Rayman2TheGreatEscape'', and has since made appearances in updated releases of ''Rayman Arena'''s Battle Mode as well as being a key function in ''VideoGame/Rayman3HoodlumHavoc''.

[[folder:Platform Games]]
* ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'' allows you to lock onto enemies if you hold the C button. The camera will then lock onto whatever has a red arrow above it. Two problems. 1) There is no easy way to switch between enemies once the camera is locked on. 2) [[GuideDangIt There is nothing in any of the documentation or tutorials about this feature.]]
* The ''VideoGame/{{Rayman}}'' series first used this in ''VideoGame/Rayman2TheGreatEscape'', and has since made appearances in updated releases of ''Rayman Arena'''s Battle Mode as well as being a key function in ''VideoGame/Rayman3HoodlumHavoc''.
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In a 3D console video game, whether third-person or first-person, the camera is of course [[CameraScrew a common problem]], even without an EventObscuringProblem. In combat oriented games, keeping the camera on a target is perhaps the most important thing, hence this trope, which is when the camera locks itself itself onto a target location, moving and adjusting itself to keep the target onscreen while the player moves about. This is usually combined with directing the player's actions relative to the target, allowing them to circle-strafe around the enemy's attacks and quickly return fire.

Not to be confused with MissileLockOn (although some games will overlap these), FixedCamera.

In a 3D console video game, whether third-person or first-person, the camera is of course a common problem, even without CameraScrew. In combat oriented games, keeping the camera on a target is perhaps the most important thing, hence this trope, which is when the camera locks itself itself onto a target location, moving and adjusting itself to keep the target onscreen while the player moves about. This is usually combined with directing the player's actions relative to the target, allowing them to circle-strafe around the enemy's attacks and quickly return fire.

It's not perfect, though. Locking the camera onto one enemy can limit the player's overall field of view, leaving other enemies out of sight where they can potentially attack the player from "behind", especially if there are [[ZergRush a lot of enemies at once]]. Worse, unless there is a way to choose a target before locking, the game may lock onto something ''other'' than the intended target, which can result in a CameraScrew moment where the enemy can attack or flee while the player's view is disoriented (which ''also'' applies if there are many enemies at once). As a way to mediate this, games may display an icon over the enemy/object that can be locked on to, and sometimes even allow the player to switch this icon from one enemy to the next before picking their target.

* ''VideoGame/MadWorld'' features this by holding C. It's useful because there's no other way to move the camera aside from flipping it right behind you.
* The ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' franchise has recently started to implement this in their titles. Given how many enemies there are on-screen at once, it makes sense to give the player a way to focus the camera on the important ones.

* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series' games following the [[VideoGame3DLeap 3D Leap]] in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', first-person and third-person (in the AlwaysOverTheShoulder fashion) are both options. The games do allow you to [[FreeRotatingCamera rotate the camera angle]] when standing still in third-person view, which lets you admire your character customization and gear, but if you move or draw your weapons the camera will snap right back over the shoulder.

* In ''VideoGame/TombRaider'' and its sequels, Lara would automatically aim at anything that counted as an enemy. The camera would focus on anything that Lara was looking/aiming at. In the first three games, shooting them would cause the camera to lock on to it, continuing to follow it even if Lara lost sight of it for as long as you kept the fire button pressed. ''VideoGame/TombRaiderTheLastRevelation'' introduced limited forms of manual targeting that allowed the player to avert this, to an extent.

* Back in the early days of ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'', combat is happening at a slow enough pace for players to keep a manual lock-on active. Then, during Armored Core 4/for Answer, with its massive emphasis on speedy battles, a (optional) camera lock on feature was added to help players transition. Some depend on it, more hardcore players doesn't need it.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Rayman}}'' series first used this in ''FloatingLimbs'', and has since made appearances in updated releases of ''Rayman Arena'''s Battle Mode as well as being a key function in ''VideoGame/Rayman3HoodlumHavoc''.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Rayman}}'' series first used this in ''VideoGame/{{Rayman 2}}: The Great Escape'', and has since made appearances in updated releases of ''Rayman Arena'''s Battle Mode as well as being a key function in ''VideoGame/Rayman3HoodlumHavoc''.

[[quoteright:345:[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/legend-zelda2_1545330c_9029.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:345:For your convenience!]]

In a 3D video console game, whether third person or first person, the camera is of course a common problem, even without CameraScrew. In combat oriented games, keeping the camera on a target is perhaps the most important thing, hence this trope, which is when the camera locks itself itself onto a target location, moving and adjusting itself to keep the target onscreen while the player moves about. This is usually combined with directing the player's actions relative to the target, allowing them to circle-strafe around the enemy's attacks and quickly return fire.

[[folder: Action Adventure ]]

[[folder: Action ]]

* ''{{VideoGame/Madworld}}'' features this by holding C. It's useful because there's no other way to move the camera aside from flipping it right behind you.

[[folder: First Person Shooter ]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Conduit2}}'': supplements this with iron-sight aiming like that used in most first-person shooters.

[[folder: Role Playing Games ]]

* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series' games following the [[VideoGame3DLeap 3D Leap]] in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', 1st Person and 3rd Person (in the AlwaysOverTheShoulder fashion) are both options. The games do allow you to [[FreeRotatingCamera rotate the camera angle]] when standing still in 3rd Person view, which lets you admire your character customization and gear, but if you move or draw your weapons the camera will snap right back over the shoulder.

[[folder: Platform Games ]]

[[folder: Simulation Games ]]

[[folder: Survival Horror ]]

[[folder: Wide Open Sandbox ]]

* ''{{VideoGame/Prototype}}'' allows you to lock onto targets from a surprisingly long range, which makes it trivial to knock down helicopters from maybe half a mile away with a well-tossed car or some other heavy object.

* In ''VideoGame/TombRaider'' and its sequels, Lara would automatically aim at anything that counted as an enemy. The camera would focus on anything that Lara was looking/aiming at. In the first three games, shooting them would cause the camera to lock on to it, continuing to follow it even if Lara lost sight of it for as long as you kept the fire button pressed. ''VideoGame/TombRaiderLastRevelation'' introduced limited forms of manual targeting that allowed the player to avert this, to an extent.
** ''VideoGame/TombRaiderAngelOfDarkness'' attempts the circle-strafing version with disastrous results.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'':
** In the first game, the player could also issue a command for Sora's allies to attack the targetted enemy.

[[folder: ACTION ]]

* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'', and the other games in the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'' UpdatedRerelease, all feature manual aiming combined with its lock-on function, allowing the player to "lead" a moving target for better accuracy. Missiles and Super Missiles fired while locked on have homing capability.

* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series' games following the [[VideoGame3DLeap 3D Leap]] in ''Morrowind'', 1st Person and 3rd Person (in the AlwaysOverTheShoulder fashion) are both options. The games do allow you to [[FreeRotatingCamera rotate the camera angle]] when standing still in 3rd Person view, which lets you admire your character customization and gear, but if you move or draw your weapons the camera will snap right back over the shoulder.