I just don't get how they seem to be unplayable or completely impenetrable to so many people. I'd say it's a generational thing but even many people who grew up playing PS1 games act like trying to figure them out in 2024 completely short circuits their brains
Now, would I want to play some hypothetical fast paced 3D action game from the 90s where they used tank controls because they didn't know any better? No, but they work perfectly fine in slower-paced games like Resident Evil-style survival horror or the first five Tomb Raider games (though the camera kind of sucks in those, but it took a long time for 3D games to figure out how to handle that in general)
Maybe I'm just weird for enjoying tank controls. Some survival horror games that came out in the PS2 era like Silent Hill 2 and 3 gave you the option between 2D and 3D (tank controls) movement and I always pick the latter if I get the chance
They're fine in fixed camera angle games when you need forward to be absolute not relative to the position of a camera that changes every scene. Relative controls in a fixed camera angle game like silent hill will have you running in the wrong direction a lot by accident. Those games have a relative control option but I always struggled to not constantly fuck up my movements.
Also tomb raider tank controls and its climbing are just better than modern uncharted climbing mechanics period. One actually requires thought and the other is just a boring spectacle