History Main / PlayerGuidedMissile

* ''VideoGame/{{Geist}}'': During the boss battle against BigBag Alexander Volks, Raimi can exit his physical body to possess any missile shot by the villain and control it to redirect it to him. Due to the missile's speed, this is difficult to pull off, but if it lands onto Volks it'll deplete a ''quarter'' of his LifeMeter.

* The ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series has a few segments where the player must use a [[http://metalgear.wikia.com/wiki/Nikita_missile Nikita missile]], usually to solve an electrified-floor puzzle. In the 8-bit games, the missiles travelled and steered at right angles. Snake even sports a Nikita Missile launcher in his ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' appearance; the player can control the missile in flight, though it does travel faster in straight lines.
** Fangame series ''VideoGame/MerryGearSolid'' (more specifically, the second game) has this mechanic as well, with its "kissiles".

* In the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 Kinect game ''Wreckateer'', the Flying Shot can be steered using your arms - raise them up to fly higher, or down to dive. To a lesser extent, the basic shots can be steered by waving your hands over the shot as it is in flight.

** The very first example in was a neither modern nor futuristic example (rather a StupidJetpackHitler example) -- the ''Wasserfall'' missile in the ''VideoGame/Battlefield1942'' ExpansionPack ''Secret Weapons of World War II''.

* The Ice spell in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyAdventure''.

[[quoteright:318:[[VideoGame/{{Terraria}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/stat_5755.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:318:Behold! The remote-controlled [[PlayingWithFire fireball]].]]

** The Flare Beam ability in ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' is a giant energy orb that can be guided to collide against multiple enemies at once. The ESP ability from ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' is pretty much a weaker form of it with extra attacks.

* Although magic boomerangs are a recurring item in ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' series, only the version in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons]]'' can be controlled in mid-air. Boomerangs and Bombchus in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks Spirit Tracks]]'' are similar in that the player can sketch out a custom flight path with the stylus, though they have no control over them during flight.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' introduced the ability to control seagulls after feeding them a special fruit. They could then be guided to hit switches and collect rupees and other things. This gameplay mechanic was further expanded upon in...
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' has the Beetle, a mechanical flying insect drone which the player can launch to explore various places, retrieve objects or hit switches, pick up and [[DeathFromAbove drop bombs on enemies]], or even attack some enemies directly.

** Similar to the Remote Mine example above, ''VideoGame/MegaManX2's'' Magnet Mine can be steered up or down while in flight. Its charged version is similarly steerable, but travels slower and can penetrate multiple targets.

* The Gunner class Dwarf from ''VideoGame/DeepRockGalactic'' has several large caliber weapons as primary options in his arsenal. One of these, the "Hurricane" Guided Rocket System launches rockets that typically aim towards wherever the player's crosshair is currently pointing. The launcher can be modified to alter the guidance behavior however, for example using upgrades that allow the player to manually shut off the guidance mid-flight, or to launch a salvo of unguided rockets instead by "charging" the weapon.

* The Missile Launcher in ''VideoGame/StarFoxAssault''[='s=] multiplayer matches provide the player with remote-control missiles, though it has less ammunition capacity than the normal Homing missile launcher.

* Several characters in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series have steerable projectile attacks:
** Ness and Lucas both have PK Thunder - a bolt of electricity that can be steered in various directions, [[JustifiedTrope courtesy of]] their PsychicPowers. They also sport PK Flash and PK Freeze (respectively) in which they can steer its area of effect left or right before detonating it.
** Pit's Light Arrows travel very fast, but can be aimed in various directions before use ''and'' steered further while in flight.
** Zelda's spell Din's Fire can be slightly aimed up or down, and you can control how far it travels before it explodes.
** In ''Brawl'' and ''Ultimate'', Solid Snake can fire player-controlled missiles.
* Two characters in ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' can earn this attack as a purchasable upgrade:
** Warnado can learn "Guided Twister", which allows the player to steer their tornado attack using their movement controls.
** The "Series 2" version of Drobot's exclusive "Wow Pow" ability involves combining two of his Bladegears into one large, remote-controlled gear.

* The "Doomerang" in all three ''VideoGame/TyTheTasmanianTiger'' games. In the first it is merely an EleventhHourSuperpower used exclusively to defeat the FinalBoss, but it shows up as a purchasable (if very expensive) shop item in the sequels.
* ''VideoGame/{{Kirby}}'':
** In some games, the trajectory of the thrown Cutter can be steered up or down before going backwards.
** ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror'' has the Missile ability where Kirby actually turns into one of these.
** The Flare Beam ability in ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' is a giant energy orb that can be guided to collide against multiple enemies at once. The ESP ability from ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' is pretty much a weaker form of it with extra attacks.
* Can be built in ''VideoGame/{{Loadout}}'' with the right combination of gun parts.
* ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare'' series lets you control Predator-launched Hellfire missiles as rewards for multiplayer killstreaks. After firing them, you can control where they land approximately.
* ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'': Nearly all anti-tank missiles in the modern and futuristic-setting games[[note]]SRAW, ERYX, APC missiles, and TOW launchers, but ''not'' the RPG-7[[/note]] can be guided mid-flight based on where the player is pointing his crosshair. A helicopter's gunner can also fire TV-guided missiles capable of out and out {{Roboteching}}.
* The [[NukeEm Redeemer]]'s secondary firing mode in every ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'' game. While the Redeemer missile can be shot down either way, it's easier to do so when a player is controlling it.
* The Slayer rocket launcher in [[VideoGame/PerfectDark]] can be manually directed by using the Fly-By-Wire secondary mode, though a player can slow its speed to help whenever they must turn around corners.
* In the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 Kinect game ''Wreckateer'', the Flying Shot can be steered using your arms - raise them up to fly higher, or down to dive. To a lesser extent, the basic shots can be steered by waving your hands over the shot as it is in flight.
* Averted with the Remote-Guided Warhead in the ''[[VideoGame/{{X}} X-Universe]]'' series. It was ''supposed'' to be one of these, but the devs could never get it working properly so it ended up as a regular guided missile.
* The Ice spell in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyAdventure''.
* Super Sheep in ''VideoGame/{{Worms}}''
* The Mosquito in ''VideoGame/{{Einhander}}'' changes in the direction the player's ship is going, which makes it AwesomeButImpractical in a side-scrolling ShootEmUp where the player has to dodge enemy attacks all the time. If you back up, the missile turns around and starts flying to the left of the screen while you continue to travel right. A skilled player can hit enemies in hard to reach areas or turn the missile around if you initially miss, but many of the levels have narrow corridors that don't allow much maneuverability.
* ''VideoGame/GalaxyOnFire II'' has the AMR Liberator missile, which cannot be purchased (as it's banned) but can be crafted after you find the blueprint and all the necessary components. Each time you build it, you get 10 of these. They are AwesomeButImpractical, as your ship is not under your control while you do this (you don't have to be standing still, though, as your ship will still continue to move). On the other hand, you can fire them well beyond any ship's firing range (13800 km) and they can cross that distance fairly quickly. This is a nuke-type weapon, so it deals splash damage and is ''very'' destructive. It's only real use, however, is against freighters and battle cruisers, as fighters are far too nimble to be hit, unless you happen to have caught them bunched up in a small area. One of the achievements involves destroying 8 asteroids with a single Liberator.

* The Buzz Bomb in ''TabletopGame/RoboRally''... although this being Roborally, "controlled" may be too strong a word. At least one player at a convention game has recieved the "Wil E. Coyote award" for blowing himself up with his own buzz bomb.
* The Magic Missile and its upgrades in ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'' can be controled by the mouse/right analog stick, and can also be used as a portable light.
* "Nuke Mode" in ''VideoGame/TwistedMetal'' has one of the factions attach the opposing faction's leader (if captured) to a remote-guided missile with the intention of destroying the enemy faction's large statue.
** This was made into [[VideoGame/TwistedMetal Sweet Tooth]]'s Level 2 Super in ''VideoGame/PlaystationAllStarsBattleRoyale'', where it's used to [[StuffBlowingUp blow people up]]. Besides just steering, the player can turn remotely detonate it before it reaches a target. For an interesting EasterEgg, Tooth is holding a [=DualShock=] 3 during the Super, which implies that his movements mirror the player's.
** The annoying Stalker Missile in ''VideoGame/RogueTrip'' and Pilot Torpedo in ''VideoGame/CriticalDepth'' by the same publisher. The former has an upgrade that at least gives you a shield while you're flying the missile. The latter is mostly used to cheese certain less mobile bosses from across the level, and using it in regular combat will lead to minor damage to an enemy while your own submarine gets bombed to pieces by all the other enemies.
* The Missile in ''VideoGame/{{Liero}}'' can be steered clockwise and counterclockwise in flight using the right and left arrow keys.
* In ''Tabletopgame/BattleTech'''s space combat simulator spinoff, ''Aerotech'', some types of Capitol Missiles used by Warships function this way, with the player controlling steering and thrust to attempt to hit enemy ships.

* ''Videogame/PlanetSide'' has player-guided missile as the [[MegaCorp New Conglomerate]]'s specialty. The Phoenix missile launcher in both games is steered by the mouse through a camera attached to the nose of the rocket; the second game buff ups the damage but [[PainfullySlowProjectile slows the rocket]] and makes it possible to shoot down or at least knock it off-course. The NC MAX PoweredArmor can load up with the Raven rocket launchers that spew out slow moving rockets that follow the mouse. All of their rockets are infamous for their obnoxious "tea-kettle" sound. The Nanite Systems' MANA anti-vehicle turret and NS air-to-ground Hornet Missiles are mouse-guided rockets usable by all factions.
* The Buckler in ''Videogame/TribesVengeance'' is normally worn like a small shield on the user's wrist, but it can be hurled forward to attack enemies. The Buckler will follow the user's crosshair, making it excellent for slicing into the otherwise hard-to-hit and annoying Light Armor users flying around on their JetPack.
* One of the earlier examples comes from ''{{VideoGame/Archon}} II: Adept'', in which the ability of Adepts to switch between regular movement and redirecting their powerful magic missiles made them among the strongest pieces in combat (if still generally too valuable to risk). Interestingly, in AI hands the missiles appeared to use creature behavior rather than that of a basic homing projectile; they would often aim to cut off a target's escape points or "juggle" while deciding on an incoming route, and the AI had the same control issues as a human player.
* ''VideoGame/FromTheDepths'': The laser guided missiles offer some of the only options for the player to guide the missiles to the targets. The missiles can be set to either go straight for the laser endpoint, or attempt to "ride" the laser to the target.
* In ''[[Videogame/MechWarrior MechWarrior Living Legends]]'', most missiles have some form of MissileLockOn, and some have the addition of player guidance. Streak Short Range Missiles will home in on the crosshair if there is no active lock, and the same applies to the smaller launcher used by [[PoweredArmor Battlearmor]]. The Target Acquisition Gear laser guidance system, while intended for TargetSpotter shenanigans, can be used to turn ''any'' missile into player-guided, as all guided missiles fired without a lock will attempt to hit whatever the laser is pointing at. Medium Range Missiles ''used'' to have player guidance without lock-ons, though they were later nerfed to pure dumbfire due the monstrous damage their [[MacrossMissileMassacre 40+ missile salvos]] could do when focused (via a target spotter) entirely on one section of an enemy.
* Although the Homing RPG in ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' is a lock on weapon, the player can in fact control the missile manually simply by aiming down the sight. If the player moves the reticle away to a new object, the missile will suitably change its trajectory, sometimes even doubling back when possible. This allows for some very crafty techniques such as firing the missile past an obstacle and then angling the target down to make it hit the ground, damaging enemies by way of SplashDamage. Other tactics include blind-firing it to the sky and then aiming the intended target, causing the missile to [[DeathFromAbove drop steeply from above]]. This essentially simulates real life [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_attack top attack modes]] of modern anti-tank missile launchers.
* [[EleventhHourSuperpower Just before]] ''VideoGame/BionicCommando Rearmed'' 's FinalBoss battle, your [[AlmostDeadGuy dying helicopter pilot]] gives you a remote-control missile upgrade for the Bazooka, which is required to hit the cockpit of the Leader's gunship.

* ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac'' has the item ''[[VideoGame/MeatBoy Epic Fetus]]'', which replaces the player's attack with guided missiles that target a manually controlled crosshair. ''[[UpdatedRerelease Rebirth]]'' adds ''[[Film/AClockworkOrange The Ludovico Technique]]'', which replaces the player's ability to shoot with a single, floating tear that can be manually controlled and continuously deals damage to enemies as long as it is in contact with them. The ''Afterbirth'' expansion adds the ''Tractor Beam'', which gives the player a beam attached to the character that causes all tears fired to align with it, allowing tears to be redirected mid-flight.
* Most games in the ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' series since [[VideoGame/AceCombat5TheUnsungWar the fifth installment]] have the Semi-Active Air-to-Air Missile (SAAM) available as a subweapon. It's powerful enough to take down any enemy in one shot, and it has the longest range of any weapon, but the target must be manually kept in the radar lock circle for the entirety of the missile's flight. Contrast with self-guided missiles that work at closer ranges and are fire-and-forget.
* In ''Videogame/{{Overwatch}}'', Junkrat's "RIP-Tire" Ultimate has him bring out an explosive attached to a tire that can be steered towards enemies.
* ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'''s Rocket Launcher fire rockets that go to whatever spot its laser pointer is aimed at (which can lead to ExplosiveStupidity if you accidentally point below your feet). You use it to take down an enemy helicopter boss that has impenetrable defenses from the front, firing the missile off past the boss and then aiming the laser directly at it to steer the missile into its backside.
* ''VideoGame/BattleTanx'' has Guided Missiles that put you in a third person view to steer them around the map.
* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has [[CuteKitten Yuumi, the Magical Cat]], who possesses a "Prowling Projectile" that normally just fires straight and deals damage when alone, but when she's attached to an ally the player can control its flight path with their cursor. Why yes, [[VisualPun it is a case of]] [[StealthPun a cat chasing a mouse.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Frobot}}'': The Jive Stalker is a weapon that follows the Wiimote/mouse cursor (depending on which platform you're playing this on) wherever on the screen it goes.
* Apollo's Arrows in ''VideoGame/ImmortalsFenyxRising'' can be controlled by the player via ArrowCam to hit distant targets.
* The [[TargetSpotter Air Raider]] class in the ''VideoGame/EarthDefenseForce'' series can call in cruise missiles or KillSat shots with special target designators. The missiles or laser shots will track the designator to some degree, allowing the player to spread a barrage across a horde of enemies or follow a moving target. A generic guidance laser can perform a similar feat with missiles launched by other player classes.

** Zelda's spell Din's Fire can be slightly aimed up or right.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}]]'': Nearly all anti-tank missiles in the modern and futuristic-setting games[[note]]SRAW, ERYX, APC missiles, and TOW launchers, but ''not'' the RPG-7[[/note]] can be guided mid-flight based on where the player is pointing his crosshair. A helicopter's gunner can also fire TV-guided missiles capable of out and out {{Roboteching}}.

* The [[TargetSpotter Air Raider]] class in the ''VideoGame/EarthDefenseForce'' series can call in cruiser missiles or KillSat shots with special target designators. The missiles or laser shots will track the designator to some degree, allowing the player to spread a barrage across a horde of enemies or follow a moving target. A generic guidance laser can perform a similar feat with missiles launched by other player classes.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Battlefield}} Battlefield 2]]'': Nearly all anti-tank missiles[[note]]SRAW, ERYX, APC missiles, and TOW launchers, but ''not'' the RPG-7[[/note]] can be guided mid-flight based on where the player is pointing his crosshair. A helicopter's gunner can also fire TV-guided missiles capable of out and out {{Roboteching}}.
* The [[NukeEm Redeemer]]'s secondary firing mode in ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'' is this trope. While the Redeemer missile can be shot down either way, it's easier to do so when a player is controlling it.

* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', has [[CuteKitten Yuumi, the Magical Cat]], who possesses a "Prowling Projectile" that normally just fires straight and deals damage when alone, but when she's accompanying an ally, the player can control its flight path with their cursor. Why yes, [[VisualPun it is a case of]] [[StealthPun a cat chasing a mouse.]]

* ''VideoGame/ShadowsOfTheEmpire'' has a Seeker Missile weapon.

* A minor example in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': Engineer's sentries will normally autotarget enemies that are closer to them, but using his Wrangler, he can aim his sentry manually at any given enemy, aided with a laser sight (with an added defense bonus).

* ''Videogame/PlanetSide'' has player-guided missile as the [[MegaCorp New Conglomerate]]'s specialty. The Phoenix missile launcher in both games is steered by the mouse through a camera attached to the nose of the rocket; the second game buff ups the damage but [[PainfullySlowProjectile slows the rocket]] and makes it possible to shoot down or at least knock it off-course. The NC MAX PoweredArmor can load up with the Raven rocket launchers that spew out slow moving rockets that follow the mouse. All of their rockets are [[DarthWiki/MostAnnoyingSound infamous for their obnoxious "tea-kettle" sound]]. The Nanite Systems' MANA anti-vehicle turret and NS air-to-ground Hornet Missiles are mouse-guided rockets usable by all factions.

* ''Videogame/PlanetSide'' has player-guided missile as the [[MegaCorp New Conglomerate]]'s specialty. The Phoenix missile launcher in both games is steered by the mouse through a camera attached to the nose of the rocket; the second game buff ups the damage but [[PainfullySlowProjectile slows the rocket]] and makes it possible to shoot down or at least knock it off-course. The NC MAX PoweredArmor can load up with the Raven rocket launchers that spew out slow moving rockets that follow the mouse. All of their rockets are [[MostAnnoyingSound infamous for their obnoxious "tea-kettle" sound]]. The Nanite Systems' MANA anti-vehicle turret and NS air-to-ground Hornet Missiles are mouse-guided rockets usable by all factions.

This is TruthInTelevision, as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manual_command_to_line_of_sight manual command to line-of-sight]] systems to guide rockets or missiles exist. These homing methods rely on the operator to steer the missile's flight path via joystick; the commands from the joystick is relayed to the missile via various methods, most popularly via [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire-guided_missile wire guidance]]. That being said, they are nowhere near as precisely maneuverable as their VideoGame counterparts, mostly because they are '''extremely''' fast, and require ''extensive'' regular training to operate. For this reason, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_command_to_line_of_sight semi-automatic command to line-of-sight]] systems are more popular and reliable. The operator firing the missile does not need to actually adjust the missile manually; merely aiming continuously at the target is enough.