This would probably be due to him having significantly more patience than I did at the time, ready to deal with stiff controls or whatever the game would throw at him. (poisonmushroom.org)
Admittedly the game generally suffers from stiff controls and awkward camera angles at times. (thatvideogameblog.com)
Unfortunately, the combat isn't without its quirks, as the game's rather stiff controls oftentimes work against you, making turning around to defend your exposed back difficult at times. (heypoorplayer.com)