General Category > General Discussion
What are YOUR favorite controllers?
Megatron:
So thinking about the ability to use the Gamecube controller on the Wii U, I started thinking about my favorite controllers of all time. Whether they are comfortable, responsive, aesthetically pleasing, etc.
So here are my top 5 favorite controllers of all time:
DUAL SHOCK 4
This would have been so much higher if it actually had a start/select button instead of share, and that stupid touch pad. I love how they improved the triggers (L2, R2) from the Dual Shock 3. And it has a nice, solid grip. Really comfortable. Even the centered thumbsticks feel like they have a wider berth and better feel. Too bad I don't use it that much since I'm an Xbox guy...
GAMECUBE
I don't know what it is about this controller. It has a weird shape, odd button layout, and uneven shoulder buttons - yet I could use this controller all day and never get tired with it or frustrated at it. Despite its odd design, the spacing of the buttons is great, and the different shaped buttons really help you find the one you're looking for in the heat of the game
PLAYSTATION (ORIGINAL / NOT DUALSHOCK)
This is a near perfect design. Back in the days of tank controls and bad 3D, this controller felt so right in your hands. The shoulder buttons and face buttons felt tight and responsive, and the d-pad was second only to Nintendo. The Dual Shock controller is good, but I have never really liked the Analog stick placement of it. My stocky thumbs would always hit the D-Pad by mistake.
XBOX 360
This controller is damn near perfect in my opinion. It's one set back, and the reason it is not #1...the D-Paad. Man, what were they thinking with this? So cheap and unreliable. Very disappointing on an otherwise amazing controller. This is a big part of the reason I am an Xbox guy over a PS guy - I love this controller and for FPS games it feels way more comfortable to me.
NES
First off...so why isn't SNES on here? Despite its great button layout, the shoulder buttons always felt a little off to me. I do love that controller, but it is so similar to my #1 choice, I just opted to leave it off. Plus it has almost no nostalgic value for me since I didnt have an SNES as a kid.
The NES controller is just perfect. Two buttons, side by side for easily switching back and forth, the best D-Pad ever, and the general simplicity make this a favorite. While not as elaborate or heavily buttoned as the rest, this is just a great pick up and play controller. No figuring out what does what - one button shoots, one jumps (usually), D-Pad moves you to the right, and Start (sometimes Select) pauses the game. Simple. Perfect.
sheep2001:
In no particular order:
Competition pro 5000 - for sensi soccer on the amiga, there's no alternative
Saturn - no better pad for fighting games
Dualshock 2/3/4 - so comfortable, and responsive. Perfect size. (I agree about the stupid share button on ds4 though)
Snes dogbone - I think it's nostalgia here, but the d-pad on these is just great. Never had one fail.
Dreamcast - I'm betting this one is controversial. Took a while to get used to, but worth persevering with. Great button layout, and fits my hands nicely.
Worst controller imho? Xbox 360. Never got on with it. Weight feels off. Terrible d-pad. And I got blisters playing sf2 hd with it. And it's for that reason I'm a ps guy more than an xbox guy. Lol. Oh, hate the n64 controller too. Just ewwww!
quickfingers818:
Here are my top 5 favorite controllers of all time:
5. Gamecube - still the best triggers I have ever used to even this day.
4. Dualshock 1/2/3 - this controller was so good Sony stuck with the design for nearly two decades
3. Xbox 360 - like Megatron said near perfect except for the d-pad
2. Sega Saturn (2nd generation controller) - imho it is near perfect for 2D gaming. d-pad and face buttons have perfect tactile feedback
1. Sega Genesis - more for nostalgic reasons, but this controller to me was absolutely perfect for what the genesis had to offer. sure it doesn't have as many buttons as the snes, but it fits my hand like a glove and i've never had a problem with my original genesis controller that I have had for 13 years now
Megatron:
Dreamcast would have definitely made my top 10 (probably at #6) - extremely under rated.
quickfingers818:
--- Quote from: Megatron on November 26, 2014, 06:10:56 PM ---Dreamcast would have definitely made my top 10 (probably at #6) - extremely under rated.
--- End quote ---
same here. It has that great arcade-y feel with just the one thumbstick, a lot like arcades themselves.