The Fabled D-Pad

[Flippy8490]

So, speaking of the infamous D-Pad. my absolute favorite is the one on the GBA SP. Greatest I've played with. That, with the Super Nintendo Second. What do you think?

[deltoidsteep]

I think the wii remote has an absolutely perfect d pad. genesis is great too.

[thom_m]

I like them clicky. My favorite d-pad is the 6-button genesis pad's one (we're not restricted to Nintendo, right?), which feels pretty clicky to me. At least the ones I've got.

[Ed Oscuro]

Genesis has a good d-pad. SNES pads are terrible, can't do shit with 'em and playing Ikari no Yousai is a nightmare because additionally the shoulder buttons won't hold. I'm go glad I got that Hori stick instead, and I think it even lets me hold buttons automatically.

[Damaramu]

I hate control pads and joysticks that click (I'm looking at you NeoGeo control pad). That being said, my all time favorite controller will always be the Saturn controller (and not the shitty one either). I also dig the Genesis 6 button pad.

[BydoEmpire]

SNES has the best dpad ever. Period.

[chrisbid]

SNES has the best stiff dpad, with unresponsive diagonals ever. Period.


fixed

[NayusDante]

I grew up with an NES MAX in my hands, and its red blob of a d-pad has kept a place in my heart. I definitely prefer a "clicky" pad, however. You should know which direction you're pressing and whether it's down all the way. My overall favorite d-pad, offhand, would probably be the Gravis Gamepad Pro, a PC gamepad that's identical in layout to a non-analog PSX controller.

[Draven]

Gotta love the clicky. Makes you feel like you're accomplishing something when you press down on it.

[ProgrammingAce]

I like the Xbox 360's pad, it's great for fighters like SF IV.

[jupitersj]

So, speaking of the infamous D-Pad. my absolute favorite is the one on the GBA SP. Greatest I've played with. That, with the Super Nintendo Second. What do you think?

Sonic is your avatar; how could you not mention the Saturn D-Pad? :hail:

[Sonicwolf]

Im pretty neutral on the topic but if I had to choose it would be squishy. Not too much though.

[boatofcar]

I grew up with Nintendo D pads, and no other ones have ever felt right to me.

[123►Genei-Jin]

As a fighting games fan I don't really like gamepads at all and play almost everything with arcade joysticks. That being said, the Neo Geo CD Pad is my favorite one, followed by Sega Genesis 6 button pads and Saturn pads.

[Ed Oscuro]

As a fighting games fan I don't really like gamepads at all and play almost everything with arcade joysticks.
And on that theme, most people who have used an arcade joystick haven't used a good one. Fighters seem to tolerate crappy joysticks better than precision games like shooters, for instance.

[aclbandit]

I like the Xbox 360's pad, it's great for fighters like SF IV.

I hope that was a joke. The control stick is really good on that particular controller, but I personally can't stand its d-pad.

My favorite pad is probably the official NES controller -- its d-pad "just works." A lot of third-party controllers for it, though, have serious problems with the diagonals, so I stick to the "real" one.

[kingpong]

Add me to the "all D pads suck" faction. The Neo Geo style are the only remotely tolerable pads. It is a toss-up between Nintendo and Sony for the worst pad - Sony has the horrible design, Nintendo's pads almost always have edges that are too sharp, slippery plastic, and are sized so only toddlers can use them.

[Nesmaster]

Still a fan of the NES d-pad, every other one just feels "off" in comparison. For clicky I did like the DS Original though.

[XYXZYZ]

As a fighting games fan I don't really like gamepads at all and play almost everything with arcade joysticks.

Same here. I grew up in the arcades, and hated the inconsistency of playing with a joystick at the arcade and using those cursed little NES pads at home. Plus, they made my hands hurt. Got an NES Advantage in 1987 and I haven't used a gamepad since.

But if I had to, I'd go for that microswitched thumbstick thing like the Neo Geo Pocket has. Don't the NGCD pads have that too?

[Gentlegamer]

I like the Xbox 360's pad, it's great for fighters like SF IV.http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uGdpRnuCmvY/SJobLlCWwPI/AAAAAAAAADk/xd28QTInkLU/s400/sarcasm_detector.jpg
This baby's off the charts!

[tom]

i hate all d pads as they give control the 'wrong way around'. who needs japanese layouts?

[ShinobiMan]

Hmmm, got to go with the NES D-Pad. The most precise control I've experienced in gaming. Runner up would be SNES. Nintendo practically invented the D-Pad.

[Mnemonic]

My vote's in with the NES/SNES style D-pads. Work well and stand the test of time (for me at least). Bear in mind, I prefer games which don't require ultra-precise d-pad movements (like fighter games), so my opinion my be a little skewed.

[Gentlegamer]

Hmmm, got to go with the NES D-Pad. To this game the most precise control I've experienced in gaming. Runner up would be SNES. Nintendo practically invented the D-Pad.
Despite the thumb blisters I've received from them, I agree with this statement. Those D-Pads are very precise.

[eugenek]

Wow, so not that much love for Saturn D-Pads outside of one or two people? If they could just combine the SNES buttons with the Saturn D-Pad, you wouldn't ever need to invent another controller.

With that said, the absolute best D-Pad in my mind (if it qualifies) is the Neo Geo Pocket Color clicky half-joystick thing. Mmm...perfect.

[Flippy8490]

Sonic is your avatar; how could you not mention the Saturn D-Pad? :hail:

I really do love the saturn D-Pad. I also liked the Genesis as well...but there is something about Nintendo's D-Pads. They just feel "natural" to me. Its weird. Even though I grew up on Genesis/32X/SCD XD

[NayusDante]

This might be a little off topic, but how does everyone like their buttons? Same question, clicky or squishy? Do you like them to be the same as the d-pad, or different?

[Flippy8490]

I like the buttons to be more on the squishy side, but they need to be really responsive. Otherwise, I would rather have clicky. Clicky makes me feel like i'm taking action! lol XD

[thom_m]

Clicky buttons as well. Squishy buttons feel like they're dirty/broken.

[Xian042]

While it wasnt my favorite, I used to use an NES Max, but I wouldnt use the little red circle in the middle, I'd press on the black rim of the circle instead which worked even better. I got really used to this and actually preferred it for a while over the regular NES pad.

My favorite is the Genny 6 button. I also had an after market Genny 6 button that had a decent D-Pad.

[Nirvana]

I like the Xbox 360's pad, it's great for fighters like SF IV.

What the hell?

I grew up using the SNES d-pad, so I got really used to that. However, I personally think having a good d-pad is really only important for fighting games.

That being said, the Sega Saturn d-pad is the best. However, the new SFIV fightpads have great d-pads, so that's my favorite right now.

[Diosoth]

Buttons shouldn't make a loud noise. The Hori Gamecube GB Player controller is nice but it's loud. If I hear the button clicks over the speakers, then something's wrong.

[Game Freak]

NES, SNES, GBASP, NDS.

I enjoy them :D

PS2 is good too...i guess you would call these "squishy"?

[kedawa]

As a fighting games fan I don't really like gamepads at all and play almost everything with arcade joysticks. That being said, the Neo Geo CD Pad is my favorite one, followed by Sega Genesis 6 button pads and Saturn pads.

I'm pretty much in the same boat. I don't really hate dpads, but most of them are crap.
I like the NeoGeo clickpad and the Saturn pad, and I don't mind the Nintendo crosspad, but almost every other dpad is crap.

[tmc]

NES, SNES, GBASP, NDS.

I enjoy them :D"?

Please oh please don;t tell me you like the DS lite D-Pad.

Just go try to play Contra 4 and snap immediately to the diagonals every time and then when you fail hard, return here immediately and edit your post sir!

by the way, whats the d-pad like on the DSi?

[tom]

Thing is most Nintendo fanboys probably never even touched an opposite platformers pad. vica versa, of course, the same

[BydoEmpire]

I actually voted "click" because I love that feel, even though the SNES pad is my favorite. My problem with the SP dpad is that it's too small. I voted SNES because it's the right size and has a nice, stiff, accurate feel. Diagonals on a dpad were never a problem. Accidentally hitting a diagonal when you meant to move L/R or U/D is what drives me batty. That's why I hate the DC and Xbox 360 pads - they're too "floaty" or wobbly. The Genny pad was pretty good, but not sturdy at all - I blew through those things like mad. The Saturn pad was good, too, but I like the SNES's stiffer, more "accurate" feel a little better.

[NayusDante]

Thing is most Nintendo fanboys probably never even touched an opposite platformers pad. vica versa, of course, the same

Indeed, I'm holding a Genesis pad right now and there's literally nothing that I like about it. When I hold my SNES pad, all is right with the world.

[kedawa]

Indeed, I'm holding a Genesis pad right now and there's literally nothing that I like about it. When I hold my SNES pad, all is right with the world.You must be talking about the 3button pad. Otherwise there might be something wrong with your hands. ;)