Whats the Worst and Best Controllers IYO?

[SOL BADGUY]

Ok, I got mad people were still talking about the N64 controller in the other thread, Im sorry if anyone was offended by me cursing, but I wasnt calling anyone names.

So to make it up to people, why dont we all in this thread talk about why we love certain controllers, and why we hate others. Lets also include arcade sticks and computer joysticks as well.

My favorite controller is the Saitek P990 Dual Analog controller for PC, I can use it for any console Im emulating on my desktop. Console wise Id say the PS2 dual shock controller, it took the best design ever to me with the PS1 and made it fit in my hands way better, its a little beefier than the PS1 dualshock. I have the Tekken 5 Hori arcade stick, I really love it a lot, and its a billion times better than the Shadow Blade arcade stick I got for 2 dollars, which may be the worst arcade stick ever, unless you have giants hands.

I havent used the Coleco/Intellvision/Atari Jaguar or 5200 controllers, but I have no idea what they were thinking with those things. At least with Coleco you can use a a Genesis controller because of the 2600 input it has.

[bb_hood]

At least with Coleco you can use a a Genesis controller because of the 2600 input it has.

Only with some coleco games does this work, unfortunately it will not work with Mr. Do, my favorite. The stock coleco controllers are horrible, Ive always had to resort to using a super action controller.

As far as my favorite controller I have a madcatz street fighter ps3 fight stick (the cheap one) that I picked up on CL new for 40$. I replaced the buttons and joystick with sanwa parts and its way more responsive. I really want to get the chun-li tournament edition fightstick to replace this one.

[Xander]

Worst: N64, Gamecube
Best: Playstation Dualshock

[tom]

Best: Joystick
Worst: Joypad (Japanese crap)

[M.Buster2184]

Best: I'd have to go with SNES, PS2 and Gamecube

Worst: The huge original Xbox controller. Also I have to admit I'm not crazy about the Dreamcast controller. The cord coming out the bottom always bothered me for some reason.

[Ed Oscuro]

The "worst" controllers are probably third-party controllers or controllers for really ancient systems which I don't have any familiarity with. The n64 controller is nowhere near as bad as some of these (especially if you hold it as intended, I'm sure).

I don't really like the control nub from the original PSP, if that counts, but I managed to play The 3rd Birthday for days with it all the same.

Favorites are the current-style Xbox and PlayStation controllers, as well as the NES Advantage (could have better parts but it's still swell) and Hori joysticks (i.e. SFC Fighting Stick Pro and probably the modern multiformat arcade sticks). I don't mind the SNES or Genesis controllers either, nor was the original "Duke" Xbox controller any problem for me - but if memory serves it had a seam gap running down the sides from the two shells fitting together, a rather bumpy surface, and most importantly I think the triggers / sticks started out rather too stiff, maybe. Still it felt like a quantum leap back when it was released. I also highly respected what the GameCube did with that type of controller, although it still essentially doomed GC titles to remaining one-joystick games, instead of being designed around two equal sticks. Still got some good game designs out of it, though, like Resident Evil 4.

[A Black Falcon]

Favorite - My favorite controllers are the Nintendo 64 controller, the Saturn 3D Controller, and for digital-only controllers, the Genesis 6-button controller (the original Sega one with Mode as a right shoulder button, not the Majesco thing). The 6-button Genesis controller is such a fantastic design, really just about perfect... but otherwise I do seem to like large controllers, like those other two, or other controllers I do like, though certainly not enough to be in my top 3 there, like the original-style (large) Xbox controller (I like it a lot more than the S), or the Dreamcast controller.

My favorite PC gamepads would be the original Microsoft Sidewinder Gamepad (very good controller!) and the Saitek P990, which is pretty good apart from the somewhat annoying square bounds in the joystick wells, and that it has shoulder buttons instead of triggers. Other than that though, it's good.


As for my least favorite, for comfort I'd probably say that the worst controllers that I have used are pretty much anything designed for the Sega Master System. Yeah, that system's saving grace is that you can play almost all games with Genesis controllers, which is what I do.

In terms of impact on the industry, though, any of Sony's controllers are certainly the worst. Sure, they're well built, but I hate their layouts, from the four face button design to the dpad-above-analog layout on the left side to that awful missing-center d-pad, and I still kind of dislike two shoulder buttons on each side of a controller, too... I've gotten used to it, but don't really like it. I've got nothing good to say about what Sony controllers have done to this industry, considering that everyone copied far too many of their ideas. And yes, they are poor controllers overall; if not for the SMS pads, any Playstation controllers would easily have won "worst console gamepads I have used".

[The Adventurer]

BEST: N64, Gamecube - Both just fit the hand so perfectly.
WORST: Playstation Dualshock - Stick is in an awkward place, the sticks don't have enough push back to feel natural, and the control pad is inferior to Nintendo.

[Mark1983]

Best: SNES, NES Dogbone- Both fit well in my hands and I don't have to reach for anything.

Worst: N64. I just hate the controller..it looks god awful...Nintendo could have done a much better job with it.

[Mr Mort]

All these replies and no mention of the awesomeness of the Saturn controller?
Epic fail.
The Japanese (late U.S.) Saturn controllers are the best there are for fighting games, among other games, no question.
As far as non-analog controllers go, nothing is better.
The d-pad is responsive and easy to hit all 8 directions on, the buttons are responsive, it's comfortable to hold in-hand, and they last forever.

[Ed Oscuro]

All these replies and no mention of the awesomeness of the Saturn controller?
Thought about it but I only have used the SLS released USB variant so far.

[sloan]

Best: Xbox Duke. I love these large controllers.

Worst: Intellivision. The side mounted fire buttons are hand-cramping.

[recorderdude]

Best Designed:

Super Nintendo Controller (Normal) - The foundation of design for *most* modern controllers, and still holds up today with excellent build quality.

Nintendo GameCube (Analog) - One of the few modern controllers to break the SNES mold entirely, the placement of each button makes them even more accessible than the four-button diamond, the GC controller is home to one of the best analog sticks made and single-handedly popularized (not created, but DEFINITELY popularized) the wireless controller as a serious alternative to a wired remote with the WaveBird model. My personal choice for any 3D game.

Worst Designed: Atari 5200 Controller - The use of the miserably popular at the time "phone" design combined with confusing button placement and infamously horrific build quality easily makes this the worst controller of all time in my opinion.

[Daltone]

Best:

Whilst it seems to have gotten a bit of flack here I do think that the Playstation layout is the best going. You can wrap your hands around it, reach all the buttons without adjusting your grip and manipulate both analog sticks whilst pressing / holding other buttons. The spacing and sizing of the buttons seems logical to me with no one button oversized. R2 and L2 are a little wider to help you hit them, but not absurdly so. The sticks move nicely and seem to last forever. The D-Pad isn't the best, but I barley every use it. It is servicable.

Worst:

Whilst I didn't like the Intellivision controller much, the Game.Com just pips it. Horrible D-Pad and buttons with a delightfully cheap plastic feel.

It is no secret that I don't like the Gamecube pad, but at least it has got two analog sticks (although that "C" one doesn't really do it for me.) It is also quite a pleasing shade of purple and is very good for games that require you to hammer the "A" button.

WTF were they thinking?:

Sony released the dual analog controller in 1997 and had been talking about it through 1996. The Dreamcast turned up end of '98 in Japan and mid '99 elsewhere. It has one analog stick. One. One stick is not enough for 3D games. I can just about forgive Sega, but Sony not putting two "nubs" on the PSP (their flagship 3D handheld) in 2009 is mental.

The Jaguar controller actually makes a certain sort of sense to me. It's not good, mind.

[Edmond Dantes]

Just recently, I bought a pair of six-button Performance controllers for my Sega Genesis. These are called something like superpad six or propad 6 or something, and they looked like this (http://www.amazon.com/Sega-Genesis-Super-Pad-Controller/dp/B004GEFBKU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1365585229&sr=8-5&keywords=Performance+Sega+Genesis).

This, honest to goodness, is the best controller I've ever used on the Sega Genesis. The buttons are firm, the directions are solid, and its actually comfortable in my hand, unlike the official six-button controller which is just too frakking small. These have now become my go-to Genny controllers.

For other systems, I'm usually fine with the default controllers. Although I'm thinking about getting a third-party for the PS2... preferably a really durable one, like something that could stand up to an intense DMC3 beating.

[Daltone]

For shits and giggles I just got one of these - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310635703587?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I bet it'll be pants, but it'll help give that classic gaming feel to emulation.

[treismac]

I'm seeing a good bit of well deserved love for the SNES controller on this thread. My complaint about it is that the dpad has become mushy on 80% of my SNES controllers, yet the vast majority of my NES controllers still have a relatively crisp dpad. Anyone else have this problem?

I'll save questions concerning SNES shoulders buttons and Street Fighter II for another day.

[treismac]

BEST: NES Dogbone and PS2 are my all-time favorites controllers. Both of them feel great in my hands. When I play with them, I kinda forget they are even there since they both just meld with me.

Worst: The WiiU touchpad controller gave my hand a cramp the other day at Wal-Mart, so I'm gonna have to go with that for worst controller since its fresh in my mind.

[VACRMH]

Best - Playstation for PS2 and back. It's also my go-to controller for emulation on the PC. However, I prefer the 360 controller for FPS this gen.

Other favorites are the Saturn (2nd model) and the Wii Classic Controller.

Worst - N64. I actually never use the controller unless I have to, I bought a hori controller.

[rmaerz]

Worst: INTV
Best: Genesis

[Ed Oscuro]

For shits and giggles I just got one of these - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310635703587?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I bet it'll be pants, but it'll help give that classic gaming feel to emulation.
There are a variety of these, and some are better than others.

The Play Sega ones don't look really promising, but it might work well. You can see a topic about them as compared with some other USB Saturn pads here:
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=44168

[BricatSegaFan]

Best controller = Japanese Sega Saturn pad.

Worst controller = Kinect

Most fun controller = Steel battalion controller!!!!!

[123►Genei-Jin]

Best:
-Arcade sticks with legit japanese parts.
-Neo Geo CD controller
-Saturn (japanese)
-Dual Shock.

Worst:
-N64
-Intellivision
-Atari 5200
-Wiimote
-Wii U tablet

[Satoshi_Matrix]

I have an entire web series devoted to the best/ most awesome controllers, and a whole thread about it here on digitalpress. Check it out!

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?164509-The-Controller-Chronicles

[sloan]

There are many who rave about the N64 Hori mini controller, so I bought one a while back. I have larger hands (that is one reason why the Xbox Duke is high on my list), and the Hori mini is simply too small for long game sessions. Maybe that's why they sold it in Japan where they have smaller hands?

[Drixxel]

Best: Joystick
Worst: Joypad (Japanese crap)

While I don't agree with the notion that joypads are crap, I was inspired by your post, tom, to try playing some Genesis with a 2600 QuickShot II. To my great surprise, Sonic 1 & 2 are a lot of fun with an ultra-clicky one-handed joystick. I really ought to track down a proper Powerstick or something that doesn't require a ghetto controller swap to start the game. LOL

[Satoshi_Matrix]

There are many who rave about the N64 Hori mini controller, so I bought one a while back. I have larger hands (that is one reason why the Xbox Duke is high on my list), and the Hori mini is simply too small for long game sessions. Maybe that's why they sold it in Japan where they have smaller hands?

Yeah, pretty much. Japanese love small controllers, and Hori makes a lot of 'em. Just look on ebay for hori controllers with "mini" in the title. If you want another, better alternative for N64 gaming, I suggest Rafnet's GameCube to N64 adapter.

Check my video review.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mibd_7C-p6Q

[Wraith Storm]

Best Digital: The Japanese or 2nd US Saturn controller. It has the 6 button arcade layout, two nice and clicky shoulder buttons and a great d-pad. Overall my favorite digital controller.

Best Analog: The Saturn 3d controller. It keeps the layout of the saturn controller while improving the d-pad and replacing the shoulder buttons with awesome analog triggers. I also love the concave analog ball. Its super comfy and i prefer it to any analog stick.

Worst Controller: I hate, HATE the Playstation controller. It has the worst d-pad i have ever used. How did the segmented design ever get to market. The blister inducing design makes any game that needs a d-pad near unplayable. I also dont like the near identical 4 shoulder buttons. The 360 did it right with 1 set of shoulder buttons and 1 set of triggers.

[o.pwuaioc]

First party only.

Good:

Saturn
SNES
NES
NES Dogbone
PS dual shock
360

Mediocre:

Genesis 3 button
PS original
Xbox
N64
Wiimote (would be worse if it weren't for some games that go well with it)

Bad:

Dreamcast
Xbox Duke
Intellivision
Atari 5200
GameCube

[Aussie2B]

Favorites: SNES, NES dogbone, N64, Neo Geo CD, pre-Dual Shock PS1, NEC Avenue Pad 6

Least-liked: Dreamcast (by far), Colecovision, Master System, 3DO, PS2 (even though I've treated them great, both of mine started leaking a mysterious gross "oil" from the sticks, and one of them came loaded with short black hairs straight from the factory; thanks, Sony :/ ), Wii remote and Classic controller (for Virtual Console gaming at least; lousy, imprecise D-pads AND lag due to the fact that they're wireless)

If I didn't list it, I probably don't have particularly strong feelings one way or the other.

[o.pwuaioc]

Neo Geo CD

Are these worth seeking out if I have two sticks for it?

[BricatSegaFan]

Are these worth seeking out if I have two sticks for it?

They are ok at best. Idk maybe its mine but there is a huge dead zone. You have to push the stick all the way to the edges to get results.

[Aussie2B]

Are these worth seeking out if I have two sticks for it?

Well, that all depends on if you prefer using joysticks or control pads. Ever play a Neo Geo Pocket Color? The clicky sticks are very similar, so if you like that, I think you'd like the Neo Geo CD pad. I don't have a Neo Geo CD myself, but I use the pad on my consolized MVS and it's great. I never did that much arcade gaming back in the day, so I'm more comfortable with a pad.

[o.pwuaioc]

Well, that all depends on if you prefer using joysticks or control pads. Ever play a Neo Geo Pocket Color? The clicky sticks are very similar, so if you like that, I think you'd like the Neo Geo CD pad. I don't have a Neo Geo CD myself, but I use the pad on my consolized MVS and it's great. I never did that much arcade gaming back in the day, so I'm more comfortable with a pad.

I may track one down for fighters. I love sticks for shmups, but oddly enough, I'm not the biggest fan of them on fighters. Although, SNK fighters do have a different feel from what I'm used to. But if what Bricat says is true, that'd be a big no-no for me. Can anyone confirm whether it's just that one controller or a common problem?

[The 1 2 P]

Best: Genesis, PS1 dualshock, PS2 dualshock, Xbox controller S, 360, Neo Geo Pocket Color

Good: Nes Dogbone, Japanese 3DO, Dreamcast

Worst: Anything for Atari 2600/7800, Original Nes(not dogbone), N64, Gamecube, PS3 sixaxis

Special(Olympics) Mention: Wiimote, Move, Kinect

[Manga4life]

My favorite controller was probably the SNES controller, mainly because the button configuration was good and it was small and rounded and felt good in my hand. I can't really think of any controllers I truly hated, but I do find myself actually defending the Jaguar controller despite the bad praise it got (and still gets). I just kind of like it, and I like the Jaguar itself.

I didn't like some of those classic controllers with the wheels and button pads, those kind of annoyed me a bit.

[SOL BADGUY]

I wish I could find a rotary controller to play Tempest with, cant find any though. Bally Astrocade had a rotary controller :S

[sloan]

My favorite controller was probably the SNES controller

SNES controller is just OK in my book, mainly due to the convex fire buttons. I hate the feel. I know the Japanese got concave fire buttons with Super Famicom and wonder why Nintendo went to convex buttons for the states.


I wish I could find a rotary controller to play Tempest with, cant find any though. Bally Astrocade had a rotary controller :S

PSX Tempest is playable with a Jogcon controller that is rotary. The game plays excellent with that controller.

[A.C. Sativa]

In terms of impact on the industry, though, any of Sony's controllers are certainly the worst. Sure, they're well built...

Well built? I can't say anything about the PS3, but the PS1/PS2 controllers are the worst built controllers in history, outside of the 5200. The plastic is so thin it might as well be tinfoil. You can tell just by how light it is.

[A.C. Sativa]

They are ok at best. Idk maybe its mine but there is a huge dead zone. You have to push the stick all the way to the edges to get results.

It's just yours, I have 2 of them and they work fine. Try opening it up and clean around the stick with some rubbing alcohol.

[TheChristoph]

For shits and giggles I just got one of these - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310635703587?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I bet it'll be pants, but it'll help give that classic gaming feel to emulation.

If it's a real Sega-built pad, you're golden. But there are a lot of knockoffs out there. If so, I came up with a pretty good workaround.

Track down a genuine Saturn controller. Take both apart, and transplant the USB pad's guts into the Saturn pad's shell. You'll get the true feel and action of the Sega pad, and the guts of the USB pad are fine. It's just the shell, buttons, and pad of the USB pad that will be pants.


SNES controller is just OK in my book, mainly due to the convex fire buttons. I hate the feel. I know the Japanese got concave fire buttons with Super Famicom and wonder why Nintendo went to convex buttons for the states.

You got it backwards. The SFC buttons were all convex. The SNES X and Y buttons are concave, while A and B are convex. They did that so you could easily feel which button you were on instead of needing to look down. It always felt great to me. The tip of your thumb fits in the concave part of the Y button, and your knuckle hovers over the convex B button. You get fast action but just flicking the end of your thumb up and down.

[Skritche]

Best: The NES, SNES and Gamecube Controller
Worst: Wii Controller (Not Wii U.), NES controller on the Speedboard, and the 3DO controller.

[Skritche]

BEST: N64, Gamecube - Both just fit the hand so perfectly.
WORST: Playstation Dualshock - Stick is in an awkward place, the sticks don't have enough push back to feel natural, and the control pad is inferior to Nintendo.

Yeah, try playing Super Street Fighter 4 with it. It's absolute crap in that regard.
However, on the Xbox360, it's easier to pull off combos with.

[WCP]

Best = Saturn

Worst = Jaguar

[Akov456]

Best: SNES

Worst: Atari joystick

[ZP3]

Nothing beats the Gamecube. Super Smash Bros. Melee is a dream on that controller.

[BlastProcessing402]

What makes the Duke terrible isn't the size. I likes me a big controller (part of why I partially dislike the GC controller, it's clearly for smaller hands than mine) but that thing, it just feels... off. It bulges where it should curve in, the button layout is funny (but not as funny as the buttons are shaped), and that d-pad... The Duke's just an all around displeasure to use.

I honestly prefer the original MadCatz Xbox controller to that. Yeah, it's cheap as hell feeling, yeah, the triggers break way too easy, but it feels good in the hand, has one of the best d-pads of that generation, and while not quite as good as a Sega 6 button/jap Saturn layout the button layout is much better than the Duke. It's nearly perfect for playing Genesis games in emulators on the Xbox, better than even the Controller-S (since they moved the B&W buttons).

[XYXZYZ]

How about those gimmicky NES controllers? If they could come up with some stupid way to close a switch, they made a controller out of it. The Power Glove, U-Force, that voice activated headset thing, the "Roll & Rocker", where you control the D-pad by standing on an unbalanced platform and tilting it with your feet, and I think there was one where you controlled the D-pad by rocking around in a chair, and controlled the buttons with your feet. At least ROB was pretty cool in spite of not being something you want to control video games with.