Best Non-Pack In Console Controller

[Anonymous]

This can be any controller for any system, as long as it wasn't a pack-in. Non standard controllers count as well, IE your favorite controller can be the Logitech force feedback wheel for Gran Turismo, or the Rock'n'Roller or the U-Force or the Twin Sticks, It doesn't matter. What I want to know is What do you think is the most well designed, constructed, and implemented controller, or What is your favorite controller?

For me, the best controller of all time hands down is the NES Advantage. This bad boy had it all. A sturdy Metal Base (God I loved the weight of that thing), fatty buttons, 1-2 player use, slow-mo, and the be-all end-all Hands down BEST TURBO ON THE PLANET! No controller before or since has had better or faster turbo than the NES advantage. It was so fast you had to turn it down for some games to even recognize it's speed properly. God I love that controller.

[Ascending Wordsmith]

The analog 3D controller for the Saturn is one of the best controllers ever made. It's got plenty of well-placed buttons, and the 'pancake' shape fits easily into the hands. I haven't held a more comfortable nonpacked in controller than the Saturn's analog version.

http://home.cogeco.ca/~kroland/systems/SegaSaturn/sa3dcontrl.gif

[Sylentwulf]

I couldn't STAND that analog saturn controller myself.

NES Adavntage would have to be it.

[kainemaxwell]

I'm gonna say the NES Advantage myself. I still have mine floating around somewhere too. The Advantage was also able to be used by 2 players alternating which made it even better!

[Raccoon Lad]

The NES Advantage is alright, but I hate how the buttons are on such an extreme angle, it makes me hold the stick a bit crooked and causes me to sometimes press diagonally when I intend to press straight. Plus the thing's way too square.

Now, the SEGA Arcade Power Stick on the other hand, is a thing of beauty. Big and sturdy, yet ergonomically designed, AND it just looks cool!

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Gotta vote for the PS1-compatible Pro Shock and Pro Shock Lite myself. I forget who exactly manufactured those, but speaking as someone with a large PS1 retro compilation library, the old-school arcade feel doesn't get much tastier than that for this console. The only thing it really doesn't do well is double-D-pad games like Robotron X and Crazy Climber 2000. For everything else that's joystick-centric, the Pro Shock joysticks rule.

[buttasuperb]

http://www.x-arcade.com

[Hep038]

I have to say the turbo touch 360 for the sega genny. Everyone I know hated it, but after my first one broke I had to buy one off ebay so I could finish my season of Coach K.

[IGotTheDot]

GunCon was and still is the best light gun ever. It changed the way I felt about light gun games.

[Raedon]

Epyx XJ-500

http://www.cedmagic.com/tech-info/remote-control/epyx-500xj-joystick.jpg

[Arcade Antics]

http://dreamcast.planetweb.com/images/screenshots/samba/sambamaracas.jpg

[Nature Boy]

I'd have to go *all* the way back to the Wico I think.

It was as sturdy as all hell (easily withstanding hours and hours of Track and Field and Decathlon) and being able to set it down on a table and play games with one hand was just fantastic.

Nothing newer has ever been as much of a must have for me. Although I did have an NES Advantage back in the day (and I actually modified it to play Atari games at one point).

[wberdan]

i think the finest one to date would have to be Brett Walash's "Vectorcade". It was built to order with any choice of button, joystick, and shell colors... the parts were all point to point and high quality arcade parts. And the controller shell is made out of a custom fiberglas metal flake style finish... a truly top notch controller

www.playvectrex.com

willie

[NoahsMyBro]

Don't forget the Atari 5200 Trak Ball - The thing is amazingly high-quality for a mainstream consumer-grade product.

[GENESISNES]

I liked the small sega 6 button controller. Its cool, because the goodness can also be used on Commodore, and atari.

[kainemaxwell]

Actually I have to say the SNES Ascii pad- felt like a SNES controller, had all the buttons and turbo and auto-fire options for all the buttons!

[Atariguy]

I'll put another vote for the Saturn Analog pad. perfect for most every game and feels great in your hand.

[ManekiNeko]

My choice is the Sega Arcade Pad. It just doesn't get any better than this for fighting games... the D-pad is rubberized, making it comfortable under the thumb and EXTREMELY responsive. The six button layout is far superior to the Super NES controller's... there's only one shoulder button and it's very rarely used.
The NES Advantage is a close runner-up. It's a reliable, responsive, and solidly designed controller that heightened the NES experience. The Amiga Powrstick deserves an honorable mention for being the only joystick worth using in the early 80's... nearly every other controller back in those days was crap.

JR

[Tritoch]

No one's said WaveBird yet? :o

[omnedon]

I do love my Wavebird. It is amazing.

[congobongo]

I'd have to go *all* the way back to the Wico I think.

I'll second that. It saw sooooooooooo much action in the 80s and still works great today!