Why the hate for the N64 controller?

[kevin_psx]

Last topic on this - promise.


N64's controller's better than the non-analog PS1 controller. The N64 controller invented a whole new type of play - analog control - that Sony's PS1 did not have! So the N64 Analog was revolutionary - typical Nintendo - pushes the envelope for new types of play.


N64 = A stick and trigger for your left hand & 5 buttons for your right. Awesome for shooters like Goldeneye or Turok 2. And great for Zelda's C-button inventory system.

[MoreEbolaForYou]

haha, are you serious? we used to call that thing "the triple dildo"! i just have no love for that system at all.

[tritium]

That's harsh. Tough I never owned an n64, I had a friend who had MarioKart 64.

The controllers are relatively comfortable. I dont like the way shooters handle on the box, but other than that I have no complaints at all.

The sony one is a bit irritating that you have to adjust your whole hand a bit lower to use both analogs.

I prefer the dreamcast or xbox(s) controller.

On the otherhand the dreamcast D-Pad was made to chop up your thumb.

[kevin_psx]

i just have no love for that system at all.

N64's weak but still better exclusives - than the Cube.

[davepesc]

Analog joysticks: Pre N64:
Vectrex
Atari 5200

Anyone got any others?

Please stop calling the N64 controller "Revolutionary"

[scooby105]

there were analog controllers on the pc

[GameSlaveGaz]

It's all preferential.

My boyfriend and I both agree that the N64 is one of the most comfortable controllers we ever used. I like the analog stick and Z button in the middle there and the molded plastic fit my hand like a glove. I guess most of the people who didn't like the N64 controller is because their hands were too big or too small and the shape didn't fit them right. Or they found holding the middle of the controller awkward, although many others found this unique and befitting most games.

Still, my favorite controller is the NES purely for its simplicity: D-pad, A, B, Select, Start. What more did you need? Of course, the corners would dig into your palms after a while but other than that, a simple, no-frills controller. (although the most no-frills controller would be that Atari 2600 joystick)

[Jean-Luc Picard]

My favourite controller, I must say.

What I find truly revolutionary is the way the controller can be used in different positions.

The combination of the stick and the buttons works great for most games, and especially FPSs.

But you could also use the D-pad and the buttons for some games, like Mischief Makers.

And the combination of the D-pad and the stick could've been interesting but it was rarely used. I played F1 World Grand Prix that way, using the pad to turn and the stick for an analogue acceleration.

But what I miss the most is the Z button. What a beauty !

[ProgrammingAce]

The only real issue i have with the controller is the durability. How many people have N64 controllers with an analog stick that has a dead spot the size of a quarter? Not to mention the little spring inside getting knocked out of whack and centering the stick wrong... 5 years from now, a perfect N64 controller is going to be a rarity.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Only issue I have with the N64 controller is the poorly made analog stick...I swear it has LEGO written on it. A spring...a mere lil spring sets it into place. No real support like most analog sticks. You'd think Nintendo would learn from Saturn's 3D pad how to make a good Analog stick...

[Retsudo]

I didnt hate it, I just didnt play the N64 enough to get use to the controller. I only had the system for about a month, and didnt have many games for it. So I gave it away.

[Snapple]

It's one of the most comfortable controllers I've ever used. All of the buttons are easy to find, and in my opinion, there is no better controller for FPSes, period.

I hear a lot of people have issues with the stick, but mine still works just as good as the day I got it, which has to be 10 years ago now.

[Cryomancer]

N64 controller rules, it made console FPSes playable! That's a feat!

It's comfortable and functional and none of mine have ever broken down on me yet so you guys must be playing some intense mario party or something. LOL

[fishsandwich]

Favorite controller: SNES
2nd Favorite: Saturn analog
3rd favorite: N64

Fits me great!

:D

[evil_genius]

It was a son of a bitch trying to hit that left shoulder button though.

[tritium]

MARIO KART, ... damn it. its good.

I don't remember any pc analog. I remember some that felt analog but didnt really detect the presure. So in essence it was digital.

Analog meaning that it responds based on how far you move it in a direction.

[CosmicMonkey]

At the end of the day, the N64 pad was designed for Mario64 and Zelda. It was absolutely perfect for Mario, Zeldas, Mario Kart, 1080 etc the analogue control is perfect. All other (non-Nintendo) games had to work around it, and most did quite well. I personally thought it was a great set-up for FPS as well, the Goldeneye control scheme is perfect.

Had Nintendo realised that no-one was gonna use the D-pad, the controller would have probably ended up looking much more like a GC pad, as the GC pad is just an upgrade of the N64 pad.

[prismra]

I thought it was awesome!

[Flack]

I simply cannot hold an N64 controller. If I hold it the way you're supposed to my hand starts cramping. If I hold it to where it doesn't cramp, I can't hit the Z button. Seriously, it's the only controller I can think of that has completely alienated me from an entire console.

[whoisKeel]

My thumb always slips off the analogue, so instead of controlling with the tip, it always ends up somewhere far down like the middle of my thumb.

The Z-trigger was a nice touch, they shoulda kept that on the gamecube.

[Push Upstairs]

I suffer from the same problem as Flack, i cannot hold the damn thing.

The analog stick is too close the the buttons...that was poor design on Nintendo's part.

One of the reason why i don't like the N64.

[Lothars]

The N64 Controller is a great controller that gets wrecked easily

I've seen so many broken 64 controllers but I really like it especially for games such as Super Smash Brothers and Pefect Dark

it's just a great controller mind you not as good as the analog ps/ps2 controller but still a great controller.

[Vectorman0]

I like this controller quite a bit. Of course it is rather weak when you look at it now, but when it first came out it was quite good. The analog stick might not be the same quality as others, but the one thing I do like about it is the rather large range of motion it has. I guess I am lucky I don't have the cramping problem, as I can hold it perfectly fine.

Flack, have you tried any other third party controllers, as there are some that are more traditional in their shape. There has to be some controller out there that is easier to use. There a few topics a while back on this. I think one of the pad-like controllers was a funcoland exclusive brand.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Back in the day, I hated it. It was uncomfortable, and awkward. Besides, it broke all the rules by having three prongs.

Now, after plenty of years to get used to it, I actually like it. It is suited perfectly to almost all N64 games. Mainly first party Nintendo ones though. And anyone who knows their stuff will tell you that the Goldeneye controls have got to be the best controls ever for FPS games.

The only two things I find wrong with the N64 controller are: (1) The central prong is too large, and too square. It can cause cramp to people with smaller hands, and has a habit of sliding out of your grip when sweaty. (2) The analog stick should have been indented, like an Xbox stick. Mario 64 is hard to play as you always have to keep repositioning your thumb back on the stick, as it's hard ridged surface makes your thumb slide a lot.

Apart from those two flaws, I like the way the controller feels snug. I often get confused if I have been playing on the N64 for a long period and then attempt to play a PS2 or Xbox...


Also, trying to play certain N64 games with a GameCube controller is impossible after being used to using an N64 controller. Try playing OOT or Majora's Mask, and you'll see what I mean.

I like how Nintendo chose to go with a 3x3 formation for the main buttons. Your left finger also controls either the Z trigger, or the rarely used L button. As many games don't use the D Pad, the L button is also hardly used

[Ed Oscuro]

I agree, the N64 controller was awesome. Real analog control, though I got my PlayStation first (Dual Shock package in late '97) so I have to consider that first - even so, having a system with COMPLETE analog compatibility kicks having one with lots of games that don't support it.

[Flack]

Flack, have you tried any other third party controllers, as there are some that are more traditional in their shape. There has to be some controller out there that is easier to use. There a few topics a while back on this. I think one of the pad-like controllers was a funcoland exclusive brand.

No I never have. I've considered picking up some PSX > N64 adapters so I can use PSX pads on my N64, but I'm not sure how the button mapping would work out (ie: what would be "z"?)

[YoshiM]

Analog joysticks: Pre N64:
Vectrex
Atari 5200

Anyone got any others?

Please stop calling the N64 controller "Revolutionary"

The dictionary says "revolutionary" is something that is "markedly new or introducing radical change". The Atari 5200 stick (I can't comment on the Vectrex but it's short life span didn't seem to have much impact anyway) is just simply "different". It was introduced at a time when precise twitch gameplay was king and such hardware didn't really suit that type of play (along with fairly shoddy construction). Besides a handful of titles I'm aware of (Space Dungeon for sure and I think Dreadnaught Factor used analog) all the 5200 stick brought to the table was frustration. It was quickly forgotten when the crash came and the NES appeared on the scene with its cross-pad. THAT was markedly new and introduced radical change as from that point until the mid 1990's every system (except the 7800 in the States) used some sort of control pad instead of a joystick as the standard controller.

The N64 stick is truely revolutionary. It was designed specifically for 3D gaming and worked wonderfully for that task. Arguably it can be said that the N64 controller is what prompted an industry shift to making analog controllers the new standard. If that doesn't fit the true definitiion of "revolutionary", I don't know what does.

[smokehouse]

I’m sorry but I despise the N64 controller. Having normal sized “man-hands” I thought the position of the analog stick was terrible, my hands were too close together. They should have placed it on the far left, when the digital pad was. Also, the feel of the analog stick was cheap as well as having to much throw (movement range). Not that I’m a big fan of Sony but their Dual Shock was simply far better than what Nintendo could muster. It was comfortable and the button layout was well done.

I think that the N64 controller is the worst controller to come from Nintendo…

[christhegamer]

NEVER DIS THE N64 CONTROLLER!!!

:bad-words:

[kevin_psx]

The analog stick is too close the the buttons...that was poor design on Nintendo's part.
Don't understand? When I hold the control with my left fist - thumb on the analog stick - i'm no where near the top-side C buttons?


Is the controller fragile? -should I go buy spares? - why's it break so easily?

[Cryomancer]

See, the dualshock seems to hurt my hands...I think its designed to slowly deform your hands so playing anything else seems unatural or something. I still do like the N64 controller and I too have large hands, I can use the original xbox controllers no problem.

Maybe we're all playing the wrong games or something.

[Jumpman Jr.]

I never understood this either. Aside from the analog getting lose really easily, I think it is perfect.

[FurinkanianFrood]

See, the dualshock seems to hurt my hands...I think its designed to slowly deform your hands so playing anything else seems unatural or something. I still do like the N64 controller and I too have large hands, I can use the original xbox controllers no problem.


Basically, the same here except I don't have large hands...... Which IMO boosts the deformation theory. And not just because I despise Sony.

N64 = Most comfortable controller ever.....

I actually spent my high school years playing mostly PSX games (RPGs) , but after buying my last PS2 (which I no longer own) to replace a broken one, I tried to play something on it with a Dual-shock and it just hurt like hell after maybe 20 minutes. After that I only ever played RPGs on the thing (not that there is much else as far a US releases worth a damn on it IMO, and no I don't like MGS).

I actually still like the feel of the original PSX controller, but the Dual-shock's analog sticks always seemed pretty damn near unusable to me. And the shape is murder IMO.

At the time I preffered PSX over N64 by far, but I always have thought that the N64 had a great stick, as does the GC IMO, though admittedy I've had Nintendo sticks break on me (to be fair, I my Sony ones might havve broken if I had ever really put them to more use, but they just were unusable to me).

The analog sticks on the XBOX controller aren't too bad, and I certainly prefer the old XB controller, as the new one hurts my hands, despite my not having large hands at all.

The N64 controller, now that I think of it, also has much better buttons and a much better Dpad than the dual shock.

I don't care much for the Dpad or analog stick on the DC controller, as much as I love the system, they just aren't comfortable for long periods.

The Saturn 3D controller is great, though I don't use it for more than a few out of maybe a hundred or so Saturn games I own. (Though it obviously blows away the old standard US Saturn controller).

Personally, most of the non N64 controllers I like the best predate the N64.......

JP Saturn, Genny six-button, SNES, NES, PCE, etc.

I like the old pads, games, etc.

I'm quite sick of some companies pushing things towards set top bodges that play sports sims and $40 movies on TV's I won't waste money on for another half-decade (or when my current, perfectly good normal TV breaks anyhow).

At least NIntendo still has tried to do something decent with their systems Do we really need to buy the same damn games over and over again with more polys and occasionally I new name to try to make something seem "new."

[kainemaxwell]

I've found the N64 controller one the most confortable I've used since the SNES myself.

[Push Upstairs]

The analog stick is too close the the buttons...that was poor design on Nintendo's part.
Don't understand? When I hold the control with my left fist - thumb on the analog stick - i'm no where near the top-side C buttons?

I have long fingers (or piano hands as my gf calls them) and trying to hold that middle prong with that analog stick and holding the right prong for any length of time isnt possible. My hands cannot function well in such close proximity without some form of cramping.

This is the same reason why i will never own the SP.

[jdc]

Not only was it my first system since I got into gaming rather late (thankyou Diddy Kong Racing....you were irresistable), but I clocked an insane amount of time on the N64 in general. You get to a point where you can find any button blindfolded. That's the key with the N64 controller, especially the C buttons. Ocassional users didn't ever "memorize" it enough to become comfortable with it. We affectionately called it the Fisher Price controller.

[AMG]

I loved everything about the N64 controller. It was perfect for 1st party Nintendo games and FPS.

[Iron Draggon]

Analog joysticks: Pre N64:
Vectrex
Atari 5200

Anyone got any others?

Please stop calling the N64 controller "Revolutionary"

Don't forget the Saturn analog pad!




The dictionary says "revolutionary" is something that is "markedly new or introducing radical change". The Atari 5200 stick (I can't comment on the Vectrex but it's short life span didn't seem to have much impact anyway) is just simply "different". It was introduced at a time when precise twitch gameplay was king and such hardware didn't really suit that type of play (along with fairly shoddy construction). Besides a handful of titles I'm aware of (Space Dungeon for sure and I think Dreadnaught Factor used analog) all the 5200 stick brought to the table was frustration. It was quickly forgotten when the crash came and the NES appeared on the scene with its cross-pad. THAT was markedly new and introduced radical change as from that point until the mid 1990's every system (except the 7800 in the States) used some sort of control pad instead of a joystick as the standard controller.

The N64 stick is truely revolutionary. It was designed specifically for 3D gaming and worked wonderfully for that task. Arguably it can be said that the N64 controller is what prompted an industry shift to making analog controllers the new standard. If that doesn't fit the true definitiion of "revolutionary", I don't know what does.

If you don't think the 5200 controller was revolutionary, then you probably never even owned a 5200, or never played games like Centipede and Super Breakout with it. Those games would never have played as much like the arcade versions as they did with a digital control stick.

It's true that the lack of a centering mechanism made it nearly impossible to play games like Pac Man and Pengo, but that was easily remedied with a 3rd party stick like the ones made by Wico, which were far superior in every way.

Also, you forget that the 5200 controller introduced the world to the PAUSE button. Now THAT feature was truly revolutionary without a doubt. Where would we be without it today? Surely that fits your definition of "revolutionary".

[unwinddesign]

It's great. Probably my favorite controller out of all of them; maybe the PS1/2 pad trumps it, but it's very close.

And on the subject of the original Xbox controller, I had absolutely no problems using that, and I have relatively small hands.

[boatofcar]

N64 controller rules, it made console FPSes playable! That's a feat!

It's comfortable and functional and none of mine have ever broken down on me yet so you guys must be playing some intense mario party or something. LOL

I agree with everything Cryomancer said. The N64 controller is better than the cube controller IMO because it has a full size d pad that you can use without worrying about accidentally hitting the analog stick. The z button underneath the analog stick was perfect for Goldeneye, Star Fox 64, etc.

[YoshiM]

If you don't think the 5200 controller was revolutionary, then you probably never even owned a 5200, or never played games like Centipede and Super Breakout with it. Those games would never have played as much like the arcade versions as they did with a digital control stick.

It's true that the lack of a centering mechanism made it nearly impossible to play games like Pac Man and Pengo, but that was easily remedied with a 3rd party stick like the ones made by Wico, which were far superior in every way.

Also, you forget that the 5200 controller introduced the world to the PAUSE button. Now THAT feature was truly revolutionary without a doubt. Where would we be without it today? Surely that fits your definition of "revolutionary".

I'll give a tip o' the hat to the bonefide Pause button but other systems had a type of pause feature everyone knew about. The Intellivision had one (by hitting like 1 and 9) and some games on Coleco allowed for "Pausing" (by pressing the * button). But we're talking about sticks, not buttons.

Actually, yes I did own an Atari 5200. Purchased my first 4 port in the fall of 1991 and my first cartridges were Pac-Man and Centipede. Couldn't play it at first as I didn't have the power supply or special TV switch but decided to try my RCA Studio II adapter and an Atari 2600 P/S. Worked like a charm. The controller that came with the set, however, didn't. For the next few years I built up my collection of 5200 titles but sold them on eBay as storage space became a premium. So I did log a decent amount of time with the 5200, so I'm not just talking out of my butt.

Centepede and Super Breakout played "as much as the arcade"? I don't think so. With a track ball you can move AND stop on a dime. The 5200 stick you had a lot of play area back and forth. It drove me nuts. Or maybe I had crap controllers compared to your experience. It was a valiant effort to do something new but for what was popular in the market analog was a bad idea. The mention of the Wico sticks just solidify that concept-you shouldn't have to buy 3rd party accessories in order to play games on a system *properly*.