Controlling the Controller: Your picks

[Glitch42]

***Don't know if this topic is already floating around somewhere but...

So basically, what is your favourite controller? I don't really want to get into the nitty gritty of graphics or game libraries; but I thought of what makes me like a system over another and it really comes down to controllers.
I couldn't care less about graphics and such when I get introduced to a console but the controller matters.

So,
What's your favourite controller?
Do you loathe a controller?
What do you like/hate about it?
If you could, what would you change about it?
And anything else..

So here's my two cents, I personally dislike the Xbox controller, I think it's really bulky and since I have small hands its hell to heft. In contrast the PlayStation controller is slim and small. I also dislike the dome buttons on the Xbox and like the flat buttons on the PS.

So what about you?

[touchofkiel]

Yep, I'm a dual shock guy myself (any of them, really), though I have no problems with the Xbox controllers (excluding the original). I use a 360 controller for all my PC gaming, including emulators. My chief complaint is with the awful d-pad.

Not a 'controller' really, but I loathe the way the 3DS feels, especially the original. I absolutely hate the way the analog pad and d-pad are arranged... my thumb naturally rests RIGHT between the two. The buttons and start/select aren't much better, the shoulder buttons feel loose and clicky, and and and ... ugh. I upgraded to the XL, but it's still not that much better. It's completely turned me off to anything on the system that isn't a turn-based RPG (good thing there's plenty of those, at least).

By the same token, the PSPGo is a neat little device, but yep... you guessed it. Only good for RPGs.

I used to love the Dreamcast controller, but having just acquired one of the first time in more than a decade... nope nope nope. That analog stick sits way too high, and doesn't feel very good to begin with. Nice triggers and form feel though. I could say the same for the Gamecube controller... the face buttons are idiotic, the C-stick sucks and the d-pad is too small. But damn if it doesn't have a great form feel and the best triggers around.

Best triggers: Gamecube
Best face buttons: Dual Shock (PS4 specifically)
Best sticks: Xbox feels nicer, barely, but I prefer the dual sticks on Playstation
Best d-pad: anything by Sega or Sony, though I quite like the Saturn d-pad (SNES runner-up)
Best overall: Dualshock 3. I like the DS4 better, except the select/touch pad really annoys me.

Maybe it's not fair because it's not a traditional controller, but I hate the Wii. Everything about the controls - the remote, the nunchuk combo, the awful awful awful "Classic Controller" (both of them). Wii Sports is pretty much the only time the remote felt natural to me. Everything else, even great games like Mario Galaxy, just had me wishing I could use a 'normal' controller.

[Xeogred]

This is something I would say the current gen did extremely well on all fronts... the PS4, Xbone, and Wii U Pro controllers are all incredibly excellent. I would have an extremely hard time picking a favorite. The Pro controller feels like the ultimate evolution of the SNES controller with the same button placement and best D-pad in ages and is probably the most comfortable one to me, though the smooth glossy finish gets smudgy pretty easily. I have always thought this way about the PSX design as well though, it feels like an extension of the SNES controller with a more comfortable grip and a few new buttons. Then from there the Dual Shock came in. This is where I get a little pickier, the Dual Shocks loose joysticks (on all of them, DS1-3) are not very appealing to me for FPS's and feel kind of clunky, so I like the Xbox's controllers more when it comes to first person. But this doesn't prevent me from playing some on the PS2/PS3 still and otherwise if there's exclusives. I favor the Dual Shock for everything else. The DS4 fixed this issue though because it really is the joysticks specifically for me, so it's not so much the alignment or anything. I love the DS4 and the buttons feel a bit "harder" in a good way, but I do think the original Dual Shock design is a bit more comfortable for longer sessions. I have big hands so I think after awhile, the smaller DS4 sometimes gets a little crampy.

I have also been using a PS2 adapter for my PC for emulation for probably about a decade now. Any Xbox controller feels awful for retro stuff, so the Dual Shock wins here.

There is something nice about how lightweight old controllers were though. I have nothing bad to say about the NES, SNES (a favorite), and the Genesis / 6-pad's.

I actually think my favorite D-pad though, is Playstation's weird design. What do you even call it?

If I could ONLY pick one controller... probably the Dual Shock 2. It feels a bit tighter and more comfortable than the 1, and I definitely prefer those L2/L3 shoulder buttons over the slippery DS3's weird triggers. The DS2 seems heaviest though.

I think the Wii U Pro Controller would be #2. With the Xbone and PS4 tying.

Been meaning to grab an original non-joystick PSX controller again sometime. I loved those as well and figure they'll work with my adapter so I can use it for emulation.

Beyond that I never really complain about controllers much and think it's a silly excuse. You just have to adapt to them after awhile. I don't think I'd have trouble going back to the N64 one or whatnot. That said, the Gamecube and Dreamcast controllers are my least favorite. The lack of weight for its strange shape for the DC controller is what really bothers me, and the cord coming out of the bottom. It was the time when a second joystick was kind of necessary too. The original Xbox Hamburger controller is a monster and beyond hilarious, but it kind of feels like a better DC controller to me. The S-design was a nice change though and I'm glad that's been the main blueprint.

[Tanooki]

Personally outside of 3D gaming nothing beats the classic SNES controller. Solid tight d-pad precision along with a generous supply of buttons but not too much to confuse.

3D though, dual shock 3 I suppose, while 4 feels slightly better the teeny off to the side options (kind of a start/select combo pause button) is too small and shoved in, sucks as I have to think to hiit it or feel for it for a moment not wanting to push the touch panel click.

Sadly stuck with a 360 knockoff for the PC, but it works great, just not as comfortable and I find non-even dual sticks annoying and weird, less precise or right, hard to explain but I really dislike it. Also the fact they aped Nintendo but reversed the BA/XY setup throws me off as I'm used to where those letters belong by the company that started it on SNES - Nintendo.

I have some controllers I dislike in part, not on the whole, though the xbox controller comes closest--heavy, oversized, kind of strains the hands with excessive L/R use, and again the aped reversed buttons from Nintendo and the unaligned dual sticks. The Dreamcast I liked, except the springs in the L/R which made the hands hurt in games (racing mainly) where they had to stay pressed as it would pull on your tendons after awhile.

[Sarge]

So there's no optimal controller for me. A few get really close, but none are quite there.

For modern gaming, it's going to be the 360 controller. My only real gripe there is the d-pad, which ranges from passable to broken, depending on the state of the controller and how well it manages to wear down. Some of mine are quite stiff, the others pretty lose and playable, but none are great. In fact, I've got an off-brand Afterglow pad I use on PC that's got a fantastic d-pad on it, much better than the official one... but the sticks just aren't as good on it.

I don't like the Dual Shock 3 much at all. The sticks are too loose, I don't like the feel of the triggers, and the d-pad still feels a little too recessed. Now the Dual Shock 4 feels wonderful. The sticks are tightened up, and the d-pad is one of the best I've used. It may eventually supplant my preference for the 360 pad.

For retro stuff... hmm. I'd say from simple versatility that the SNES pad is probably the best. Part of me likes to have six face buttons, but it's not a necessity in most games. If what I'm using doesn't require analog, I figure that's the best way to roll, practically the entire industry is based in some way on that controller.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

The Xbox One pad is ridiculously good.

I got to hold one of the Elite model ones and it was even better.

I don't like the asymmetrical sticks but as a fan of racing and FPS those impulse triggers might be the coolest advancement in controller tech I've experienced. They also managed to make a dpad that works really freakin well. They listened to the criticism of the 360 dpad.

The Wii U Pro Controller is real awesome too. The layout, control feel, and battery life on that thing are perfect. What brings it down below the Xbox One controller for me are the lack of analog triggers. Major bummer on that front.

The DualShocks have all been so adequate for just about every type of game I think historically I'd have to say they've been my favorite. While none of them are great I don't have really any complaints with them either. They're just fine.

Except the triggers on the PS3 controllers. Fuck those things.

[PartridgeSenpai]

I never really think about which controllers I don't like or like more than another. They're just a tool to an experience, I guess, so I never really think about it, unless I'm playing a very boring or droning game, where how uncomfortable my hands are is a reoccurring thought in my brain.

Enter the Wii. I love the Wii, and all of the fun, quirky games on it, but damn, I hate playing adventure games on that thing that REQUIRE the Wiimote and Nunchuck. I like to have my elbows on my legs, and then join my hands at the controller: That's just the most comfortable way to do things for me. You basically can't do that with games like Skyward Sword or Okami, because you gotta swing your arms for attacks and stuff. Having your arms so spread apart always has just felt really awkward and uncomfortable to me. I went out of my way to buy the PS2 edition of Okami, just so I wouldn't have to use the Wii-control method, and it made Twilight Princess drag on a lot more than I think it otherwise would've.

Though as far as my most hated controller, that has to be the Dualshock 3, and that's mostly because they have awful build quality and not only break all the time, but are a real pain in the arse to put back together, especially the earlier models. I love the PS3 and I play it a ton as far as newer game consoles are concerned, but damn, those controller batteries have PSP syndrome as far as how fast and hard they die.

[Xeogred]

The Xbox One pad is ridiculously good.

I got to hold one of the Elite model ones and it was even better.

How is the Elite model even better? It looks sexy. I won't to hold one.

The changes on the Xbone design from the 360 are very subtle, but I wound argue that the Xbone controllers are an undeniably excellent improvement over something that was already really great.

[chuckster]

The controller is a huge part of playing games for me, which extends to other HIDs as well, like keyboards and mice. These things are my link to the game or program I'm using, and so the controller can make or break an experience. I have a hard time playing if I have a bum controller, it just nags at me.

Any time I go into my retro games store, I always pour over the controller section, I even own several for consoles I don't own!

For 2D, I love the Mk. 2 Saturn controller. I grew up with the Genesis and even though the 3-button pad had a better (bigger) D-pad, the Saturn has 6 face buttons and two triggers, plus the still S-tier D-pad that makes diagonals easy as pie. It's just too versatile

The SNES is good, especially coming from a generation prior to the Saturn, but (maybe this is the Genesis bias talking) NES and SNES controllers weren't shaped well in general for me, but they're functionally fine. I got a Buffalo SFC USB pad last year and my wife (who plays with me through emulation on the big screen) loves it. She even prefers it to the originals I have, and I have several that are like-new.

A couple of really nice pads for 2D that are often overlooked are the Neo-Geo CD controller, with it's mini-arcade stick D-pad, and the original PS1 digital controller. The Neo-Geo CD pad is very cool, but harder to find and more expensive than SNES or Saturn. If you want to get a similar feel though, the PDP 'fightpads' for 360 and PS3, have the same (more durable) type of microswitched mini-stick, and are very good for the low price, (plus 6 face buttons ). I always considered the first PS1 controller the logical upgrade from the SNES (vs. the illogical one for the N64). Solid D-pad, identical cross layout for the face buttons, Start/Select, and an extra set of triggers.

Also the fact they aped Nintendo but reversed the BA/XY setup throws me off as I'm used to where those letters belong by the company that started it on SNES - Nintendo.

If anything, I thought Sony took the biggest influence from the SNES. The Xbox seemed to be more of a refined Dreamcast layout, which in turn was a tweak of the Sega 6-button layout, just moving the Z and C buttons to triggers.


I thought the Duke was really nice, and the S was great too, but I thought the placement of the White and Black buttons was crap. Why not just have a straight 6-button layout on such a large controller (The S was still pretty big compared to the DS1 for example)?

I use my Steam Controller for 3D games, again due to versatility. It does so many things well, and I love larger controllers anyway. I just wish it played better with other controllers and showed up as a normal xinput controller in gamepad mode.

The Xbox One, DS4 and 360 are tied for me, they're all top-notch. The DS4 has the interesting trackpad, but Xbox controllers work a little smoother and I prefer the layout. I've not tried the Elite.

Not considering crappy $5 PC controllers and BS like the Jaguar controller, the N64 is one I could never get on with. I played a ton of 64 games for years, but I just always thought the controller was a mess. The stick was fragile, and didn't even feel good new, and having to move your had from he central grip to use the D-pad pretty much meant games used one or the other, limiting the control schemes.

It's funny (to me) to see the evolution from the mess of the N64 pad, to the quirky Gamecube pad, the deviation of the Wiimote, and then Nintendo bowing to convention eventually with the Classic Controller and the Pro. The Gamepad is nice too.

I have a stick for my fighters and MAME games too, it's an important part of the lineup.

[ElkinFencer10]

My least favorite controller is (this should really be a given) is the Atari 5200, but honestly, it would be a good controller if the joystick were self centering. I mean, the buttons need repair frequently, but the joystick is really the only unforgivable fault.

My favorite controller is definitely the Gamecube controller, but the Dreamcast controller would be if it had a second control stick and if the control stick weren't so stiff.