Best Standard Controller of 8th Generation?

[Ziggy]

Which console has the best standard controller? By that I mean the official control for the console. It's kinda weird in Nintendo's case since the JoyCons and the grip come with the Switch, but the Pro Controller is also an official Nintendo controller and the same button layout (albeit an additional purchase). And there's also The Xbox One Elite controller, so I guess we're not just talking about pack-in controllers.





My thoughts...

I've always been a fan of the Playstation controller, but I just don't particularly care for the Dual Shock 4. I think it's mostly because of that center touch pad that they added. Start and Select have become Options and Share buttons. I find it hard to hit the Options button. From muscle memory, my right thumb reaches for Start and ends up clicking that stupid pad. If I remember that "start" isn't where I think it is, then I have to fumble around to feel out for it. Also, there's a weird light on the back of the controller that I catch reflecting on stuff in the room from time to time. I'm not sure what the point of the lights are. And the batteries in Sony's products always annoy me. Granted, it might be weeks or months before I pick up my PS4 controller and the battery is always dead. I can go the same amount of time and still have a charge left in the Switch controller. The DS4 isn't a bad controller, maybe I'm just finally being a grumpy old man about it. I'm too use to the past DS controllers that never really changed. Now that they added this touch pad and bling lights I guess I'm shouting, "Get off my lawn!"

The Xbox One S controller I find to be surprisingly comfortable. I say surprisingly because I never would have guessed that from the pictures. I've used the original Xbox controllers and never found them to be comfortable. And I don't just mean the duke controllers. The 360 controller was definitely a step up in comfort. I eventually got a USB one for use on the PC since everything is X-Input these days. It's OK, but still not the most comfortable thing for me to use. That's why I'm surprised about the One S controller. If you look at pics of the 360 and One S controller side by side, it looks hardly any different. And yet it feels a lot more comfortable! I've never used the "Elite" controllers, so I cannot comment on those.

The Switch is weird because it has multiple official controllers. For this poll, I'm only counting the JoyCons when attached to the grip because that most compares to the standard controller on other consoles. Now as far as the JoyCons with grip versus the Switch Pro Controller, I find myself using both. The JoyCons don't have an actual D-Pad, they have 4 face buttons. This comes in handy for certain games. The best example is Tetris. Having 4 face buttons makes it impossible to accidentally input something wrong on a D-Pad. But I think the Pro Controller is better for general gaming. The Pro Controller is very similar to the One S controller, a tad smaller and a little more rounded.

Which am I picking... I don't know yet, I'm gonna have to think about it some more. It's between the Switch Pro and Xbox One S for sure, but I can't decide which I think is better. I'll cast my vote after some input and votes...

[stickem]

never been a fan of playstation's controllers. i feel like microsoft got it right with the second og controller and continued that with their future controllers. i don't care for the d-pad, triggers, or analog placement for the playstation. the switch is ok for me for what it is, but prefer microsofts controllers

[CFFJR]

I voted for the Xbox One standard controller. Never tried an elite. The only other option that comes close is the Switch pro controller, which is really good.

As far as joycons in the grip, I can't stand it. To me that is a controller to be used in desperation for a multiplayer game because it's the only one left.

As for Playstation, I'm in total agreement with stickem. Never been a fan for all of the same reasons, and each generation of playstation controller has annoyed me for some additional reason or another. PS2? I don't like the pressure sensitive buttons. PS3? Mushy ass triggers. Any game that requires extensive of L2 and R2 becomes unpleasant. PS4? To me the best and most comfortable one they've made since the PS1, taken down several notches because of the touch pad and options button, as you mentioned already.

And no matter what Sony does, they're always going to annoy me because they make the sticks symmetrical.

I'm complaining a lot, so to be clear its not as though they're bad controllers by any means! I know most people prefer them. I'm just not a fan. I bought this Hori controller for my PS4 awhile back and I adore it.. Good option if you have similar complaints.

Really though, the xbox one controller is ridiculously comfortable with a nice grip and form factor, and the best feeling sticks, buttons, and triggers. Definite favorite.

[stickem]

^ thanks for that link, I'm going to pick one up. I use a speedlink torrid for ps3, 360 clone. Just isnt recognized when playing ps1, ps2 games for some odd reason.

[CFFJR]

No problem man, I hope you like it!

And thank you, because I'm going to check out that speedlink torid. Looked it up and it looks really comfortable. I have a PowerA controller I use for PS3, which is nice, but has really thick handles that make it awkward.

Oddly enough, the PowerA controller has the same issue with not recognizing ps1/2 games. Apparently its a third party thing altogether. Weird.

[BoneSnapDeez]

"Nintendo Switch JonCons with Grip"

Literally the only one I've used.

I've actually never even seen an Xbox One console outside of a store kiosk.

[Ziggy]

I've actually never even seen an Xbox One console outside of a store kiosk.

I don't think I've even seen one in a kiosk! I actually don't own an Xbox One, just the controller! It's great to use for most newer PC games (the ones you'd rather use a gamepad than a keyboard/mouse).

[Omerta]

The left stick always felt like it was in the proper position on an Xbox controller.

My giant hands always had my thumbs crashing into each other on PS1-3 whenever I had to use both sticks simultaneously. The PS4 is actually spaced out wider and nullifies that problem so it is a nice improvement, but I still prefer Xbox controllers.

As for Nintendo, I’ll try to use the Gamecube controller whenever I can get away with it.

[isiolia]

Voted for the Controller S, but I feel like most of them are all very solid offerings. Not a huge fan of the Joy-Cons in the adapter.

Main issue I would have with Xbox controllers is price. They are, essentially, the least-advanced controllers on offer. No trackpad, no integrated speakers, no included battery pack. About the only thing they really go further on (compared to the DS4) is rumble, integrating motors into the analog triggers as well as in the handles. Generally though, they're packing less into a product that's got the same MSRP as Sony's.

Setting that (and sale prices) aside, it's a very solidly built controller that's focused on the "common" feature set. It's basically the standard Windows controller, along with other platforms. The upside to the battery debate is that it's the most flexible on offer - you can use any AAs you want, or battery packs, charged in or outside of the controller, or just use it wired with an appropriate generic cable.

To me, it's spaced out better than the DS4, and the left stick being placed as the "primary" control makes more sense to me.

Personally, I've had some minor issues with durability/build on DS4s too, so while I like it just fine, I'd have to give the nod to MS here.

The Switch Pro controller is mostly solid in my experience. Its problems are mostly those of omission - no analog triggers, and no headphone jack. Even more expensive to boot.

[alienjesus]

I’ve never tried any of the Xbox one controllers long enough to judge. The PS4 controller is a definite improvement on previous PlayStation controllers, which I’m not a fan of, but it still has a slightly cheap lightweight feel I think. The joy one are functional but not my favourite, but I real like the switch pro controller.

I suspect I’d like the xbone controller too, as it seems to be similar to the 360 one which I mostly liked.