The 3 Best Gaming Controllers

[Zerodash]

I can't say I've ever had a "perfect" game controller.

Best D-pad: Dreamcast

Best Analog Sticks: 360

Best Form Factor: SNES

If only someone could combine them and make a super hybrid controller of some sort...

[Croooow!]

1) Wii Classic Controller (not Pro). I love almost everything about this controller. The D-Pad is my favorite ever, the joysticks are great, I love the glossy front and matte back, and the buttons are a little hard but press down very nice. It being wireless is the final plus, enough to trump the SNES controller in my opinion.

2) Sega Genesis. I had never used one of these controller until a year ago (Sega was virtually non-existent in my hometown) and I love this thing. I like the size and how well it fits in your hands. The three buttons side by side is very interesting to me as I grew up only with Nintendo and Sony controllers and the D-Pad surprised me due to my former beliefs that only Nintendo could make D-Pads I liked.

3) Original XBox Model 2. I think what I like most about this controller is that it's pretty much a Dreamcast controller with an improved analogue stick and the addition of another much needed analogue stick at the expense of the D-Pad. These analogue sticks are by far my favorite and the triggers and buttons are perfect for the system's genre strengths.

[MrEco]

3) PS2 DualShock 2 controller - Very comfortable. Only problems are that the analog sticks move a bit sluggishly for my tastes.

2) Xbox 360 controller - Extremely well fitting controller, but for some reason my fingers always easily slip off of the analog sticks. D-pad kinda sucks too.

1) PS3 DualShock 3 controller - I've never used the original Sixaxis so I can't compare, but this is easily my favourite controller ever. I have no problem with the L2 and R2 buttons unlike most people and the analog sticks (And D-pad, and buttons, and everything else) are absolutely perfect for me.

[swiftzx]

3) Dreamcast/ Sega Saturn Model 2
2) Wiimote+nunchuck/ classic controller pro
1) Gamecube controller

Honorable mention: oXbox controller (model 1)

As for Sony's controllers, I can't stand to use them. They're unconfortable to use and for my ps3, I hate the dualshock 3 and am using a 3rd party controller at the moment.

[RBT]

3) OG Xbox Model 2 - Great fitting controller with excellent analog sticks & triggers.

2) Game Cube - Very comfortable, Great layout my survival horror pad of choice.

1) Saturn Model 2 - Just feels right, The ultimate fight pad.

[Gunstar Green]

1. Saturn Model 2: A major improvement over the Genesis 6-button. The best controller I've ever had the privilege of playing with.

2. SNES: Probably the most influential controller of all time. A little too thin for me though.

3. Genesis 3-button: Feels great and looks great. I wish the six button controllers would have been designed to be more like this one.

[msimplay]

1. My favourite pad of all time the Sega Saturn pad worked well with every digital game out there.
2. Sony Playstation Dual Shock / Dual Shock 2 / Dual Shock 3 fantastic because its works well as a standard controller and doesn't have a gimped dpad like the 360
3. Saitek P880 works great as a PC controller has dual analogs and 6 face buttons + 2 shoulder.
It lacks analog triggers though which is annoying with modern driving games.

As a side note my ideal controller would be the Sega Saturn analog controller with another analog stick and 2 shoulder buttons and 2 analog shoulder triggers with a select button just incase.
That would mean you could configure controls for any game with the possible exception of N64 games which play best using an N64 controller.

[Inazuma]

http://www.gioteck.com/wordpress/?page_id=84
For those of you complaining about your fingers easily slipping off of the PS3 L2/R2 triggers, I strongly recommend this accessory.

I've used my PS3 Dual Shock 3 with these on for well more than 1k hours and it works perfectly. With them on, the PS3 Dual Shock 3 gets my vote for best controller ever made. It has a lot of buttons and all of them work well. I also like how the same controller can be wired or wireless.

2nd place would be the standard Japanese Saturn controller. Best D-pad I've ever used. The 6 Face buttons and 2 shoulder buttons work great too. How come we can't have d-pads like this anymore?

And 3rd place will go to the Gamecube controller, however I gotta say that I haven't used the Classic Controller Pro yet, despite owning one. I wouldn't be surprised if I end up liking it more.

*edit*

Video of the PS3 controller real triggers

[Bradtemple87]

dreamcast
snes
ps series dualshock

I love them in any order

[brainofjtd]

DualShock 3. DC had better Dpad, but only one analog stick.