What is your favorite console controller?

[Conn]

Oh man, I forgot to mention another awesome one- Logitech's Cordless Action controller for PS2. It has a surprisingly great DPad, analog sticks with grip and nice resistance, feels nice in the hands, and is, of course, wireless.

[simonjackson79]

My three favourites, in no particular order:

N64: Loads of people hated it, but somehow it just felt right in your hands. Especially loved playing the double controller mode on GoldenEye and Perfect Dark.

SNES: Shoulder buttons!!!! Where the hell did that idea come from? It was especially good for Street Fighter II and Alpha II.

Dreamcast: Only bought a Dreamcast for the first time about a month ago, but I love the way this controller fits so snugly in your hands, even my six year old son finds it nice and easy to hold, which is more than I can say for the Xbox or PSx/1/2 controllers.

[neohx_7]

The best controller were really the NES and then the Dual Shock because they both redifined control in a controller that was universally comfortable. The controller I use the most is my Hori Real Arcade Pro because its an easy way to pretentiously play 2D fighters. (also, the Saturn controller for PS2 rules!)

[bawitback]

Sony Playstation original controller (no analog)
Super Nintendo original controller
Sega Dreamcast original controller

[ducktapevoodoo]

sega saturn first
xbox360 second

[marurun]

I am finding it really hard to understand the respect the SNES and original PSX controllers get. The SNES controller had an uncomfortable pad that tended to start rubbing off skin after playing for a while and it introduced shoulder triggers, probably one of the worst controller ideas in the universe. Do you know how many of my friends always customized the controls to make sure they never had anything important on L?

The PSX controller has the silly fake D-pad. Always sucked for fighting games and, in fact, any game that needed diagonals. Worked OK for simulations like Warhawk, however. Still, once again, most people I know tried at hard as possible to keep the functions they needed off L1 and L2. And the whole Circle, X, Triangle, Square thing wasn't necessary. Different because it was different, not because it offered any real advantage.

Come to think of it, I think there are very few controllers I truly relish. I like the NES controller for short spells, just because it's simple, but I prefer the TG-16/PCEngine controller design. Good pad and buttons and fewer sharp angles. The NEC Avenue 6 pad is not so hot. The Japanese Saturn pad is the ultimate pad, with a few caveats. First, shoulder buttons suck! Second, the pads do degrade over many years of use, more rapidly than some other gaming pads.

I find the Dreamcast and Saturn 3D pads to be somewhat bulky and awkward. Same with the N64 pad and the original Xbox pad.

I guess I'd have to say the 2 best controller designs, IMO, are the TG-16 pad and the Saturn rev. 2 controller.

[racketboy]

Yeah I never liked the SNES one either.
Not only was it kinda uncomfortable, all the ones I have seem really creaky/squeeky like they aren't build especially well.

[alexkidd]

I just got the Sega Saturn USB controller for PC and MAC for my emulators and it is GODLY!
I got it from www.play-asia.com. They have several colors, most other sites I checked are out of stock so I wonder if they've stopped making them.

[racketboy]

I just got the Sega Saturn USB controller for PC and MAC for my emulators and it is GODLY!
I got it from www.play-asia.com. They have several colors, most other sites I checked are out of stock so I wonder if they've stopped making them.

they probably did make a limited amount and I'm guessing once a store sold out, they didn't quite sell enough to make it worth their while to restock.

It would have been nice to see store in the States stock them though.

[lordofduct]

Mine is a close call between the Saturn and Dreamcast.

Saturn because it fits so well all around for most any 2D game and I want one of those USB ones as well just for that.

Dreamcast because it was the most comfortable fit for both analog and digital... on top of that it came in handy for making strange controller lay outs for games like Bangai-O or Outrigger.