The best Video Games Controller from your personal experience

magick

Now im not including the mouse and keyboard for this one, because im talking about 80s/90s/00s consoles here.

I started out on the atari 2600 classic joystick and one button,great for the games at the time.

Though its hard to compare but my favs will go to the Super Nintendo controller because it had the right amount of buttons, great grip, very responsive and generally great build quality.

Same goes for the playstation gen1 Controller (the one without the analog sticks) great control and felt just right in your hands.

Most surprising , the GameCube Controller, it looked like buttons got puked all over it but when actually using it , it worked quiet well !

Jack Sheehan

I think the award for both best and worst controller goes to microsoft. The 360 controller has been perfected by copying the best bits of ll the others. On the other hand the 'Duke' controller on the original xbox has to be the absolute worst controller ever concieved

R0ot

N64 controller, loved it so much. Although now I have nothing against the 360 controller its a nice design and button placement is perfect.

mcgovern

The 360s controller easily wins, fits nicely in the hand and has a good weight about it, with everything easily accessible.

o1s1n

R0ot wrote: »

N64 controller

I will refrain from my usual 'the n64 controller was a piece of shít' rant

I loved the NES advantage joystick. Always regret selling that thing.

The one thing I never liked about the snes was the dpad. It always felt a bit off. Preferred the ones on the megadrive 6 button pad.

Jack Sheehan

R0ot wrote: »

N64 controller, loved it so much. Although now I have nothing against the 360 controller its a nice design and button placement is perfect.

I have a bit of a soft spot for the N64 controller. Aside from the fact that it pioneered the analoge stick, I spent so long playing Goldeneye, MK64 and Zelda that I grew to love it.

the great thing about the 360 controller is that you almost forget that you're holding a controller after a while.

mayordenis

n64 for me ****ing loved it can't really fault the 360 official either. needs a phalic part in the centre though

Rhyme

magick wrote: »

Most surprising , the GameCube Controller, it looked like buttons got puked all over it but when actually using it , it worked quiet well !

Loved the Gamecube controller. Comfortable to hold and easy to use. The only way i can conceivably think of improving the controller is making the X and Y buttons easier to push quickly.

SNES controller too, love it.

Mossy Monk

Dualshock 2

magick

Jack Sheehan wrote: »

I think the award for both best and worst controller goes to microsoft. The 360 controller has been perfected by copying the best bits of ll the others. On the other hand the 'Duke' controller on the original xbox has to be the absolute worst controller ever concieved

ah yes, if ur talking about the 360 controller, if so its still a rip off from the ps2

Retr0gamer

Anyone mentioning the Sony controllers should have their heads examined, they are absolute ****e. D-pad is god awful, only 4 face buttons when 6 was the norm and far better (and now thanks to sony 4 buttons are now the norm) and dreadfully place analogue sticks. They are also way too small. They also managed to screw up the button placement by making the bottom button the primary button in the diamond button config instead of the left most button which is far more intuitive and gives access to all other buttons at the same time. At least Konami are still using square as the primary button and x as cancel.

For me the best controller is the japanese Sega Saturn controller, an evolution of the equally brilliant mega drive 6 button controller. It had the best D-pad to ever grace a controller and the full 6 face buttons and 2 shoulder buttons making it possibe to play Capcom fighters.

For 3D games it's a toss up between the GC gamepad and the 360 one. The GC one is probably the most comfortable joypad I've ever used. Button placement is excellent as is the analogue stick. It's only really let down by the short c-stick and a small d-pad.

The 360 controller is probably the best dual analogue controller ever made. It would be perfect if only the d-pad wasn't a useless wobbly load of manure. 6 face buttons would be nice as well. I'll have to buy a new controller for SF2 HD

ah yes, if ur talking about the 360 controller, if so its still a rip off from the ps2

Yes just like PS pad except ****.

Sony pads have always been reactionary copies as well. The PS pad was a miserable attempt at mimicking the SNES controller layout. The dual shock was a joke were they just bolted on two analogue sticks to the old pad because nintendo had completely revolutionised 3D control with their analogue stick and added rumble since Nintendo had come out with the rumble pack. The Dualshock 2 had pressure sensitive buttons that were a reaction to the pressure sensitive triggers in the DC pad. The PS3 was a step backwards removing the 'last gen' feature of rumble and adding dreadful motion sensing to bandwagon hop on the Wiimotes idea.

brennaldo

the 360 controller, i dont know if its just me but the 360's controller just seems to fit perfect in my hand

Jim

Apart from the original PS1 pad I ****ing hate PS pads, don't know how people tolerate, let alone like them.

1.SNES
2.GC
3.360 (apart from the dpad. how hard is it to get a dpad right?)

Fnz

I don't like the layout of the face buttons on the Game Cube controller but damn if it isn't the most comfortable one around.

The 360/Game Cube/Dreamcast controllers are let down by their unbelievably bad D-pad. Also, I think the 360's triggers are giving me RSI so I'm kinda biased against that.

PS2 controller is the one I'm most used to. I'm not saying it's the best ever but as this question is about personal experience...

I guess the amount of time spent with one controller will effect your judgement of it. One thing I don't like about the Dual Shock 2 is it's massive analogue stick deadzone (and, of course, its "last gen" rumble feature).

What the hell was the thinking behind the Atari Jaguar controller?

L31mr0d

the wiimote... :rolleyes:

currently its the 360 controller. I have a PS3 but whenever a game gets released on PC and PS3 i'll play it on my PC so I can use the 360 controller. It just fits better in my hands, feels solid and I really like that the left analogue is higher than the D-Pad.

Cravez

Retr0gamer wrote: »

For me the best controller is the japanese Sega Saturn controller, an evolution of the equally brilliant mega drive 6 button controller. It had the best D-pad to ever grace a controller and the full 6 face buttons and 2 shoulder buttons making it possibe to play Capcom fighters.

YYYEESSS + 1

Was gonna post knowing probably no one would agree but i found the Saturn pad best for overall gameplay. Proably a bit hard to play with FPS's but for fighting games mostly it was like poetry in motion playing with the pad . All the pads now are too slow, unresponsive or just plain arkward to use with fighting games.

magick

Fnz wrote: »

What the hell was the thinking behind the Atari Jaguar controller?

ahhh yes, i still have my Jaguar controller, its like athrow back to the 80s controllers with the crazy size

monkeyfudge

The Bug joystick for the Amiga.

Perfect for Sensible Soccer.

Phototoxin

n64..comfortable.. advanced for its time and v versatile

Bubs101

The N64 by a mile.So revoulutionary for it's time .The Z button was one of the best ideas in gaming history. It's still better than the PS3 contoller and the Wiimote

R0ot

Jimeatsmenu wrote: »

3.360 (apart from the dpad. how hard is it to get a dpad right?)

What's wrong with the d-pad on the 360 controller? :pac:

Retr0gamer

It doesn't work. It's wobbly and very inaccurate and totally unusuable in any game that requires the tiniest amount of precision.

R0ot

Retr0gamer wrote: »

It doesn't work. It's wobbly and very inaccurate and totally unusuable in any game that requires the tiniest amount of precision.

I'm sorry your using your d-pad for precision? :rolleyes:

Creamy Goodness

n64 would be my top one.
then the gamecube.

nintendo seem to be the only one out of the top three that know how to make controllers anymore.

Holsten

The playstation controller, best by miles.

Cunny-Funt

The ps1 controller by far, mainly for the D-pad. I'm surprised to hear people disliking the playstation controller and even more so due to the d-pad, which is the best thing about it imo.

After playing street fighter with a ps1 d-pad it just feels wrong using other pads, they are not good enough.

the 360 fails the streetfighter test along with the gamecube controller.

I've little experience with the original xbox controller however, but my guess is it was ****e.

The Satern controller seemed decent, but I can hardly remember it. The original mega drive controller was a joke, but the 6 button one was great. As with the nes controller.

But the ps1 pad is king,(hence why there is so many clones) and even better when they added the duel shock and sticks. It took a step backwards though imo when they added triggers for the back buttons on the ps3 pad.

Naturally fan boys will disagree, but the older ps pads do better in the 'streetfighter' test (:p) then the ps3 pad due to the back trigger being suckage as buttons.

Nailz

DualShock2 (like Mossy Monk said). But I never liked the Xbox controllers, including the 360's one. Fat, Heavy, don't like the switch of the analog and d-pad on them, don't like the d-pad at all and, in the 360's case, you have the by new batteries every 2 weeks, or buy a play and charge kit (which has two parts, sold seprately, which is very very stupid)! And that still costs in the region of €30!

noodler

Holsten wrote: »

The playstation controller, best by miles.

Yep, playstation controllers.

I do love MS' for FPS but nothing else.

Kinetic^

1. Xbox 360
2. N64
3. Sega Mega Drive (6 button)

Rabies

He he he... The bug almost looks like a sex toy

Skittle

For me the most perfect controller was the Quickshot II Turbo joystick for the C64/Amiga.




First joystick I had with micro-switches, which were a god-send at the time.

Old-school for the win:D

Otacon

Though I find the Six-Axis ok, the Dualshock 3 is a huge improvement. The weight, the button layout...

I dunno why there is such a hatred for it tbh. Maybe it just suits my clearly deformed hands.

Retr0gamer

R0ot wrote: »

I'm sorry your using your d-pad for precision? :rolleyes:

Yes precision. You don't want to be playing a game were instead of pressing forward you press a diagonal or because of the d-pads stupid 4 button design diagonals are nearly impossible to do. It's totally unreliable for street fighter, you end up jumping instead of moving along the ground and special moves are a roulette if you pull them off.

Cunny-Funt wrote:

After playing street fighter with a ps1 d-pad it just feels wrong using other pads, they are not good enough.

Really? I'm a excellent street fighter 2 player and have played that game more than any other and for me the PS pad totally fails the Street Fighter test. 4 face buttons just isn't enough, shoulder buttons are no replacement. Again as I mentioned there is no precision in the d-pad you end up jumping or ducking when you just want to move forward. Special moves are pulled off by chance, it's impossible to lay down a barrage of fireballs since it's so unreliable and you can forget about pulling off spinning pile driver.

Compared to the SNES Mega Drive 6 button and Sega Saturn it's an absolute mess for capcom games. Sure the Gamecube controller and 360 controller fail the SF test as well but at least they are comfy to use. I got the SF collection on the PS1 and tried playing it for weeks before giving up and resorting back to mame and playing with the MK1 sidewinder.

Which to get back on topic was a bloody brilliant joypad. Being able to piggyback with another 3 joypads was genius (why theu got rid of this in subsequent versions is a mystery) and I still use mine to this day for emulators. Brilliant controller for Street Fighter games.

monkeyfudge

I find the 360 D-Pad also awful for games that feature an in-game menu system. It always seems to go right when you want it to go down on a menu.

L31mr0d

Interesting video on the history of gaming controllers:

http://onnetworks.com/videos/play-value/controllers?autoplay=true

Spunge

for first person shooters i like the xbox or 360 controller.
for racing games and fighting games i would prefer the ps controller.

Seifer

I loved the original xbox controller but didn't get a controller-s as it rotated the buttons through 45 degrees and messed up my Halo. Now find the 360 to be the best having gotten used to the button layout.
I played CoD4 on the ps3 the other day for the first time and if you circle strafe right your thumbs touch, wtf? And no I don't have big fat hands.

Shiminay

I like the current 360 controller - fits my hand nicely, but would definitely like to mod it like the more FPS friendly one someone made (I can't find the link ATM, but I'm sure soemoen knows what I'm on about).

The MegaDrive 6 button controller was a masterpiece and a joy to play with.

The afore mentioned Cheetah Bug and Quickshot Turbo are blasts from my past that have brought all sorts of find memories back.

Also loved the NES arcade stick someone else mentioned. Gonna have to invest in something similar for the 360/Soul Calibur. Always regretted not getting one for my Dreamcast back in the day, now they're super rare and expensive.

mcgovern

Nailz wrote: »

DualShock2 (like Mossy Monk said). But I never liked the Xbox controllers, including the 360's one. Fat, Heavy, don't like the switch of the analog and d-pad on them, don't like the d-pad at all and, in the 360's case, you have the by new batteries every 2 weeks, or buy a play and charge kit (which has two parts, sold seprately, which is very very stupid)! And that still costs in the region of €30!

Or you could buy a wired version, which you don't seem to mind since the DualShock 2 was wired :rolleyes:


I'll agree about the 360s D-pad being crap, but since the only time I ever use it is for changing weapons, calling in an airstrike and other things where precision is not required, it works perfectly fine for me.

Burga Galti

Skittle wrote: »

For me the most perfect controller was the Quickshot II Turbo joystick for the C64/Amiga.




First joystick I had with micro-switches, which were a god-send at the time.

Old-school for the win:D

It was good, but I preferred this one:


The Quickshot Cobra. Brilliance.

Runners up would be:

N64 Controller
Nintendoscope (loved that bazooka thing as a kid)
SNES

Hmm, I'm starting to see a trend there...

Otacon

Seifer wrote: »

...if you circle strafe right your thumbs touch, wtf?

Your thumbs not on speaking terms?

I like the smaller Xbox controller. I used to play PES with it with my housemates from college and liked the layout. The 360 wireless is annoying though as the battery pack seems to jut out at the back.

Seifer

Otacon wrote:

Your thumbs not on speaking terms?

They are but it was a first date.

Otacon

Seifer wrote: »

They are but it was a first date.

They should know never to play games on a first date. It sets a precedent and they end up resenting each other eventually for being unable to open up.

Blazer

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Yes precision. You don't want to be playing a game were instead of pressing forward you press a diagonal or because of the d-pads stupid 4 button design diagonals are nearly impossible to do. It's totally unreliable for street fighter, you end up jumping instead of moving along the ground and special moves are a roulette if you pull them off.



Really? I'm a excellent street fighter 2 player and have played that game more than any other and for me the PS pad totally fails the Street Fighter test. 4 face buttons just isn't enough, shoulder buttons are no replacement. Again as I mentioned there is no precision in the d-pad you end up jumping or ducking when you just want to move forward. Special moves are pulled off by chance, it's impossible to lay down a barrage of fireballs since it's so unreliable and you can forget about pulling off spinning pile driver.

Compared to the SNES Mega Drive 6 button and Sega Saturn it's an absolute mess for capcom games. Sure the Gamecube controller and 360 controller fail the SF test as well but at least they are comfy to use. I got the SF collection on the PS1 and tried playing it for weeks before giving up and resorting back to mame and playing with the MK1 sidewinder.

Which to get back on topic was a bloody brilliant joypad. Being able to piggyback with another 3 joypads was genius (why theu got rid of this in subsequent versions is a mystery) and I still use mine to this day for emulators. Brilliant controller for Street Fighter games.

+ 1...
Bought Mortal Kombat 2 for PS3 the other day..so far I still haven't be able to do any of the moves...
For me Xbox 360 is the perfect controller..

rainbow kirby

I love the Xbox 360 and GameCube controllers, even the S controller on the old Xbox was too big for me. Also for size reasons, I wasn't a big fan of the N64 or Dreamcast controllers.

Fnz

mcgovern wrote: »

I'll agree about the 360s D-pad being crap, but since the only time I ever use it is for changing weapons, calling in an airstrike and other things where precision is not required, it works perfectly fine for me.

It will let you down, one of these days, let you down when you need it most!

Retr0gamer

The 360 d-pad is just such a bad design. It's like a little joustick with a D-pad sitting on top of it. I want the head of the person responsible for making it!

Either that or blame nintendo and Sega since they have the patents to all the best d-pad designs.

Seifer

Otacon wrote:

They should know never to play games on a first date. It sets a precedent and they end up resenting each other eventually for being unable to open up.

They've been hurt before in the past and find it hard to open up.
Although I was with friends, had a few beers and were up til all hours playing. Woke up the next day and thought I had punched a wall or something my hand was so sore from clamping over the little toy.

mcgovern

Burga Galti wrote: »

It was good, but I preferred this one:


The Quickshot Cobra. Brilliance.

Runners up would be:

N64 Controller
Nintendoscope (loved that bazooka thing as a kid)
SNES

Hmm, I'm starting to see a trend there...

I had both those, I preferred the Cobra one alright, but they have nothing on todays controllers. I can remember joysticks flying across the room when trying to make a particularly sharp turn!

Otacon

Seifer wrote: »

Although I was with friends, had a few beers and were up til all hours playing. Woke up the next day and thought I had punched a wall or something my hand was so sore from clamping over the little toy.

Sounds like you need to go here

http://pie.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=567

Seifer

Can't see where ever that links, subscribers only.
But from the word pie I assume its something to do with being fat. I assure you I'm not. I'm 5' 10'' and about ten and a half stone.
The controller is just too small once you become used to the comfort of the 360 one.