• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Best Gamecube controller for Wii?

D

Decker

Member
I am not interested in Virtual Console, at least not for the moment, just looking for a controller i could use for Wii games like Mortal Kombat, Super Smash Bros, etc.

so far i have read very bad opinions about classic controller (is it really so bad????) so i guess i would rather buy a GC controller


Edit: Added Nyko Wing and Hori Classic Controller



i was able to find these online/in shops:

Original GC controller (only used units around)

Gamecube_Controller_200_200.jpg


Compatible GC controller (very cheap, there are tons of them on ebay but i am worried about their quality)

wiicontroller.jpg


Wavebird controller (only used and difficult to find)

wavebird.jpg


Thrustmaster T-Wireless gamepad (cheap, easy to find in shops, quality?)

Thrustmaster-T-Wireless-NW-Controller.jpg


Nyko Wing (only WII and VC games, won't work in GC games)

nyko-wing-controller-20080828024814062-000.jpg


Hori Wii Classic (probably only WII and VC games, won't work in GC games)

pa.145126.1.jpg



Which one do you advice me to buy ? (feel free to suggest other models)
 
Get the original GC controller if you see it. Its hard to find, and its the only acceptable controller for Smash. Edit: Oh I se eyou only have used ones. Still, its better than others. But you could go with the wavebird too, which is amazing.
 
The wavebird's lack of rumble actually makes me say just find an official GC controller and buy an extension cord of some kind (I'm sure someone makes one)
 
If you can find one in an import store or go through play-asia, I recommend getting Nintendo's white gamecube controller. The cord is much longer (I believe it's 3m compared to the 2m of the regular GC controller).

Controllers side by side:
IMG_1040.jpg


Box of the white controller:
IMG_1039-1.jpg
 
thanks for the answer TheKingsCrown, PacoDG and Auron_Kale

i was able to find wavebird only on ebay

Thrustmaster gamepad is wireless and has rumble plus i can find it in a shop close to my house but i don't know how good it is

anyone here using this controller can give an opinion ?
 
Decker said:
thanks for the answer TheKingsCrown and PacoDG

i was able to find wavebird only on ebay

Thrustmaster gamepad is wireless and has rumble plus i can find it in a shop close to my house but i don't know how good it is

anyone here using this controller can give an opinion ?
Click to expand...

Thrustmaster is pretty good, but much smaller than the pics suggest. It was harder for me to play Smash with it, but my other friends found it to be okay. My main complaint would probably be the feel of the controller since I wasn't really liking the rubber grips as they would dig into my palms during some intense battles.
 
oh my, the chainsaw ...

who would play with that thing? Jason from Friday the 13th? :D

Thrustmaster has also D-Pad and left analog swapped. Does that influence ergonomics?
 
How could anyone not choose the Wavebird. I can barely use regular Gamecube controllers now that I'm used to the weight of wireless controllers.
 
Quixzlizx said:
How could anyone not choose the Wavebird. I can barely use regular Gamecube controllers now that I'm used to the weight of wireless controllers.
Click to expand...

I like rumble...?

Anyways, I used the Wavebird exclusively when my friends and I were playing the Japanese copy of Brawl when it came out but once we decided to participate in NOA's Brawl tournament in SF and learned that the controls were going to be Classic Controllers, we all switched.

Now, I can't really play Brawl with the wavebird and the longer cord of the white GC controllers gives me the same amount of range that I used with the wavebird - plus it rumbles.

And to PacoDG: My friends who used the controller have bigger hands than I do and they found it to be comfy. Another drawback for me regarding the Thrustmaster was that it ate batteries faster than the wavebird.
 
Auron_Kale said:
I like rumble...?
Another drawback for me regarding the Thrustmaster was that it ate batteries faster than the wavebird.
Click to expand...

how fast? How many hours would 3AAA batteries last more or less ?

are configurable/mappable buttons on Thrustmaster useful as it seems?
 
wow that white import controller is sexy! didnt know about it until now.

i only have one still working wavebird, and about 3 or 4 regular controllers, but i want a white one now. i still have my launch cube and its been getting lots of love lately.

and the GC controller is still one of the best all time controllers imo, surpassed by the 360 controller now though.
 
I have that Trustmaster and it's pretty good. I can play Capcom vs SNK 2 with it (that means A LOT). However, I haven't really tested the analogs heavily and the dynamic L and R triggers are a bit weird on this one (no long press, click action but rather a squishy button, which sucks for fighters)

Very comfy in hands, wireless is flawless.
 
Decker said:
how fast? How many hours would 3AAA batteries last more or less ?

are configurable/mappable buttons on Thrustmaster useful as it seems?
Click to expand...

We were using the Thrustmaster like the wavebirds, turning them off when not in use, but I think because the batteries powered the motors for rumble, it seemed like it had about 5 hours less than a wavebird. Not completely sure, since it's been a while, but I do remember changing the batteries more often than the wavebirds.

Didn't really bother for remappable buttons as it was only used to play Brawl.
 
Decker said:
thanks for the answer TheKingsCrown, PacoDG and Auron_Kale

i was able to find wavebird only on ebay

Thrustmaster gamepad is wireless and has rumble plus i can find it in a shop close to my house but i don't know how good it is

anyone here using this controller can give an opinion ?
Click to expand...


I have one and if the original GC controller is a 10 the TM is a solid 8, no problems with it and it is a nice grip, but I felt the buttons and form factor on the original GC is better.

But a solid buy and the wireless is excellent.
 
The white one for the Wii with the longer cord is probably the best option. I sit close enough to my Wii that I can use the regular gamecube controller, but even so the cord is stretching it quite a bit. Wavebird isn't bad, but I'd say rumble matters.
 
The GCN controllers are only used?

I picked up a used Wavebird and a brand-new official Nintendo GCN controller in Gamestop shortly before Brawl came out. I thought they had a few new-in-package GCN controllers then. *shrug*

I do wish the cord was longer though. Maybe if I played Brawl much again it'd be worth ordering.
 
Blizzard said:
The GCN controllers are only used?

I picked up a used Wavebird and a brand-new official Nintendo GCN controller in Gamestop shortly before Brawl came out. I thought they had a few new-in-package GCN controllers then. *shrug*

I do wish the cord was longer though. Maybe if I played Brawl much again it'd be worth ordering.
Click to expand...

Wavebirds are the ones that are mostly found used. Gamestop usually sells new-in-package GCN controllers.
 
White GCN controller, as others have suggested. i bought it because a friend of mine did a little switch with his old black gamecube controller that had gotten some serious use over the years, and i kept my controllers in pristine condition, so i imported the white GCN controller so the same thing wouldn't happen again. it's TOTALLY worth the price too. just perfect.
 
DO NOT get the imitation ebay controllers. You can tell them apart because they don't say Nintendo Gamecube on them. The rubbery nub part of the joysticks will pop off and you be left with a sharp plastic piece that is really uncomfortable. Either that or you have to deal with putting it back on all the time. Not worth it.
 
white GC controller wins

long cord + rumble + cheap price + good quality (same as all the other 1st party controllers)

check your local stores. you might find it if you are lucky since importers seem to like this controller.
 
Dacvak had only good things to say about the Wii edition GameCube controller in another thread:
Dacvak said:
This is, by far, the best GameCube controller they've ever made.

It has the latest analog packs (plastic casing, like import specialty), the fastest (most recent) controller motherboards (same as silver/import specialty) and the most recent L and R shields to prevent sticking. They don't have L and R bars, but it's not necessary in the latest build with the new shields.

(If you don't know what I'm talking about, don't ask about it. This comment wasn't for you.)

The wire is incredible, especially for tournaments where you don't always get a front-row seat. However, wrapping it was a bit of an issue. Fortunately, I figured out a safe, super fast way to wrap it to ensure: it doesn't unwrap by itself (even through heavy transportation), it's super fast to unwrap, and it doesn't bend the wire at the base.

I doubt anyone here is interested enough to see how it looks, so I won't bother taking a picture.

(A little backstory for this post: I'm a huge competitive Smasher who has purchased well over 30 GameCube controllers and professionally mods them. I have a lot of insight on this subject, even if it's useless to everyone else.)
Click to expand...
 
Decker said:
Hori Wii Classic

pa.145126.1.jpg
Click to expand...

I want that, now... it looks like it's a Wii GameCube controller, which is something I had been wanting. I'm sure it won't work in GameCube mode, but it would be a fun little gadget to have, otherwise.
 
thanks for all the replies

i am thinking to get a wireless controller but i am still 50% and 50% between Wavebird (awesome, difficult to find, used) and Thrustmaster (good, easy to find, new)

Hori looks hot but it seems, as well as Nyko, it won't work in GC games

in case in the future i decide to play some nice GC games i will have to buy another controller so i'd better stick to GC ones
 
I wonder if wireless controllers really have input lag? I bought my white controller because a) wavebirds are impossible to find, b) people were crying about lag, and c) it looks awesome.

I think I'd double dip for a white Wavebird. Brawl will kill my white import before long.
 
Pojo said:
I wonder if wireless controllers really have input lag? I bought my white controller because a) wavebirds are impossible to find, b) people were crying about lag, and c) it looks awesome.

I think I'd double dip for a white Wavebird.
Click to expand...

they have lag, especially the wavebird.

ckeck out the other thread about GC controllers. there's a dude who explained it there.
 
Osuwari said:
they have lag, especially the wavebird.

ckeck out the other thread about GC controllers. there's a dude who explained it there.
Click to expand...
Well in that case, get the white one.:D
 
I am very picky when it comes to wireless controllers and I must say my Wavebird has done me extremely well in its lifetime.

Though I never had the chance to try the Thrustmaster, I think you should go Wavebird Decker.
 
yes i think so but Nintendo hates me and doesn't want me to buy it

it's very difficult to find around

why isn't Nintendo making Wavebird anymore or updating it for Wii?

by what you all are saying, no 3rd party controller can match its quality
 
Are there any online retailers that ship the official gamecube controllers and memory cards to Australia? I recently bought a Wii and I want to try out some of the old gamecube games I missed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

With the Steam controller sold out what's the next best option?
36
634
Jinzo Prime replied
(Some) Modern Blu-ray drives can now rip GameCube, Wii, and Xbox 360 games to PC
News 
4
284
ReyBrujo replied
Controller recommendations for my setup?
11
309
LiquidMetal14 replied
  • Poll
Which Nintendo comeback was more impressive? (GameCube to Wii vs Wii U to Switch)
2 3
109
2K
Heimdall_Xtreme replied
The 100 best-selling GameCube games in the US by October 2006
Sales-Age  2
68
2K
Midway-AGNC- replied
Top Bottom