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[moozoom]

I will always love the Wii Remote most of all.

Being able to have my hands separate and sometimes resting on my sides is great.

Would love someone to make a split controller.

This, one million times. Playing with the hands comfortably resting on my thighs was a total change from the cramped position I was used to. That's why I played so much on wii compared to PS3 or Xbox, it was a relaxing moment as well. Motion control was not the selling point of the wiimote for me, the split controls were.

Also for the first time in my life as a lefty, I could choose which controls I wanted in which hand.

 

[devonodev]

I dont agree with the OP, but for 2D games SNES controller is the best ever made.

 

[Hasney]

GameCube controller only works if you have babby hands.

Wrongo. I use a 6" Nexus 6 phone one handed all day and preferred the Duke on the XBox, but the Gamecube controller still feels right.

 

[dragonzdogma]

I finally found someone else that agrees. At least there are two of us.

3 now

 

[leroidys]

They definitely shouldn't be used for incredibly common actions... but for some things (that they traditionally have been used for) like toggling zoom modes or crouch states, they're fine... especially if the triggers (i.e. ADS) or bumpers are already in use. It prevents the player from having to move their thumb from the stick (stopping either movement or aim) in order to perform the action.

More importantly though, is that the GC controller is simply not well suited to the layout standards that were being used by everyone that wasn't Nintendo. There's basically no functional advantage to the layout of the Gamecube controller, yet it's detrimental to tons of multiplatform games.

EDIT:



I disqualified the 6-button Genesis controller, because it both didn't come as standard for most people, and it has sporadic support by the games themselves. The SNES controller is absolutely better than the 3-button Genesis controller.

Neo-Geo controller deserved a nod though (even though barely anyone would ever use one). I agree.

Yeah, can't argue with that. Clickable sticks work well for zooming or crouching, where you're already trying to go slowly. I hate how many games implement it for sprint though, it always feels really awkward, as I'm usually trying to change the camera, change direction, and move quickly when I want to sprint, and it's a pain to have to manage so much with just the stick at once. I find it easier on xbox at least, where the left stick is more centered and thus easier to click.

 

[PreyingShark]

How do you tolerate the insane motion blur and low resolution?

I spend 99% of my Wii U time using Off-TV play. I've honestly never found it to be all that bad.

 

[Cheerilee]

I liked the Atari 2600 joystick.

NES basically invented the D-pad.

SNES perfected the D-pad. It didn't have the 3/6 buttons of the Genesis controller, but it made a great argument that they weren't needed (outside of an arcade stick).

N64 basically invented analog, but it was clunky and inelegant as fuck.

Sony stole Nintendo's crown by beautifully integrating the SNES controller with analog and dual triggers.

GameCube controller (and/or Wavebird) could have been the best analog controller, but the D-pad was shit, the buttons were weird and only felt good in a minority of scenarios, the Z trigger was shit and the left side of the controller was envious of that shit, and I kind of liked the second analog although it wasn't good for everything. Overall it's a "unique" controller, a special snowflake, but the D-pad and Z-trigger and missing L2 trigger push it towards "shit" territory.

Wiimote introduced waggle and it was elegant, but I didn't like waggle and it tossed too many of the things I liked.

Classic Controllers were good, but they always felt like "too little, too late" to me.


Today, I enjoy the SNES controller more than any other Nintendo controller.

My current fave controller is an Xbone controller. My inner GameCube fanboy is shaking his head.

 

[DragonKnight]

Just chiming in to say the snes controller is my least favorite traditional ninty controller. It is really thin and hurts my hands after long play sessions. Really digs into my hands.

I love the n64 and gcn controller with the gcn being my favorite.

To each his or her own though

 

[Chezzymann]

Gamecube controller is shit. Its good for some games but not much else. Crappy second stick 'nub' (ugh), small spongey D-Pad, one shoulder button for some reason, strange button layout. Not good.

Wii U pro controller is great though outside of no analog triggers so the OP is wrong.

 

[Maxrunner]

Probably the most ridiculous thing I've read all day. Next thing he'll say is that Ms has the best controller.

 

[Hasney]

Just chiming in to say the snes controller is my least favorite traditional ninty controller. It is really thin and hurts my hands after long play sessions. Really digs into my hands.

I love the n64 and gcn controller with the gcn being my favorite.

To each his or her own though

Yeah, I never really liked the SNES (or NES for that matter) controllers, but they were good at the time since nothing else was better by a giant leap.

 

[Azalean]

Despite it's flaws, Gamecube controller is great. So is the pro controller. And the Wii Remote is great too.

 

[Pinky]

Sorry, OP, I don't agree.

I love the:

N64 controller
GC controller
Wiimote
Wii U gamepad

Enjoyed each of them just fine.

Opinions...

 

[terrdactycalsrock]

I will never understand the love for the GameCube controller. In my opinion that thing was just trash

 

[EraErr0r1]

Came here to write Gamecube GOAT. Glad it's already been well covered! Anyone that thinks otherwise, can't possibly have used it natively while in its prime. Oh and Wavebird! We've been truly spoiled...

 

[Professor Renegade]

I actually don't mind the gamepad. Also GameCube GOAT.

 

[Nameless]

The GameCube controller is abysmal for anyone who doesn't have Hobbit hands. One of the worst d-pads in the history of gaming too.

 

[Bakkus]

No it's not. It's the GOAT for playing Smash. That's literally it. That godforsaken thing is worthless for anything else.

Two awful "triggers". Just one shoulder button that's cheap and squeaky. No Select button. No clickable sticks. A right C-stick they forgot to finish designing, and a tiny-ass D-pad that made 2D fighters suck.

The GC controller would've been revolutionary during the SNES or N64 days. But when it came out it was weird, outdated, and lacking and least 4 buttons that the competition had.

Smash pros love the GC weirdness but it was garbage for multiplatform games. Hell, it even sucked for MGS Twin Snakes and that was a remake of a PS1 game!

Disagree about the triggers, they made you feel more in control it was clearly designed that way to be sturdy as hell, select button became useless after the 8-bit era when more button were introduced, the C-stick could have been better, but it didn't become a hindrance in most games, the D-pad was made only as a support button for deep games with lots of weapons like Metroid Prime, the main stick worked fantastic for 2D fighters like Smash Bros as you mentioned.

The only relevant button it lacked was a left shoulder button. That's it.

I had no problem playing Twin Snakes on it.

 

[Mutagenic]

The others are decent, but the SNES controller is without a doubt the best.

 

[DeVeAn]

Wii U Pro would be perfect but, face buttons are in an uncomfortable spot. Reaching for Y and B is not ideal and requires adjusting grip. This means the grip is lost. Ruins the controller. Game pad is more comfortable all because the buttons are closer to the thumb with same grip.

 

[lukeskymac]

Wii U Pro should be immediately disqualified from best ever discussions due to digital triggers. C'mon.

 

[Raylan]

Nah man. The Game Cube Controller, the Wavebird, the WiiU Pro controller, they're all great! And with great, I mean f@cking great!

 

[sfried]

Wii U Pro should be immediately disqualified from best ever discussions due to digital triggers. C'mon.

No. Not once have the digital triggers hampered my enjoyment of any XInput games. I am able to do everything perfectly despite the lack thereof of analog triggers (even games that involve car control aren't any harder to control). This isn't like the GameCube's analog shoulder buttons anyway, were there was a digital click at the end that would've been great with shooters.

 

[fluxanimator]

100% agree. And no, the gc controller is mediocre at best.

 

[Sayers]

Exusce you? GameCube is GOAT controller what the fuck

Not even close

 

[sfried]

100% agree. And no, the gc controller is mediocre at best.

100% disagree.

Classic Controller Pro for awhile was one of their better controllers till Pro Controller came along.

 

[Ivan]

I agree.

And SNES controller was not only good, but the best for me.

 

[Mental Atrophy]

Crazy talk. Gamecube controller sucks. D-pad is too small, c-stick sucks, it's missing a button, and the X button is too far away.

 

[lukeskymac]

No. Not once have the digital triggers hampered my enjoyment of any XInput games. I am able to do everything perfectly despite the lack thereof of analog triggers (even games that involve car control aren't any harder to control). This isn't like the GameCube's analog shoulder buttons anyway, were there was a digital click at the end that would've been great with shooters.

Mustn't have played a lot of racing games, then.

 

[Pizza]

The GameCube controller is great if you personally like it, and I think the pro controller is pretty damn good

 

[Dr. Black Jack]

The only dumb controller they ever released was the N64 one, and it wasn't even that terrible. Hell, even the Virtual Boy controller is ace.

 

[encephalon]

Classic Controller Pro and the Gamecube controllers are great.

 

[TheYanger]

Anyone calling the Gamecube GOAT is high, it was always part of the dumb "We're nintendo, we'll make dumb layouts that suit our games because we don't want to conform to the standards we created" movement they've had since the N64, that prevents it from being GOAT on principle (Shitty right stick, dumb button layout, lack of L1 and uncomfortable R1/Z button).

That said, it's clearly a fine controller, and to act like nothing since SNES is a fine controller is just as ridiculous.

 

[RurouniZel]

Wii Remote and Nunchuck to this day remains the most comfortable controller I've ever used. And IR aiming > Analogue aiming.

 

[seady]

Gamecube controller is the most comfortable controller ever made. While Wii U controller is probably one of the least comfortable.

In terms of functionality, I agree Nintendo only make controllers that cater to their games and not very versatile.

 

[higgsboson1997]

I love the GamePAD. It's the most comfortable controller ever made imo.

 

[Tavernacle12]

If I could play everything with the Gamecube controller I probably would... except for anything needing the D-pad. I agree with other people's sentiments about the Wii U Gamepad being rather comfortable as well. I love me some SNES, but going back to it after a few years felt awkward, whereas going back to the Gamecube controller felt like going home.

 

[Air]

Only nintendo controller I didn't like was the n64. It was garbage. Otherwise all of nintendo's controllers have been unbeatable. The wavebird was incredible, but I think the Wii controller is my favorite. So simple, comfortable and easy to use.

 

[Schnozberry]

I wasn't a huge fan of the N64 controller, but I loved the Gamecube Controller and the Wireless Wavebird in particular. The Wii Remote and Nunchuk and Wii U controls are fine as well.

I really don't have many complaints about any of the modern controllers aside from the Dualshock 4 having underwhelming build quality. The Sixaxis was kind of meh, but Sony finally licensed Rumble and it worked out.

 

[Maedhros]

Gamecube controller was the worst piece of shit controller I've ever put my hands on.

I agree with OP, mostly. I still haven't tried the Wii U Pro though.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Wii U pro controller is amazing. Battery life is godly and it's comfy as hell.

 

[RootCause]

Gamecube controller was the worst piece of shit controller I've ever put my hands on.

I agree with OP, mostly. I still haven't tried the Wii U Pro though.

Hated the GC controller too. The wiiu pro controller is their best traditional controller to date. Face buttons, and triggers still need some work though.

 

[StylesClash]

I agree.

 

[Fuu]

To this day it baffles me how much of a turd the D-Pad of the GameCube controller is.

 

[DealWithIt]

Pro controller for wii u is fantastic in my opinion.

the button layout is sub-ideal IMO. The second stick is comfortable, but the xyab are in annoying places. Especially on the WiiU gamepad.

Edit, I have big hands which makes it worse.

 

[dreampeppers99]

if you define Good as SNES then they'll never reach that again... but depending on your definition of good, I think there were some good controls. (IMO)

 

[Bass260]

The Wii Remote and Nunchuck is genius controller design.

And the GCN controller is the GOAT.

 

[Mik2121]

As many people already said before, the Gamecube controller is one of the best ever, more so back then. So yeah, they have had good controller(s) since the SNES.

 

[secretanchitman]

Not counting handhelds, Virtual Boy, NES, or SNES...

Best:

Wii U Pro Controller
GameCube Controller

Good:

Wiimote + Nunchuck

Bad:

N64 Controller

The worst:

Gamepad

 

[Novocaine]

Probably the most ridiculous thing I've read all day. Next thing he'll say is that Ms has the best controller.

They do. Or have you not tried an XBO pad?


The Wii U Pro pad has a few flaws, but it's pretty good overall. Everything between that and SNES is awful though. The GameCube pad was okay for games designed around it, not good for everything else.