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[Cpt Conifer]

I was a kid during the genesis does what nintendont days and the old "that controller hurts your hands its so bad" was a trusty standby in playground arguments.

Yeah, the 3 button sucked. The dpad was both sharp and stiff. I automatically think of the 6-button revision now when I hear Genesis/MegaDrive, which is awesome across the board.

I don't really agree with the thread majority on the DC controller. Maybe the key to making it not feel cheap is to always have at least one VMU loaded, but preferably two or a VMU+rumble pack. The extra weight is lovely. I also bemoan the fact that no companies since then have chosen to place the Dpad in that specific location relative to the left stick. They all decided it should go a little further to the right, towards the middle.

Also I kind of dig the Duke as well. I actually like how the right stick is concave while the left is convex. They distinguished the sticks without going too far like with the GameCube C-stick.

 

[Crayon]

Yeah, the 3 button sucked. The dpad was both sharp and stiff. I automatically think of the 6-button revision now when I hear Genesis/MegaDrive, which is awesome across the board.

I don't really agree with the thread majority on the DC controller. Maybe the key to making it not feel cheap is to always have at least one VMU loaded, but preferably two or a VMU+rumble pack. The extra weight is lovely. I also bemoan the fact that no companies since then have chosen to place the Dpad in that specific location relative to the left stick. They all decided it should go a little further to the right, towards the middle.

Also I kind of dig the Duke as well. I actually like how the right stick is concave while the left is convex. They distinguished the sticks without going too far like with the GameCube C-stick.

Importantly, the "controller is so bad" argument was used regularly against bothe the genesis and snes controllers. It was just a console war thing. No one can one's personal ergonomic situation so its a nice cheap argument when all the list wars need a rest.

A grand old tradition that continues to this day.

But the Dreamcast bcontroller really was rather bad.....

 

[CHC]

Honestly I planned to post the N64 controller but I thought everyone would jump me for that.... Seeing it as the first post with pretty much universal agreement after is so cathartic.

Really it was such a weird and awful design.

 

[big_erk]

Yeah - N64 had some heinous 3rd party controllers.

I had both of those and yes, they sucked.

 

[big_erk]

I will admit, I still have my Power Glove. It looks cool and you feel cool wearing it but it sucks as a controller.

Edit: Sorry for back-to-back posts

 

[Shuggananas]

That crap on ps1

Isn't that the perfect vita controller ?

 

[Cpt Conifer]

But the Dreamcast bcontroller really was rather bad.....

Probably the biggest head-scratcher for me are all the stories of the dpad being too sharp. I didn't have an arcade stick back then, so I played a lot of MvC2 on just the DC controller... and felt no discomfort. I actually really enjoyed the pad's level of elevation, another little quirk no one else copied again. Even though it was cross shaped, doing rolls with that thing was mad easy for me, seriously almost as easy as with the Saturn. I could really feel the "disk" underneath in ways that were never possible with Sony's 4-button setup.

But who knows? Could have been a quality control thing. I think my transparent blue one may have been better than the 2-3 regular ones I reserved for guest plebs to manhandle and get grease all over. It could just be me.

 

[Lombax]

This may be a stretch the cell phone + touch controls.
Lots of action happening on the screen!? Good thing I have this giant digit blocking my view!

also runner up for me is:

What a twitchy bucket on nonsense this thing was!

 

[Crayon]

Probably the biggest head-scratcher for me are all the stories of the dpad being too sharp. I didn't have an arcade stick back then, so I played a lot of MvC2 on just the DC controller... and felt no discomfort. I actually really enjoyed the pad's level of elevation, another little quirk no one else copied again. Even though it was cross shaped, doing rolls with that thing was mad easy for me, seriously almost as easy as with the Saturn. I could really feel the "disk" underneath in ways that were never possible with Sony's 4-button setup.

But who knows? Could have been a quality control thing. I think my transparent blue one may have been better than the 2-3 regular ones I reserved for guest plebs to manhandle and get grease all over. It could just be me.

I do consider the dc dpad to be kind of sharp on the edges, but I found that it rocked easily enough thanks to being tall and never really caused discomfort on my thumb. The buttons, on the other hand so to speak, did agitate my thumb due to being tall and small. I tend to rock ans slide my thumbs all over face buttons and I much much prefer plat ones like an nes or playstation style.

Also curious about the dreamcast dpad was the way the left side was much deeper than the right side, to accommodate for the sloped face of the controller. I found it overall somewhat poor, but easily superior to some other "displaced" depads such as the gamecube or xbox 360.

As an aside, the weight of a controller means nothing to me and I question the mechanical aptitude of those who equate weight with quality. They put weights in beats headphones, you know... Because it feels expensive to people who don't know better. Extra weight... on your head.

 

[dragonzdogma]

I will admit, I still have my Power Glove. It looks cool and you feel cool wearing it but it sucks as a controller.

Edit: Sorry for back-to-back posts

bad controller but it's still looks awesome!

 

[Ricky 7]

I hate how cheap the Sixaxis and Duleshock 4 feel.

 

[Crayon]

I hate how cheap the Sixaxis and Duleshock 4 feel.

Tell me more about cheep feel. What are the qualities of cheap feel?

 

[Sapiens]

Playing Way of the Warrior with this controller was beyond frustrating.

You want a second controller? Daisy chain it to the first. Got damm!


Also, the dc controller made the tips of my finger ache. Hated that thing.

 

[Boogdud]

Ahem....

I personally really loved the NegCon.



I'm surprised nobody mentioned the original NES controller. I think I still have nerve damage from using that thing as a kid. I've seen less sharp edges in a pile of broken glass.

Come to think of it, outside of the SNES controller, Nintendo has had some really really awful ones.

 

[blame space]

I simply can't have people saying the gamecube controller was bad. Even the dpad, which gets a lot of flak, was totally fine, I played THPS for hours with that thing. The button layout was perfect, the shoulder buttons were amazing, even if few games used them to their full potential. C stick, okay that was weird, I'll give you the c stick.

The dual shock 3 was inexcusable. During the PS1 and PS2 I put up with it, but the fact that they used pretty much the exact same thing but wireless really sucked. It's just not a controller that I love using. I got those clips that make the shoulder buttons more concave and put some gel tabs on the sticks, which helps a bit, but I still think the controller isn't great.

Really want to try a negcon.

 

[gblues]

I love the games on my N3ds, but goddamn the ergonomics of the thing suck ass. I tried to play MH3U and just couldn't. The circle pad is shit, the shoulder buttons are shit. Regular size or XL doesn't matter.

EDIT:

I know it doesn't fit with the OP's requests, but goddamn:

The thought of playing video games by rubbing SpongeBob's nipples fucking slays me.

 

[Alex_Mexico]

DS4. The analogue sticks peel. The triggers and shoulder buttons get stuck. The battery life is a joke. The light serves no purpose and cannot be turned off. The rubber on the analog sticks feels gooy and gross, and yet somehow your thumbs slip off of them. The triggers are not concave enough. Not even close. My fingers slip off of them. The sticks have too big of a range of movement, making them difficult to move to the limit and that hurts my wrist. It's the first controller I've ever used that actually caused me pain. I bought an Xbox One just for the controller.

The DS4 is flawed but you've been living in a bubble if you seriously think the PS4 has the "worst controller" of all time. Also you might want to have that checked out if moving an analog stick hurts your wrist!

Anyways, for me it's the GC controller. Hated everything about it: it's weird face buttons, its horrible and awkward triggers, cheap Z button, C analog nub, neither analog sticks having a push-click button, no Select and a tiny-ass D-pad. If this was the N64 controller I would've been okay but for a console competing with the Xbox and PS2 this was unacceptable for its time.

 

[Ekai]

Never quite understood N64 controller hate. It's unusual but I always found it really responsive and tactile.

I'm pretty sure people who hate on the N64 controller and always ask how you could possibly hold it (often they tote the-it requires three hands argument) never actually played or owned a N64. The left shoulder button wasn't needed at all. You just held the middle and right side. It was super comfortable, convenient, ahead of it's time, and built to last. I still whip out and use my n64 to this day.

 

[Skinpop]

Why is this flimsy piece of crap cost $50?

better than ds 4. it's probably my favorite controller.
why? for the same reasons traditional japanese kitchen knives are superior to the hand molded ergonomic crap most other companies sell.
the triggers are the only part I'm not completely satisfied with.

 

[ResidentDante]

The dual shock hate is a real eye-roller. You're talking about a controller that went out with like 300 million consoles.

I guess if 1 out if 10,000 hated it, that would make 30,000 haters out there. That said, the over the top nature of the complaints gives me some doubts about their motives.

I was a kid during the genesis does what nintendont days and the old "that controller hurts your hands its so bad" was a trusty standby in playground arguments.

So high sales equals good quality to you?!

 

[flattie]

Who was responsible for signing off on this? Awful piece of junk - both practically and aesthetically.

I bought an Xbox just to play Panzer Dragoon Orta and was so glad when they announced the S controller. Still not perfect, but infinitely better than this shite.

 

[Shuggananas]

The DS4 is flawed but you've been living in a bubble if you seriously think the PS4 has the "worst controller" of all time. Also you might want to have that checked out if moving an analog stick hurts your wrist!

Anyways, for me it's the GC controller. Hated everything about it: it's weird face buttons, its horrible and awkward triggers, cheap Z button, C analog nub, neither analog sticks having a push-click button, no Select and a tiny-ass D-pad. If this was the N64 controller I would've been okay but for a console competing with the Xbox and PS2 this was unacceptable for its time.

No select is an actual issue you have with it ? Holy shit rofl

 

[TriAceJP]

So high sales equals good quality to you?!

Yeah man. Haven't you heard Skullcandy ear buds are the best headphones?

 

[diffusionx]

The dual shock hate is a real eye-roller. You're talking about a controller that went out with like 300 million consoles.

I guess if 1 out if 10,000 hated it, that would make 30,000 haters out there. That said, the over the top nature of the complaints gives me some doubts about their motives.

I was a kid during the genesis does what nintendont days and the old "that controller hurts your hands its so bad" was a trusty standby in playground arguments.

The DS2 and DS3 both had design issues for sure, but yea, they're far from the worst. DS4 fixed them all up nicely, although build quality is an issue.

Sixaxis was a POS though and I stand by that.

 

[Crayon]

So high sales equals good quality to you?!

I'd say the continued production and success of the design for over 15 years would be a strange fate for the worst controller ever. Wouldn't you?

 

[jem0208]

The hell is this method of holding a controller? This 1-ups those trying to use the analogue stick while holding the left prong on an N64 controller in wackiness.

That is literally the only way I hold the controller. Clawing is the way forward if you don't want to spend loads of money on an Elite or a Scuf.

 

[TriAceJP]

Worst d-pad & analogsticks are wrong placed & to small.
I know most people are used to it now. But hell what a bad design.
Remember, my imo. Don't speak for everyone.

Microsoft did a good job after the first xbox

Did you just call the PS3 Dpad bad but the 360 one good?

Who...

What?

 

[Crayon]

The DS2 and DS3 both had design issues for sure, but yea, they're far from the worst. DS4 fixed them all up nicely, although build quality is an issue.

Sixaxis was a POS though and I stand by that.

I actually am not of fan of the ds4 shape. I find the bulbous, palm-filling shape more suitable to mouth-breathing greasy-handed plebs. Not a classically trained controller-pincer like myself.

Like the 360 controller, I find the ds4 very pleasant when first grasped but less and less comfortable as the session goes on.

And the battery life is obnoxious, as well. I really need to get a better battery for the thing.

 

[StevieWhite]

Playing Way of the Warrior with this controller was beyond frustrating.

Seconded. It has a really awkward curvature to it that isn't readily apparent from pics.

 

[DOT DASH DOT]

The Angler......you could hang bait of the damn thing and catch monsters from the deep with this monstrosity! I admit I bought one....:-/

 

[thechristoph]

I do consider the dc dpad to be kind of sharp on the edges, but I found that it rocked easily enough thanks to being tall and never really caused discomfort on my thumb. The buttons, on the other hand so to speak, did agitate my thumb due to being tall and small. I tend to rock ans slide my thumbs all over face buttons and I much much prefer plat ones like an nes or playstation style.

Also curious about the dreamcast dpad was the way the left side was much deeper than the right side, to accommodate for the sloped face of the controller. I found it overall somewhat poor, but easily superior to some other "displaced" depads such as the gamecube or xbox 360.

This is one of the biggest problems with the DC controller. If you're playing something that requires lots of d-pad movement like a fighting game, and your thumb slides off the left side of the d-pad, your thumbnail can catch on the pad while the bottom drops out from under your thumb. That shit really hurts.

But overall it's like Sega looked at their analog Saturn controller and said "okay, let's make something just like this, but we'll remove absolutely everything attractive, comfortable, and functional about it." I guess the triggers and the joystick itself were improvements.

 

[ResidentDante]

I'd say the continued production and success of the design for over 15 years would be a strange fate for the worst controller ever. Wouldn't you?

I'd say it's 15 years of laziness to change

 

[Crayon]

This is one of the biggest problems with the DC controller. If you're playing something that requires lots of d-pad movement like a fighting game, and your thumb slides off the left side of the d-pad, your thumbnail can catch on the pad while the bottom drops out from under your thumb. That shit really hurts.

But overall it's like Sega looked at their analog Saturn controller and said "okay, let's make something just like this, but we'll remove absolutely everything attractive, comfortable, and functional about it." I guess the triggers and the joystick itself were improvements.

Amen, I will take a Saturn 3d controller over a dreamcast controller any day of the week.

I miss the sort of damped thud of the face buttons. Even the dpad had some of that feel, somewhat due to the rubber-like plastic the dpad and buttons were molded from.

Even the cycloid style analog stick was kind of nice for 360 degree input at full tilt. It's lack of accuracy and sensitivity in the mid ranges was unfortunate, tho.

 

[Garuroh]

N64 was pretty ass. Even using it "correctly" is pretty annoying.

 

[PassiveObserver]

Isn't that the perfect vita controller ?

ha

 

[Lionel Richie]

I simply can't have people saying the gamecube controller was bad. Even the dpad, which gets a lot of flak, was totally fine, I played THPS for hours with that thing. The button layout was perfect, the shoulder buttons were amazing, even if few games used them to their full potential. C stick, okay that was weird, I'll give you the c stick.

The dual shock 3 was inexcusable. During the PS1 and PS2 I put up with it, but the fact that they used pretty much the exact same thing but wireless really sucked. It's just not a controller that I love using. I got those clips that make the shoulder buttons more concave and put some gel tabs on the sticks, which helps a bit, but I still think the controller isn't great.

Really want to try a negcon.

This is a great post. The Gamecube controller for me is the GOAT, it looks goofy but it feels PERFECT when you hold it. Those analog triggers are godlike, they're controller porn.

I also dislike the DS3. It feels like a stepdown from the DS2, which wasn't my favorite controller to begin with. Thankfully, the DS4 is much better (nowhere near the GC though).

 

[Josh5890]

Heck I've been using my launch Nintendo 64 system controller for nearly 20 years and it still works like a charm.

 

[Andrew Evenstar]

PS3 controller was too small, hurt my hands, Carpel Tunnel all day.Analog sticks sucked.

 

[flattie]

This is one of the biggest problems with the DC controller. If you're playing something that requires lots of d-pad movement like a fighting game, and your thumb slides off the left side of the d-pad, your thumbnail can catch on the pad while the bottom drops out from under your thumb. That shit really hurts.

But overall it's like Sega looked at their analog Saturn controller and said "okay, let's make something just like this, but we'll remove absolutely everything attractive, comfortable, and functional about it." I guess the triggers and the joystick itself were improvements.

It was always Shenmues's QTEs and freestyle training that threw up d-pad problems for me. One side was always quite crisp, while the other was quite spongey. Same on every DC controller I've ever used (and I've used an awful lot of them).

 

[TheAdmiester]

The DUKE

The Duke is perfect besides two minor things:

1) The concave area on the right stick is tiny, so there's nowhere for a thumb to really rest.
2) As with the Controller S, the black and white buttons were awkward to reach.

If we had a Duke with identical analog grips and shoulder buttons a la the 360/One controllers, it would literally be unbeatable.

 

[HF2014]

Forgot to add this one. When i was working in a videogame store in the past, i saw this controller and couldnt wait to try it, and it was darmn expensive.

Jesus it nearly flied like a boomerang when i played with it.One of the worst controller ever created.

 

[Kolma]

Forgot to add this one. When i was working in a videogame store in the past, i saw this controller and couldnt wait to try it, and it was darmn expensive.

Jesus it nearly flied like a boomerang when i played with it.One of the worst controller ever created.

 

[Crayon]

Forgot to add this one. When i was working in a videogame store in the past, i saw this controller and couldnt wait to try it, and it was darmn expensive.

Jesus it nearly flied like a boomerang when i played with it.One of the worst controller ever created.

I had one of those and tried to like it but the one of the dpad directions took a huge amount of pressure to activate, especially went trying to hit it on a diagonal. I think it was left.

 

[Revas]

The Nintendo 64 controller was great in its time. I not once wished I could play a N64 game with my PSX controller.

My vote for worst goes to the Dreamcast. The cord protruding from the bottom, the tension on the stick, and feel in hand just rubbed me the wrong way. It's not god awful but of all the controllers I've used it's my least favorite. I also don't care for the Wii U Gamepad because its too big and the button designation is awkward.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Probably the Xbox Duke or Dreamcast controller. Honorable mention to any dual shock controller for having the worst analogue placement of any controller ever.

Really, the post-duke Xbox and (any) Nintendo controllers are the only ones I can comfortably hold. Everything else is garbage.

 

[Interferon]

Hated the OG Xbox controller. Drive-by shooting in GTA:SA was a pain in the ass and pain for my fingers because of the weird black and white buttons placement. Not to mention the shoddy build quality of the newer variants (Made in Malaysia), on which the triggers would remain stuck all the time.

 

[HF2014]

I had one of those and tried to like it but the one of the dpad directions took a huge amount of pressure to activate, especially went trying to hit it on a diagonal. I think it was left.

Yeah, the dpad was hard to control., top r and l button felt unreachable, and too much pressing of the 4 front button was giving me pain to my thumb. I was expecting the best experience ever and end up massively dissapointed.

 

[Percy]

Was trying to recall some of the hilariously terrible 3rd party pads I've used over the years (Resi 4 chainsaw controller is still in my attic), but thread has been warrior'd so probs not much point getting into it now.

 

[naib]

I could not get used to the speedking:

Holy crap. I remember that thing.

 

[PapaEmeritus]

I still dont understand how people say this is a bad controller. I thought it was very comfortable, granted the S was smaller and more gripable, I loved the duke. Now the N64 or the Dreamcast controllers or the Wii U gamepad I could see people disliking them