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

Your favorite controllers of all time.

Sega Saturn :
image.jpg


Also, of all the current controllers, the Switch Pro Controller.
 
Steam controller, joycons, genesis 6 button, and ds1-3 are some of my favorites.

Special memtion to nes controller for being incredibly comfortable despite being no more than a tiny block.
 
I'm surprised that plenty of people are listing the Dreamcast controller. All they had to do with it is add an actual stick to the Saturn Analog pad, but instead they removed two buttons, downgraded what was the best D-Pad, and put the cord at the bottom. The thing also feels too light and cheap.

I'd go with either the Dual Shock 4 or the JP Saturn controller.
 
I don't get the Dual Shock controllers. While I haven't used the PS4 one much, the thing has always been awkward to grip rather than comfortably sitting in the hands, the sticks are too close together, the PS3 one had godawful triggers too. And they have crap d-pads. I'd put them bottom of the pile for traditional controllers. In no small part because Sony insists on putting the left stick in the wrong place.
every other controller other than the dualshocks have the left analog in the wrong spot. The triggers on the DS3 were fantastic for use as flickable buttons and not triggers. Triggers in general suck at being triggers (hence all the trigger stop mods for xbox controllers). Also the dpads on the dualshocks are by far the best, especially for fighting games.

Also the pre DS4 dualshocks are best left resting on the fingers and not gripped, which is the best part about them.
 
Saturn 2nd gen pad was so good. Unbelievably good for anything that didn't need analog. The saturn 3d pad was actually pretty underrated too.
 
I guess the first playstation controller would be one of my favourites. It was the first home console system for me.
 
DS4, then probably the Switch Pro controllers. I like the Xbox One controllers, but the terrible D-Pad stops it from being as good as the other two.
 
I'd say the XB1 controller but I'm on my fourth one now and all of them had different defects so fuck that shit.


First had a faulty right bumper. Would only register if you pressed it a certain way and even then it was spotty at best.

Second randomly disconnected during wireless sessions no matter if I used the battery pack or standard AA batteries.

Third (a freaking elite controller no less) had a way too sensitive left stick. If you play 2D platformers with the stick like me (it's more comfortable for me due to a condition with my left hand) you will probably do small little flicks with the stick and due to the aforementioned sensitivity issue, you will face in the opposite direction when the stick snaps back to its default position. Try playing something like Cuphead or Hollow Knight like that without wanting to throw the controller across the room.
No, fiddling around with the stick settings in the controller app did not help.

Fourth (white S revision) has an A button that won't register approximately 1 out of 10 times.


Controller QA has gone to shit this gen. Currently looking into a Switch Pro controller but that's still a bit too pricey for me at 65€. Should honestly just use one of my 360 controllers but I can't find my wireless receiver and fuck throwing out 20€ for another one.
 
I love the 360 controller outside of the D-pad. It just feels right.

Dualshock 4 is very good as well. I just wish the rubber tips didn't wear out so easily, otherwise it's excellent.

I have a lot of nostalgia towards the SNES controller though playing on a SNES Classic has made me realize that part of that might have been rose-tinted glasses. It's fine but not great.
 
The Xbox one controller would win for me if it weren't for one cash grabbing design flaw..

The fact that it takes batteries, or requires you to buy a recharging battery pack. Come on now MS, it's 2017.
 
Xbox one for me, ds4 is a good controller but i have problems with the sticks and the triggers , they need to be more concave
 

Xbox One for me, far and away. It's basically the 360 controller but better in almost every single way, the build quality is superb. It makes the DS4 feel like a cheap toy by comparison. The only thing I'd change is make the d-pad and the thumb sticks slightly larger.
 
Really liking split joycons, feels like you have every control option you’d want and feels like an uncompromised split controller setup. Would like a joycon “XL” option (wish the pro controller woulda been that instead, but get why it’s not).

In terms of ergonomics, I love the Xbox one controller. Wish theyÂ’d just make a slightly smaller sega dpad and use that as their dpad solution instead of the clicky dpad but the comfort level and weight feels perfect. No idea how people actually prefer the DS4
 
The Saturn Model 2 pad
The Xbox One and PS4 controller are equal for me

My least favorite, from what i have played, is a tie between the N64 and Dreamcast controller. I played the N64 a lot when i was younger and i hated everything about it. I got a dreamcast last year, and i play it often. Its terrible for fighting games, which i play often. I like the way the Dreamcast controller feels, but the analog stick and d-pad kill it for me.
 
Definitely the Gamecube controller. Too bad about that small C-stick, but it was ergonomically perfect. Big buttons, nice bumpy triggers, just all around a great controller.
 
wavebird_gamecube_controller_adapter.jpg


Some of y'all don't know about this but wireless controllers before the Wavebird were 3rd party pieces of garbage. Nintendo coming out with a first party controller that registered every input with practically no input lag and ran for 20 hours on a single set of batteries felt like witchcraft. It took 2 to 3 years and a new console generation before Sony and Microsoft were able to catch up. It completely changed the way people played video games.
 
Xbox 360 controller minus the d-pad(it sucked) than the Xbox One controller. Never tried the elite controller though it would probably be up there with those two.
 
wavebird_gamecube_controller_adapter.jpg


Some of y'all don't know about this but wireless controllers before the Wavebird were 3rd party pieces of garbage. Nintendo coming out with a first party controller that registered every input with practically no input lag and ran for 20 hours on a single set of batteries felt like witchcraft. It took 2 to 3 years and a new console generation before Sony and Microsoft were able to catch up. It completely changed the way people played video games.
Yes. The first week or so of me trying to situate or flick the cord around and over blankets only to realize I was flailing for no reason. The freedom to just set and move the controller without worry of being tethered. Goddamn.
 
DualShock 4, Switch Pro Controller and XB1 in that order. The 360 was really good for its time too, but it has been surpassed by current gen controllers.

Vita remains the king of d-pads though.
 
every other controller other than the dualshocks have the left analog in the wrong spot. The triggers on the DS3 were fantastic for use as flickable buttons and not triggers. Triggers in general suck at being triggers (hence all the trigger stop mods for xbox controllers). Also the dpads on the dualshocks are by far the best, especially for fighting games.

Also the pre DS4 dualshocks are best left resting on the fingers and not gripped, which is the best part about them.

I really don't agree on the LS position. The DPad is where it is on the Dualshock because before analogue sticks were invented, the DPad was the most common source of left hand input for games (or, the only source). It was therefore placed in the most comfortable position for your thumb to reach it, and the place where your thumb naturally rests when you hold that controller. It's also roughly the position your thumb is if you just leave your hand in a neutral position when you're not holding anything.

Now that the thumbstick is the primary, most common source of input, it makes more sense to have it where your thumb naturally rests on the controller and put the dpad elsewhere.

On the right hand you can put it in whichever position you like as the face buttons are used pretty much interchangeably with the right thumbstick.

Also if you use thumbsticks like I do and operate them with your thumb joint rather than the tip of the thumb itself your thumbs bump into each other too much :P
 
The Xbox one controller would win for me if it weren't for one cash grabbing design flaw..

The fact that it takes batteries, or requires you to buy a recharging battery pack. Come on now MS, it's 2017.



I never for the life of me could understnad this complaint. For me that is what makes it a great controller. I hate electronics that dont allow you to swap out the battery. Battery life always fades after time and then you are stuck.

Why not just buy eneloops?
 
1. Xbox 360 - the best.


2.Gamecube
3 Nintendo 64 - really liked it.

The rest - really don't like any iteration of the sony controller. The least likeable thing with both ps2 and ps4.
 
Split joycon

Wiimote + Nunchuk was good but not very versatile.

Gamecube was very comfortable but not very apt for multiplatform games.

Best traditional controller: 360/One/Switch
 
The 360 controller might be my favorite overall, and from what I've played of the xbox one, it's pretty much the same, so that too. I like the the PS4 dual shock, definitely an improvement over the previous generations. Playing the SNES mini reminds me how much I really liked that controller. I just got a switch and so far I'm not really feeling the standard controller, but maybe I'll get used to it.

The worst controller ever for me was the Dreamcast. That's the only controller to ever hurt my hands.
 
I really don't agree on the LS position. The DPad is where it is on the Dualshock because before analogue sticks were invented, the DPad was the most common source of left hand input for games (or, the only source). It was therefore placed in the most comfortable position for your thumb to reach it, and the place where your thumb naturally rests when you hold that controller. It's also roughly the position your thumb is if you just leave your hand in a neutral position when you're not holding anything.

Now that the thumbstick is the primary, most common source of input, it makes more sense to have it where your thumb naturally rests on the controller and put the dpad elsewhere.

On the right hand you can put it in whichever position you like as the face buttons are used pretty much interchangeably with the right thumbstick.

Also if you use thumbsticks like I do and operate them with your thumb joint rather than the tip of the thumb itself your thumbs bump into each other too much :P
How I use a dpad and thumbstick differ to the point where a analog stick in the lower position is nearly equivalent to the higher position with preferring the lower slightly. However the dpad being in the lower position fucking blows.

I use the tip of my thumb for analogs (which is why the right joycon is the worst thing ever....)
 
The 360 pad is GOAT. Dualshock 4 is not far behind but Sony really needs to change the left analog stick position.
 
The Gamecube for me, though some of that is nostalgia.

I think the Xbox One controller is one of the best I've ever held, but I don't own one so I can't comment on it definitively.
 
Xbox one and wired 360 (not wireless 360 because of the battery placement).

Wiiu pro would have been if it hadn't rubbery buttons and digital triggers, I find its shape perfect.

Special mention for the wiimote+ without nunchuk.
 
I'm voting the joycon for sheer versatility.

Split mode is an incredibly comfortable way to play

Grip mode is serviceable as a traditional setup

Built in gyro for aiming in traditional games, Wii style motion play and can also replicate pointer control

Best in class haptic feedback, NFC, and a thus far unused but intriguing IR camera create new ways to play

20 hours battery life in a tiny package

AND can be used as two individual controllers?!

71Zhysl5xkL._SL1000_.jpg
 
Top Bottom