karmaforgotme
Member
The Wavebird was the first truly great wireless controller for console. Loved that thing.
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Your favorite controllers of all time.
- Thread starter FireBeaver
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The Wavebird was the first truly great wireless controller for console. Loved that thing.
kunonabi
Member
The gc controller is hard to beat in terms of pure comfort. If it had a bigger dpad it would be pretty close to perfect as far as standard pads go.
I honestly just couldn't find a cooler looking variant. Really wish Sony had more cool designs in the PS3 era like 360 did.
Agreed, the Wavebird is legendary.
Alex_Mexico
Member
That piece of shit with a made-for-ants Dpad, shitty Z button, lacking a fourth shoulder button, lacking a Select button, lacking clickable sticks, with a lame excuse for a right stick that's more like a nipple, octagonal shaped stock orifices, weird-ass face button mapping, and horrible analog non triggers can't possibly be the best controller ever made. Forget it lacks buttons now, it lacked sufficient buttons back then too!
For me it's a toss between the XB1 and PS4 Controllers. I'd probably go for the DS4 if only because of the built in rechargeable battery, superior Dpad and symmetrical stick placement.
The Switch Pro Controller would be in the run had it not been for its worthless Dpad.
What a time we live in. A time when for he very first time ever Nintendo is the current console manufacturer with the worst Dpad.
I really dig the DualShock 4, I heavily used the 360 controller last gen and thought there couldn't be an improvement over the 360 since I dislike the XBox One controller but playing the DS4 made me realize how inferior the 360 controller is. It's not even one of my favorites anymore.
Also huge fan of the Wii controller and Switch controllers. Being able to move freely move my arms apart into a comfortable position after a long day a work is a godsend.
Also huge fan of the Wii controller and Switch controllers. Being able to move freely move my arms apart into a comfortable position after a long day a work is a godsend.
Getting this salty over a thread that's about personal preferences? It's concerning how some people don't know what opinions are in this day in age.
EverydayBeast
ChatShitGPT Alpha 0.001
As much as I like the DS4, it's battery life is doo-doo.
Years of using the Dual Shock 2 and 3 had me convinced that Sony didnt really need to do anything else to it, but after using the Dual Shock 4, Im glad they did. I like the slightly chunkier feel and the new analogue sticks. My backlog means that I frequently jump between playing my PS3 and PS4 from one day to the next, so Im often reminded of the difference in the feel of the controllers. Having said that, although Ive gotten used to it now, when I first saw the touch pad, I didnt like how it made the controller look and preferred the older style with the Sony logo.
Although its not perfect, I have a soft spot for the N64 controller. At the time, moving on from the Super Nintendo to the Nintendo 64, I thought the idea of using additional up, down, left, and right C buttons to either move the camera in some games (such as Mario), or to quickly access secondary items in others (such as Zelda) was a brilliant idea. The placement of the Z trigger on the back worked well with first person shooters. And of course, it was my first exposure to an analogue stick on a controller (even if that circular Saturn pad did it first!)
For a long time, my favourite Nintendo controller has been the GameCube one. I like the shape and feel of holding it, the larger and centrally-placed A button, and those clicky shoulder buttons, which feel particularly satisfying to use! I also liked how they adapted the four C buttons into a C stick, and built in rumble was an upgrade from the N64 controller. It wasnt great if you wanted to use the D-pad, though, and that Z button always felt a little off.
Recently, though, I picked up the Switch Pro Controller, and aside from reports of a problematic D-pad, it feels great to hold and to use. Perhaps a new favourite in the making!
Although its not perfect, I have a soft spot for the N64 controller. At the time, moving on from the Super Nintendo to the Nintendo 64, I thought the idea of using additional up, down, left, and right C buttons to either move the camera in some games (such as Mario), or to quickly access secondary items in others (such as Zelda) was a brilliant idea. The placement of the Z trigger on the back worked well with first person shooters. And of course, it was my first exposure to an analogue stick on a controller (even if that circular Saturn pad did it first!)
For a long time, my favourite Nintendo controller has been the GameCube one. I like the shape and feel of holding it, the larger and centrally-placed A button, and those clicky shoulder buttons, which feel particularly satisfying to use! I also liked how they adapted the four C buttons into a C stick, and built in rumble was an upgrade from the N64 controller. It wasnt great if you wanted to use the D-pad, though, and that Z button always felt a little off.
Recently, though, I picked up the Switch Pro Controller, and aside from reports of a problematic D-pad, it feels great to hold and to use. Perhaps a new favourite in the making!
TheGrantula21
Neo Member
THE WAVEBIRD
My favorite is still probably the Wii U Gamepad in terms of comfort and usability. Switch Pro is the best standard one, Wiimote + Nunchuck, Gamecube, and Saturn are all amazing for specific types of games (anything designed with Wiimote in mind like Super Mario Galaxy or Red Steel 2 is amazing, Gamecube is perfect for Smash and racing games, and Saturn for 2D stuff especially fighting games), but not as good for anything else. Ideally I'd be able to switch between the five depending on what I'm playing. In that case the only thing I'd change would be making the B button on the Wiimote analog, and giving the Switch pro controller a slightly better D-Pad.
Xbox S/360/X1 pads are both great, but they don't really do anything I don't think Switch Pro does better, though I guess you need analog triggers for more precision on FPS/racing games if I'm playing something that uses those. The X1 Elite controller might be the best but I don't want to plop down that much money on a controller. Everything else isn't great but I can deal, barring maybe the Duke.
Xbox S/360/X1 pads are both great, but they don't really do anything I don't think Switch Pro does better, though I guess you need analog triggers for more precision on FPS/racing games if I'm playing something that uses those. The X1 Elite controller might be the best but I don't want to plop down that much money on a controller. Everything else isn't great but I can deal, barring maybe the Duke.
LukasTaves
Member
Elite controller is the best controller ever.
Lunarwhale
Member
Wii U Pro's up there, if not just for the battery life. Generally very nice form factor as well. It's been my go-to PC gaming controller for years now, with the Steam controller as a close second in that respect.
Dualshock 4 is up there (surprisingly, since the 3 feels like hot garbage to me), but the battery life kills it a bit for me.
I'd like to say the Switch Pro controller, but the d-pad issue and ridiculous price bring it down a bit. Apparently there's some mod/fix that can be done for it, but I haven't gotten around to giving it a go yet.
nostalgia vote goes to the SNES controller, which still feels really good to me
Dualshock 4 is up there (surprisingly, since the 3 feels like hot garbage to me), but the battery life kills it a bit for me.
I'd like to say the Switch Pro controller, but the d-pad issue and ridiculous price bring it down a bit. Apparently there's some mod/fix that can be done for it, but I haven't gotten around to giving it a go yet.
nostalgia vote goes to the SNES controller, which still feels really good to me
Pilgrimzero
Member
NES Max controller. Because Turbo kicked ass.
Clockwork5
Member
1 Wii U Pro controller
2 Xbox 360
3 Xbox One
4 GameCube
5 Dual Shock 4
6 SNES controller
.
.
.
27 Atari 2600 joystick
28 N64 controller
2 Xbox 360
3 Xbox One
4 GameCube
5 Dual Shock 4
6 SNES controller
.
.
.
27 Atari 2600 joystick
28 N64 controller
The Dear Leader
Banned
The Xbox One S controller is perfectly designed, I can't think of anything I would change on it, Microsoft really did a great job improving on the already excelled Xbox 360 controller.
PapaEmeritus
Member
(Not sure how to word this but)
Its did to gaming (increased gaming population, Motion controls*, etc) what the iPhone did to smartphones (App Revolution, Wearable Market, Augmented Reality, etc)
And quite possibly, both can be, maybe subjective, played a part in the Modern VR industry as a whole (both control and visuals)
Code:[img]https://i.imgur.com/C33aetk.jpg[/img]
Now for my favorite....
The best 3rd party controller and best this a bought at GameStop/EB Game...ever
what Playstation was that bottom one for? PS2?
Samanosuke Akechi
Member
TheMagician
Member
What about the awful Z 'button'?
The face button layout was also pretty bad for some games not designed around it.
I don't need a controller to be super good looking but I'd prefer it not to be offensively ugly which rules out the gamecube straight away
I use the xone elite controller and lot but the little finger on my right hand starts to ache after a while and the triggers are too sensitive, I'm constantly pressing the left one by mistake when my finger is resting on it.
DS4 has the awful battery life, DS3 just feels horrible going back to it now and the DS2 had rubber that detached itself from the analogue sticks
Snes maybe? Can't remember ever having any problems with it and it got heavy use
I use the xone elite controller and lot but the little finger on my right hand starts to ache after a while and the triggers are too sensitive, I'm constantly pressing the left one by mistake when my finger is resting on it.
DS4 has the awful battery life, DS3 just feels horrible going back to it now and the DS2 had rubber that detached itself from the analogue sticks
Snes maybe? Can't remember ever having any problems with it and it got heavy use
Natasha_c13
Member
I love my Steam Controller
The Steam Controller is getting up there.
In most games now, the analog sticks and face buttons may as well not even be there.
With a good config, you never have to move your thumbs away from the touchpads thanks to the dual-stage triggers, grip buttons, gyro, and all the mode-shifting and other advanced mapping options that you have available to you.
In some games, I'm even starting to prefer using the touchpad to replace a d-pad. Certain types of input - particularly circular motions - are much easier with it than the d-pad on something like a DualShock 4.
I think for most games, the d-pad or right analog stick is sufficient? It depends how you meant to use it.
The only gamepad I can think of with a POV Hat is the old Gravis Xterminator- though I'm sure there must have been more, and it was before dual-analog became standard.
POV Hat, analog throttle slider, analog triggers, digital grip buttons, and 6 face buttons.
I don't have my old controller any more, and it's pre-USB so it would probably be a hassle to get working these days, but I do wonder how it would hold up.
I don't really mean as a replacement for a D-pad or Analog stick, but for buttons. You could replace/add a few buttons with ones that have four functions. I personally really like how they feel too. Specifically, I think the one on the left side of the flight stick pictured above would work well.
That's an interesting controller.
Do you know if any contemporary gamepad has triggers as good as the Wavebird's?
JCK75
Member
The Xbox One S controller
I find it next to perfect and I use it on my PC, my Xbox One S, my Nvidia Shield, my Phone, My FireTV Stick upstairs and my third tv with a steam link.
No matter how nostalgic I may be for some controllers of the past, the mileage I get with this is unlimited.
I find it next to perfect and I use it on my PC, my Xbox One S, my Nvidia Shield, my Phone, My FireTV Stick upstairs and my third tv with a steam link.
No matter how nostalgic I may be for some controllers of the past, the mileage I get with this is unlimited.
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Red Crayon Aristocrat
Member
The SNES controller, the PS2 controller, the Wavebird, the Xbox 360 controller and the Xbox One controller.
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RokkanStoned
Member
I think XBOX360 and DS4 are tied for me. I kind of wish the PS4 controller had a dpad more like the Vita as well (but slightly bigger of course) and that XBOX360 had an actual functional dpad.
Followed by the standard PS Dual Shock controller design and the Gamecube controller.
How's the XBONE controller? Had been considering getting it for the PC if it doesn't cost much more than an XBOX360 controller does.
Followed by the standard PS Dual Shock controller design and the Gamecube controller.
How's the XBONE controller? Had been considering getting it for the PC if it doesn't cost much more than an XBOX360 controller does.
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D
Deleted member 740922
Unconfirmed Member
Dualshock 4 + 3, Xbox 360 controller and Duke, Competition Pro joystick 
Alexander DeLarge
Member
Steam Controller. It unlocks entire genres of games that you'd think would never in a million years be accessible on a controller. It's nearly as precise as a keyboard+mouse setup in the right hands too which is pretty awesome.
TLZ
Banned
I can't count how many of these broke while playing. They were too flimsy.Atari 2600 controller. You grabbed a stick and pushed a button. It felt like the arcade.
The_Mike
I cry about SonyGaf from my chair in Redmond, WA
Ive had nearly every console generation, but the first comfortable controller was the x360, and after that the One controller.
The ergonomy of the Xbox One controller is without a doubt the best on the market now, but the 360 has better build quality
The ergonomy of the Xbox One controller is without a doubt the best on the market now, but the 360 has better build quality
Wishmeluck
Neophyte
Loved the N64 controller for games like Goldeneye and Mario 64.
Would say some controllers are really good for some games, but may be worse for other games.
Would say some controllers are really good for some games, but may be worse for other games.
hououinkyouma00
Member
Favorite controller of all time is the Dualshock 2. I also really like the Saturn controller and the Dualshock 4.
I hate the 360 and N64 controllers more then any other controllers I've actually used.
I hate the 360 and N64 controllers more then any other controllers I've actually used.
Naked Lunch
Member
Japanese Saturn Grey 6 button
Xbox One (new bumper version)
Super Nintendo
Worst of all time goes to Gamecube and PS3 Dual Shock. Just awful.
Xbox One (new bumper version)
Super Nintendo
Worst of all time goes to Gamecube and PS3 Dual Shock. Just awful.
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