Best Controllers: Which Won?

Hello everyone, I decided to post a quick history of controllers section here. The controllers I post are voted best and reason why.
Rather than doing an indepth controller article in my blog, which I mentioned about controllers now and again, i decided to make a quick reference
here on the message boards. From top to buttom are reasons:

• 1st Place~ Nes/sms/wii-best controller, simple light and easy to use. *c-l-a-s-s-i-c-s* are always the most durable.

• 2nd- SNes=best button smasher controller/no flaws/A '3do' rip off! ;p
• 3rd- n64 - last good controller and best unique design. Ground breaking, cheap joystick&accesories though (js too long). Def. best grip.
• 4rth- The Dreamcast controller - last good non-complex controller, Too heavy though. The Saturn knights controller come reality. Best rumble feature and accesories as well.
• 5th- Saturn/genesis (6-button) - best breakable or cheap/cheaply made controller+simple design and fun
• 6th- The Xbox controller (small) - first good complex controller/best js accuracy/buttons too close together, slippery like its predessecer.
• 7th- pc - gravis gamepad, wireless, microsoft sidewinder etc. All around good for certain games or to try.
• 8th- gamecube - best wireless, best feel (has robotic feel), comfortable, playable for certain games
• 9th- Playstation - best complex controller/best js grip/weird in palm area
• 10nth- xbox 360 - best long-term wireless, too heavy and complex though (js alignment too high or too far apart), best rumble feature as well
• 11th- jaguar - ...no

There you have it, nintendo knows its controllers with sega coming up second, then microsoft and sony. These designs are all imho still on next gen systems.

Who voted? Dual Shock 2 is the best controller, btw.BranKetra

This.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]Who voted? Dual Shock 2 is the best controller, btw.Masenkoe

This.

I agree with the others. Dual-Shock 2 for PS2 is the best controller out there. XBox, Saturn, and SNES rank pretty high up there for me, too.

I agree with the others. Dual-Shock 2 for PS2 is the best controller out there. XBox, Saturn, and SNES rank pretty high up there for me, too.

Emerald_Warrior

i must be the only one that hates the ps1,2,3 controller. also dont like i cant turn off vibration and its just plain uncomfortable. 360 controller wins for me as far as comfort but the joysticks dont seem to stay centered i can tell i certainly could use new 360 controllers. as far as durablity. the gamecube wavebird wins and has a ridiculous battery life. and it is fairly comfortable too.kayoticdreamz

[QUOTE="kayoticdreamz"]i must be the only one that hates the ps1,2,3 controller. also dont like i cant turn off vibration and its just plain uncomfortable. 360 controller wins for me as far as comfort but the joysticks dont seem to stay centered i can tell i certainly could use new 360 controllers. as far as durablity. the gamecube wavebird wins and has a ridiculous battery life. and it is fairly comfortable too.BranKetra

That's the analog status that lights up, not the vibration function. Some games require it to be lit-up for analog sticks to work.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"][QUOTE="kayoticdreamz"]i must be the only one that hates the ps1,2,3 controller. also dont like i cant turn off vibration and its just plain uncomfortable. 360 controller wins for me as far as comfort but the joysticks dont seem to stay centered i can tell i certainly could use new 360 controllers. as far as durablity. the gamecube wavebird wins and has a ridiculous battery life. and it is fairly comfortable too.Emerald_Warrior

That's the analog status that lights up, not the vibration function. Some games require it to be lit-up for analog sticks to work.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"][QUOTE="kayoticdreamz"] PS1 and 2 dual shocks have a button in the center that lights up to show vibration status. When the lights off, no vibration. The GC Wavebird is pretty good.Emerald_Warrior

That's the analog status that lights up, not the vibration function. Some games require it to be lit-up for analog sticks to work.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"][QUOTE="kayoticdreamz"]i must be the only one that hates the ps1,2,3 controller. also dont like i cant turn off vibration and its just plain uncomfortable. 360 controller wins for me as far as comfort but the joysticks dont seem to stay centered i can tell i certainly could use new 360 controllers. as far as durablity. the gamecube wavebird wins and has a ridiculous battery life. and it is fairly comfortable too.Emerald_Warrior

That's the analog status that lights up, not the vibration function. Some games require it to be lit-up for analog sticks to work.

[QUOTE="Emerald_Warrior"]

[QUOTE="BranKetra"] PS1 and 2 dual shocks have a button in the center that lights up to show vibration status. When the lights off, no vibration. The GC Wavebird is pretty good.kayoticdreamz

That's the analog status that lights up, not the vibration function. Some games require it to be lit-up for analog sticks to work.

You can turn it off in pretty much every PS1/PS2 game. Just go to the game's options and there should be a Vibration On/Off option. And you can with the Wii as well, just go to the Home Menu, Wii Remote Settings and set Rumble to Off.

Anyway, the Dualshock 2 is probably my favorite too, even though the d-pad isn't the best, it still works well.

5th- Saturn/genesis (6-button) - best breakable or cheap/cheaply

dcps210go

[QUOTE="kayoticdreamz"][QUOTE="Emerald_Warrior"]

That's the analog status that lights up, not the vibration function. Some games require it to be lit-up for analog sticks to work.

M3tr4nk0

You can turn it off in pretty much every PS1/PS2 game. Just go to the game's options and there should be a Vibration On/Off option. And you can with the Wii as well, just go to the Home Menu, Wii Remote Settings and set Rumble to Off.

[QUOTE="dcps210go"]

5th- Saturn/genesis (6-button) - best breakable or cheap/cheaply

pills4louis

Are you kidding me?

Dreamcast and "best controller" shouldn't be in the same sentence together, how can a controller that was made AFTER the dual shock only have one analog stick?

Anyway, the Dualshock 2 is probably my favorite too, even though the d-pad isn't the best, it still works well.

M3tr4nk0

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]
I think you're right. It's been a while. What I was thinking of was that most PS1 compatible/PS2 games have a vibration option. The PS3 has a dashboard menu that can be accessed in game for that.kayoticdreamz

Yeah I have to slightly disagree with the list. Here's how I rank controllers

1. PS1/ps2 Dualshock

2. Dreamcast

3. SNES

4. NES standard controller

5. Genesis 6button

6. Jaguar, Just kidding! I mean Genesis 3button

7. N64 (it would be higher, but they all seem to have analog stick issues)

1. DualShock
2. Genesis 3 button
3. Atari 2600
4. Saturn (model 2)
5. SNES
6. SMS
7. TG-16
8. Genesis 6 button
9. NES
10. Atari 7800

Personally my favorite controller of all time is the Playstation Duel Shock 2 followed by the Dreamcast controller

The best controller is the Playstation controller. It's so good that the PS2 and PS3 both keep the same design.

Dual Shock 2 controller followed closely by the SNES controller

In all honesty, I don't think I agree with a single point on that list.

I personally think the Xbox 360 controller is perfect for my hands. Sony's dual-shock is absolutely amazing as well though. Out of the really retro systems, I would probabaly have to go for the Sega Genesis controller, again fit my hands very well.

I don't know why anyone would say the dualshock is the best. It's so damn tiny and the analog placement is terrible.

The best controller IMO is the Dualshock. It is just perfect for all genres of gaming (exept RTS maybe).

I don't know why anyone would say the dualshock is the best. It's so damn tiny and the analog placement is terrible.

magnax1

Size is one thing, the sticks are another. Having played many more FPS games on the Xbox and 360 than ps2, I'm more comfortable with that layout for those games.

Overall, the DS is better to me. I guess it's because I started on controllers with similar layouts, then the DS came out and was just an extension of the controller, rather than a redesign on where the buttons were.

NES, Sega Genesis, SNES, PS1, even gameboys have the same basic layout without the analog sticks. Some didn't, like the Dreamcast...then the Xbox with a very similar design to the DC. Maybe it's what you're familiar with.

X-Box 360 Controller

Am I the only one that doesn't have trouble with the d-pad?

who ever says dualshock never used a different controller other than the non analog ones.

its all about the gamecube layout

who ever says dualshock never used a different controller other than the non analog ones.

its all about the gamecube layout

bigM10231

[QUOTE="bigM10231"]

who ever says dualshock never used a different controller other than the non analog ones.

its all about the gamecube layout

BranKetra

[QUOTE="BranKetra"][QUOTE="bigM10231"]

who ever says dualshock never used a different controller other than the non analog ones.

its all about the gamecube layout

bigM10231

[QUOTE="magnax1"]

I don't know why anyone would say the dualshock is the best. It's so damn tiny and the analog placement is terrible.

BranKetra

Size is one thing, the sticks are another. Having played many more FPS games on the Xbox and 360 than ps2, I'm more comfortable with that layout for those games.

Overall, the DS is better to me. I guess it's because I started on controllers with similar layouts, then the DS came out and was just an extension of the controller, rather than a redesign on where the buttons were.

NES, Sega Genesis, SNES, PS1, even gameboys have the same basic layout without the analog sticks. Some didn't, like the Dreamcast...then the Xbox with a very similar design to the DC. Maybe it's what you're familiar with.

I don't see how any of those have the same basic layout. They all, even the original PS1 controller, place the DPad across from the face buttons, and it's just more comfortable. The dualshock is basically the only controller ever I can think of that doesn't place the analog/Dpad across from the face buttons. I can stand the original PS1 controller, or playing on the dualshock with the Dpad, but playing FPS or using the analog sticks at all is just uncomfortale, and on top of that the controller just doesn't give you much to hold on to. It's just small, especially it's grips. The GC controller was a massive improvement to the same basic shape, and hopefully next generation Sony looks at it when designing their next controller.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]

Overall, the DS is better to me. I guess it's because I started on controllers with similar layouts, then the DS came out and was just an extension of the controller, rather than a redesign on where the buttons were.

NES, Sega Genesis, SNES, PS1, even gameboys have the same basic layout without the analog sticks. Some didn't, like the Dreamcast...then the Xbox with a very similar design to the DC. Maybe it's what you're familiar with.

magnax1

I don't see how any of those have the same basic layout. They all, even the original PS1 controller, place the DPad across from the face buttons, and it's just more comfortable.The dualshock is basically the only controller ever I can think of that doesn't place the analog/Dpad across from the face buttons. I can stand the original PS1 controller, or playing on the dualshock with the Dpad, but playing FPS or using the analog sticks at all is just uncomfortale, and on top of that the controller just doesn't give you much to hold on to. It's just small, especially it's grips. The GC controller was a massive improvement to the same basic shape, and hopefully next generation Sony looks at it when designing their next controller.

and then handhelds.

Finally, the Dual Shock:

You see?

As far as too small, I don't think it is. I don't have a problem with the analog placement, either. However, I do think the Dreamcast/Gamecube, Xbox design is better is better for first person shooters.

[QUOTE="magnax1"]

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]

Overall, the DS is better to me. I guess it's because I started on controllers with similar layouts, then the DS came out and was just an extension of the controller, rather than a redesign on where the buttons were.

NES, Sega Genesis, SNES, PS1, even gameboys have the same basic layout without the analog sticks. Some didn't, like the Dreamcast...then the Xbox with a very similar design to the DC. Maybe it's what you're familiar with.

BranKetra

I don't see how any of those have the same basic layout. They all, even the original PS1 controller, place the DPad across from the face buttons, and it's just more comfortable.The dualshock is basically the only controller ever I can think of that doesn't place the analog/Dpad across from the face buttons. I can stand the original PS1 controller, or playing on the dualshock with the Dpad, but playing FPS or using the analog sticks at all is just uncomfortale, and on top of that the controller just doesn't give you much to hold on to. It's just small, especially it's grips. The GC controller was a massive improvement to the same basic shape, and hopefully next generation Sony looks at it when designing their next controller.

and then handhelds.

Finally, the Dual Shock:

You see?

As far as too small, I don't think it is. I don't have a problem with the analog placement, either. However, I do think the Dreamcast/Gamecube, Xbox design is better is better for first person shooters.

I get what you're saying, but the dualshock is the only controller you posted, and only controller I can ever think of that didn't have the main analog/Dpad across from the face buttons. It's like they tried to attach analogs to a prexisting controller while ignoring the ergonomics.

[QUOTE="magnax1"]

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]

Overall, the DS is better to me. I guess it's because I started on controllers with similar layouts, then the DS came out and was just an extension of the controller, rather than a redesign on where the buttons were.

NES, Sega Genesis, SNES, PS1, even gameboys have the same basic layout without the analog sticks. Some didn't, like the Dreamcast...then the Xbox with a very similar design to the DC. Maybe it's what you're familiar with.

BranKetra

I don't see how any of those have the same basic layout. They all, even the original PS1 controller, place the DPad across from the face buttons, and it's just more comfortable.The dualshock is basically the only controller ever I can think of that doesn't place the analog/Dpad across from the face buttons. I can stand the original PS1 controller, or playing on the dualshock with the Dpad, but playing FPS or using the analog sticks at all is just uncomfortale, and on top of that the controller just doesn't give you much to hold on to. It's just small, especially it's grips. The GC controller was a massive improvement to the same basic shape, and hopefully next generation Sony looks at it when designing their next controller.

and then handhelds.

Finally, the Dual Shock:

You see?

As far as too small, I don't think it is. I don't have a problem with the analog placement, either. However, I do think the Dreamcast/Gamecube, Xbox design is better is better for first person shooters.

I get what you're saying, but the dualshock is the only controller you posted, and only controller I can ever think of that didn't have the main analog/Dpad across from the face buttons. It's like they tried to attach analogs to a prexisting controller while ignoring the ergonomics.

I get what you're saying, but the dualshock is the only controller you posted, and only controller I can ever think of that didn't have the main analog/Dpad across from the face buttons. It's like they tried to attach analogs to a prexisting controller while ignoring the ergonomics.

magnax1

There's the Wii retro controller.

It's not bad, but I wouldn't want it to be the main controller of a console.

[QUOTE="magnax1"]

I get what you're saying, but the dualshock is the only controller you posted, and only controller I can ever think of that didn't have the main analog/Dpad across from the face buttons. It's like they tried to attach analogs to a prexisting controller while ignoring the ergonomics.

BranKetra

There's the Wii retro controller.

It's not bad, but I wouldn't want it to be the main controller of a console.

if we are talking ergonomics, the Saturn controller is the best, but its impractical for any game with a heavy use of analog controls.

the 3D pad is fine for those, but its not very comfy (and is basically just a slightly more comfy DC pad)

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]

[QUOTE="magnax1"]

I get what you're saying, but the dualshock is the only controller you posted, and only controller I can ever think of that didn't have the main analog/Dpad across from the face buttons. It's like they tried to attach analogs to a prexisting controller while ignoring the ergonomics.

Darkman2007

There's the Wii retro controller.

It's not bad, but I wouldn't want it to be the main controller of a console.

if we are talking ergonomics, the Saturn controller is the best, but its impractical for any game with a heavy use of analog controls.

the 3D pad is fine for those, but its not very comfy (and is basically just a slightly more comfy DC pad)

[QUOTE="magnax1"]

I get what you're saying, but the dualshock is the only controller you posted, and only controller I can ever think of that didn't have the main analog/Dpad across from the face buttons. It's like they tried to attach analogs to a prexisting controller while ignoring the ergonomics.

BranKetra

There's the Wii retro controller.

It's not bad, but I wouldn't want it to be the main controller of a console.

The C1assic Controller Pro is much better:

It's a great controller, the only issue I have with it is that the d-pad is somewhat unresponsive at times.

Seriously, I don't get why so many people love the GC controller. The C-stick is horrible and the d-pad is so small. It sucks for FPS's.

[QUOTE="Darkman2007"]

[QUOTE="BranKetra"] I could say the same about the Xbox's original controller.

There's the Wii retro controller.

It's not bad, but I wouldn't want it to be the main controller of a console.

BranKetra

if we are talking ergonomics, the Saturn controller is the best, but its impractical for any game with a heavy use of analog controls.

the 3D pad is fine for those, but its not very comfy (and is basically just a slightly more comfy DC pad)

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]

[QUOTE="magnax1"]

I get what you're saying, but the dualshock is the only controller you posted, and only controller I can ever think of that didn't have the main analog/Dpad across from the face buttons. It's like they tried to attach analogs to a prexisting controller while ignoring the ergonomics.

M3tr4nk0

There's the Wii retro controller.

It's not bad, but I wouldn't want it to be the main controller of a console.

The C1assic Controller Pro is much better:

It's a great controller, the only issue I have with it is that the d-pad is somewhat unresponsive at times.

Seriously, I don't get why so many people love the GC controller. The C-stick is horrible and the d-pad is so small. It sucks for FPS's.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"][QUOTE="Darkman2007"]

if we are talking ergonomics, the Saturn controller is the best, but its impractical for any game with a heavy use of analog controls.

the 3D pad is fine for those, but its not very comfy (and is basically just a slightly more comfy DC pad)

Darkman2007

[QUOTE="Darkman2007"][QUOTE="BranKetra"]To tell you the truth, I haven't played much on the Saturn. Except for Nights, but that was with the 3d pad, which was good. I know what you mean, though.BranKetra