the Japanese Saturn pad was my favorite 6 button controller. Excellent for fighting games and the buttons were big and easy to push.

Good points. Even though the n64 controller was plastic I never hurt my thumb on it, but I have already had a few occasions playing the races in SMB and having to put down the controller because it was killing my thumb. I do know that many people had N64 controllers that got messed up over time (one friend's controller would make you move it half the speed in Goldeneye then everyone else!). The GC controller's seem to have more resistant analog's but I have known quite a few people who have stuck B buttons.

The real test of the GCN controller will be when Mario Party 4 comes out. Those games are the most controller-abusive, blister-heavy things I've ever played.

With last gen behind us, time to dust off this thread. With all the new consoles out, has anyone's favorites changed ?

Personally I think the 360 pad has edged out the Wavebird for traditional controllers in my book.

So:

1. 360
2. Wavebird
3. N64
4. Wii
5. Xbox S Pad

I'd go 360 over Wavebird as well, and I really like the Wavebird.

Probably be better to start a new thread with a new polll.


But I agree, the 360 pad is the best ever IMO.

Of the consoles I've owned (and excluding the Wiimote/Nunchuck since it's not a traditional controller and hard to compare--and to early to say if the motion controls are an improvement or a step back):

1. 360
2. X-box Type S
3. Wave Bird
4. Dual Shock
5. SNES
6. Genesis
7. N64
8. NES

for me, its about which controllers I hate the least. It seems only till recent that I've never had a positive affinity for any controller, besides just an arcade stick by Hori for some good fighting games.

I'd really have to say the Twin Sticks for Virtual On

The Xbox 360 controller for me.

Sony's controller is still the most comfortable for me.

Wow, old thread. I'll also exclude the Wiimote as I haven't had enough time with it. Going back to the 16-bit era:

1 Sega Saturn controller (either of the 6-button controllers)
2 SNES controller / Wii classic controller
3 Wavebird
4 Xbox360
5 N64
6 PS1/PS2/PS3 controller (they're all mostly the same)
7 Genesis

I don't get the love for the PS controller. The embedded d-pad sucks, the analog sticks are poorly placed and too floppy IMO and the labeling (triangle/square/etc) is annoying to describe verbally to someone or write down.

Haven't played the 360, but I find the Wavebird much better than the PS controllers. I love the big "A" button.

wow i totally forgot i posted this thread! Have to say I love the 360 controller. Haven't tried the PS3 and while I liked the Wii, I can't see myself playing that many games with it because the controller, while cool, is just so unconventional.

The original Xbox controller was the first one that actually seemed like it was designed for people with big hands, so it was a perfect fit for me.

You son of a......

This isn't gonna work for current system controllers.... you gotta create a new thread.... . son of a 5 year old thread resurrector.......

I voted the for X-Box S controller... but now prefer the 360 controller over all others.

Dreamcast.
It was so nice for your opponent to not be able to see the set of plays you were picking from in a football game.

PS. It feels weird posting in a thread that pre-dates my membership.

No shit? The Dreamcast? OMG that was the most uncomfortable POS ever to grace consoles. The VMU was definitely a cool idea, that could stand to be resurrected, but unless you are partial to carpal tunnel I can't see how someone could give the DC a vote of confidence in the controller department.

It blows my mind that anyone likes the horrible Sony controllers. They seem like they were designed by someone who was asked to make a 'game controller' and just made something that looked kinda like one with no thought toward ergonomics, gameplay, market research etc. This has always crippled the fun factor of the Sony systems for me, and they have stuck with the same awful design thru all three of their systems.

I would pick the wavebird as best from the above list, really solid and ergonomic and WIRELESS in a time when wireless was long overdue in consoles, which didn't come to the others until the next generation.

Nowadays though the Xbox 360 controller truly is excellent, probably better than the Wavebird. OK, definitely better than the Wavebird. If only they would fix the damn D-pad.

Dreamcast controller was great for me, maybe you need large hands for it to be comfortable.

I agree with everything you said. Sony's controllers are horrible and haven't essentially changed since their inception. I don't understand how anyone can stand them let alone prefer them.

I do like the XboxS and the 360's but haven't spent enough time with the 360's.

I also agree that the Dreamcast controller wasn't too bad. I haven't played in awhile but it wasn't as bad as people say. Plus they had the best fishing controller ever.

I always liked the Genesis 6-button and the Japanese Saturn Controllers...but of the current gen, I love the 360 controller. I just wish it had 6 face buttons.

I still have love for the Wavebird, but the 360 controller is easily the best of the next gen controllers.

+ bird = Best. Controller. Ever.

I have to say that the current 360 controller is probably my favorite controller of all time. or close to it. Awesome analog sticks. Nintendo still can't get analog sticks to work as well (see Wii Classic controller).

Wow, I didn't notice the original date on this thread. I was wondering about those poll options

I use a 360 pad with my PC and agree it is the best controller out there. I despise the sixaxis. It is actually worse now that it was on the PS2. Those new trigger style L2 and R2 buttons are very touchy. When playing PS1 and PS2 games I am always barley touching those buttons and of course it registers contact with just a slight brush against them. Drove me crazy on Castlevania. Kept turning into a wolf and mist when I didn't want to.
I'm not much happier with the Wii controls. Looking at every console I think I will go this way.

1. 360
2. Wavebird
3. Saturn
4. Xbox S-type
5. Wii classic controller
6. SNES
7. Genesis 6 button
8. Atari 2600 stick (yes I hate the next two that much)
9. Sixaxis
10. Wii remote and nunchuck

I like the 360 as well. I did love the screen on the dreamcast. It make NFL2K a lot of fun.