Favorite Controller
 

I decided to do some comparisons this weekend between the PS2 and Cube versions of two games. All Star Baseball 2003 and Agent Under Fire. Graphically, the cube defintely won out. Much smoother look with no visible jaggies. However, the control was a mixed bag. ASB played suprisingly well with the cube controller. It played just as well as the PS2 version with a Dual Shock 2. I'm of mixed mind on Bond though. On the one hand, the Cube's triggers and Z button work much better for firing and alt fire. However, the C stick just feels too small to me for mouse look. This got me thinking, which first party controller do you feel is the best overall of this generation of consoles? The Dual Shock 2, the Cube controller, Wavebird, XBox, the XBox S, the Dreamcast? I think if the cube had a normal sized C stick I would definitely pick it but I can't come up with a decisive answer.

My new favorite is by far the Microsoft XBox S controller. It keeps the button layout and left and right triggers I loved on the Dreamcast, but with a much better feel in the hand and the perfect size for comfort. The Game Cube controller is a close second, but I prefer the S controller and I'm glad Microsoft was smart enough to realize they needed to update the original.

Its a major improvment over the original Xbox controller that had the buttons crowded and aligned at a weird angle, not to mention the size that was much too big to use comfortably.

Darkside,
I agree about the S controller. The thing that killed it for me was the odd placement of the black and white buttons. I was playing my brother in a game of Madden and I kept hitting the wrong button kept forgetting about the black and white buttons way down there. Everything else about it was great though. If I had an XBox of my own, I'd definitely have only S controllers.

Definitely the wavebird. The cube controller layout is the best and most comfortable for me, and the wavebird has the wireless advantage, don't really miss the rumble. Some people complain that it's designed for little kid hands, but my hands are freakishly big, and I find the controller very comfortable. The R and L trigger buttons just plain rock. It's like you forget you even have a controller in your hand. The only button that's kind of out of place is the Z trigger. The PS2 controller isn't bad.. but it isn't anything special either. The xbox controller S I haven't used.. but the regular one isn't too good. Kind of awkward to use.

I'm going for the Dual Shock 2. Nothing special, true.. but in this case simplicity works out. I loathe the placement of the Z button on the GC controller, and my hand started cramping after 20 minutes with the original Xbox controller (and I have fairly big hands, too). I haven't used the S controller for playing a game, but the placement of the black and white buttons remains a downside.

I guess I am in the EXTREME minority here when I say my favorite controller is the regular Xbox one , huh?!

I have big hands and find it works best for me, as it allows for a very relaxed grip... my brother has slightly smaller hands so i used to automatically hand him the type S controller, to which he eventually replied that he wanted the regular one instead.

I think its just a weird controller for alot of peopel because they arent used to a controller that size, nor the weird A,X,Y,B buttons... at first it was a bit odd but it has really grown on me and is a very very comfortable controller..

i dont see how people could get hand cramps with this controller as the hand usually cramps from being tightened, such as holding a smaller controller with big hands..

I do enjoy the gamecube controller, but have never been a fan of the PS controllers, the PS controllers to me are utter dog sh*t.

-Jim

The Wavebird hands down. With the plain GCN controller coming in second. It fits my hands perfectly, and the button layout is great. Plus it's the only controller I've ever found the L and R triggers to be comfortable to use. My only gripe is the tiny d-pad, but so far it hasn't been an issue as all I've used it for is issuing commands to the wingmen in Rogue Leader, and for casting spells in Eternal Darkness.

The Dual Shock 2 is next on my list. I like the size and button layout, and the D-pad is better than the GCN controller's. My only gripes are I don't like the location of the left analog stick, it should be switched with the D-pad. It would be more comfortable to use that way, and staggered analog sticks are easier to use in games that require you to use both at the same time.

Next is the X-box S controller. It is a nice size, and has a great D-pad. My only gripe is it's still slightly less comfy to hold than the GCN pad, and the two rightmost buttons are kind of hard to reach.

Next is the Dreamcast controller. I really disliked it. Too big and bulky, made my hands sweat, and the analog stick was hard plastic, rather than covered in soft rubber, and my thumb tended to slip off. I used a Mad Catz Dream Pad for all my dreamcast gaming, as it's stick was rubber coated.

Last is the plain X-box controller. Simply the worst console controller ever IMO. Huge, bulky, uncomfortable, makes my hands sweat, some buttons hard to reach, etc. Plus it's ugly with that stupid green jewel in the center (though that doesn't factor into my rating as it doesn't affect gameplay).

I know a lot of people won't agree with this but I think Microsoft's original US XBox Controller is the best.

Where's the Other option?

N64 controller!

I love the size of the original Xbox controller and I have small hands. It's comfortable and easy to use. The cord is the longest of all 3, thus requiring no controller extensions.

Going back to the Dual Shock, and especially the GC controller, makes me feel like they were built for kids and midgets. I almost feel like I'm going to break the GC controller.

I do like the cordless Wavebird, but it's still too small for my tastes. My vote goes to the original XBox controller.

I bet that's not an easy thing to do.

Impossible unless you throw it or you are the son of Zeus.

I decided to limit this poll to the current generation of systems, of which I consider the Dreamcast part of. On a side note, the N64 controller was good but the analog stick sucked hard. Everything else was pretty good.

Best controller ever is the SONY PS1/PS2 controller.
Worst is a toss up for the N64/DC/Xbox.

1.Sony's Dual Shock 2
2. (tie) Nintendo's Gamecube controller
2. (tie) Microsoft's Xbox controller
4.Sega's Dreamcast controller

I have not tried the Wavebird or Controller S yet. I do have bigger hands, and I think the black and white buttons are out of place on the S, so I am fairly confident I would prefer the original still. The Wavebird could take a spot in the top 4 though.

I bit the bullet and got a wavebird tonight. Already I'm amazed with it. Perhaps it's because I've never used a wireless controller before but it's amazing. Not sure if I will miss the rumble or not but either way, it's definitely nice to have atleast one of these controllers.

I guess the wireless ness of it all isn't that amazing to me..

used to have wireless controllers for my Atari 2600 back in the day :) I'm sure the range wasnt nearly as good as the wavebird, but it worked from wherever I was playing from..

amazing.

-Jim

I more than agree with you. The N64 controller was pure genius, and laid the groundwork for all future controllers, though I still find it more comfortable than any of the others that it spawned. The Gamecube controller (yes the original, we're talking about the controller, not wires!) is the second best of all time, with the Genesis 6 Button controller making the final cut at #3...

Worst three? Xbox, PS1 and 2, and Atari Jaguar...

When the company has to issue a second controller due to hatemail for the first, then you know there's a problem on your hands. That said, eventhough I have had to know get my right thumb used to move an analog stick (which it doesn't usually do) I am used to the X-Box controller.

I thought the Dreamcast controllers were some of the worst ever--- what's with the tiny buttons?

I've never really had a problem with any of the controllers, Cube, XBox, or PS2. I guess I like the Cube the best because it just feels right, though I don't mind the S controller either.

I voted for Sony's controller....but I must say....I really like my Gamecube controller. The only game I have played on my Gamecube since I purchased it last month is the new RE game. I really like the big A button(green). :)

I used to hate the Dual Shock when it came out on PSX but once I played my friends PS2 and then got my own it became my favorite controller. No other rumble has felt as good as Sony's Dualshock. The button layout seems to work fine for any game (it especially accels at FPS's). It seems to mold to my hand perfectly. The padded analog sticks don't hurt your thumb after hours of gaming. The only thing that is the donwfall are the four main buttons. It takes some time to get used to the square, circle, x, triangle positions but once you do you are all set.

I always thought the N64 analog was better then the gamecube's.

YES! Someone else that realizes the pure genious of the Genesis 6 button! Once Mortal Kombat came out I had to buy one and once I had one I bought a second. I love that controller. All though, I don't think you can rank it with these other ones as they incorporate more features and buttons. It's like a harder category.

Not me. The N64 stick was hard plastic. It made your thumb sore after long sessions, and my thumb tended to slip off. The GCN stick is rubberized, so it's very comfortable and my thumb never slips off.

Plus the N64 sticks where poor quality and wore out pretty quickly. I went through 4 of them myself, and I never played any of the Mario Party games that were notorious for wearing out controllers.

The plastic ground on itself and you got little "plastic dust" down in the controller around the stick. You could take it apart and clean it out, but it still never worked as good. It seemed like my controllers worked "good as new" for about 3 months, then the plastic dust would get down in there and the stick wouldn't be as responsive.

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....... :grumble:

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.