The ABXY layout was really nice. With the modern standard, there is often some mix up as to which button is “accept” and which is “cancel”. The GameCube controller, with its big Mashable A button left nothing to interpretation. The X and Y buttons were comfortably placed as well.
Oh lord yes the GameCube controller is pure sex. Only way to play smash :) Amongst all other attributes people have mentioned, love the walls of the analog stick, it feels so much better not having a smooth smooshy full globe of movement, I want to smash that shit in a direction and feel hard contact
How Is this unpopular ?!
I was a Ps guy at the time, but my friend had the GC. As soon as I tried the controller I felt in love with it. To this day I still think that GC controller is the most ergonomic controller I've ever held.
Everyone in this thread gets an upvote. It wasn't until a few years ago when I soft modded my Wii to start playing GameCube games that I held the controller again. Damn! That is such a comfortable controller. It's still my favourite of all of them.
I loved my Wavebird. It was so comfortable, and the wireless worked really well. It was a bit chunky, but I didn't care.
Steam Controller with SteamOverlay for custom mapping
For me my Switch Pro Controller and Xbox. Guess it's mode about the layout for me. I really don't like the Playstation layout especially for the sticks. That one causes my hand to just hurt.
I have both the Switch Pro Controller and Xbox one (for my PC), but I prefer the Switch Controller by far, because the buttons feel so much smoother. But on the other hand it doesn't have triggers, so for racing games it isn't that good (Not that the switch had any realistic ones, which I couldn't play on PC).
My Switch pro controller is actually my only one. Only had experience with the Xbox controller cause my parents have a Xbox at their home.
I also prefer the asymmetrical stick layout. The King Kong Pro 2 is probably my favorite controller at the moment. It feels almost identical to a Series X controller, but with gyro, hall sensor sticks, and other features. Which is great because Xbox controllers are the most comfortable to me, but all the fancy features other controllers offer make it a little behind the curve.
If they ever add gyro controls to Xbox, that will likely be my favorite.
Xbox Series controllers are the best controllers ever. The clicky bumpers and d pad are a feature!
I would never accuse Xbox controllers of having a decent dpad. Functional, yes, but I've never struggled with a dpad more than an with an Xbox one. I literally didn't use the quick select feature in Fallout 3 because it was so inaccurate that opening the pipboy would allow me to select faster.
As to the rest of the Xbox controller? Yes, it's my preferred layout.
@parrot-party @s804 @primbin @ThisIsMyNewAccount MS finally got a working dpad on the series x controllers though, hands down my all time favorite controller now
Agreed. Pre-Series controllers the d pad was pretty garbage. But with the new ones they’re basically perfect. For that style of dpad, anyway.
It has to be DualSense for me. It's by far the most comfortable controller I've ever used.
Xbox One/Series controllers. They've perfected the design in my opinion. It's just nice and simple, does exactly what it needs to do, is comfortable, looks nice.
I personally prefer the Elite Series 2 as paddles are a game changer for many games.
For physical form-factor? The Xbox 360 controller was my defacto controller since it was released up until very recently. It was controller gaming to me. I just started using the Kong Pro 2 from Gullikit (primarily for the hall-effect joysticks) and it's been a reasonable approximation. Everything else just feels...off.
For use case? The Steam Deck/Controller is unparalleled with it's customization options. There is basically no limit to what it can cover. It's amazing.
Wii mote + mario kart wheel for sure
I like the gamecube controller the best for using. though because I'm a weirdo who likes the weirdest stuff, I'm super fond of the n64 controller.
It's cheating but the steam deck is up there. It feels weird to go back to something else now that I'm used to the alignment.
Fully agreed. The layout is just the best.
With everything in reach, and the best potitioning of buttons, sticks, and the dpad of any controller out there. And that's not even mentioning added convenience of the touchpads.
If they just copy the whole thing verbatim for the steam controller 2, it'll be a smash hit.
There are steam controller truthers and I get that they liked the bigger pads, but there are just too many games where sequences of right stick actions reliant on the physics of a stick are obligatory for me.
I actually really like how wide and heavy it is, too, though. I'm not positive I'd use the controller on my desktop over using the whole deck as a controller. Everything else feels flimsy in comparison.
@s804 Wii U GamePad.
It's comfortable. It has motion controls, NFC and IR. The only thing that sucks is the battery life, but then again DS4 and DS5 battery life is shit as well.
It looks so bulky and unwieldy, and at first glance it seems like it takes some getting used to with the analog sticks being at the top.
But I'll agree as a Wii U owner that the thing is just so comfortable to use. It's much lighter than it looks too, and I was able to adapt to the analog stick placement immediately, as if I had always been using it.
Speaking of the battery, mine barely holds a charge anymore. I wouldn't mind doing something about that.
@Lippy @s804 thankfully it is user replaceable.
Mine is alrightish, it still lasts a few hours if it gets fully charged, and I don't have the higher capacity battery installed
@s804 N64 because it was the best to hold
@s804 never had an issue in all my hours of playing goldeneye! Ah memories :)
As a child, I'd never consider it too large. Now I'd say many controllers have the opposite problem: they're too small or cramped (joycons, SNES, NES, and most dualshock controllers). Surprised the one-controllers-size-fits-all is considered the norm. The only exceptions I can think of are DSXL and 3DSXL as official larger controllers... you just have to buy a totally new console.
I'd pick N64 for a few select games (Mario Party 1, for example). GC for probably most games that don't need two analog sticks or a usable dpad, xbox one for games the do use either of those.
@s804 I destroyed more than one controller playing Mario party…
How many hands did you destroy winding up shy guys and paddling in the rapids?
Definitely the newest XBox controllers. I've always preferred the shape and the offset sticks. Plus the D-pad isn't too bad this time around either.
The DualSense controllers are pretty close. It helps that they've slowly just morphed towards being like the Xbox.
I'll answer your question indirectly. I like a lot of controllers. I have large hands so the original Xbox controllers actually were the perfect size for me. I like the features of the PS5 controllers with the variable trigger pressure. So, if I could get some combination of that, I'd be really happy.
I used to have a group of friends that referred to me as "bear paws."
The TAC-2 joydick for C64 was the shit. Oh, boy.
N64, purely because of nostalgia.
The Nintendo Switch Pro controller is my favorite. Before that, it was the Wii U Pro controller. DualShock/DualSense and Xbox controllers are always in the mix, but I always go back to the Switch Pro Controller. I do also like the Steam Deck’s controller (thought not a traditional standalone), while never liking the Steam Controller - as weird as that is!
Xbox One/Series controller.
I loved the 360 controller before, but once I got an Xbone, it felt like the controller was perfectly formed for my hands. The triggers felt incredible, the bumpers were fantastic, and I was addicted to the tire tread texture on the thumbsticks. Later revisions solidified my love for it, adding a 3.5mm jack and USB-C.
I honestly love the xenoblade switch pro controller. The better d-pad from the xenoblade one makes a difference to me, and the controller fits in my hand very nicely.
The modern Xbox controller. It just works. The Switch (Lite) controller is a second place, even though the placement of the right thumb stick sucks. I was never really a friend of the Dualshock/sense PlayStation controllers. If you count the New 2/3DS XL as a controller, as it is also integrated like the Switch Lite one, it would probably even better than the Xbox controller.
Personally, the Wii U Pro controller was great. The form factor was just right for me and the battery on them lasted forever. I think my only complaint was the D pad, but even then I could be misremembering.
No Dreamcast in that pic?
Stadia!
😏
JK, buts its pretty ok with the Bluetooth unlocked firmware.
currently using kingkong2 pro, which is nice, but I don't like that it doesn't use standard batteries.
and the four connection modes are weird, gyro only works in switch-mode, where it acts like a switch pro controller
The original DualShock has a special place in my heart.
The PS1 was my first console, and it came with 2 controllers.
1 of them is missing, the other still works, kinda. A pin got lose and them stuck in my pc adapter.
But if I connect to the adapter, it works perfectly!
Also liking the 8bitdo Pro 2, it's great controller. Wish it was a bit bigger though
PS2/PS4 controllers feel like they fit my hands the best, the PS5 controller seems a bit large for my liking. I really like the Xbox Series S|X controller but the plastic etching and rumble make my hands go numb after about an hour, if they could fix that I think it would beat the others.
I’m a big fan of the PS5 controller. The features are great, but it also fits my hands really well. I wish the battery life was slightly better, but I don’t game for long enough at a time for it to matter (got kids, haha).
I also have a real soft spot for the classic SNES controller, and I have an 8BitDo controller that closely mimics it.
I want to love the Switch Pro controller, and it’s decent, but the D pad is really rough.
If I had to pick only one controller to use it would be Xbox One controller (the slightly newer one with BT) as it would cover all my gaming needs for most platforms. I'd pick it over Xbox Series due to to their crappy d-pad "upgrade". On the other hand I hate Dualshock 4 so much I usually play my PS4 using remote play just so I can do it on a Steam Deck or a PC with Xbox controller.
I laughed at Xbox's statement about spending 2 million on designing the Xbox one controller. But after using it and seeing countless imitations, i think it was a true statement. It was the most comfy form factor.
So far it's the Xbox 360, with the D-pad dremel-modded (coverts the D-pad from floating to almost like a mini-joystick).
I think the Duelsense controller is my favorite, being an incremental upgrade over the great DS4. Comfy layout, nice feeling bumpers and d-pad, and gyro controls.
The Xbox Series controller is equally comfortable and definitely gets points for using AA batteries instead of a built-in battery that degrades over time (my DS4 barely holds a charge anymore…). However, lack of gyro sucks, especially when everyone else has it.
If you want to count the Steam Deck as a controller, it’s a close second behind the DS5. All the features you could possibly want, plus trackpads and back buttons, and only loses points for being less comfortable to hold than the DS5 (but it’s also an entire console, so that’s fair).
The Xbox 360 one, especially some off-brand ones that are somehow better than the 999999€ official ones (with the benefit of working on PC, mine is still perfectly functional after several years of gathering dust)
This was one of the best purchases I ever made for my pc back in the day, way better than any other controller I had till then.
Any moderately comfy controller that I'm used to is my favorite at any time.
Case in point, when I was used to the DS4 it was my favorite. I tried the new Dualsense (DS5) and hated it compared to the DS4. But after getting used to the DS(5), the DS4 just feels too small and weird now so I like the DS(5) better.
BUT, I'll take and be happy with basically any well designed controller. The Xbox controllers starting with 360 are very comfy to me too. As is the switch pro and GameCube controllers. And even the stadia controller. Haven't tried many others.
Switch Pro controller. Xbox has a good controller but requiring AA batteries or an adjacent solution for a controller in 2023 is crazy. Switch Pro can last up to 40 hours on a rechargeable battery and it's just as comfortable.
Atari 2600 or ColecoVision. You're not a real gamer unless it hurts to play.
I always played games primarily on the PC, so I'm pretty agnostic as to the console itself.
I think that the one that I liked the most was the PS2 controller, the Dual Shock.
Had rumble motors.
Was wired. I am fine with wireless, but I don't gain much from it, since I'm sitting at a desk normally. It adds weight and potentially radio interference and charging issues.
It did not have analog stick drift, at least that I experienced. I don't entirely understand why, but essentially every gamepad I've gotten in recent years -- and I've gone through about six, for different platforms -- with potentiometer-based analog sticks has had issues with analog stick drift. Maybe changes were made to manufacturing processes on potentiometers or something. I recently finally gave up on potentiometer-based gamepads and got an 8bitdo Bluetooth Ultimate pad -- which uses Hall effect sensors, which don't experience stick drift problems. Note that the non-Bluetooth version of this gamepad uses potentiometers. Unfortunately that pad doesn't have rumble motors...
The D-pad is more-gentle on my fingers than some.
Pretty durable. Eventually, the surface on the analog sticks started to wear through, but it lasted quite some years.
8bitdo controllers are my favs for now, but I also loved the Nintendo 64 controller, but probably mostly because I was a kid and loved games.
I started with the genesis, but my favorite controller is a fighting game stick because my hands don't cramp and it's more fun to use.
My favorite official controller was probably ps3
I like the PlayStation style controller a lot. Probably because that's the system I had when I was younger.
I mostly use a steam controller now and have backups. I also have some classic shaped controllers for emulators too.
Gamecube for the button has different shapes so you know which button you're pressing without looking down to look at it too much
Then Xbox Series X/S era controller is my favorite as the trigger felt more nicer than Xbox One era.
The WiiU pro controller is absolutely my favorite controller of all time, symmetrical stick placement above the buttons, slim and lightweight yet durable, and an absurd battery life between 60-80 hours.
After that, my next favorite as far as traditional controllers would be the PS2 controller. For non-traditional I have a huge soft spot for the WiiU gamepad and the Wii remote + nunchuk.
The worst controller I've ever used would easily be the N64 controller, followed at a wide margin by the Saturn 3D control pad. I'm also not fond of 360 controller.
Flydigi Apex2 (and soon Vader 3?). It has a shit ton of additional buttons (2 additional face buttons, 2 additional bumpers, 4 freaking back buttons) and even have a weird 3rd joystick. And it use quality micro switches (so long membrane, i don't miss ya). All of that in the comfy Xbox form factor. It does need another paid app (ReWASD) to fully use it on PC (Gyro, layers and what not). Well worth it tho!
I fucking hate that Razer and Scuf locked us out of potential cool controllers with their patents. Only Chinese can do whatever the hell they want.
Also fuck Sony and their controller locked down on Ps5.
PS3 controller for sure. I used it the most growing up, it never really changed so I got super comfortable with it and always performed well with new models right away, it has the best feel in my hands as it fits perfectly into my palms, and my thumbs are more comfortable with the thumb sticks where they are compared to the X-box controller. PS4 controller was also good overall, but I liked the slender handles on the PS3 one more.
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Unpopular opinion, but the GCN controller is so comfy, the bumpers fit so well in my fingers
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