RF Generation Message Board

Which controller is the best?  Best looking, best ergonomics, best responsivness.  Discuss.

NES, with Playstation's Dual Shock in close second.

While the NES controller did set a new standard at the time, the SNES controller is IMO the best.  It may not be as advanced as today's controllers, but it did set the standard (as far as I know) of four buttons on the right side that just about every controller nowadays makes use of.  It was also really easy in the hands and didn't weigh a ton, unlike some controllers. 

For second place, I'd probably pick the Sega DC controll%r. 

SNES, button placement is superb, and often imitated. Second would be the Dual Shock, but I don't like how the button placement is farther apart on that controller than the SNES. Sony should have just completely copied the arrangement, and their controller would have been superb.

And you'd be sitting here complaining about how Sony steals everything.

I'm sorry, but after a bit of thought (a few seconds), I'm gonna have to go with the Gamecube's. Why? I was going to go for Sony's DualShock 2, but the analogue sticks just seem to be too far away for my thumbs; it can be a bit uncomfortable. I saw the votes for the SNES controller and while yes, it did set the standard, it's not very comfortable. NES, N64 and Genesis are out for similar reasons, and I haven't had much exposure to other controllers (although my friend keeps telling me just how amazing the Dreamcast controller is), so Gamecube it is.

I voted Gamecube.  It may look awful, but I find it to be the most comfortable.  And I love how the buttons are all different sizes/shapes.  It really makes it easy to hit the right button when a command pops up on the screen.  I still have to occasionally look at the PS controller to make sure I'm hitting the right button. 

Good idea for a poll, as the control of a system dose have a big impact on the system itself, as it's the interface we use to interact with it.
I'm actually kinda surprised GameCube has already received two votes, as it's control and the N64 were two that put me off of the systems them selves. Especially the N64, because I don't have a third hand to use it properly  ;)

Thing I hate most about Playstation controls is the idea of buttons instead of a true D-Pad.  :-\

I'm guessing the Jaguar's control is mentioned for laugh  :laugh:

The ones I've used:

Xbox 360>PS2>SNES>Xbox>Genesis>PS1>SMS>NES>>>>>>>>>>>Dreamcast>Gamecube>N64

^Someone hates innovative controllers.

And aren't the PS1 and PS2 controller the exact same?

Original PS1 didn't have the analog sticks.

^But some of them did, correct?  Or is my memory getting bad...

Yes, later model PS1 controllers did have analog sticks (Dualshock), but the the ones that came with the PS1 in 1995 did not.

^So I'm not crazy then, good.  I never owned a PS1, so I don't know too much about it.

N64 all the way baby.

N64 was inane. I never understood what the yellow buttons were for and I never understood what the d-pad was for. All I ever used was A, B, the joystick, and Z.

C for Camera buddy.  I'm surprised you have ever picked up a controller other than a Sony controller...

What games have you played? o_o I'm positive that every N64 game I've ever played used the C buttons in some form or another (a lot of times for camera control, but usually for various button combinations for attacks; i.e. Banjo-Kazooie; Kirby 64 is the only exception to this). I've only played one game which actually used the D-Pad in a meaningful way: Kirby 64, which (if I remember correctly) required nothing but the D-Pad, L, Z and the analogue stick and the B, A, C and R buttons.

The N64's controller is so weird. :P

EDIT: Apparently I don't remember correctly.

man wheres the love for the atari 2600 controller   one stick one button   

My point exactly. I think they could have done without the whole d=pad half and been fine. Unless they were gonna try to do some old games.

I don't think they knew what they were doing when they came up with it. I mean the Z button becomes inaccessible while using the D-Pad, and the  whole idea for view buttons isn't  a horrible idea, but cutting the controllers button count down forced programs to use them as additional buttons instead. I don't think of this control to be innovative in the slightest.

I would agree that the SNES controller made the most innovative breakthrough in controller technology, but my vote for the "best" controller is the 360. Appropriately weighted, wireless, streamlined design, remote on/off, comfortable, etc.

Well, it was a tough choice.  I like the NES, Genesis, and PS controllers but in the end I chose the SNES controller.

SNES is a great controller, but I gave my vote to PS2. It's the best all-around controller in my opinion. The only problem that I have with it is that the D-Pad isn't as good as what Nintendo has on their consoles. N64 was nice, but the joystick was horrible. It had no grip and it could break easily. Sony really made the analog stick better, and one upped Nintendo with adding an extra analog stick instead of having the C buttons for camera control. I also like the Dreamcast, the newer Xbox (except the crappy d-pad), and Gamecube.

I like the PS2 followed by the Saturn.

I guess I'm gonna be the only one who votes for Wii.

Since the 2600 controller wasn't on the list I went with the 360 controller. The Dual Shock would be second. The 360 controller to me just refined the Dual Shock. Sony hasn't changed the Dual Shock in almost 10 years. Well there is teh sixaxis thing now.

The N64 controller sucks. If you need three hands to work it thats not good. The Gamecube controller is OK but I always had problems with the Z button on THPS 3.

I was going to, but I haven't had enough time with the system to really judge whether it's a decent controller or not. Initial thoughts say "Heck yes", though.

I need to buy one...

PS2. I've never had a problem with playing any game on it. Yes, even FPS

This was hard for me as there's so many good controlers, yet they all have their problems.  I voted Dreamcast but frankly it would have been more easy for me to say which one I didnt like.  That would be the NES.  The controler always felt like it was poking in my hand.