#1 Controller?

What do you think is the greatest controller of all time? I'm gonna go with this one:

I've always been a big fan of the GameCube controller. The buttons could feel a little nicer, but overall that thing fits my hands perfectly.

The 360 controller isn't bad. The (original) DPad is shit and the fucking annoying flashing lights when your controller is dying hold it back a bit. I hope the next Xbox's controller is just a better version of this one.

360 easily

360 controller is the best console controller of all time easily.

No one controller is perfect but my favorite is the DualShock 3.

i agree with this. the button layout works well with most types of games and the Dpad is pretty decent. it could be that ive been using it for almost 18 years

My vote is for the 360 controller. The D-pad is terrible, sure, but how often do you really need the d-pad nowadays? I'm a big fan of the Dualshock too, but the atrocious triggers and the feel of the sticks make it a lesser controller in my eyes.

I was just thinking about this the other day. After recently playing Ni no Kuni for over 60 hours, I have to say I hate the DualShock 3 because of it's smaller size and my hands being pretty damn big, it's uncomfortable to hold for extend periods of time. I like the size of the 360 controller, it's grips are long enough that my pinkie fingers don't just dangle at the ends. I wish they made a controller the size of the Duke for the 360, that thing is the perfect size for my hands.

I also have huge hands and prefer a smaller controller. Too much surface area contact and things just get sweaty.

That said, the best controller depends on the game being playing, but if I had to choose just one, I'd go with the dualshock. I don't have any problems with the sticks or the triggers. Xbox controllers are alright, but that dpad! And yes, the dpad is still important for many games that aren't first/third person shooters.

@damisterchief: Hail to the king baby! In all seriousness I really like the 360 controller a lot. I never could get used to the Dual Shock controller and the stick placement, but if Sony flipped the d-pad and left stick it probably would be my favorite because its size fits my hands the best.

@damisterchief: Dat d-pad.

Depends on what I'm playing. If it's a shooter or an action game in which you play a character with some weight to their movement, 360 (the sturdiness of the analog sticks make for motion that feels a bit more solid and heavy). If it's a JRPG or an action game that requires speed (DmC, fighting games) the Dualshock is the way to go for me.

360.

I really like the PS2's but for some reason I don't really like the PS3's, and I've never quite been able to figure out why. They're essentially the same controller.

I'd say the 360 controller because of it's comfortableness and it works well for pretty much every game. Downside of course is they break easily.

Gamecube would be my runner up.

Yeah the 360 controller is pretty great, shame about that d-pad. Also I find with the 360 controller, the triggers tend to depress a little into the controller's shell, so you'll be able to feel a sharp ridge when you press them down the full way. That and the d-pad keep it from being a perfect controller.

Regarding the GCN controller, I really like the way the triggers click right at the bottom, acting as an extra button, games like Super Mario Sunshine did cool stuff with that. I also really like having an octagonal surround around the analog stick and c-stick, as well as the great button arrangement. Unfortunately the d-pad on that thing is a little too small and the buttons tend not to give as much feedback as I'd like.

So yeah, probably a tie between the GCN and 360 controllers here.

For me it would be the Dual Shock 3, though switch it's analog sticks(shape not position) and triggers with the 360's and it would be incredible.

Pffffft. Gamepads. The lesser controller.

...

(Although, yeah, that 360 shit is pretty sweet).

It's because you like the 360 best now. There wasn't that comparison to make during the PS2 days.

I have to go with the 360 controller simply due to its versatility.

The lack of votes for the Intellivision Keypad is... disturbing.

You could put plastic stuff on it and it would look all different! Shit's nuts, yo!

Which would be a perfectly adequate explanation if I wasn't currently playing Nocturne.

The 360 controller is easily the best design, though that D-pad definitely needs work. I do really miss the glory days of joysticks. I think my ideal controller setup would just be two joysticks, one for each hand (phrasing!), mounted to an overstuffed recliner. Now that'd be amazing.

"Limited Edition" 360 controller is best. Perfect size, the thumb sticks have great tension (the weak tensioning of the DualShock 3 kills that controller for me), everything feels like it is in the right place. Even the face buttons just feel right on the 360 pad. I also like the weight, I like feeling like I can break a jaw with my controller.

Other than that, the Madcatz GameCube controller was really, really dope.

360 controller easily.

360 and SNES

It's a hard choice between DS2 and DS3.

Super Famicom. Not the Super NES though. There's something about the buttons on the Super Famicom that make them feel 10x better than the SNES pink and purple ones.

Aww shit... if we can include arcade button layouts, then there is no contest:

@damisterchief said:

for always

Dual Shock, all versions; even having acclimated to the poorer controllers given by Microsoft and Nintendo it's still not really close.

The 360 controller is the best.

Although, if we're talking functionality then I'd probably have to go with the 360 controllers. Makes me worried that they might fuck it up with the new console.

The dualshock controllers easily. Sony has never had to change it, because it works.

The Steel Battalion controller, its so awesome.

Best D-pad ever created, optimal button layout(6 face buttons should be standard), and great feel in the hands.

Mine would be the dual shock 3.

dual shock 3.

Specifically: The translucent blue Dualshock 3. Something about that controller just feels... right.

The Xbox 360 controller with the twisty D-Pad is in my opinion the best controller for the modern era, I think Microsoft would be crazy to try and change the design for next generation.

Probably the SNES controller. My favorite is the Dualshock though since it hasn't really changed since Sony introduced it.

I think it has to be the dualshock right?

@pr1mus said:

This.

Either the PS1, PS2, or PS3 controller is the best.

PSP is also really good. The Vita's buttons feel like a downgrade from it.

I like the Razer Onza (non tournament) 360 controller. A better Dpad than the most, short throw buttons, sticks feel good and you can program the stick presses onto the extra shoulder buttons.

360 d-pad issue has been fixed in the new ones. The twist up design works well and hopefully will be present on all pads for the next gen console.

Prior to that fix, it has been a toss-up between the dualshock and the 360 pad. 360 for anything that needs a good analog trigger feel (racing) and dualshock if d-pad is important. They're both crappy for 2D fighting, but that's why the arcade stick is still a profitable peripheral for Mad Catz, Hori et al.

Vita has the best d-pad of all time.

Otherwise the 360 pad.

Nobody should be saying the PS3 pad when it has those horrible triggers. Dualshock 2 sure, although I still think the Dualshock design is flawed by not having concave analog sticks, otherwise it's fine, the face buttons are much nicer than the competition and I prefer L1/R1 over bumpers.

I may just be crazy but I really liked the Dreamcast controller. When I first took it out of the box and looked at it next to the Playstation controller I was so used to I thought it would be garbage but the weight feel of it was just right for me and the VMU screen was way ahead of its time so Ill give it props for that. With the dualshock my hands would cramp a lot. I do like my 360 controller but something about the dreamcast sticks with me as my favorite. Apparently I'm wayyy in the minority though

The Dualshock d-pad is fine for 2D fighting, the only problem is it hurts your thumb after a while. (Vita one is much better at this) I switch between my Vita and arcade stick often for Marvel vs. Capcom 3, the main reason arcade sticks are better is because having 6 face buttons is better than 4 + trigger area buttons, the stick itself isn't really what makes me enjoy an arcade stick more, it's being able to hold 2-3 buttons down at the same time with ease, that's just awkward on the Dualshock or Vita.