Support NeoGAF

[SolVanderlyn]

Best, worst, most aesthetically pleasing? No third party stuff.

Overall best would be:

Dualshock

Simple, effective design that's been tried and true since the days of the SNES/Super Famicom. Everything that's there needs to be there. It's functional, it's easy on the eyes, it's comfortable... it's the best of all worlds.

Worst:

Nintendo 64

This is an eldritch abomination of a controller. It's awkward to hold and use, the analog stick gets worn out easily, the d-pad is weirdly positioned and barely got used for any games, and it's ugly. A huge step back from the system before it and everything since has been a step forward. The C-buttons were a cool idea, however.

Most aesthetically pleasing:

XBox One

The XBO controller is beautiful. I say this as a man who never plans to own this system and has never been an advocate for Microsoft's systems in general. I love the different colors for the buttons and the sleek it has going for it. It only loses out to the Dualshock 4 because it lacks a touchpad, but I still prefer it on a purely aesthetic level.

Honorable mention for both best and most aesthetically pleasing:

Wiimote + Nunchuck

It dared to be different. It sacrificed many buttons for motion controls. Say what you will about the Wii, but last gen it really did a lot to set itself apart from its competitors and create its own experience. And the key component in that was this. It has an elegant simplicity to it, and has a very "clean" design. I love its translucent A button. It also felt really nice to hold.

 

[Bishop89]

white ds4 is perfection

 

[Sephiroth_GR_]

Don't know why but i really liked Dreamcast Controller even thought i never owned one

 

[Stranya]

I prefer asymmetric analogue sticks, so the Xbox 360 and One controller win overall for me. Having said that, the jump in quality from the DS3 to DS4 is crazy, and very welcome, given that I use my PS4 for multi-plat games this gen.

 

[Joeys_Rattata]

Never used it or even seen it in real life, but

Atari Jaguar. That can't be comfortable to use, can it? Has to be one of the worst.

 

[impact]

Wii U gamepad, Wii U pro, DS4 and Xbone are all great controllers. We live in good times.

 

[The Tofunator]

The DS4 is definitely my favorite of all the controllers I have used, but I really don't like its inclusion of glossy plastic on the d-pad and button areas. Without those, it would have been perfect.

 

[rpowelll]

Best: A tie between GameCube controller and DS4.
Worst: early 2000s PC gamepads
Most Aesthetically Pleasing: White DualShock 4 (though I just bought one so I'm probably biased)

The GC controller's face button layout is great, and the octagonal surrounds on its control stick / c-stick are fantastic for certain games, but that tiny d-pad, the crummy c-stick, and a few other quirks hold it back from being perfect.

 

[kamakazi5]

Don't know why but i really liked Dreamcast Controller even thought i never owned one

Love the controller but man I wish they had put on a second stick.

My personal favorite for comfort is the Gamecube while overall favorite is the dual shock. For me the dual shock is just the perfect design.

 

[Martylepiaf]

I want a controller with the Gamecube's analog stick and the Vita's dpad

 

[Mineshaft_Gap]

N64 is far from the worst. It's the controller that helped revolutionize FPS on console.

 

[MetroidPrimeRib]

Best: 360
Worst: Jaguar
Most Aesthetically Pleasing: Xbox One is pretty nice. That or Saturn (no not the 3D)

 

[Bobby Roberts]

The N64 wasn't anywhere near the worst. That would be the Atari 5200.

N64 was great for fighting games, I thought. It's just there weren't any fighting games on it, really. At least none you wanted to play over stuff like Perfect Dark or Majora's Mask.

The Gamecube controller was fucking great, as well. The 360 controller is right up there too, and would probably be the best controller ever made if the Dpad wasn't such a turd.

Then again, there's this.

 

[rpowelll]

Actually can I change my vote for most aesthetically pleasing to the GameCube Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Controller?

 

[entremet]

n64 had an awesome controller. Analog sticks were pretty great at the time. It was then copied by others, so I disagree there.

Those old Atari controllers with the knobs sucked bad.

 

[Sendou]

The best controller. Why? It just does so many things while being a solid performer all around. That's what makes it better than traditional controllers. Something like Wind Waker HD demonstrates the difference perfectly. Touchscreen makes all the difference in the world.

Best traditional controller would probably be Wii U Pro Controller. It's just comfortable to use. Although I haven't used DS4 for long and XB1 controller at all. I don't really look at controllers and go "oh this is a good looking controller". That's not me.

 

[User 479360]

The DualShock 4 is probably the nicest controller I've ever used, while the N64 one was the most awkward.

I also really like the 360's. The One's is pretty good, too.

 

[Koobion]

Best: DS4
Sexiest: Original Saturn control

I can't pick a worst, because the one I think is worst holds too much nostalgia. And I still use it and I don't want it killing me.

 

[Crimsonclaw111]

Best: Wii U Pro Controller

Almost perfect, besides the lack of analog triggers. Absolutely amazing battery life.
Worst: Apple Bandai Pippin controller

Just look at this shit.
Most Aesthetically Pleasing: White Xbone Controller

Pure bliss.

 

[Ceallach]

Wii U pro controller is perfection to me. Feels great and battery lasts forever.

Worst is the Xbox fatty IMO. Uncomfortable as fuck. Sega 3D dinnerplate controller is up there too

 

[MrCunningham]

Don't know why but i really liked Dreamcast Controller even thought i never owned one

The Dreamcast pad is OK, but I always liked the Sega Saturn 3D Nights pad more. It lacks the two VMU card slots, but it has a nice 6 button layout and that Saturn styled D-pad.


Worst?

That spongy d-pad still gives me night terrors. (Gravis was like the first party of PC controllers for their time)

 

[The Dennis System]

I think the 360 controller is still the best.

 

[Mohasus]

I liked the N64 controller (and pretty much every controller that came after it). Z button was genious.
I don't have a favorite and can change between them without a problem. Yes, I even like DS3 and its triggers.

I just didn't like the SNES one, it was flat (uncomfortable) and X and Y gave me blisters.

 

[Dee Dah Dave]

Commodore master race control system. It's all been downhill since then

 

[User 479360]

Is the standalone Glacier White DS4 limited edition, too?

 

[xDUMPWEEDx]

Never used it or even seen it in real life, but



Atari Jaguar. That can't be comfortable to use, can it? Has to be one of the worst.

The Jaguar controller wasn't that uncomfortable actually. It had a horrible D Pad though. It was very shallow and practically didn't even work.

 

[strobogo]

N64 and Gamecube are the worst for emulation. They also were weird for their actual consoles, with it seeming like almost no games used the d-pad or C buttons for anything useful. All they had to do was put analog sticks on the SNES controller and it would have been perfect.

I never liked the Genesis controller. Not even the 6 button version. The SNES layout is still the king and almost everything had been modeled after it for a reason.

 

[SegaShack]

Best 2D is Saturn, best 3D is Xbox 360 or XB1.

 

[televator]

Where's that controller that looks like it was designed by Homer Simpson? I'd say that's the worst. The worst high profile controller is definitely the N64 controller.

This is the only flawless controller I know.

It's too bad its more well suited for 2D games.

Sega was well on the way toward the most perfect all around 2D/3D combo controller. This controller, while pretty good, still lacked dual analogue sticks, had not so good triggers, and was not quite ergonomic. Then they only made things worse with the Dreamcast controller.

 

[overcast]

Is the standalone Glacier White DS4 limited edition, too?

Controller? Naw you can pick it up. Hell, the white PS4 isn't limited.

 

[tiggerkiddo]

6 button Genesis controller is the best. It's comfy to hold and feels natural to hold too.

Original Xbox controller is way too unwieldy for it's own good.

 

[rpowelll]

The best controller. Why? It just does so many things while being a solid performer all around. That's what makes it better than traditional controllers. Something like Wind Waker HD demonstrates the difference perfectly. Touchscreen makes all the difference in the world.

Best traditional controller would probably be Wii U Pro Controller. It's just comfortable to use. Although I haven't used DS4 for long and XB1 controller at all. I don't really look at controllers and go "oh this is a good looking controller". That's not me.

Man I want to like the Wii U Gamepad more than I do. My biggest issue is with that glossy front surface which always feels gross and greasy after like fifteen minutes of use. Also I'm not a fan of the d-pad; it'll often rock up or down when I'm trying to go left or right, resulting in me going diagonal.

 

[Kssio_Aug]

Overall best controller: A trully hard fight between Dualshock 4 and Xbox One controller. But I will take Dualshock 4, because it fits very well on my hands and I find it easier to press L1/R1 and have a pretty good d-pad, its only problem is the battery. The Xbox One however is also pretty damn good, fits damn nice on my hands, its triggers are amazing, but I find the LB/RB a little bit harder to press and its d-pad besides decent is no as good as the DS4's. Both amazing controllers though.

Worst controller: Gamecube's controller. I remember when I used that once and what a damn horrible thing, imo.

The best aesthetically: Xbox One's controller.

 

[Crisium]

The Dreamcast controller is a horrid design. I don't get some of you. Now, aesthetically, it is nice and the VMU idea was fun. But it is backwards design, not fit for 1998 let alone the 21st century.

In April, 1997, Sony released the Dual Analog Controller. This has been the standard ever since. In November, 1998, Sega dared to release the Dreamcast controller. Let's compare.

Sony 1997: Dual Analog, 16 buttons

Sega 1998: 1 Analog, 11 Buttons

Sega's own 1996 design, the Saturn 3D controller, was better. The only fault of that controller was that you couldn't use both Analog and d-pad at the same time. But if they had simply used that controller for the DC, made both Analog and D-Pad usable, it would have been a 13 button controller. Better suited for games of the 6th generation.

I understand Sega has an arcade history, but to be so backwards as to not predict the complexity of the 6th gen - to be so backwards as to actually regress from their previous gen controller?

Can you imagine trying to play Splinter Cell on the DC? Halo 2? Impossible without adding menus to menus. It would be cumbersome, slow, and awkward.

Sega was so forward thinking with a lot of things, but they were ass backwards with the DC controller.

Undoubtedly the worst controller since the Atari Jaguar.

Anyway, the Saturn controller has the best d-pad I have ever experienced, so it's the finest controller. Give the 360/Xbone controller 6 face buttons and the Saturn D-Pad, and it'd be my dream controller.

 

[plainr_]

The DS4 is probably the best controller out now but I still wish Sony went with the break apart design instead.

 

[entremet]

The Dreamcast pad is OK, but I always liked the Sega Saturn 3D Nights pad more. It lacks the two VMU card slots, but it has a nice 6 button layout and that Saturn styled D-pad.


Worst?

That spongy d-pad still gives me night terrors. (Gravis was like the first party of PC controllers for their time)

Gravis pad brings back memories. That and emulators were good times.

 

[pfkas]

Is the X1 pad usable on a PC now? If so, I might be tempted to try one.

 

[MrCunningham]

Sony 1997: Dual Analog, 16 buttons

Sega 1998: 1 Analog, 11 Buttons


Can you imagine trying to play Splinter Cell on the DC? Halo 2? Impossible without adding menus to menus. It would be cumbersome, slow, and awkward.

Sega was so forward thinking with a lot of things, but they were ass backwards with the DC controller.

The DC wasn't a bad controller for FPS's, it actually worked quite well with A, B , X , Y for movement/ strafing and analogue stick for mouse look. The d-pad could add some extra functionality for weapons/ items. But I agree overall that the DC pad lacked buttons. That was one of its biggest downfalls. Even two extra additional buttons would have been nice.

But there was this as an optional control method:

Unreal Tournament, Quake III and a few others supported this controller set up. There were also some pretty cool home brew ports like Quake 1 and Rise of the Triad that supported both as well.

Gravis pad brings back memories. That and emulators were good times.

The PlayStation styled Gravis pad was a lot better (though it didn't have analogue sticks). But it still had their patented terrible d-pad. I still have like 2 or 3 of them with serial ports.

 

[Vhagar]

It only loses out to the Dualshock 4 because it lacks a touchpad, but I still prefer it on a purely aesthetic level.

I still haven't played a single game where the touchpad was used in any meaningful way aside from pressing it is, which is essentially the same as the back button on the xbox controller.

I'd say the two thing holding back the DS4 from being the best is the questionable build quality and battery life.

 

[MichaelFassbender]

Dreamcast controller feels right in one's hands. Like a glove. Probably the best of all time.

 

[Special C]

This generation really nailed the controllers. Both feel great and it just comes down to preference. The PS4 has the touchpad but the XBox One version has a much longer battery life.

 

[RespectThySole]

The XB1 controller is both the best and most aesthetically pleasing controller as well. I'd say the N64 controller is probably the worst if had to choose.

 

[bobawesome]

I'll apparently catch a lot of flack for it but one of my least favorite controllers was the Gamecube controller.

 

[onQ123]

I think the DS4 & Wii U Pad are the best but haven't been used to their full potential yet.


When console games start to take advantage of the IMU's & touch controls like the smartphone/tablet games we should see some really good games.

 

[Crimsonclaw111]

Is the X1 pad usable on a PC now? If so, I might be tempted to try one.

It is, but only through a usb cable right now.

 

[SolidChamp]

white ds4 is perfection

Agreed. The build quality of it also feels like a step up from the launch batch.

 

[B-Dubs]

The XB1 controller is too small for my hands or something. I was trying out Destiny at a friend's house the other day and my pinkies fell asleep after like 45 minutes. I don't have that problem with the dual shock or either of the WiiU controllers.

 

[Cucurbitacée]

Best overall:

Sure it lacks analog controls, but it still feels the best in my hands and it's the one I've had most fun playing game with.

Best looking:

Probably the most specific controller ever, I only saw it in real life once, but it really made an impression.

Worst:

It was one of the most common one in Europe in the late 80's - early 90's for home computers. And I couldn't play for more than 20 minutes before getting unbearable pain in my left wrist. Most of other people where fine, though...

 

[bounchfx]

Overall best: 360, hands down for me.

Ps4 is a close second, they did a great job but I don't really like both analog sticks lower.

somehow microsoft managed to ruin the xbone controller. not sure why they felt the need to change it.

 

[jem0208]

X1 is my favourite.

It was the 360 controller however with the X1 they fixed everything that was wrong and then made it better. It's more comfortable, has a usable DPAD, brilliant triggers and the sticks are amazing. Aesthetically it's gorgeous as well. I also have never had an issue with the bumpers, they work fine for me.