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[nani17]

NES

Sega Mega Master System

Sega Mega Drive/Genesis

SNES

N64

PS1

Sega Saturn

Xbox "Duke "Controller

Sega Dreamcast

Nintendo Gamecube

PS2

It's a hard choice for me I mean the ps2 Dualshock is pretty much the standard for PlayStation I know there was one on the PS1 but I'm going with the SNES. I always loved that controller very light and it has a great layout.

 

[intbal]

 

[TheDreadLord]

In my opinion, the Saturn controller is the most versatile and comfortable for the pre-Dreamcast era.

 

[Banjo64]

Whilst I appreciate what the SNES and N64 pads bought to the table, the GameCube pad is just the comfiest pad hands down.

 

[SpiceRacz]

In my opinion, the Saturn controller is the most versatile and comfortable for the pre-Dreamcast era.

 

[Topher]

1. PS2
2. Gamecube
3. Sega Genesis

 

[TheGodfather07]

the gamecube controller is the most comfortable but overall i would say the PS2 controller. the layout is pretty much the exact same on controllers today.

 

[Fess]

Retro for me is about joysticks since I played on Commodore computers long before I started playing on consoles.

TAC-2 is my fav

 

[8BiTw0LF]

#1: SNES
#2: SMD/G (6-button version)
#3: PSX

 

[Topher]

Retro for me is about joysticks since I played on Commodore computers long before I started playing on consoles.

TAC-2 is my fav

This was my very first game controller for the ill-fated IBM PCjr.

And yes, it was just as horrible as it looks.

 

[nani17]

Added the duke

In my opinion, the Saturn controller is the most versatile and comfortable for the pre-Dreamcast era.

Added Saturn

Retro for me is about joysticks since I played on Commodore computers long before I started playing on consoles.

TAC-2 is my fav

Grew up on C64 myself

 

[fart town usa]

SNES, Saturn, PS2 are my favorites.

I went with PS2.


Least favorite are GCN & Dreamcast.

 

[SegaShack]

Sega Saturn for me.

 

[cireza]

Sega Saturn is the best controller for anything 2D.

 

[kingpotato]

I like the Saturn pad for controllers without a thumb stick. This still holds up as a great controller for games that don't need thumb sticks.

For ones with thumb sticks, I would pick the PS2 from this list, but every current controller is better than it (Switch pro, Xbox series and dual sense).

 

[EverydayBeast]

N64 for me the single joystick button combo is intimidating to people, to me it’s a beautiful design I remember things like Ganon, transitioning to different weapons for link, Mario party mini games etc.

 

[The Stig]

Gotta be PS2.

If anyone says GC or N64 they're delusional fanboys. They are both utterly awful.

 

[TLZ]

The Famicom controller is better than the NES controller because of the rounded edges.

 

[Imru’ al-Qays]

Saturn for 2D, PS2 for 3D

 

[The Lunch Legend]

It's still crazy to me that the Dreamcast controller was designed with only one analog stick.
What did Sega mean by this?

 

[nani17]

It's still crazy to me that the Dreamcast controller was designed with only one analog stick.
What did Sega mean by this?

Not even sega knows that answer

 

[ReBurn]

In my opinion, the Saturn controller is the most versatile and comfortable for the pre-Dreamcast era.

The 6-button pad from the Sega 16-bit console was aces

 

[Spukc]

snes duh

 

[SpongebobSquaredance]

Gotta be PS2.

If anyone says GC or N64 they're delusional fanboys. They are both utterly awful.

I love the PS2, but that controller has some incredible mushy buttons, the triggers are ehh, the sticks get worn out easily, and in terms of form factor the GC controller and the Xbox S controller are easily better.

 

[SpongebobSquaredance]

Sega Saturn for anything 2D and fighting games.

This one for 3D games:

And the Gamecube controller for games that don't need the dpad and right stick very much, like Monkey Ball for example.

 

[BlackTron]

Gotta be PS2.

If anyone says GC or N64 they're delusional fanboys. They are both utterly awful.

I hated PS controller so much it kept me from playing Playstation games. I even bought a PS2 anyway and tried to ignore it. Nope. Couldn't do it, just felt like forcing myself to eat dogshit. I was furious they STILL didn't change it for PS3.

Gamecube controller however was heaven.

Call me a delusional fanboy if you want but I even try to buy and play the damn system anyway. Sorry some people will just have a different opinion than you and it doesn't mean it has to be bullshit.

For example, the idea of choosing PS2 over GC to me is silly, but I assume the reason you do so is because they feel and play different in your hands than mine. Not that you're necessarily delusional.

 

[RoboFu]

your PS5 and XSX controllers are basically evolutions of the SNES controller. Its an easy choice.

 

[IFireflyl]

N64 for me the single joystick button combo is intimidating to people, to me it’s a beautiful design I remember things like Ganon, transitioning to different weapons for link, Mario party mini games etc.

I hit you with a Triggered emoji, but not because I think you're triggered. It's because you triggered me.

 

[DGrayson]

These threads should always be split between dpad only and analog controllers.

 

[El Muerto]

Sega Saturn. It was much more comfortable to hold than any nintendo controller, and not as beefy as the sega genesis 3 button, but better than the 6 button.

 

[sainraja]

8bitdo needs to work on a PS2 styled controller now!

 

[RoadHazard]

Maybe not the best in terms of functionality and versatility, but nothing beats the comfort of the GameCube controller. That thing is ridiculously ergonomic, it just melts into your hands.

 

[Dream-Knife]

N64 is my favorite in terms of impact and analog quality. GameCube is the most comfortable on the list, but I'd have to give it to the Duke. I'd rather have 6 face buttons than 4 and 4 shoulder buttons. L1/LB and R1/RB as well as the GameCube z button are terrible ergonomically. Playstation has always done those better though as your index finger naturally rests between the two.

 

[Azelover]

I like the Saturn controller.

Particularly the NiGHTS controller, it was really really comfortable.

 

[SpongebobSquaredance]

some people forget that originally we got this turd as the Saturn controller:

this is the good one:

 

[a multicultural team of v]

Probably Super Nintendo followed closely by the original PSX controller... maybe even tied to be honest. I haven't had a chance to play with the Saturn controller much yet so I can't really comment on it... though I'm curious, when people say Saturn do they mean the Japanese/US Model 2 controller, or the US Model 1 controller?

some people forget that originally we got this turd as the Saturn controller:

this is the good one:

Okay maybe that answers my question lol

 

[Daytonabot]

The Saturn and the Neo Geo CD pads are the best for any 2D game, which is why I keep USB versions of both around to this day. The only other one even worth mentioning is the Genesis six-button, but the Saturn one is superior, which makes it redundant.

 

[nush]

Not even sega knows that answer

They do, it was a way to simplify game controllers to bring in a wider audience. This was covered in an interview with Sega around the pre-launch of the Dreamcast. Obviously, they were very wrong.

 

[ReBurn]

Sega Saturn for anything 2D and fighting games.

This one for 3D games:

And the Gamecube controller for games that don't need the dpad and right stick very much, like Monkey Ball for example.

Controller S was so good. It was heavy enough and not bulky. I played a million hours of JSRF on one.

 

[teezzy]

1. Duke
2. PS2
3. SNES

 

[Naked Lunch]

Saturn by miles.
Why companies are afraid of having 6 face buttons is beyond me.

The PS2 Dual Shock 2's pressurized buttons were garbage then and didnt stand the test of time now. Good luck finding one that isnt a creeky mess. I have my PS2 back up and running and there are surprising few options to replace that piece of shit controller.

 

[ksdixon]

What were the main differences between sega megadrive 6 button and the Saturn controller again? I recall the md 6btn being more comfy?

 

[teezzy]

the Duke is so iconic that everyone overlooks the S-type revision

now THAT'S a controller

8====D

 

[Captain Toad]

Gotta be PS2.

If anyone says GC or N64 they're delusional fanboys. They are both utterly awful.

N64 definitely didn't hold up, but the GameCube controller is amazing. Nintendo should have kept going and refining that design.

 

[SeraphJan]

Practicality - GameCube or PS2

Nostalgia - NES

 

[Naked Lunch]

What were the main differences between sega megadrive 6 button and the Saturn controller again? I recall the md 6btn being more comfy?

This Saturn controller sucks:

This is the one you want:

 

[ksdixon]

This Saturn controller sucks:

This is the one you want:

Euw! Now I remember!

Edit: "Now" I understand the disconnect when I could never understand why Saturn pad had so much praise.

 

[daveonezero]

The GameCube could have been perfect if the c stick was better and they had a Z2.

Still my favorite. I still don’t understand why Nintendo got rig if analog triggers and a click.

N64 definitely didn't hold up, but the GameCube controller is amazing. Nintendo should have kept going and refining that design.

They should have just took those designs and put it into the wiimote and and pro controllers.

 

[SpongebobSquaredance]

The PS2 Dual Shock 2's pressurized buttons were garbage then and didnt stand the test of time now. Good luck finding one that isnt a creeky mess. I have my PS2 back up and running and there are surprising few options to replace that piece of shit controller.

exactly. not to mention the drift. I have 8 DS2 laying around. 1 is completely broken, 4 have worn out sticks with drift, all of them except 2 have mushy buttons. I usually use this controller when I'm playing PS2

the dpad is kinda shit honestly, but everything else is much better. the sticks and and buttons feel much more responsive. oh, and it's wireless.

 

[SpongebobSquaredance]

but the GameCube controller is amazing. Nintendo should have kept going and refining that design.

the gamecube controller has flaws. way too small dpad, not enough buttons, the c stick. but ergonomically its amazing. also one of the best triggers and the left analog stick is great. Monkey Ball plays best on the Cube because of it.