The best of : Controllers for dreamcast

Well, the standard DC controller is perfect for 3D fighters or anything else for that matter apart from 2D fighting games. For 2D fighting games I'd go with either the ASCII FT pad or the official Sega Arcade stick other wise known as the green goblin.

Yakumo

 

I have loads of controllers for the old DC, not that that gives my opinions only gravitas what so ever, anyway for what its worth-

Clearly if I was only allowed one controller for the DC to play ALL my games on it is the sega standard pad. Not a bad one by any means, but everything could have been so much better. Poor triggers by modern standards, sloppy d-pad, sloppy analogue, and spongy buttons but nothing was actually wrong per se. Obviously the vmu feature is just simply excellent.

As for extra pads,

Sega Arcade Stick - I have had nothing but issues with these, first one I ever got was far to stiff and all my others have either been so loose that they spring off switches to hit the other direction or so stiff it is hard to make accurate movements. Still the quality of everyting else is great, good buttons, solid base. The only poor design is placing the start button where you can tap it by accident... (not my fav controller - very cheap though)

Ascii - fighter pads made for capcom vs snk. Now you are talking, far better than the ones made by sammy for the ps2 in the same style. Great responsive buttons and accurate d-pad. While I would always choose an arcade stick over a pad, this is simply excellent. I use this pad for shooters and any other game that does not need an analogue stick (puzzles, etc.).

For fighters - the superb ascii capcom/snk limited FT special acrade stick (also for street fighter zero 3 - methinks). Excellent arcade stick, built in the same style as the sammy sticks for the ps2. Good solid base, responsive but heavy stick and large dull buttons. The best thing for GG KoF and any other fighter you care to mention. This is the stick (capcom version) that I get the most use out of, whenever I can use this stick I do. Obviously adv games etc don't qualify.

So for accuracy and features - I vote for the ascii pad or stick. I play more of the kind of games that need this kind of controller on the DC, so it is the obvious choice for me.

I would avoid the DC official arcade sticks (I have tinkered with a few - to make them ok-ish) just go for the slightly rarer and more expensive ascii sticks - it will save you the bother.

(as for best looking - Ddirect leopard skin pad!)

 

Would I be right in saying this the ASCII Pad



and this is the SNK version of the ASCII Stick FT Special



you mentioned?

 

Yakumo: How is the DC controller perfect for 3d Fighters but not 2d? I think it's crap for both. Most 3D fighters, if not all, have their origins in the arcades, thus, making an arcade-like controller most suitable. Ever played VF3 on the DC? It's just not possible to do properly if you're an avid player in the arcades.

 

My only problem with the official DC pad is that my thumb slips off the mushroom; I have to reposition it constantly when playing say, Sonic. Other than that, it's the best DC pad I've used.

When I'm playing any of the shmups, Soul Calibur or the PowerStones I've found the DC official Arcade stick to be quality. I never had any problems with it at all. But when the stick started to loosen up, I swapped it and the buttons out for Sanwas. So that no longer counts then? Pity I hadn't heared about the Ascii sticks at that time.

That Ascii pad certainly looks very nice. I swear there's a proto mock-up that looks very similar.

 

Fishing Rod controller has to be without a doubt, the greatest controller in the history of gaming.

 

Am I the only one here that actually loves the stock controller?

 

Because most 3D fighters don't need 6 buttons plus they don't need as complicated moves from the D-Pad. PLaying Dead Or Alive 2 on the Dreamcast controller is far better than using a stick thanks to the analogue pad being used for walking with the D-Pad used for closer combat. Same goes for Sould Calibur as far as I remember. 2D fighters almost always use 6 face buttons (well apart from SNK titles) which instantly makes the standard DC pad crap. THe actual D-Pad feels nice but I can't stand using the analoge L & R buttons on it for fighting games.

Yakumo

 

You play fighting games (any) w/ the analogue stick? There are some geeks at Shoryuken who have ancestor's turning in their graves. DOA2 is a Naomi port. I guess I'm just of the school that nothing is ever better than the original. That means stick in just about every case. Then again, I spent a lot of time in arcades.

I think DOA is poor at best, so don't play them, but even for a 3 or 4-button fighting game (VF3) the DC controller would be terrible. The moves are hard as balls to pull off -- imagine having to press three buttons at once! Then again, I knew people that played VF4 on about the only thing worse than the DC controller -- a PS2 dual shock. I would meet up w/ people visiting Japan and they'd struggle in the arcades b/c they were used to that piece of shit.

 

Agree with you GaijinPunch - DOA was meant for an arcade stick, same with power stone, cosmic smash etc. Also for DOA to pull off the best throws and combos with perfect timing you really need an arcade stick. When I'm playing wsith say - hayabusa almost every throw I do involves a half circle movement on the stick. That would quickly hurt your thumb, especially on the DC d-pad.

 

The k1llr m0d5 DC controller!!11 This thing looks like it's in pain...it did just get violated with an LED, after all.


loloolollo But seriously, I'd say the worst ever Dreamcast controller was the damn AstroPad.

A ton of people I knew had these for DC, probably because they were cheap as hell. They have asstastic analog and shaky buttons. Last time I had to use one of these jokers, the analog seemed as if it was a digital pad with a joystick on top of it......it gave me no diagonal movement....doh. Sonic suffered many deaths from this beast. The Astropad gets my vote for worst Dreamcast controller. I'm sure theres even worse though...

 

The problem is, the stick is really bad. Lots of miscommands - hence you hear about people ripping it out and putting in a Sanwa or Seimitsu. Still better than anything else out of the box though.

 

For the DC? For that time? I would have to say the ASCII/Agetec. It's the only one (that I know of) w/ the proper Japanese button layout.

If you're talking about now, by far would be the PS2 Real Arcade Pro plus a PS to DC adaptor. Pricey solution too.

 

Blasphemer! OH:

Slightly outside the scope of this document, but the AstroPad had one redeeming feature - a nice large PCB, with lots of solder points for making an arcade stick. :icon_bigg The stock controller's board was too cramped for this sort of work.

While I agree that even the 3D fighters are best served with a generous helping of arcade stick, there is ONE fighting game that is reasonably playable on the stock controller, and that's Marvel Vs. Capcom 2. Having only 4 attack buttons as opposed to Capcom's usual six is a step in the right direction, and the triggers are great for calling in the assists. Maybe the game is a little more generious on its directional commands, but both the d-pad and the analog stick feel nowhere near as abysmal as they do when trying to play Guilty Gear, DOA, or any other fighters on the system!