You're Favorite Controller (3rd Party Or Otherwise)

Your Favorite Controller (3rd Party Or Otherwise)

Never really saw a thread discussing this, but what is your favorite controller? Whether for function or comfort, official or 3rd party, any system.

Mine has to be the SN Pro Pad for the SNES.



I have owned it since I bought it brand new back in the day, and have used it extensively without any problems. Buttons are clicky and responsive (& Colored!), it feels slightly bigger and more comfortable than the official controllers, has a cool see-through look & sports turbo buttons for all but select. Very solid controller, wish I had another.

Dreamcast and the Duke come a close second/third, though. I go for comfort.

Nice catch, not fond of my Android keyboards auto correct at times =P

 

Dual Shock 3 for the overall feel. Runner up is the Gamecube controller.

 

*Your

I'd have to list at least two.

For analog gamepads, I'd have to go with the Wavebird. The GC controller already had one of the best analog sticks ever in my opinion, and they didn't change that for the Wavebird. Besides that, it was the first first-party controller to use RF for wireless control. It's pretty light and feels very nice in your hands. The shape is a little strange, but you get used to it. Whenever you're playing multiplayer Gamecube games with a group of people and one person has a Wavebird, everyone else is secretly jealous - with good reason.

For digital gamepads, I would choose the original Japanese Saturn gamepad (or the later American one, which was essentially the same but in a different color). It has arguably the best d-pad ever (easily beats anything Nintendo ever created), it has lots of buttons, and it's a nice size and shape. The grey one looks really cool, I think

 

I think, overall, my favorite controller of all time is actually the original US Saturn controller. I know a lot of people hate it compared to the JP controller, but I really like it.

However, I also love the 3D Controller and the Bomberman controller for the Saturn. In fact, I use different controllers for different games, i.e.:
Radiant Silvergun - Bomberman controller
Batsugun - US 1st gen controller
Blast Wind - 3D controller
Taromaru - US 1st gen controller

Though the Japanese Saturn controller is the king for 2D fighting games.

 

Yeah, I'm not a fan of that controller. I'll admit that it has kind of a cool design, but the d-pad is so clunky and oddly shaped, and the controller itself is a weird, blocky, uncomfortable shape. It feels it was designed for robots rather than humans.

 

I dunno, I just love that curve shape. And I like the face buttons. And have never had issues with the d-pad (though I don't use it for 2D fighters, so chances are I wouldn't notice any issues it has).

 

I agree that the Saturn 3D controller is pretty cool. It's great for the superscalar arcade ports like Space Harrier and After Burner II, and it works really well for racing games too.

For anything that requires rapid, precise digital control - like fighters, scrolling shmups, platformers, etc. - the original Japanese Saturn pad is the best.

 

Well said, I can't believe I didn't mention the Wavebird. It is definitely the best GC controller, and the best wireless controller I have ever used. Battery life is phenomenal, & yes, I know that is most likely because of no rumble, but it still last's longer than I expected it to.

 

I'm a big fan of the SN Pro Pad and it's Genesis equivalent, bought a few of them way back when Super Game Boy first came out.
As for my favorite, it would have to be a tie between SNES and XBOX's Controller S.

 

XBOX 360 controller with transformable d-pad.

Wavebird would be second, it was a very well constructed controller

 

Saturn, 360 and the DS4 is already up there for me as the only good Sony controller (although it still has that goddamn split D-pad). The DC one never felt that good to me.

 

I'm surprised people prefer the Saturn d-pad to the SNES one, I like the Saturn one but I find the SNES one slightly easier to pull off some special moves on games like Street Fighter. A round d-pad just isn't ideal for cross-pad movements (ie going from left to right or down to up.)

I can say with some certainly that my least favourite is probably the original Mega Drive controller, I never could do a fireball on Street Fighter with it!

 

Sega's Mega Drive original controllers (MK-1650), mostly for the nostalgia kick than any other reason.

 

DualShock 2 is perfect for me.
The most innovative for me is the N64 and Wii controller.

 

Sensible answer is definitely the Xbox 360 controller. I guess the model with the adjustable d-pad would obviously be preferable, but as I can handle playing 2D games with an analogue stick it doesn't make much of a difference to me.

I like the Dualshock 3, but the convex triggers are a big mistake. The DS4 seems good, but the analogue sticks started to wear out within 3 days of owning mine, which was a bit of a concern.

The Wavebird is obviously a very good pad and my favourite N64 pad is the Hori Mini Pad, but that aside I generally stick with the official offerings in terms of controllers.

 

I have no preferred controller due to my preferences for games being all over the place. For example the N64 can only really be played well with a N64 controller but the PS2 controller works great for PS1/2, SNES, games as well as a few other consoles.

The Duke is probably my most enjoyed controller due to how well it fits my hands and that I like the heft it possesses. The Alamo prototype is gorgeous.

 

A few others that I love: Hori Minipad 64. Easily the best 3rd party N64 controller, and quite an improvement over the original. It makes any N64 game infinitely more enjoyable. The analog stick is just like the Gamecube one, only it's a little bigger - so even more enjoyable to use. I already mentioned the Saturn 3D controller. I also really like the original PAL Mega Drive controller. For some reason the d-pad feels much more responsive then either the American or Japanese 3-button pads. I would say it's comparable, or possibly even better than, the Saturn d-pad.

Also, guns: the Virtua Gun, and Guncon 1 and 2 are great guns. The Virtua Gun has a very arcade feel to it. The Guncon 1 and 2 are very accurate - and there's even a game called "Gunvari Collection + Time Crisis" for PS2 (Japan only) that allows you to play all 3 Point Blank (Gun Bullet) games and Time Crisis on the PS2 with the Guncon 2.

 

the only third party controller worth a damn, and surprisingly better than the originals.