Your favourite controllers

[Maypews]

Figured I'd get the ball rolling on this subforum (excluding moved posts) with my own. What's your favourite controller? For me it somewhat depends on what kind of game I'm playing. If I were forced to give an answer I'd probably say the Xbox Series X because I think it's the best all-around controller. The groves on it are very ergonomic, it has a good d-pad unlike all the other Xbox controllers, and in general the design is pretty much optimised to a tee. The main downside is the build quality, particularly the infamous mushy buttons issue and also the stick drift which didn't really happen as much on older controllers.

As such I do think the 360 and the Duke controller are pretty solid and arguably better if you don't care about the good d-pad at all. Personally I like using the d-pad, but the build quality of those former two is rock solid. Feels as though they could survive a bomb.

For 2D games my favourite is hands down the Saturn controller. The 6 button layout works very well for such titles and it has easily the best d-pad I've ever used, very responsive yet quiet. Could almost pass as a joystick. Eternally buttblasted they didn't just make the Dreamcast controller a Saturn Pro controller but with a VMU slot added in.

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So yeah, I guess for me it's between Xbox Series X for 3D and Sega Saturn for 2D, with honourable mentions to the 360 and Gamecube. What say you?

[Duk3]

For a first party controller, it's either Gamecube or the Dualshock 3. I use the Gamecube controller very often since my Wii is my most played console. It's a shame that more games on there don't officially support it, since it's a much more comfortable experience compared to using the wiimote + nunchuck combo. I think the big N was just being extremely lazy because they didn't want to remap unneeded motion control inputs. At least MkWii supports it "-_-).

The Dualshock 3 is a comfortable controller to use on most games. I like the analog sticks being both at bottom of the controller compared to them being opposite. It's a good controller for 2D and 3D games, although for 2D it's been replaced by the Sn30P2 since the d-pad is wayyyy better. People complain about the weight of the controller, but I actually prefer a bit of a lighter controller. Over long gaming sessions, I found that my hands sweat less compared to heavier ones. I guess I honorable mention goes to the revised og Xbox controller, as much as I love the Duke.

[Maypews]

For a first party controller, it's either Gamecube or the Dualshock 3. I use the Gamecube controller very often since my Wii is my most played console. It's a shame that more games on there don't officially support it, since it's a much more comfortable experience compared to using the wiimote + nunchuck combo. I think the big N was just being extremely lazy because they didn't want to remap unneeded motion control inputs. At least MkWii supports it "-_-).

The Dualshock 3 is a comfortable controller to use on most games. I like the analog sticks being both at bottom of the controller compared to them being opposite. It's a good controller for 2D and 3D games, although for 2D it's been replaced by the Sn30P2 since the d-pad is wayyyy better. People complain about the weight of the controller, but I actually prefer a bit of a lighter controller. Over long gaming sessions, I found that my hands sweat less compared to heavier ones. I guess I honorable mention goes to the revised og Xbox controller, as much as I love the Duke.

Damn, I'm surprised anyone would put the DS3 so high. I've had nothing but bad experiences with it. From terrible battery life, to the gyro liking to freak out and produce phantom inputs all over the place, the filmsy feel it has (I've went through like 2 of them with none of my other controllers breaking in the same timeframe). It's a big reason why my PS3 has just been relegated to a media center rather than something I use for actually playing games. Granted I'm not much of a Playstation guy and have always disliked symmetrical analog sticks so that might contribute to my ire, but the DS4 felt a lot better in my limited use of it.

Re: GCN I have my Wii setup to automatically boot into the Homebrew channel so that I can just use my GCN and not have to go fishing for the Wiimote, very convenient. It's a nice controller, feels very sturdy and I've logged way too much time on my current one haha. Something I want to do one day is play in a Mario Kart Wii room with people on the forum, but for Mario Kart to be fun you need like at least 6+ players. Don't think we're big enough yet.

[Duk3]

Damn, I'm surprised anyone would put the DS3 so high. I've had nothing but bad experiences with it. From terrible battery life, to the gyro liking to freak out and produce phantom inputs all over the place, the filmsy feel it has (I've went through like 2 of them with none of my other controllers breaking in the same timeframe). It's a big reason why my PS3 has just been relegated to a media center rather than something I use for actually playing games. Granted I'm not much of a Playstation guy and have always disliked symmetrical analog sticks so that might contribute to my ire, but the DS4 felt a lot better in my limited use of it.

Re: GCN I have my Wii setup to automatically boot into the Homebrew channel so that I can just use my GCN and not have to go fishing for the Wiimote, very convenient. It's a nice controller, feels very sturdy and I've logged way too much time on my current one haha. Something I want to do one day is play in a Mario Kart Wii room with people on the forum, but for Mario Kart to be fun you need like at least 6+ players. Don't think we're big enough yet.

I think I might've lucked out with DS3 since out of around 5 of them, only 1 shat out. It's also a bit of nostalgia talking because it was one of my first console experiences as a kid at some youth center. I remember playing Rayman and some shitty knockout game a lot there. I only consider myself a Playstation more recently since I have money to actually buy consoles now lol.

I have a similar thing set-up where it boots to USBLoader. Still have to occasionally whip out my Wiimote for Classic Controller use. I did see that thread about MKWRR earlier, but didn't want to necrobump just for only two of us to play. I haven't tried online on RR yet since I only just recently switched from CTGP. My fc is 4681-5156-3344 if you want to add me.

[Parzival]

I've been using the clear, light-up Afterglow Xbox 360 controller since 2012 and it still works like an absolute charm, everything else I've tried to use sucks dick and balls compared to it. I barely even play 360 anymore but as an all purpose controller for PC and stuff it's just too peak.

[rancher]

This is my primary controller, maybe exclusive to Indonesia.



Cost $10, has bluetooth / vibrate / gyro . Charges fast on USB-C and lasts for days of gaming time. The weight is exactly right, not too heavy, not too light....

I frequently use a n3dsXL with moonlight client when AFK if that counts, and also have a hacked PSVita . I have a 3D printed grip for my n3dsXL to make it more comfortable to hold for extended periods of time. When it's too hot for computer, handhelds are my go-to, and they still handle many retro games well, despite their age.

For ergonomics and my personal nostalgia I don't think the Gamecube controller can be beat... especially modern, high-quality clones... HOWEVER the lack of an L1 button and select button were unfortunate mistakes. I have a few of these and like to use them to game with friends / wife.



I enjoy this candy-colored 8 button Genesis gamepad for retrogames -- surprisingly ergonomic, licensed SEGA product, and it even has shoulder buttons. I am not a fighting gamer so I find other ways to use the extra face buttons (eg fast forward, savestate, push to talk)



finally when the other gamepads are overkill, I go for a SNES gamepad, which is also surprisingly ergonomic -- I have multiples of these too, for gaming with friends ...



Only that yellow guy at the top and my n3dsXL/PSvita are wireless so that's what I find myself reaching for most. That being said, when playing older games at the PC, I like using appropriate controllers when possible.

Maybe my collection is a bit overkill.... haha...

[Steve]

weapons of mass destruction

[Blond]

weapons of mass destruction

This controller is the most versatile in the world; I used it to play all of DMC, SH, fighting games, and now MGSV.

[Gotz]

I personally really like the Xbox One controller for standard use on my PC. Always feels nice in the hands. Need to get new joystick pads though, mine wore out.
But when I play visual novels, I use the original Steam controller. The track pad makes it great to use the mouse cursor. And programming all the buttons to what I want for the VN makes it really nice. It feels comfy in the hands, but the bumpers are too stiff. And the pull on the triggers isn't the greatest either. But it has that cool Game Cube like trigger where pulling is a input. And pressing it is a second input. I got mine when Valve was dumping them from their inventory in 2019. Best fives buck I ever spent.

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As for consoles, I love the Game Cube controller. And I really like the Wii remote too. All of its gimmicks are super cool to me. Playing the Metroid Prime Trilogy with it was super fun.

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I was able to order the new Steam controller yesterday, so I'll see how that is soon.

[Amlux]

I don't have much of an opinion here. I would say that 90% of the games I play are either PC games or 2D retro games on emulators, and those I always prefer to play on a nice mechanical keyboard.

For the couple games I've played with controllers, I've used a Dualshock on a PS3 a decent amount and it's fine. I have a generic Logitech controller for 3D game emulation which is fine. I like an arcade stick for fighting games, but don't really have a preference for them if they're decent quality... as long as they aren't a Hit Box, which just doesn't do it for me (weirdly as a keyboard fan, perhaps).

So yeah, long way of saying "I don't have the right to really have an opinion on this." What a useless post!