Controller Experiences

[Koh]

Just thought we could discuss our differing experiences with the evolution of controllers as we held them.

My worst experience was of course the N64 controller. There was no comfortable way to hold the damn thing. If you held it like a PS1 controller, you couldn't reach the analog stick with your thumb, but if you held if from the middle, then the d-pad and L button was out of the question. How in the world did this design get finalized?

The XBox Controller took some getting used to, mainly because of how bulky it is. I still don't understand why a controller needs to be that bulky; there's no better example of a controller size and design than a PS1/PS2 controller.

[Crappy Blue Luigi]

My worst experience was of course the N64 controller. There was no comfortable way to hold the damn thing. If you held it like a PS1 controller, you couldn't reach the analog stick with your thumb, but if you held if from the middle, then the d-pad and L button was out of the question. How in the world did this design get finalized?

were there even any games that required you to use the analog stick and the L button

i've actually found the n64 controller to be super comfortable for snes games (emulated, obviously). its dpad is much better than the snes controller's dpad, and the button layouts are generally the same from there.

for me, the best 2D controller is a tie between the n64 controller and the ps1 controller. for 3d, you can't beat the gamecube controller.

[Gwen]

I actually like how big the Xbox controllers are. They fit so well in my hands, where as with Sony controllers, my fingers always overreached.

[Zero Kirby]

The N64 controller is wonderful. It looks weird, but it's super-comfortable. Also, y'know

were there even any games that required you to use the analog stick and the L button

If you're trying to do this then you're doing it wrong. I know that the L Button or whatever turned off the map in Zelda, an analog stick game, but

A) How often did you need to turn off the map in an intense encounter that required your intense concentration and reflexes?
B) Wait a second, you actually tried to hold the controller so you could reach the L Button and tried to use the analog stick? That's what the Z Button was for - to be an L Button when using the analog stick!

GameCube controller was basically magic in the hands, though. I don't think anything will ever top it.

[psychospacecow]

God knows my family's gone through more ps2 controllers. They would always break. They're super comfortable but they're too small and some games took their toll.

[Kriven]

The N64 has been the worst controller for me as well, though not for the reasons stated. In most games the left-hand side of the controller wasn't used in conjunction with the central side, so it was never an issue (this is why the Z button exists. It's the shoulder button for the center piece). The controller just can't be held comfortably by me... I always feel so squished and restricted.

I'm adding my vote to the "GCN Controller is best controller" category. The button placement is designed perfectly around the thumbs... all it needs is an L1 opposite of Z and it's good to go.

[Sketchasaurus]

Three controllers came to mind, these are the ones that I've been exposed to for 3D gaming.
///N64///
Very few games for the N64 would make you switch between analog and d-pad controls, in games like Super Smash Bros. the only thing the d-pad did was taunt, and it was only one of the directions anyway. The C-Buttons were interesting and they made sense as say, doing different moves in Banjo-Kazooie, but as a camera controller it was kinda clumsy.
///Gamecube///
I think that the C-stick was underutilized for the Gamecube, it could have easily been used as a camera joystick as we know them today, that aside, I still enjoy how the GCN Controller felt, especially the buttons: they were quick and responsive and the controller was just overall comfortable to handle. The d-pad was a bit weak, but it still worked when it was needed. I still use the controller when I ever play Brawl or games that are compatible with it.

///X-Box 360///
One of my only complaints about the XBox 360 controller is that the D-pad isn't quite as precise as those found on some Nintendo controllers, also the RB/LB Buttons are a bit too rigid and don't glide nicely like the triggers, they make a kind of uncomfortable click which I'm not particularly fond of. Other than that, It's an all-around awesome controller, it's comfortable to handle for long amounts of time and the analog sticks are in nice, natural-feeling positions.

I also think that color coding the buttons is a good idea, especially since it's easier to see color prompts for QTEs than struggling to even see what symbol the PS3 wants you to press. It also helps that the Triggers and Bumpers are different shapes and named appropriately instead of the L1 and L2 nonsense where you have to be reminded which ones are which if you're not very familiar with the controller. The 360 controller just lends itself to a more natural feeling when it comes to becoming acquainted to it.

[Saltonara]

Colecovision

[[robo9]]

Any thoughts on the original Wii Classic Controller? (The first one, not the one with the grips on the side)

I was thinking about swapping to get used to SSB4 since the Wii U doesn't support the GameCube Controller, and I dislike the look of the newer Classic Controller

[Helmo]

Gamecube is great my only complant is that D-Pad ugh

N64 was my first console so I never had any trouble with it

360 worst d-pad

PS3 controller is my favorite

[-¼-]

The nes controller was the worst I ever had. It's rectangular shape making it very uncomfortable.
I've never had any problem with the n64 controller, but I always thought and I still think that its design is stupid.
As for the other controllers, well they're all fine, nothing exceptional.

[BullockDS]

long-ass list

90s
SNES: Pretty good. The controller's a great and iconic shape; overall very comfortable. The only issue I have is that the D-Pad is a bit stiff, which is especially awkward to use in fighters.
Genesis: insanely comfy, but the 3-Button is kinda bleh due to having a small amount of buttons. The 6-Button variety, however, is pretty glorious for fighting games (combined with dat D-Pad).
Saturn: Regular controller is more or less as good as the 6-Button Genny controller (at least the western Model 2 one). However, the 3D Controller is surprisingly comfortable, and is the one I prefer for Saturn fighters when useable. Only issue is the Analog Pad; it doesn't feel as definite as the Control Sticks on the N64 or PS1.
Nintendo 64: It's alright for me. The layout does take some getting used to for 3D games, but I never suffered the extreme discomfort that many others have (Mario Party 1 notwithstanding). The only thing that super-aggravated me about the controller was how notoriously goddamn fragile the Control Stick assembly was. None of my childhood controllers have decent sticks anymore.

Oh, and gonna jam some third party and hacked controllers up in this bitch: The Hori MiniPad, though frightfully expensive these days, is a damn solid piece of tech that's sturdier than the OEM N64 controllers, and is perfect for 3D games (but not 2D games, but I never played many games that required the D-Pad anyway). Also, getting a LodgeNet control stick onto an OEM controller (not mine pictured) is glorious, seeing as the hotel controllers have amazing, GCN-style control sticks, and best of all are a fraction of the cost of Hori MiniPads at the moment (~$25-30 and some soldering are all you need).
Playstation(DS1): not a huge fan of this controller, and apparently I'm weird for it. The handles, though curved, "jut" out a bit too much and dig into my hands, making it uncomfortable for extended play. Not a huge fan of putting the "main" Control Stick lower either, or the nubs on the sticks being convex without grooves.
Dreamcast: I actually kinda hate this controller. The control stick is massively uncomfortable and feels like it'd be easy for my finger to slip off; the amount of buttons is pathetic for 1998 (though there are some 3rd party controllers that slap on a pair of C/Z buttons... why didn't SEGA themselves ever make one?), and the handles dig into my hands, especially at the end of the handles since SEGA decided to make them come to a point instead of a curve. Being that it got inspiration from the Saturn 3D Pad, it should've been a little closer to that formfactor IMO (especially having 6 face buttons again from the get-go).

Today Days
Gamecube: gonna have to jump on that bandwagon going on here; the GCN controller is essentially God's gift to gaming in my opinion. (In fact, I like GCN controllers so much I decided a couple months ago to collect all the basic retail colors that came out: Indigo, Indigo/Clear, Black, Spice Orange, Platinum, White, and Emerald/The-Best-Controller-Color-Ever). But that D-Pad... fuck that noise, especially for the Gameboy Player and 2D games. Otherwise, is my main SSBB controller.
PS2: (see PS1 above)
Xbox 360: I think this is almost as good as the Gamecube controller, but I just think that the handles don't fit my hands as well as GCN controller handles. (oh and just like the GCN the D-Pad sucks)
PS3: See PS1 and PS2, but there's also the oft-cited awful L2/R2 buttons.
Wii Remote+Nunchuck: It really depends on the game, but a lot of games that do the whole motion-control thing do it well, particularly the Mario Galaxy games and LoZ: Skyward Sword.
Wii Classic Controller: very reminiscent of the SNES controller, but a bit more comfortable due to curving from the sides to the back. For some reason I don't mind the Control Sticks here both being low (unlike the PS1/2/3). I like the old Classic Controller design a bit more than the Pro one. Used to be my main SSBB controller.
WiiU Gamepad: I was shocked at how comfortable this turned out to be, as I think many others were. It is a bit awkward, granted, due to its size and shape... but then again you're bound to run into some snags at one point or another when you're slapping a bigass screen on your controller. I thought the screen would just be another gimmick, but it's come surprisingly in handy for me since my parents take the main TV fairly often.

[Sketchasaurus]

Any thoughts on the original Wii Classic Controller? (The first one, not the one with the grips on the side)

I was thinking about swapping to get used to SSB4 since the Wii U doesn't support the GameCube Controller, and I dislike the look of the newer Classic Controller

Nintendo actually has what they call a "Pro Controller" for the Wii U:

Spoiler

It's similar enough to the 360 controller, and I think there are also third party equivalents for the console coming out on the market as well.

In regards to the original Classic controller, it's good for playing Virtual Console SNES games, but I don't really like how small they are in my hands, also the analog sticks feel a bit too slippery and don't have enough resistance in my opinion. the L/R buttons also feel a little odd, but it's not a bad controller by any means.

[Psycho]

It also helps that the Triggers and Bumpers are different shapes and named appropriately instead of the L1 and L2 nonsense where you have to be reminded which ones are which if you're not very familiar with the controller.

L and R just mean Left and Right though. once you understand that, the numbering comes naturally.
i thought that it was pretty self explanatory, really

Gamecube is great my only complant is that D-Pad ugh

N64 was my first console so I never had any trouble with it

360 worst d-pad

PS3 controller is my favorite

i agree with this entire post

[Kriven]

L1/L2 vs LB/LT - "Bumper" is nonsense to me and the only proper Trigger Button is on the Wiimote. L1/L2 just click, instant response. I didn't start getting confused until they introduced "L3", which is clicking the joystick.