What's the best and worst console controller?

[HeSaNa]

I really dug using the Sega Dreamcast controller. I don't remember encountering any problems while using it.

I believe the ideal controller to be one that's not even thought about, kind of instinctive. The moment you notice any sort of limitation or discomfort, the controller isn't doing it's job. The best controllers are the one's you don't notice while playing.

My experience with the Dreamcast controller was limited but whenever I went over to my cousin's house for a session of Power Stone; the controller just fit into my hand and was quickly forgotten.

The next aspect is durability, the controller's life span. I disliked the N64 controller for that. The "centre" stick constantly grinding along the recess creating a powdery residue and at times a tactile and audible grinding sensation. it constantly reminded me that it was there, not what I think a controller should do or be.

 

[darksakul]

Best Controllers:
PlayStation Line of controllers from the original Digital Pad to the Dual Shock 3.
Arcade games: Custom Arcade Joysticks
Game pads for arcade/Fighting titles, The Sega Genesis v2 game pads.
Runner Up: Bally Astrocade Trigger handle Joystick. (Look it up)

Worst:N64 game controllers? How do you hold this thing.
Xbox Original Controllers. Even my Gorilla hands struggle to hold this beast.
The Atari Jaguar Controller, It didn't work before why use that terrible design again.
Runner up: Philips CDi Remote Control, are you a DVD Remote, a Wireless mouse or a game pad?
Just Pick one damn it.

 

[TheAceTheOne]

Best: Anything but the wiimote and motion controllers (if they count).
Worst: Motion controllers (I don't care if it's 1:1 ratio, Ive used a controller since the Atari, when I was like freakin' 2.)

 

[Cooklez]

Best: Playstation 3 Dualshock, I grew up with those...glad they don't change ^__^ A close second is the Xbox 360 controller, both of those don't make my hands cramp XD
Worst: NES...Like...rectangles....rectangles?

 

[Fishyash]

Out of experience for me?

Best: Xbox 360
Wrost: N64

 

[Canadamus Prime]

My personal best: The official GameCube controller. It just fits so comfortably into my hands and it's durable as all hell.

Worst: The Pelican AfterGlow GameCube controller. Damn thing didn't work worth shit. It was unresponsive and glitchy and it's only distinguishing feature was the stupid "AfterGlow" gimmick.

 

[Aeshi]

Best: Playstation controllers, everything's where it should be without any of that "fashionable asymmetry" crap where the Left stick and the Arrow pad have been swapped around for no reason.

Worse: Touchscreens, they get the screen all dirty and about the only controls you have are "swipe" and "jab"

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

BEST:

the 360 controller or gamecube controller, they are both extremely comfortable to hold and i have never had a problem using them, and considering my 4 year old brother uses them also with complete ease they are obviously made for multiple sized hands


WORST:

probably the n64 or wii-mote, seriously a fucking trident for human beings? and a fucking remote that has like 4 buttons on it that are actually useable in-game? fuck that noise, i use it all the time but its still shitty

 

[Twad]

best : i find the Xbox 360 and gamecube pretty good.

Worst - N64 and the big Xbox ones.

 

[A Weakgeek]

Best: Xbox 360 controller or dualshock, I cant really decide.
Worst: AND I CAN'T BELIVE NOONE MENTIONED THIS: Those freaking keypad controllers on some ataris and colecovision and other ancient machine. I want to keep my phone and my controller seperate please.

Actually it was mentioned. On like, the first page, maybe the second.

Spoiler: WHAT IN THE?!

Front:

Back:

Oh my bad. And it seems they put all the keys on a pc keyboard on a controller, hey why not?

 

[Treblaine]

Best is the 360 controller. Worst I've ever used is probably the Dreamcast's.

Oh yeah, I can't believe Sega released a next-generation console with a controller that doesn't even have a right analogue stick.

What is it with Japan and the fear of the right analogue stick? PSP they skipped it, Nintendo made zero effort with the Gamecube's right stick. Also, so many Japanese games don't use the right analogue stick for anything especially not for moving the camera (Metal Gear 1-3, Resident Evil 4, Ape Escape, Devil May cry, Bayonetta, etc) a long standing trend that doesn't seem to have been undone till recently (Vanquish, MGS4, Dead Rising).

Why is it western developers cottoned onto the left-stick-movement and right-stick-look so early and consistently?

 

[Wintermoot]

BEST PS1/PS2/PS3 (and copies) feels nice in the hand and feels natural
WORST WII it,s hard to get used to and terrible for games where you need to hold it like a normal controller it is handy in use for stuff developed for the wii (like TCUK)

 

[mGoLos]

Best Xbox 360 controller for the best as it feels robust with a sleek design and fits most hand sizes

may sound fanboyish here

Worst Playstation controllers fee,l flimsy small and cheaply made for me, as well as the stick position and shape make me say "blaaaggghhh"

Agreed. You get used to the PS3 controller after a while though. I'm finally comfortable with it but it didn't come easy like it did with the 360 controller.

 

[Rad Party God]

The very best controller I've ever used: Mouse and Keyboard.
As for console controllers, the Wireless Xbox 360 Controller. Best. Controller. Ever.

The DualShock 2 and the Classic Controller Pro are both tied in second place.
In third place, the GameCube Wavebird if it wasn't for that flimsy right analog stick.

Worst controller I've ever used: The N64. Seriusly Nintendo, what the fuck were you thinking?
Honorable metion goes to the old "Hulk" Xbox controllers.

The Wiimote feels surprisingly good while playing Resident Evil 4, Okami, Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 and Metroid Prime Trilogy.
It's neither the worst, nor the best I've ever used.

Honorable mention to best controller ever goes to the NES controller. It still feels right after all these years, can't say the same thing about the N64 controller after being spoiled so much with the 360 controller. Or any other controller for that matter.

 

[OceanRunner]

I've heard that the Atari5200 controller was notoriously unreliable.

 

[Leg End]

Best: Master Race GameCube. You know it to be true.
Worst: Everything else. XD Except the NES controller, that is the only one that exceeds the GCN controller.

 

[infernovolver]

Best: About every iteration of the dual shock controllers. Best D-Pad ever.

Worst: A toss up between the Sega Saturn, Phillip CD-i, Jaguar, or Intellivision.

 

[Raykuza]

Best controller? Guitar Hero Controller, with or without that stupid touch pad thing they added (R.I.P. GH).

Worst controller? Mad Catz Gamecube controller. God help you if you're playing Smash Bros. and you're stuck using that piece of shit. Hell, I've never seen any 3rd party controller that was even half as good as it's 1st party counterpart.

 

[teh_Canape]

best: Sega Genesis controller

worst: Atari 5200/IntelliVision/ColecoVision and Atari Jaguar

 

[Tibs]

I am best with the playstation controller, but I do really like the Xbox360 one as well. I cannot rememner enough about the controllers for older consoles to judge them for being the worst.