Poll: Best Controller for a Console

[Roxas1359]

My vote goes to the almighty GameCube controller, which fits so snug in my hands and has an excellent D-pad and the C stick is nice. The only thing that was really wrong with the GameCube controller was the extremely loud clicking that they'd produce, which is a pain when you are recording because the mic could pick it up easily.

Special mention goes out to the Sony Dualshock controller, which also fits nicely in my hands and has a nice D-pad as well and a could second analog stick, but unfortunately the PS3's triggers were just plain awkward really.

 

[Naeras]

GameCube, easily. The most comfortable controller to use by far. Both of the thumbsticks are probably the best I've tried, and the d-pad is up there as well. The controllers also have great ergonomy, and the regular buttons feel amazing. The somewhat loose shoulder buttons were my only criticism, but that's only when you compare them to Xbox 360-shoulderbuttons.

There are other obvious contenders, but they just don't match up to the GC. Dualshock has placed the left thumbstick uncomfortably, which makes an otherwise good controller drop far down on my list. The Xbox 360 is another strong contender, but it also has one of the worst d-pads on any controller I've ever touched, and I don't think the regular buttons are all the comfortable either.

 

[Arakasi]

Uh, the N64. Is this really a question? Why was it bundled with the Dreamcast?

Considering only .8% actually took that option, my post poll estimation of the popularity of such controllers was correct.

Edit: Also, since this is no longer the OP, my favorite by far was the GameCube. Although the 360 controller was a close runner up, the GameCube's controller is just so damn comfortable in my hands.

 

[PFCboom]

The Gamecube controller, IMO, is the single most comfortable controller I've ever known. I'll admit, the 360 controller has nice trigger and bumper buttons, but it's simply not the perfect fit for my hands, like the GC controller.
Special mention goes to the Wiimote. No, it's not perfect, but I felt like a flippin' god when I played Okami. I remember, very clearly, at the very final boss, when all hope seemed lost. I muttered to myself, "My will be done," and raised the Sun. That lead to the absolute greatest final boss sequence I've ever known in the history of all games ever.
Hrm... okay, I take back that special mention. The GC controller and Wiimote are tied for 1st place.

 

[Kyrian007]

As much of a nintendo fan as I am of controllers, I have to give it to the PS. Even though they went away from the longer handles (which I liked) when they went to dual shock, there's something good about a comfortable and familiar design. 2 things are wrong with nintendo control. No matter how good one was (GC in particular) it was completely re-designed every new console. And as good as that GC controller was, it just needed 2 of the thumbsticks as opposed to the "c-hat" thing.

 

[OneCatch]

Probably Gamecube or 360.

I've voted Gamecube because ergonomically it remains by far the most comfortable one to use, and the buttons/sticks themselves are even better than the newer 360.
But the 360 controller is probably more flexible in terms of control schemes, and it's what I use with my PC for 3PS.

I hate Playstation controllers. The analogue sticks are awkwardly placed, which I find limits me in-game (I'll find myself standing still to use items for example), and I always end up with aching thumbs after using one for a while.
The GC and 360 controller don't seem to cause that so much, and because they aren't symmetrical it's easier to mentally map controls.

 

[Megacherv]

PS2/PS3 are my favourite. The original Dual Analog/Dualshock for the PS1 not as much because of the shorter analogue sticks. I prefer the Sixaxis over the DS3 because of how nice and light it is (also less likely to break something/itself when I end up dropping it). Also, the d-pad is perfect.

The 360 controller is alright, I don't mind it. Bumpers don't feel as good as L1/R1 and the triggers are nice. However, the D-pad is fucking awful. I'm a Tekken fan, so d-pad needs definite directional presses, and with often multiple presses in the same direction. The 8-way d-pad on the 360 fucks this up, and using the analog stick slows you down. Also, playing 2D platformers? Most of the time needs a d-pad.

Looking forward to the DS4. If it's as good as the Vita's controls are I think I'll like it.

 

[WanderingFool]

the playstation controller. Dont know why, but it just feels right.

 

[BarkBarker]

I had a custom controller that was Like a Nintendo DS Lite controller, but for the PS3, and it was wonderful, the roll of my thumb on a DS Lite D-pad is beautiful and I NEVER have control error trying to get the right point for diagonal input, the Playstation d-pad is so difficult to get my thumb to glide across, and given most fighting games I play are d-pad, I need fluid movement, and then you get the OTHER d pad like the 360 ones that are barely even pads and more just buttons that don't seem to fit correctly and dip in the 8 cardinal directions.

 

[Story]

It's hands down the Gamecube controller for me.
It is as if they took a mold of a cripping hand and made the controller out of it. It was so comfortable, I loved it.

Second place is the Xbox 360 controller, though I like the PlayStation controllers too for my dainty women hands.

The N64 controller was just awful.

 

[Ken Sapp]

As someone who has used 16 of the 20 pictured controllers I have to say the Xbox 360 controller is the best one in my opinion. It is more ergonomically shaped for adult hands and works better for a wider assortment games than the others. Also, it makes sense to have the most often used portions above the least used portions of the controller, ie the left stick above the D-Pad instead of the other way around. Plus, the wired version works with controller enabled Windows games with no tedious configuration and tweaking (wireless works too if you have a compatible dongle). The only change I would recommend for it would be to rotate the D-Pad slightly clockwise to more naturally align with the thumb. The Playstation controllers hold many fond memories for me but they are only superior to the XBox controller for fighting games in my experience. And finally, I think Nintendo is just searching for the controller that will drive even its most rabid followers away. The N64 controller was weird and then came the Wiimote which has the most godawful accuracy to the point that the cursor jumps around significantly even when the controller is sitting still on a flat surface with no detectable vibrations, and the WiiU controller.... I don't even know what to say about that other than a WiiU purchase is nowhere on my horizon.

 

[Snotnarok]

Not sure I really have a favorite,
PS1-3 were really really good, I didn't much like the triggers on 3 without this nice plastic adapter to curve inward.
Sega Genesis/MegaDrive had 2 awesome controllers, Saturn as well. I really like the Dpad on the genny controllers and they just were comfy in hand vs the tiny NES & SNES controllers.
The worst on my list that I've personally used is the N64 controller, I don't know why people like it, and don't tell me because it had the first analog control because A- that's wrong B- being first doesn't always make it good: See Atari 5200 for details.