What is the best controller ever made?

Thread: What is the best controller ever made?
People who hate Dualshock 3 must have had a fake one. It's a fantastic controller. It has best D-Pad, battery life, best thumbsticks (most precise I've even seen), classic DS shape, light weight. It's only downside is lousy triggers. I've been using it on PC for years because 360 controller can't be plugged to PC unless it's a cabled one. Can't say about Dualsense, but DS4 is a shit on a stick compared to DS3.

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HE1NZ said:
People who hate Dualshock 3 must have had a fake one. It's a fantastic controller. It has best D-Pad, battery life, best thumbsticks (most precise I've even seen), classic DS shape, light weight. It's only downside is lousy triggers. I've been using it on PC for years because 360 controller can't be plugged to PC unless it's a cabled one. Can't say about Dualsense, but DS4 is a shit on a stick compared to DS4.

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The best DPad???? I owned multiple of these controllers and nope, the DPad did not feel great. I liked the controller overall, but really have to disagree on the DPad.

PS Vita, though, great DPad.
 
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HE1NZ said:
People who hate Dualshock 3 must have had a fake one. It's a fantastic controller. It has best D-Pad, battery life, best thumbsticks (most precise I've even seen), classic DS shape, light weight. It's only downside is lousy triggers. I've been using it on PC for years because 360 controller can't be plugged to PC unless it's a cabled one. Can't say about Dualsense, but DS4 is a shit on a stick compared to DS3.

orig
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The Dualshock 3 is just a Dualshock 2 with worse triggers though. I mean I guess it's wireless too but
 
I think the DualShock 3 was definitely a step back compared to the DualShock 2.
The triggers on the DualShock 3 are awful.
Sony also got rid of the DualShock 2's subtle glittery paint finish for whatever reason (it is present on one of the prototype DualShock 3 units).
 
regawdless said:
The best DPad???? I owned multiple of these controllers and nope, the DPad did not feel great. I liked the controller overall, but really have to disagree on the DPad.

PS Vita, though, great DPad.
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I have two OG Vitas and I hate the d-pad on both. It just feels mushy and loose. Maybe yours is a newer model?
 
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regawdless said:
Mine was totally clicky and precise. Loved it.
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Now I'm going to have to go dig mine out to refresh my memory.

Edit: Nope, don't like it. It wiggles and slides around too much before you get a click. I like my d-pads to be more rigid, I gess.
 
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Xbox controller. It was so good, every subsequent Xbox controller was just a slight refinement. Meanwhile, I always thought Playstation controllers were a bit awkward until the PS4 where the triggers finally feel like actual triggers.
 
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The dualshock 3 was a real problem for me that generation when it came to deciding which console I preferred, I mean multiplat performance was already superior on 360 so you add in a worse controller and my only real arguments for the Playstation 3 were audio quality and exclusives though exclusives is always huge for me.

The dualshock 4 however spaced out the thumbsticks a bit more and that's all it really needed for me to enjoy it however the dual senses proven you can go even further and I don't just mean that I enjoy the haptics because I do but it's got a slightly beefier feel for my big hands making it just right comfort wise and potentially my favorite controller ever.
 
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Ive just stumbled across this thing.

RIVA02_1_540x.jpg


Programmable buttons, back paddles, interchangeable sticks. Completely customizable looks.

Fuck me, I think I'll buy one of these things sooner or later.
 
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The Xbox console has the most consistent ergonomic design over all their iterations. A reconfigured DUKE, keep the size, maybe update the grips and shape to be more ergonomic, but keep the heft and girth, while updating the button arrangement to have parity with what is offered by Xbox today and you would have a winner.

Second choice and long standing great before the Xbox is/was the Sega Genesis Six Button controller:

shopping.webp



Third runner up and premiere NES controller is still the Advantage (excluding modern arcade setups for the home):

7913506291139asns.jpg
 
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DualSense. Fixed the things that were commonly complained about with the dualshocks, and made everything that was good about the dualshocks even better.

The 360 contoller is up there but its dpad is actual garbage.



And as an aside, I've seen people give high praise to the Gamecube controller and I don't get it. It's like yeah its face button layout is cool and makes sense, most games have one main button to press so might as well center the controller on that, but everything else is terrible.
The shoulder buttons have an unforgivable travel distance before you've actually 'pressed' them, the c-stick is tiny and has no travel distance so it's basically just a glorified d-pad, which is good because the actual d-pad is a hard unresponsive piece of trash.
 
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So far my favourite has been the DS4. It shines on PC, where you get can a bit more out of the touch pad. My biggest complaint about controllers is clicky buttons, so until recently I've hated Xbox controllers. From what I've tried of an in-store model, the newest one is fine and I'd probably be okay with it as a controller (it might be a touch small for me, but maybe that's the low angle I had to hold it at), although the d-pad clicking is still there and I think over time it would get to me.

The Steam Controller had the potential to be something amazing, and I hope it gets a second go with some of the improvements that the Steam Deck is bringing (4 back buttons instead of 2 shit paddles that Scuf sued over). Again, it has way too much clicking for my liking, but I managed to work around it quite nicely in a few cases.

I like the Wii U Pro so I would probably like the Switch Pro too, but the d-pad issues put me off.
 
My favourite is probably the DS4. I love everything about it except for how goddamn flimsy it is. I think I'm on my 6th at the minute. Haven't used any of the current gen controllers yet so maybe they're better.
 
HE1NZ said:
People who hate Dualshock 3 must have had a fake one. It's a fantastic controller. It has best D-Pad, battery life, best thumbsticks (most precise I've even seen), classic DS shape, light weight. It's only downside is lousy triggers. I've been using it on PC for years because 360 controller can't be plugged to PC unless it's a cabled one. Can't say about Dualsense, but DS4 is a shit on a stick compared to DS3.

orig
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My only complaint about the SixAxis/DualShock3 was that I ended up wearing down the part of the stick that meets the circle that encases it, if that makes sense. I'm usually careful and gentle with my stuff, but I guess over time the friction wore them down. It didn't help that games started using L3 to sprint, and that's when I noticed it was harder to press L3 when I was already pushing forward because the stick was resting in the groove that formed. Ever since then I've swapped it to R3 as my sprint wherever possible.
Thing on a Spring said:
My favourite is probably the DS4. I love everything about it except for how goddamn flimsy it is. I think I'm on my 6th at the minute. Haven't used any of the current gen controllers yet so maybe they're better.
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I'm on my first one, and the only problem I had was that the silicone pads under the d-pad became damaged. The little raised part had popped out, making it all mushy with no spring back. While I was replacing it I also got a double sized battery, so I've held off trying a DS5 because my 4 still has plenty of life in it after my investments into it (fingers crossed).
 
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Soodanim said:
I'm on my first one, and the only problem I had was that the silicone pads under the d-pad became damaged. The little raised part had popped out, making it all mushy with no spring back. While I was replacing it I also got a double sized battery, so I've held off trying a DS5 because my 4 still has plenty of life in it after my investments into it (fingers crossed).
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I've had a variety of issues with mine, moreso around the ps4 launch when they were the flimsiest they've ever been. Stick drift, dead buttons and more recently, this has been happening.
PXL_20210904_131356641.jpg

I blame Rocket League for that tbh. For some reason I push the thumb sticks as if I'm trying to snap them off when I play that online.
 
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Thing on a Spring said:
I've had a variety of issues with mine, moreso around the ps4 launch when they were the flimsiest they've ever been. Stick drift, dead buttons and more recently, this has been happening.
PXL_20210904_131356641.jpg

I blame Rocket League for that tbh. For some reason I push the thumb sticks as if I'm trying to snap them off when I play that online.
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Understandable, it's human nature to push at intense moments. We've all been a passenger in a car and tried to use our feet to try and stop, I'm sure.

People think I'm mad, but I use stick caps to preserve the original rubber because they always seem to goes sticky eventually. I'd rather replace the cap than the whole stick, and I'm so used to it I wouldn't have it any other way.
 
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HE1NZ said:
People who hate Dualshock 3 must have had a fake one. It's a fantastic controller. It has best D-Pad, battery life, best thumbsticks (most precise I've even seen), classic DS shape, light weight. It's only downside is lousy triggers. I've been using it on PC for years because 360 controller can't be plugged to PC unless it's a cabled one. Can't say about Dualsense, but DS4 is a shit on a stick compared to DS3.

orig
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Convex sticks suck though, only reason I dislike that controller more than later revisions.
 
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Whitesnake said:
DualSense. Fixed the things that were commonly complained about with the dualshocks, and made everything that was good about the dualshocks even better.

The 360 contoller is up there but its dpad is actual garbage.



And as an aside, I've seen people give high praise to the Gamecube controller and I don't get it. It's like yeah its face button layout is cool and makes sense, most games have one main button to press so might as well center the controller on that, but everything else is terrible.
The shoulder buttons have an unforgivable travel distance before you've actually 'pressed' them, the c-stick is tiny and has no travel distance so it's basically just a glorified d-pad, which is good because the actual d-pad is a hard unresponsive piece of trash.
Click to expand...
I like the GameCube controller to play with, but you're not wrong at all. It's just comfortable, really - just good ergonomics when you hold it (and don't need the d-pad). I liked the 8 way gated sticks, but I see why they aren't used now.
and 3 others said:
RazerRaiju-Bits.jpg
For me, is the Razer Raiju Ultimate for the PS4.

My modded Dualsense controller ain't half bad either.
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Modded DualSense?
infinitys_7th said:
It's ironically one of my favorite controllers. The split was the best part - made it so comfortable to hold.
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I have to agree about the split, it even made me consider a gimmicky PS3 split controller at one point (didn't get one in the end). The most annoying bit was having a wire connecting the two parts, which was always both too long and too short. The other downside of the Wiimote was having to adjust to press certain buttons.
 
My 360 pad is still going strong, didn't encounter a better one until the Switch Pro controller, which to be fair is just a better 360 controller.

However, the ultimate is still the Zip Stik. Proper quality clicky microswitches, nothing else is acceptable for Kick Off and Sensi Soccer.


OIP.8bBTwJRcNqOfiQFydEj2jgAAAA
 
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I love custom premium controllers. But damn those things can get expensive. Despite that, the controller is the man thing you interact with using a console, so it might as well be amazing.
 
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teezzy said:
You guys ever met my other friend, the PDP Rock Candy?

001628663
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I had a blue one of these and it was waaaay better than it should have been. I liked the lights too. Best Buy had it for $20 pretty regularly definitely a steal.
 
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