Thread: What is the best controller ever made?
best thumbsticks (most precise I've even seen)
What? It is hard for me to think of a more wobbly stick on an officiel controller. If precision is the primary issue for you, you need a (mint) N64 controller.
 
What? It is hard for me to think of a more wobbly stick on an officiel controller. If precision is the primary issue for you, you need a (mint) N64 controller.
Man I'm sitting here nodding my head like yeah you're right the dualshock 3 has real trouble with the sticks but then you go and praise the N64 controller...
 
Man I'm sitting here nodding my head like yeah you're right the dualshock 3 has real trouble with the sticks but then you go and praise the N64 controller...
I am not saying the N64 controller's stick is a great piece of hardware. In fact it breaks at an insane speed. It's just that due to its high resistency, slim shaft and comparatively wide moving radius, it is the best of the official sticks in terms of precision. Having it break the moment you look at it the wrong way is a heavy toll to pay though.
 
What? It is hard for me to think of a more wobbly stick on an officiel controller. If precision is the primary issue for you, you need a (mint) N64 controller.
Possibly some revision issue? There's nothing wobbly at all with my DS3. Perfect build quality.

DS3 thumbsticks have also wide moving radius, perhaps less than N64 but wider than 360 or DS4. Which is why I think it's very precise.
 
The Epyx 500xj. Felt absolutely perfect in your hand and had that clicky joystick.


I agree, this is a forgotten gem of a controller. I had a buddy who owned one. I never could get my parents to buy me one at the time. I don't agree with his complaints on the ergonomic for 8 bit games...perhaps our younger, supple hands didn't care for the odd handling? Maybe it is an older person's concern?
 
This sexy, sexy bit of kit.

dgBexCe.png


It even has Gyro aiming and 4 shoulder buttons. Bloody love it.
 
Curious about the SCUF Dualsense as I own and owned multiple Dualshock 4 SCUF controllers. Liked them a lot, but the quality is often a bit of an issue. Will wait and see if there are any issues. My Infinity 4PS controllers had the back paddles breaking around the screws. Not making them unusable, but making them feel muddy as hell.
 
I got big hands and actually really liked the original Xbox controller. I think I'm the only one. PS5 controller is great too, but all previous gen PlayStation controllers were made for tiny jap hands.

Nah, I love the Duke too. So much so I got one of those Hyperkin Duke deals for PC/Xbox too.

I love all Xbox controllers actually.

I've yet to try a Series gamepad though, because my Xbox One controllers still get the job done

🤷‍♂️
 
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@bonk what do you use for oldschool games on the Switch? Like a SNES controller or variation of it with an excellent dpad? I might just purchase the official one which would be this


My reasoning to go with the more expensive choice this time is cuz I remember the official SNES, the N64, and especially the Gamecube controllers made by Nintendo being able to take an absolute beating like no other and still be perfectly fine
 
I'm enjoying the new Series X controller lately. The D-pad is way better than the One was.

I also tried the Dualsense at my cousin's house and I like it a lot.
 
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@bonk what do you use for oldschool games on the Switch? Like a SNES controller or variation of it with an excellent dpad? I might just purchase the official one which would be this


My reasoning to go with the more expensive choice this time is cuz I remember the official SNES, the N64, and especially the Gamecube controllers made by Nintendo being able to take an absolute beating like no other and still be perfectly fine
I have the mini classic systems where I usually play most of my retro games. I honestly haven't played any retro games on Switch. Well actually I bought Dragon Quest 3 but I just play it on handheld mode. I use a pro controller for my switch gaming on tv.
 
Xbox elite controller v1. It's the only official controller that allows you to use more than 2 sections of the pad at once. Most cobtrollers let you do dpad and face buttons or analogue sticks and triggers. The elite can do face buttons, analogue sticks and triggers etc
 
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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
I swapped to this when I got Elden Ring not long after getting a ps3 - absolutely fell in love with it. The sticks are amazing, definitely the big selling point for me, but yeah the d-pad is great and the buttons just right. Before I used an Xbox 360 controller for years.

(Can't remember if I posted here or not)
 
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I swapped to this when I got Elden Ring not long after getting a ps3 - absolutely fell in love with it. The sticks are amazing, definitely the big selling point for me, but yeah the d-pad is great and the buttons just right. Before I used an Xbox 360 controller for years.

(Can't remember if I posted here or not)
Where did you find a functional DS3 these days? I remember a few years ago finding a working DS2 was a huge pain. Sony discontinues controllers almost as quickly as Nintendo.
 
Where did you find a functional DS3 these days? I remember a few years ago finding a working DS2 was a huge pain. Sony discontinues controllers almost as quickly as Nintendo.
One came with my ps3 from eBay and I decided to get another for multiplayer, found a set of 2 on eBay cheap and all 3 are basically mint condition.
 
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Nah, I love the Duke too. So much so I got one of those Hyperkin Duke deals for PC/Xbox too.

I love all Xbox controllers actually.

I've yet to try a Series gamepad though, because my Xbox One controllers still get the job done

🤷‍♂️

Got my Series X less than a month after making this post, and am shocked by how they managed to improve over the XB1 pad which seemed like perfection to me at the time. I now own three Series X pads lol. Black for my PC, blue for Series X, and my newly ordered highlighter yellow looking one for my tablet.

Best controller ever as far as I'm concerned. So comfy and responsive and the d-pad is top tier.
 
Got my Series X less than a month after making this post, and am shocked by how they managed to improve over the XB1 pad which seemed like perfection to me at the time. I now own three Series X pads lol. Black for my PC, blue for Series X, and my newly ordered highlighter yellow looking one for my tablet.

Best controller ever as far as I'm concerned. So comfy and responsive and the d-pad is top tier.
My only real complaint is my d-pad is kind of squeeky. L and R should be down further too.

Easily the best d-pad I've ever used though.
 
Got my Series X less than a month after making this post, and am shocked by how they managed to improve over the XB1 pad which seemed like perfection to me at the time. I now own three Series X pads lol. Black for my PC, blue for Series X, and my newly ordered highlighter yellow looking one for my tablet.

Best controller ever as far as I'm concerned. So comfy and responsive and the d-pad is top tier.
I've heard a lot of good things about the Xbox Series X controller. Is the D-pad better than the one for SNES? For like 2D games?
 
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I've heard a lot of good things about the Xbox Series X controller. Is the D-pad better than the one for SNES? For like 2D games?

It's subjective, but I wanna say yes.

Controller is definitely grippier than the standard Xbox One pad. This has the grips on the back of the handles like the Xbox One sports edition controllers did (i have the red one)

I always appreciated a grippier controller like the "High Frequency" SNES Pads. Even better than the official Nintendo ones

j35G2L6.png


I think RadioShack made them iirc. As a kid I always gave my friends the official Nintendo pad and used this one. The plastic is textured.

Series X's D-Pad is really neat though!


Control_1.jpg


It's bowl shaped but it still feels more like a normal d-pad than anything. SUPER CLICKY and precise. I think the bowl shape helps with directional inputs. Feels more natural than you'd expect, your thumb sorta rests in the base of the bowl and you rock it around.

The weirdest d-pad was on the Duke though, seems like this is a MUCH smarter take on that concept

upRfuVU.png


Like lmao look at this hunk of melted plastic, no clue what they were thinking

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In short: I wanna say yes. I never dig out my USB SNES controller for emulation since I got a Series X, but it's been longer than I'd care to admit since I've held a SNES pad proper (sold my SNES in like 2017 or so) ... i assure you it's preferable to the D-Pad on my NEW 3DS XL or Vita though. Those are here in the same room with me and they feel flimsy and mushy in comparison.

YMMV, go buy one dude :cool:
 
@teezzy Switch Pro Controller and Xbox One controller are the most luxurious and overall well rounded video game controllers I have ever felt and gamed with. The XSX controller looks premium

I never thought about it until recently, but the SNES original controller was about as simplistic as it could get while also standing the test of time. It might be a top five controller still to this day. It's been since 2003-2004 that I've used one but I can still recall how nice it felt. There are more comfortable controllers out there by a long shot, but there was something about the way you would hold that controller and play games with it that felt natural and allowed you go fully at the screen, in the game, and immerse yourself. Maybe it was also due to the difficulty of SNES games that helpe with immersion, since you ha to stay in the game and advance before you could save
 
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@teezzy Switch Pro Controller and Xbox One controller are the most luxurious and overall well rounded video game controllers I have ever felt and gamed with. The XSX controller looks premium

I never thought about it until recently, but the SNES original controller was about as simplistic as it could get while also standing the test of time. It might be a top five controller still to this day. It's been since 2003-2004 that I've used one but I can still recall how nice it felt. There are more comfortable controllers out there by a long shot, but there was something about the way you would hold that controller and play games with it that felt natural and allowed you go fully at the screen, in the game, and immerse yourself. Maybe it was also due to the difficulty of SNES games that helpe with immersion, since you ha to stay in the game and advance before you could save


Yeah there's a reason every current controller still carries an iteration of the standard SNES button layout to this day. They did something right there for sure 🙂