Topic: What controller should I buy?

Hello everybody, I got a Wii U a couple of days ago and I think a Pro Controller could come in handy for at least a couple games I'm interested in.
But... I don't want that unholy son of an Xbox and Playstation controller also known as "the official one".
As far as I know, there are a couple third-party gamepads that have a different button layout:
The GCN-like HORI battle pad (http://www.amazon.com/HORI-Battle-Mario-Version-Turbo-u/dp/B00ND0E5ZU ) and the Xbox-like Nyko Pro Commander (http://www.nyko.com/products/product-detail/?name=Pro+Commander ).
Has anybody tried one of these two out? Are they any good?

Thank you in advance

I believe the 3rd party controllers generally speaking are just Wii classic controllers in terms of game support. So if the game doesn't support Wii classic controllers, you'll not be able to use the controller.

There are also a couple of Wii U Pro Controller bootlegs on the market, and they seem to generally give users problems.

I always preferred the game pad. Still, if you must get a secondary controller, get the official ones. I bought one of the 3rd party WiiMotes because I think the prices on the official one are insane but it worked so poorly that I had to buy a real one anyway.

Yeah, you have the nyko pro commander and pdp afterglow pro controller as official one for one equivalents of the Wii U pro controller.

I've never used the nyko model, but I've heard the d pad is pretty horrid, I have used the pdp model.....it's an ok controller, the triggers feel like an analog model, but I don't know if that's just for sure.....I do like that feature, and the rumble is pretty good......but again, the d pad sucks.

Stick with the pro controller, the crazy charge life trumps anything else and the pad is the best in the business. However, although the nyko and pdp models have some downsides, after a bit of research and use, both seem fairly solid and capable.

I've read a couple reviews... you're probably right about the quality, so I'll have to get a regular Nintendo Pro Controller (it looks uncomfortable as hell, tbh :/)

Thank you all!

The Pro Controller is the best controller I've ever used so I don't know why you'd complain about it. I certainly don't know why you'd go for one of those janky third party controllers instead. I mean what's so bad about the Pro Controller? I always hear people complain about it but I haven't once heard a reason why it's actually bad. It's just people parroting the same lines about how it "copied" the 360 controller (and therefore also the Dual Shock and the SNES and the Dreamcast and etc etc). Not realising that most controllers are similar like that not because they're lazy but because that design works pretty well.

I have one hooked upto my PC so I use it PC games as well as Wii U games and it has never really felt off. So I've played everything from Super Meat Boy, Shovel Knight and Donkey Kong to Bioshock Infinite, Bayonetta 2 and Smash Bros on it. Is that enough testing for you? I actually like the fact that the analogue sticks are both high, a lot of modern games have you on both sticks most of the time so having them in the most comfortable spot makes sense. Personally my only complaint about it would be the glossy finish which particularly on the black one looks pretty average after a bit of use.

Pro controller rocks, man. Seriously. I use it for anything that doesn't absolutely require the gamepad. It's the perfect, comfy size, and is quite familiar to an Xbox One controller but somehow even sleeker.

I'd recommend getting the Wii U Pro Controller, but before that I'd get at least one set of Wiimote/Chuk with a Wii Classic Controller Pro. The CCP will work with many Wii U games and it's also necessary for some Wii games.

What a cluster f':! of controller options, Nintendo should have thought this through a bit better starting with the Wii era.

Get the Pro Controller.

/thread

The Giotech 2nd model ones are quite good because they work as a classic controller as well with a switch problem is the price has gone sky high (I paid less than £15) and they are hard to get outside the UK.

I don't know, it's not that bad. It's basically GamePad and a GamePad without a screen as the actual Wii U controllers plus support for Wii controllers. At least the only things you can'd do with the GamePad alone is stuff in WiiMode and Wii Sports Club. Compare that to the Wii where some games would need the nunchuck, some would require Wii Motion Plus and some VC games required the Classic Controller. On the Wii U it only gets a bit complicated when you get to multiplayer games.... and unless I'm mistaken all games with multiplayer can be done with the WiiMote.

So it's complicated if you list all the things. However if you just say that the GamePad works with basically everything, WiiMote + Nunchuck works for extra players and the Pro Controller is just a nice alternative for most games? I don't see what's so complicated about that.

The Wii U Pro Controller is perfect!!

The controller setup works perfectly for me as I already owned Wii remotes, nunchucks and classic pros; meaning I can easily play 4 player games without spending a fortune on controllers.

I bought a Pro, but if I was just getting only one extra controller I'd go for a Wii remote and nunchuck/classic combo as it has more uses.

I like the Pro Controller. It's very easy to use and plays just like an XBOX controller. I never use the tablet unless I have to.

Go Pro. I only use the gamepad if I absolutely have to.

IMO the 360 controller is meh. It's not uncomfortable, but that's the best I can say. It's really just adequate for everything. Also the button layout is bothersome. It works on 3DS because everything is close together, but on a larger controller, it's again just adequate.

That just means your hands are too small for it. (Or thumb if you are talking about the face buttons).

I have the opposite issue with the Gamecube controller.

You know, having used the tablet controller a lot during these days, I realised it's not as bad as I thought at first... And I have a couple GCN pads for SSB4, so that won't be a problem. Anyway, should I ever need a Pro Controller, I'll get the original one. Thank you all!