Topic: They should have removed buttons from the controller

I understand this would create some problems with third party games, but most limitations can be worked around, and the benefits are great, especially in portable mode.

D-pad
On the pro controller it's in such an awkward place you end up using the stick for everything. On the joycons it's split, making it nearly impossible to use well. It should be removed.

ZL/ZR
You only got two index fingers, so having only two shoulder buttons is better. It would also make the joycons much slimmer and is more suitable for handheld mode.

One of the A-B-X-Y buttons
With just 3 action buttons you can quickly press all 3, especially if they are in a tight triangle formation, which also would be better for the joycon ergonomics. Having four buttons in what is now the standard formation of a tilted square means you are always too far away from one button.

If they had done all of this, we would get back to a time where fast reactions and hand eye coordination won games, the way it should be. It would of course require a lot of thinking about how games like Breath of the Wild would work. Console games were never about having 16 buttons (not counting the Home button and Screenshoot button) to utilize super complex games. 9 buttons are more than enough (-, +, L, R, A, B, X, Press left stick, Press right stick).

Maybe with the next generation of Switch they'll do something like that.

10/10, excellent troll attempt - IGN.

You might want to invest in one of these instead:

It should've had one button, and Zelda should've been a Flappy Bird clone.

On the topic of shoulder buttons, they're usually spaced well enough that you never accidentally hit the wrong one. I've never played a game that required you to hit both at the same time. Even games that don't have a use for both will often map the same control onto both of them. I can't see how getting rid of the second one would add anything to the experience, just take away.

I have to admit I have shouted fus ro dah on accident more than once.

But it wasn't really because of the button being close together and more because I tend to rest my index finger near the button.

It's definitely not a trolling attempt. In Fallout 4 you use the D-pad to quick change weapons, use stim-packs and rad away, and I was thinking how ridiculous it is on a console game to have to do all that instead of just creating a character and enjoying the combat.

And Nintendos own games often don't even make use of all the buttons, instead in games like Super Mario Odyssey and Kirby lots of the buttons do the same thing.

It's interesting because a lot of people say they prefer older consoles because they have less buttons, so you can more easily get into the games. I was actually thinking of a modern rendition of something like that, but with dual analog sticks, which is absolutely needed for 3D games.

Well, we have to learn to accept that not everything will cater to us.

If you prefer simpler games on simpler consoles, that's perfectly fine, it honestly is.

You don't need to change the switch, you can get something else that suits your needs better instead.

(Or play with a single joycon)

Market research will of course determine the future course, but now that the Switch has had mainstream success they might go that route with the Switch 2, so they can get more of tablet gamers.

@Meowpheel Ok but what about that time you shouted it in the middle of the grocery store? You can’t blame the buttons...

@Agriculture I think most people say they prefer old games because of nostalgia, not because they were necessarily better. However, I think the amount of buttons on the controller is fine... controllers always have to balance functionality (does it allow you to do everything you need to do in a game) and usability (can it be used easily). In the case of modern controllers it's a good balance as there are many games that simply NEED the current setup.

Also, don't forget it's up to the games developers whether to actually use all the buttons.

Just to address something in your original post though, please don't blame the joycon/pro controller design issues on the number of buttons - the placements are designed for the "detachable controller" gimmick of the Switch. I believe the pro controller mimics the joycon placement to a degree so that it's doesn't feel completely alien when switching (aha) between the two.

@Ryzaerian no joke it once happened after talking to the queen-jarl-person in solitude.

I think this is partially to blame. The developers have 16 buttons to work with, so they never try to figure out if there are better ways to do something. When Bungie made Halo they only allowed the player to carry two weapons because consoles didn't have scroll wheels. Such outside the box thinking is uncommon since all current controllers have so many buttons.

@Agriculture Just theoretically, what would you suggest happens to games that are unable to simplify their control schemes? For example Minecraft for the console already feels hindered by having to use awkward shortcuts to makeup for the lack of keyboard... would they simply become PC only?

You need to rework the game design when you port a game. I agree that it can lead to cheap solutions like having elaborate shortcuts, but the same is true for other aspects of the Switch. For example how developers sell games that needs a large download to work, since they think game cards are too expensive.

Anyhow, I'm going to give you an example of a game I've played and I want the Switch to get. GTAV. When you're driving you use R2 to accelerate, L2 to break, and then L1 to fire your weapon, and the right analog stick to aim it. As you may understand, even if you've never played the game, this is pretty much a nightmare to attempt, and you need to do it a lot in the "campaign". The solution to all of this is simply to make the B-button on the Switch fire the gun and then it auto-targets the objective. Other games can use similar "outside the box" thinking.

All consoles have too many buttons for Javier...

@subpopz Plus the original Atari controllers did only have one button & a control stick and a lot of people say they prefer older consoles because they have less buttons...

Perfect ..... lol

I feel I must disagree here on the number of buttons.

I feel the amount is right, and that the current number is comfortable enough. Like, I don't know, I used both Switch and Xbox One controller and both of them are really great in being comfortable in my hand. Heck, I don't even need ALL the buttons on most games I play, but why do I want them to still exist? When those complex games come by

(Also, why even get rid one of the action buttons?? That don't even make a lick of sense when you can just make it need to get the bottom three buttons to do that same thing without getting rid of the top button)

This feels a lot more like you wanted controllers to only be your way tbh :/