Topic: Favorite and most hated Controller - that you have actually used.

Let's talk about controllers that we have actually used. Which ones do we love, and which ones still make us sick. But stick to ones you have actually used, rather than just going on google to see the ugliest monster you can find.

For me, my favorites are Gamecube and Switch Pro as the are the most comfortable for me to hold for long sessions.

My most hated was the original Xbox controller. The thing was a beast, and having it when I was in early high school, having not yet fully grown hands... eww. Even now it still feels bulky and awkward.

It's close for me but I'd have to go with the Switch Pro Controller as my favorite. I prefer the triggers on the Xbox One controller but that's really the only edge I give that one over the Pro, which comes close enough as far as triggers are considered anyway.

Least favorite is the GC controller. The size and placement of the Z button annoyed me, the C stick was not better than a regular second analog stick and the d-pad sucked. It also didn't fit comfortably in my hands and, this is a lesser complaint but only two shoulder buttons compared to the competition's four didn't do it any favors either.
The original Xbox 'duke' controller wasn't very comfortable to hold either but by the time I had bought an Xbox in 2004 the shrunk down version of the controller had been made the standard one. The N64 pad also had its issues. The three-prong approach gave it a clunky feel and the analog stick was definitely on the cheap side but it was the best controller for 3D gaming until the dualshock hit the market.

I think my most hated controller was the WiiU Gamepad. Too bulky, the battery ran dry too fast and it looked like children‘s toy rather than a desirable piece of tech.

I also hated the glossy look of the Wii Pro controllers that looked like gamecube controllers and were sold in loads of different styles and colors.

Another thing I hated using was the OG Wii Classic Controller. My hands were way too big for it. I feel like I find more enjoyment In playing with a Joy-Con than using that thing.

I love and accept all controllers. But I admit they're not all equal. Some controllers are created more equal, they're known as the ''elite'' or the ''pro'' models. These are pretty much my prefered controllers:

Likes : Wiimotes, Classic Pro Con for Wii, Joy Cons, Japanese SNES Controller.

Dislikes : Wii U gamepad (Too bulky, Very short battery life), N64 controller (Weird looking and color scheme), 3DS Analog button (too thin, Very risky to be damaged)

Favorite:. GameCube especially the Wavebird version.

Least Favorite: Wiimote. Didn't like the forced waggle controls alot of games had, and using the wiimote horizontally just didn't feel right especially when it came to playing NES VC games.

I'll have to go with the Wii Classic Pro Controller as my top pick. To me it's not just about how it feels in my hands, but also a matter of price and durability. The Wii CPC was incredibly well built (despite being little more than a hollow piece of plastic), correct weight and shape, and the buttons feel just perfect. Getting rid of the rumble pack (which to me is unnecessary) and all the frills, they could be sold for as little as €20 - that means they were easily replaceable, although you'll never need to replace them because these things are so sturdy, they are basically eternal. I've had mine for 10 years, still use them daily and they are as good as new. The only drawback is the (short) wire.

Least favourite controllers, I have a ton to list, but most of them probably because I never really tried getting used to them in the first place. I can't stand the GameCube controller, although I know it's regarded as a pinnacle of ergonomics. I can't stand the 360 controller either. One of the worst controllers I actually used for years was the Dreamcast one - a hollow piece of plastic shaped like a spaceship with handles, no weight to it except the VMUs, and the wire mystifyingly placed towards the player rather than outwards. The cross-pad worked wonders with fighting games and space shooters but was practically useless with every other genre.

The 8 - 16 - 32bit controllers, I played most of them and I don't remember ever complaining for the quality of any, but that was a long time ago.

Favorite: Switch Pro controller.

Despised: Wiimotes and the entire generation that spawned a reliance on motion controls.

Somewhere between those two are the N64, Dreamcast, Saturn, and Genesis controllers. (I was never a fan of Sega's controllers.) Sony's controllers have always been comfortable, if a little small. They were decent enough to omit. The Wii U tablet on the other hand was awful.

Ranking after the Switch Pro would have to be the Gamecube controller, specifically the WaveBird. Oh, the memories of binge-playing Gamecube games on my bed with the fat but inviting WaveBird!

Favourite would be the joycons! Easily the best built controllers to come from Nintendo. Despite being small they have a good amount of weight to them, and the button placement is perfect. Motion controls, HD rumble, and NFC are a bonus.

As for traditional controllers... I'd say Xbox One and PS4 are tied. These companies manage to improve their controllers massively with each generation and the most recent iterations are bordering on perfection.

As for worst? Dreamcast. I'm still not sure how I'm meant to hold the thing. The analog stick, dpad, face buttons and shoulder buttons are spaced in such a way that it's impossible to access all of them comfortably... Why is the analog stick so high relative to the triggers? Its also just unnecessarily bulky.

Runner up would be the N64 controller for the trident structure and the flimsy analog stick.

My fav is Saturn. It is just the best controller ever made IMO. The Duke Xbox controller I really liked. I actually liked that it was large and the Gamecube controller looked strange but it felt nice in the hands.

I have to say the worst is N64 followed closely by the Jaguar. I couldn't stand either of these and every time I use an N64 controller today I still complain about how terribly designed it is. I really like the shape of Dreamcast controller but the d-pad was awful.

Favorite: WiiU Gamepad.
Hated: Dualshock ANYTHING...4 is bearable but not by much.

Favourite - Gamecube Controller by far, I've never had any issues with them. I know that MK Wii was supposed to be an amazing use of motion controls but I used a GC controller the whole time!

Worst - N64 controller, it has three or four different ways of holding it and the shoulder buttons just never felt right to me. Control stick was the same, and it wasn't built to last as long as the rest of the controller. I also found it strange that you control a camera in a 3D games with four arrow buttons...but it must have been impressive back in the day....

Favourite - Switch Pro controller, used to be GameCube but there's enough I like more about the Switch Pro controller that no analog triggers is an ok sacrifice.

Worst - N64 controller, just don't like the feel of it. Thankfully VC existing on Wii/Wii U made it possible to play N64 games with a better controller.

Favorites:

#1 - SNES Controller: Basically the perfect controller, at least for 2D games. A wonderful D-Pad, shoulder buttons, start, select, and face buttons arranged in a diamond shape. Simplistic perfection.

#2 - Nintendo Switch Joycon: While I dislike the asymmetrical analog stick layout layout, it's incredibly nice to play games in whatever stupid, comfortable position I want. I pretty much never use the grip. Why would I? These little lovelies deserve to be free, just as they liberate the hands from gripping one connected piece of plastic in front of you. Their versatility is also nice (first console I've ever owned that came with two fully functional controllers out of the box!), and the D-Buttons, while different from a traditional D-Pad, are actually better for certain games. Overall, a really unique, innovative, and fun controller(s).

#3 - Dualshock 4: While it does have flaws (options and share buttons should be actual buttons instead of sensitive crevices, the touchpad is useless and hogs up space in the middle of the controller, and the lightbar is annoying in a dark room), it's probably the single most comfortable controller I've ever used. The dualshock layout ensures easy, comfortable access to both the analog sticks and the D-Pad, of course, and, as usual for DS controllers, branding the face buttons with shapes makes it easy to remember where they are on the controller (whereas, if you switch between Nintendo and Xbox controllers, it's easy to get the two layouts confused and hit the wrong buttons once in a while). The analog sticks are designed to grip your thumbs easily, and the triggers are smooth and wonderful. While my feelings about Playstation consoles change every generation, my love for the the dualshock design never will.

Honorable mention - GameCube controller: The c-stick is piddly, the D-Pad is a joke, and it basically only makes sense to use this to play Smash 4 and GameCube games (which were designed with the layout in mind), but, with those limitations in mind, this is still a wonderful controller. Love the sticks, the clicky jellybean face buttons, and the satisfying triggers that perfectly curve with your fingers.
~
~
Hated:

#1 - "The Duke" Xbox Controller: A tumor with buttons. An abomination in controller design. I have nothing but pure hatred for this thing.

#2 - N64 Controller: As far as I can tell, this was designed to be enjoyed by some mysterious, three-handed creature that I've never seen. The first of Nintendo's really weird controllers. Liked almost nothing about this. Also, the directional stick feels brittle and breaks easily. A massive downgrade compared to Sony's first dualshock controller.

#3 - Wii Classic Controller: I don't know what I dislike most about this: the glossy plastic, the horrible analog sticks, the shallow triggers, or even that the thing needs to be plugged into a Wiimote to work. I've just never liked this controller. It's uncomfortable to use.

Dishonorable mention - Sega Genesis controller: Weird looking, and I detest the button layout on this thing. Otherwise, it works for its purposes.

I am honestly shocked by how many people dislike the N64 controller. I knew many people thought it was odd, but never knew people really disliked it! I guess I was just blinded by a bit of Nostalgia. It's not one of my favorite controllers, but I never disliked it.

N64 would be my first favorite.. man, the excitement that thing instilled in me when N64 came out, i felt like i had the coolest thing ever in my hands... that level of enthusiasm wouldn't be met again until the day i bought my switch and got to experience joy cons for the first time.

Joy cons are the best flipping controllers ever... before that i would have said the DS3 was the best controller ever (though PS controllers never gave me that "WOW" feeling, i always just felt it was the best damn controller (never touched a DS4)).

Dumbest controller I've ever used? Xbox1.. and after playing on a xbox when it came out I've never wanted to touch one again, so I've never used a 360 or One controller and chose the DS3 for PC gaming.

My least favorite is the N64 controller.
My favorite is the DualShock 2, it is really comfortable and ergonomic, has a good number of inputs and it's all around a great controller.

The GC controller is pretty comfortable as well, but for games that weren't designed for the GC it can be pretty bad, for example platformers where you have to hold two action buttons together to run and jump at the same time.
On the Megaman X games for example, there are times when it's convenient to use dash+jump (to gain more height) and charge your weapon at the same time. It's very possible to do this on a dualshock, but pressing three action buttons at the same time on the GC controller would be hard considering the shape and position of the buttons.
The D-pad is also very small and harder to reach in comparison to the analog stick. I remember using it for menu shortcuts on Paper Mario: TTYD and not a lot more than this.

I also really like the Classic Controller Pro. You need to connect it to the Wiimote, there's no rumble and it's noticeably light, but it feels great to hold!
It does resemble the DS2, but the analogs are in a slightly different position. The analogs sticks seem to be the same as ones on the Nunchuk, which I find very pleasant. The D-Pad is also very nice.
Even though it's not 100% wireless, I really enjoyed to use it for classic games and compatible Wii games such as XC and Sonic Colors.

I hated the Genesis controller, along with the Wii remote+Nunchuck combo. As for favorites, I have to give it to the dualshocks and the SNES controller, just for how comfy they are to hold.

Best - Sega Saturn controller

Worst - Dual Shock 1234 - don't like them at all. Although truthfully, the original Xbox controller is probably the worst.

Favorite would be the turbo duo or the wiiu u pro. (Haven’t tried the switch pro)

Absolutely the worst is the Xbox duke.