people always talk about Nintendo controllers being the best ever

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Poll of the Day » people always talk about Nintendo controllers being the best ever
MomSpringfield
09/10/2025
02:16 AM
#1
but they look the least ergonomic of all. N64 controller looks like it was made for alien ass hands
Lokarin
09/10/2025
04:34 AM
#2
Usually people mean the NES and SNES controllers... although I have a fondess for the GC controller at the time; and I can't play Smash without it
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MICHALECOLE
09/10/2025
05:18 AM
#3
Quick somebody explain what opinions are and how they may differ from person to person
hockey7318
09/10/2025
06:55 AM
#4
Yeah, I don't think people are normally talking about the N64 controller being the best. That is more of a nostalgia thing than being in any way ergonomically pleasing.

Now the GC controllers I've heard be mentioned as the best as well as the Switch pro being pretty good too.
adjl
09/10/2025
09:21 AM
#5
The N64 controller isn't even that bad. It's not good , either, but so many people take one look at it and immediately stop thinking after "how I hold?", seemingly completely missing that every single game's manual tells you exactly which grip to use (and even if you don't have the manual, it's not exactly hard to intuit from in-game tutorials which two arms it uses, plus there are only like three games that use anything other than centre+right). It's clearly outclassed by all subsequent controllers that use analog sticks, both functionally and ergonomically, but even now I don't particularly mind using it.

But yes, people praising Nintendo's controllers generally aren't including the N64 in there. It was clearly an early experiment that didn't take.
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Glob
09/10/2025
09:28 AM
#6
I never found GameCube controllers to be all that comfortable compared to the others of the time, but they were much more durable.
Snoregasm
09/10/2025
09:44 AM
#7
The affection for Nintendo controllers proves Stockholm syndrome is real
Guilty of snore crimes
keyblader1985
09/10/2025
10:03 AM
#8
Who says that? I've never heard it. Closest I've noticed is the longstanding love of the Gamecube controller (which I personally never liked).
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man101
09/10/2025
10:05 AM
#9
They were the best because prior to the switch they could be relied upon to continue working more or less perfectly forever. Meanwhile you sneeze a little too menacingly at an Xbox 360 controller and it breaks. Although ironically I find the 360 controller to be the most ergonomic of any controller ever.

Now it seems like every controller is a cheap piece of crap that costs way too much. I've never used an Xbox one controller but given their track record I wouldn't expect much.
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DeathMagnetic80
09/10/2025
10:44 AM
#10
The N64 controller was basically designed around Super Mario 64. The problem is it was good for first party games or exclusives like Goldeneye that took it into account, but made multiplatform stuff less than ideal. Similar thing with the GameCube.
ParanoidObsessive
09/10/2025
11:14 AM
#11
MomSpringfield posted...
people always talk about Nintendo controllers being the best ever

I never say that. I've always said that the N64 controller is one of the worst controllers invented by human beings. Even more so than the Intellivision controller, and that one would literally make your thumbs bleed if you played too much.

Even with the NES/SNES, which probably were the best of their generation (and which went on to inspire the PS controller), it's not that they're the best ever , more that they were some of the best of their time. As much as I loved the SNES controller in the 90s, I'd never want to go back to it now.

As far as I'm concerned, Nintendo hasn't made a worthwhile controller since the SNES (apart from the Switch Pro Controller, but that's arguably a "non-standard" controller because it doesn't actually come with its console).
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OhhhJa
09/10/2025
11:16 AM
#12
The regular switch controller sucks. Feels like it's made for tiny hands
ParanoidObsessive
09/10/2025
11:20 AM
#13
OhhhJa posted...
The regular switch controller sucks. Feels like it's made for tiny hands

It probably is. Nintendo consoles are mostly designed for Japanese people and children.

That's part of why I loved the Xbox 360 controller - as a giant human being who occasionally walks face-first into ceiling fans and who has similarly giant hands, the bigger controllers are the most ergonomically pleasing to hold.
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keyblader1985
09/10/2025
12:40 PM
#14
The SNES controller set the standard for good basic design, and then the good ones improved on it from there.
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ConfusedTorchic
09/10/2025
03:24 PM
#15
the snes controller isn't even good

shit is uncomfortable for anyone who doesn't have baby hands
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JixHedgehog
09/10/2025
03:26 PM
#16
I think the NES controller did a permanent number on my thumb and the Switch joycons are just.. terrible..

.. but dang if the GameCube controller isn't the best

Nintendo knows its good, that's why it keeps getting re-released
Revelation34
09/10/2025
03:28 PM
#17
keyblader1985 posted...
Who says that? I've never heard it. Closest I've noticed is the longstanding love of the Gamecube controller (which I personally never liked).


Only the yellow stick and maybe the Z buttons were an issue.
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adjl
09/10/2025
03:29 PM
#18
JixHedgehog posted...
Nintendo knows its good, that's why it keeps getting re-released

It's more that it's the ideal controller for Smash. Before the NSO rerelease (which is in line with them rereleasing versions of every other retro controller for NSO), all of the rereleases of the GC controller were tied to Smash games coming out.

Revelation34 posted...
Only the yellow stick and maybe the Z buttons were an issue.

Yeah, it's mostly just a bit dated. Slightly thicker arms, a C-stick with the same design as the left stick, L3/R3, and a ZL button, and it'd be pretty much perfect outside of the handful of games that require face button patterns that don't work well with its asymmetric layout.
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ParanoidObsessive
09/10/2025
04:02 PM
#19
ConfusedTorchic posted...
the snes controller isn't even good

shit is uncomfortable for anyone who doesn't have baby hands

Most of us just think it's good because when we actually used it, we had baby hands.
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Salrite
09/10/2025
04:12 PM
#20
man101 posted...
They were the best because prior to the switch they could be relied upon to continue working more or less perfectly forever. Meanwhile you sneeze a little too menacingly at an Xbox 360 controller and it breaks. Although ironically I find the 360 controller to be the most ergonomic of any controller ever.

I've never had any issues with my 360 controller aside from the wireless receiver failing. I'm still using it for PC. It works great.
adjl
09/10/2025
05:10 PM
#21
Salrite posted...
I've never had any issues with my 360 controller aside from the wireless receiver failing. I'm still using it for PC. It works great.

The rubber wore off of parts of the left stick of my wired one, and the cable started losing connection if it was held at the wrong angle, which progressively got worse. I broke down and replaced it with a new Switch Pro controller last year. It worked fine for like 12-14 years of being my only PC controller, though, so I can't complain too much. I wore out the stick on one of my Wavebirds faster than that (though, to be fair, Smash is particularly hard on sticks).
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Nade_Duck
09/10/2025
05:35 PM
#22
none of their controllers have ever been bad (ignoring the virtual boy being a freak of nature), even the N64 was at worst okay. only time i've ever had a real issue with one was the control stick on the GCN and switch. don't really blame the GCN issue on nintendo, that was probably just way too much melee and it's still one of my favorite controllers ever. the stick drift on the switch was definitely obnoxious though. thankfully it's only happened to me once.

tbh i've never really had a controller that i really hated. the original PS controller design was kinda ass i guess, but they improved on that over the years.
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adjl
09/10/2025
05:38 PM
#23
Nade_Duck posted...
the stick drift on the switch was definitely obnoxious though. thankfully it's only happened to me once.

They're also pretty good about fixing it for free. It's still annoying, but the minor inconvenience of being without a controller for a week or two isn't the end of the world.
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ConfusedTorchic
09/10/2025
06:55 PM
#24
ParanoidObsessive posted...
Most of us just think it's good because when we actually used it, we had baby hands.

i thought it sucked even when i was a kid.

the n64 controller was great because you could actually hold the fuckin thing comfortably

we definitely do not need to return to controllers just being a thin rectangular slab
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adjl
09/10/2025
09:02 PM
#25
Yeah, I'm always a little baffled by people including the NES in good controllers. Like it did the job, certainly, and it was good for its time, but it absolutely is not a good controller by any modern standards, even without considering its functional limitations.
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Nade_Duck
09/10/2025
09:28 PM
#26
NES and SNES controllers are in the same category at the PS controller for me. they do what they need to do and aren't bad at it, but i don't get why anyone would willingly go back to that. SNES slightly less so.
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adjl
09/10/2025
11:03 PM
#27
I'd consider the SNES controller to be minimum viable product, by modern standards (at least for games that don't need analog controls). It's not a bad controller, it's just been improved on in virtually every possible way.
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ConfusedTorchic
09/11/2025
12:10 AM
#28
og playstation controller was an improved snes controller in every way, it was great

when they added sticks to it is where the problem comes in
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Lokarin
09/11/2025
01:04 AM
#29
ConfusedTorchic posted...
og playstation controller was an improved snes controller in every way, it was great

I disagree due to inferior D-pad

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ConfusedTorchic
09/11/2025
01:41 AM
#30
the dpads are all the goddamn same and you know it
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Damn_Underscore
09/11/2025
06:15 AM
#31
Genesis and Saturn controllers > NES and SNES controllers
Heed the detour, life's like a seesaw
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Lokarin
09/11/2025
06:41 AM
#32
Damn_Underscore posted...
Genesis and Saturn controllers > NES and SNES controllers

I have not played the Saturn; but the Genesis controller is just inferior in general.

I'd give it equal in terms of D-pad, and the larger ABC buttons are more ergonomic; but you lose too much by being, what, 4 fewer buttons?
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Damn_Underscore
09/11/2025
07:53 AM
#33
The Saturn controller (model 2) is truly unmatched. I understand liking the SNES controller over the Genesis controller, although I had a Genesis controller with a perfect DPad and I really loved that
Heed the detour, life's like a seesaw
Ups and downs, and I bet there will be more
GameReviews
09/11/2025
08:22 AM
#34
I think most people acknowledge that the N64 controller is the worst Nintendo controller. I say this as someone who isn't even a Nintendo guy.
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Revelation34
09/11/2025
11:49 AM
#35
Lokarin posted...


I have not played the Saturn; but the Genesis controller is just inferior in general.

I'd give it equal in terms of D-pad, and the larger ABC buttons are more ergonomic; but you lose too much by being, what, 4 fewer buttons?


Less buttons means less weird combos.
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Blue_Thunder
09/11/2025
12:10 PM
#36
keyblader1985 posted...
Who says that? I've never heard it. Closest I've noticed is the longstanding love of the Gamecube controller (which I personally never liked).

This.
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adjl
09/11/2025
01:55 PM
#37
Actually, having fewer buttons can mean more weird combos, since it means you have fewer options for attaching a given action to a single button press. You see this a lot with console ports of PC games that made good and efficient use of the keyboard: Quite a few actions end up mapped to things like "hold R and press X," just because there aren't enough buttons to cover all of them without invoking combos like that.

The flip side, though, is that having more buttons available means mappings become more arbitrary and less intuitive, which I think might be what you're actually getting at. If you're playing Super Mario Bros on the NES, A is jump and B is run/fireball. This makes sense, because A is the easiest to reach and jumping is the game's core mechanic. If you're playing Super Mario Bros on a controller with buttons for A through H, though, it's anyone's guess which button ends up being jump and you're less likely to see similar controls between similar games. Standards can still arise (WASD for keyboards being the best example), but it's messier than if there are relatively few buttons available.
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ultra_magnus13
09/11/2025
02:39 PM
#38
The lineage of good controlers.

NES: Fine then, but outclassed by SNES
SNES: Fine then, but outclassed by PS1
PS1: Fine then, but outclassed by Dual Shock
Dual Shock: Fine then, but outclassed by 360
360: Fine then, but outclassed by X1/Series X
X1: Current champ

One offs an failures
.
Genesis: Ok but inferior
Saturn: Ok but inferior
Dreamcast: Not good, but usable

64: Always bad
Cube: Great ergos, and wonderful for games built around it (Smash) but not very good for more traditional stuff.
Wii: Bad
?huh?........ it's just a box.
fettster777
09/11/2025
03:10 PM
#39
yeah the n64 controller I hate to say was the stupidest fucking controller design ever. Even worse than Dreamcast. Gamecube was pretty weird too but was at least comfortable. Playstation and Xbox controllers, and Switch Pro controller are all considerably better.

I'm not even considering the wiimote as a controller. That was a remote control. A terrible one.
adjl
09/11/2025
04:32 PM
#40
Wiichucks in particular get a lot of undeserved hate. Functionally, they were definitely too limited, which hampered the Wii's ability to stay relevant because multiplat games just straight up weren't compatible (plus the obvious performance issues, but the Wii's market share was large enough that downgrading multiplat games to match its specs might have been worthwhile if not for the controller incompatibility issues), and the motion control angle was hit or miss, but they were actually quite comfortable as a controller. Having the freedom to put your hands wherever you want while playing instead of locking them a few inches apart is pretty nice.

Joycons are even better in that regard, and without the functional limitations, but they're not as ergonomic.
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FrozenBananas
09/11/2025
05:15 PM
#41
Only the SNES, GameCube and Wavebird are good controllers.

the joy cons on the switch are particularly terrible. Theyre way too small and look awkward when they transform into a controller. The pro controller is pretty bad ass though.

i think were in a weird time right now, where the 3rd party cheap controllers are actually the best ones. I found its that way with the switch, atleast
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Salrite
09/11/2025
05:23 PM
#42
adjl posted...
Wiichucks in particular get a lot of undeserved hate. Functionally, they were definitely too limited, which hampered the Wii's ability to stay relevant because multiplat games just straight up weren't compatible (plus the obvious performance issues, but the Wii's market share was large enough that downgrading multiplat games to match its specs might have been worthwhile if not for the controller incompatibility issues), and the motion control angle was hit or miss, but they were actually quite comfortable as a controller. Having the freedom to put your hands wherever you want while playing instead of locking them a few inches apart is pretty nice.

Says they got undeserved hate, starts listing all the things wrong with them, lol.

The problem with the Wii controllers is that they were a dumb gimmick that only ever really worked out for a significantly small amount of titles that were specifically designed for them. Everyone just wanted a normal controller that didn't force you into using barely functional motion controls for games that would have been significantly better without them. The fact that they were "comfortable" is in spite of it all. I wouldn't even give them that, because of how cumbersome it was to fiddle with all the individual pieces needed to get them to work. Just give me one thing that turns on and works out of the box.
adjl
09/11/2025
06:47 PM
#43
Salrite posted...
The problem with the Wii controllers is that they were a dumb gimmick that only ever really worked out for a significantly small amount of titles that were specifically designed for them.

Wiichucks worked perfectly fine for plenty of games that didn't do anything with motion controls. Heck, even when motion controls did factor in, I prefer Wiimote pointer control for first-person games over dual analog (obviously pointer controls are inferior to M+KB, but we're talking about controllers and that means we're considering the issue from the perspective of a console peasant such that M+KB isn't part of the comparison).

Salrite posted...
I wouldn't even give them that, because of how cumbersome it was to fiddle with all the individual pieces needed to get them to work.

It's two things. Rarely even two things that you're considering independently of each other, unless you're swapping between games that demand different configurations. If I'm picking up a Wii game for the first time in a while, yes, it's more involved to fish out both a wiimote and a nunchuck/CCP than to fish out a single controller, but that happens so rarely that I have no reservations calling that a negligible issue.

Salrite posted...
Says they got undeserved hate, starts listing all the things wrong with them, lol.

I mean, I'm not going to pretend there weren't problems. The existence of those problems doesn't mean they were never a pleasant experience to use, though, and the "undeserved hate" to which I refer is people saying just that. I do really like having my arms detached like that. I wish joycons were better so I could take more advantage of that option with the Switch, but the pro controller is just so much more comfortable that it offsets that potential benefit.
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Revelation34
09/11/2025
07:33 PM
#44
fettster777 posted...
yeah the n64 controller I hate to say was the stupidest fucking controller design ever. Even worse than Dreamcast. Gamecube was pretty weird too but was at least comfortable. Playstation and Xbox controllers, and Switch Pro controller are all considerably better.

I'm not even considering the wiimote as a controller. That was a remote control. A terrible one.


Nah that belongs to the Sega Saturn 3D controller.
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ConfusedTorchic
09/11/2025
10:12 PM
#45
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/67ec247a.jpg

look at this absolute idiot
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jsb0714
09/11/2025
10:26 PM
#46
MomSpringfield posted...
but they look the least ergonomic of all. N64 controller looks like it was made for alien ass hands
Gamers had more brains in the 90s I guess. N64 controllers worked just fine and were not difficult to use at all.
Revelation34
09/11/2025
11:30 PM
#47
ConfusedTorchic posted...
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/67ec247a.jpg

look at this absolute idiot


That's the one I mentioned. Probably a third party due to the colors.
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ConfusedTorchic
09/11/2025
11:33 PM
#48
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/a/a6b9cff2.jpg

but what if this was just what the n64 controller looked like
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ultra_magnus13
09/12/2025
01:59 AM
#49
ConfusedTorchic posted...
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/a/a6b9cff2.jpg

but what if this was just what the n64 controller looked like

It would still suck due to only having one shoulder button on each side, and the C buttons not being large enough/properly placed to be good face buttons.
?huh?........ it's just a box.
Revelation34
09/12/2025
02:17 AM
#50
ultra_magnus13 posted...


It would still suck due to only having one shoulder button on each side, and the C buttons not being large enough/properly placed to be good face buttons.


Having more than one shoulder button does nothing good.
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Poll of the Day » people always talk about Nintendo controllers being the best ever
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