GameCube controller wins some guy’s coveted top 10 controllers honor
Monday, December 1st, 2008 at 12:40pm by Boss Hog
From the SNES pad and Guitar Hero III controller, to the Wii Remote and the DualShock, these are the top 10 video game controllers as voted by James Cook of GameFAQs. The GameCube took the top spot, and I can’t say I disagree, at least when it comes to traditional controllers.
See also:
December 1st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I love the GC controller. They should add some support for the wii or just make an adapter that connects to the Wii remote.
December 1st, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Dual Shock that high? er… no, just no, it’s probably the most uncomfortable thing i’ve ever experienced, edging out the wii classic controller as at least that one has a decent d-pad, and the fact they don’t swap the left stick and d-pad after all this time is stupid and ignorant. It’s an ‘ok’ controller for games that just require digital input and that’s it.. and the snes pad still has a way better d-pad and i more comfortable.
December 1st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
The GC controller is the best at least when it comes to games that were actually made for it, it was pretty mediocre for lots of ports. The only major change I’d make to that list is swap the dualshock with the xbox controller. Pretty much the same layout, except the xbox doesn’t make my hands cramp instantly.
December 1st, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Uhh, Eli… the Wii already has built-in support for the GC controller. Flip open the lid on the top (when the Wii is vertical), and there you go: four ports for GC. Also, flip open the lid behind that one for two GC memory card ports. You didn’t know that?
December 1st, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I find it hard to believe that the dualshock is better than the 360 controller.
December 1st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
@Poindexter: I’m talking about for the wii menu similar to the classic controller. There was a recent mod where a kid accomplished it.
December 1st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
One other cool thing to try witht he GC controller is using it to play GBA games on a GameCube through the GameBoy Player.
Really, give it a try, especially with a racing game like Racing Gears Advance… It’s awesome.
December 1st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Wow, two of my favorite controls getting the respect they deserve- the GC controller, and the Atari Joystick.
I grew up with the Atari, and I’ve always said that the joystick was one of the best controllers ever made. Sure it was simple, but man was it effective. About the only negative I would say about it, was an occasional problem with a diagonal command.
December 1st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
The GC was pretty damn great, but also had obvious flaws. The mechanism behind the Z-’trigger’ was crap, the shoulder buttons should have gone without the finger indent and should have been faux-rubbery (like the analog sticks). Also, the B-button, start-button and D-pad were a little too small, as were the handles.
What it absolutely nailed? Big A-button. God, I love that thing. So silly they didn’t put it on the Wiimote as well.
December 1st, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Gotta agree with the commenter above: the DualShock is terrible and highly overrated. It’s easily the least comfortable controller I’ve used (although I also found the Dreamcast controller to be balls) since starting to game with the Atari.
Of course, part of this is what you grow up using and determine should be the best… spend enough time playing, and you’ll swear that your hands always fit perfectly.
I also love how the Wii remote+nunchuck combo can be switched between hands (assuming the devs take this into account) for lefties, although nobody mentioned that above.
December 1st, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I would’ve agreed with the GC controller if the D-pad wasn’t so bad. I kind of like the Wii’s classic controller even though I think it could’ve been a little bigger so I think that would be my first choice.
December 1st, 2008 at 5:28 pm
360 controller is my favorite by a mile. i hate the sony controller, which is too small. n64 controller is easily my second favorite.
December 1st, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I love the GameCube controller, though I feel the SNES controller was probably the best one of all time. It was not too complicated and had enough buttons to carry out all of the tasks it was needed for (and I never had an instance where I felt there should have been any additional buttons on it).
Another controller worth noting is the Xbox360 controller – it just fits in your hand so perfectly. Though I hate hate hate the clicking thumbsticks – I’ll be playing portal and I’ll get really into it, then I’ll click the thumbstick on accident and duck. It drives me bananas.
December 1st, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I love the GameCube controller and actually prefer it for fighting games because of the layout of the face buttons. It makes most of the 2-button combos easy to press. For example, you can do:
A+B
A+X
A+Y
X+Y
All without any trouble. This is why I despise the Playstation controller, where only two combos are actually made easy: circle+triangle and x+square, and all the other combos require contortionist movements.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 am
I thought the GC controller was great. there were some games the GC controller was perfect
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:28 am
Hell no:
1) Xbox 360 except for the d-pad that is forgettable; very confortable in a long run!
The NEO-GEO arcade stick: the first really good arcade stick out there that made us feel we where playing with a coin-op instead of a console. Loads of buttons, great controls, turbo modes. It bested easily any other previous attempt (NES advantage, Genesis arcade power stick and so on).
2) Wavebird for GC, but c-stick and shoulders sucks (Z-button is just awkward)… big time!!!
3) Dual shock 2, pretty much good for everything but not excelling in anything. Not good for its ergonomics but the best one for PES!
4) Xbox s-controller. A much improved version of the DC controller: two thumbsticks for FPSs and triggers were awesome for racing games!
5) N64 controller: a bit strange in shape but great feeling and innovative introducing the analog thumbstick. c-buttons were a way to have buttons or a second thumbstick (moving visuals and stuff).
6) DC controller: the worst 3D controller whatsoever: not confortable in a long run, worst thumbstick ever, d-pad sucked hard, sported less buttons that the N64 did and fragile as butter. So why did it make to this spot? It brought us the back triggers (which weren’t themselves confortable) which are now the best way for some games!
7) SNES controller: the old SNES brought us the un-bested yet d-pad and the shoulder buttons, great for some old 2D action! I still use the Hori 2D controller (GC) for some old VC games!!!
9) Genesis controller: back in the day of the NES era, where the controller was all squared and edgy, SEGA made the first ergonomic pad on the market.
10) NES controller: the first real joypad for gaming. Screw the old, fragile joystick… the d-pad was robust and precise and button mashing was no problem!
So this is my list… what? no Wiimote?
well that fits into a category for itself… it’s by no mean perfect but has lot of untapped potential, and as of now is just the best one for FPS… to bad FPS are not common on the Wii…
Anyway, if someone will ever challenge Ninty on this kind of control, we will have a measure to compare with!
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 am
I found the GC controller the most comfortable to hold for extended periods of game time.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
The Gamecube controller was always my favorite. I still need to get on of those white one for use with the Wii.
I think all controllers are pretty good, except for that gigantic freak the Xbox launched with and maybe the Dreamcast controller.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I really don’t get this list. The NES, N64 and Gamecube controller all rank higher than the Wiimote? My only guess is that this is because people don’t think the Wiimote has lived up to its full potential. The N64 controller has always been favourite of mine simply because its design really should not have made it past the drawing board stage, yet somehow works. But the Gamecube controller? Did… did people actually like that thing?
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
I can’t believe the 360 controller didn’t make the list.