4th May 2022, 12:36 PM
Just another fun discussion on everyone's favorite controllers, but with a little nuance. That is, your favorite parts of controllers!
My favorite D-Pad is currently the Xbox Series controller d-pad. It's this perfect marriage of the NES and Sega Genesis d-pads. Now that d-pads are no longer protected by patent, they went with the classic Nintendo design, but with the added nuance of pronounced diagonals. They tried this with a special cap in the XBox One Elite controller, but that one's diagonals were a little too pronounced. This strikes a nice medium.
My favorite face buttons belong to the Saturn's digital controller (second model). It's a six button layout, which is already a winner in my book. What sets it apart from both the Genesis 6 button and the N64 layout is just how comfortably positions the buttons are, and also very responsive.
This one's going to stick out a bit, but my favorite digital shoulder buttons? Virtual Boy. My fingers rest directly on top of them in a natural way no other shoulder buttons ever have. The rest of the contoller is meh, especially that right side d-pad, but the shoulder buttons are a dream.
The best analog triggers? Still the Gamecube, though the gimics in the PS5 analog triggers give that a run for it's money. The Gamecube's triggers may not have fancy force feedback of the genuine kind, but they are so comfortable that Nintendo STILL makes these things to this day.
Ah analog sticks... I'll give the N64 some credit. It's stick is very precise using a more accurate tech than even today's analog sticks tend to use. Well, it is when you first open it. They degrade far too fast, thanks to the cheap plastic used in their construction instead of metal. The hard tip is also none too pleasant over time and gave me a number of actual painful calluses over the lifetime of the N64. The best analog sticks, right now, are a split between the XBox Series and PS5 controller. Sorry, the Switch's just don't quite match. Responsible, comfortable, and in the case of the Xbox Series, more durable.
Start and Select... Alright, I'm going to say it. It's the original model Gameboy. Those rubber start and select buttons have yet to ever be matched.
Handles... Hmm... I'm going to say Virtual Boy again. It's close though. The XBox Series and PS5 both have very comfortable grips and one of those may edge out over time.
My favorite D-Pad is currently the Xbox Series controller d-pad. It's this perfect marriage of the NES and Sega Genesis d-pads. Now that d-pads are no longer protected by patent, they went with the classic Nintendo design, but with the added nuance of pronounced diagonals. They tried this with a special cap in the XBox One Elite controller, but that one's diagonals were a little too pronounced. This strikes a nice medium.
My favorite face buttons belong to the Saturn's digital controller (second model). It's a six button layout, which is already a winner in my book. What sets it apart from both the Genesis 6 button and the N64 layout is just how comfortably positions the buttons are, and also very responsive.
This one's going to stick out a bit, but my favorite digital shoulder buttons? Virtual Boy. My fingers rest directly on top of them in a natural way no other shoulder buttons ever have. The rest of the contoller is meh, especially that right side d-pad, but the shoulder buttons are a dream.
The best analog triggers? Still the Gamecube, though the gimics in the PS5 analog triggers give that a run for it's money. The Gamecube's triggers may not have fancy force feedback of the genuine kind, but they are so comfortable that Nintendo STILL makes these things to this day.
Ah analog sticks... I'll give the N64 some credit. It's stick is very precise using a more accurate tech than even today's analog sticks tend to use. Well, it is when you first open it. They degrade far too fast, thanks to the cheap plastic used in their construction instead of metal. The hard tip is also none too pleasant over time and gave me a number of actual painful calluses over the lifetime of the N64. The best analog sticks, right now, are a split between the XBox Series and PS5 controller. Sorry, the Switch's just don't quite match. Responsible, comfortable, and in the case of the Xbox Series, more durable.
Start and Select... Alright, I'm going to say it. It's the original model Gameboy. Those rubber start and select buttons have yet to ever be matched.
Handles... Hmm... I'm going to say Virtual Boy again. It's close though. The XBox Series and PS5 both have very comfortable grips and one of those may edge out over time.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)