I honestly think that just because a controller has three grips doesn't mean it's a bad controller. Sure it's weird, but as long as it's comfortable to hold, I'm perfectly fine with it.
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I honestly think that just because a controller has three grips doesn't mean it's a bad controller. Sure it's weird, but as long as it's comfortable to hold, I'm perfectly fine with it.
The Z button was the only "L" button I could ever use comfortably.
N64 for me. I always hated it when I used it as a kid. The c buttons were useless and the three grips weren't necessary. Why are the snes and tg-16 controllers even on the list? they were two of the best.
:?:Quote:
Originally Posted by zetastrike
I think even the smaller Genesis 3 controller is significantly bigger than the SNES (or NES) controller.Quote:
Originally Posted by OldSchool
I was a little surprised too when I first got a 6-button pad a few months ago and found it bigger in every dimension than the SNES pad. It's wider, thicker, and taller than the SNES. The narrowest points on the center area of the 6-button are taller than the SNES's tallest points around the grips...
It's thicker and heftier, much better to grip though not as good as the 3-button IMO.
Yes, but most such also tend to suck for using the d-pad (PSX has good placement but crap d-pad for most cases where it's superior to an analog stick). The N64's arrangement allows much more efficient use of the d-pad, too bad too few games took advantage of it. (I'd have liked alternate d-pad support as standard for most games)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jibbajaba
The middle grip is easier to hold with smaller hands... the majority of the market... (MS had the opposite problem lol, though I love the duke) actually the middle grip is a bit longer and thus easier on big hands too.Quote:
I hated that controller from the moment I saw it in 1995. Most games used the analog stick primarily. So why wasn't it on the outside and the digital pad in the middle, then?
From a design point it makes perfect sense, the analog stick requires bulkier circuitry, thus it wouldn't fit on the left side in such an arrangement.
Note: of course that Sony did the same thing, albeit they started with D-pad only and had to shoehorn the sticks on. --Nintendo was originally considering that devs would tend toward the d-pad more heavily as the market standard and wanted to be such to cater to either mode as best possible. (obviously not intending both simultaneously -as with the analog/digital switch on the Saturn 3D controller and PSX)
I think the Saturn 3D controller pulled it off pretty well though and a great d-pad at that; again, it's been too long since I've used it to comment fully.
The Xterminator's placement is close to ideal, though the D-pad isn't concave.
The D-pad on some PSX style controllers like the firestorm dual power is great too. (varying from model to model)
Build quality is quite high, very sturdy, the analog centering mechanism is just not as resilient as it should be. (a lesser problem on most analog thumbsticks)Quote:
That, and the controller is of poor quality. Those analog sticks are weak way too prone to failure.
However, even when pretty sloppy, it still seems to work adequately well for a lot of things. (worst for racing/flying games though)
It's meant to be used for D-pad based games, like Kirby Crystal Shards. (I think Bomberman 64 too) The pokemon Stadium games used d-pad primarily too.Quote:
Originally Posted by PimpUigi
Then there's robotron 64. ;) (and the midway hits cart with 2084)
C-buttons are great for camera control (the primary intention) and as a second d-pad, ideal for Robotron.Quote:
Originally Posted by zetastrike
As they were usually used, they were fine IMO. (the A and B buttons are awesome though, some of the best button mashing buttons ever, probably on par with , if not better than the Genesis/Saturn)
I don't see why there's all this love for the SNES pad. It was acceptable, but not exceptional. The only new thing it really brought was the L/R buttons which were implemented in a rather mediocre fashion. (Saturn/N64/PSX/PC gamepads did far better)
I find the D-pad the only real improvement over the NES in terms of comfort.
The N64 matches the SNES at its strengths and expands upon them pretty much without exception. In cases of the 4 face buttons used as a pseudo-dpad, C-buttons win, for button mashing, A+B win (and if you average with the Cs, still superior). D-pad feels better, or at least firmer/taller with more of a dished rim surrounding it. Grips are much more comfortable too. Only thing lacking is a select button, but you've got 2 more face buttons to counter that.
--Of course, that's just th edesign, it's up to the games to take proper advantage of it, which wasn't often the case. (goldeneye doesn't support a control scheme I really like -unless I'm missing something, you cant move/strafe with the stick -or dpad- while aiming with the C buttons)
I don't understand why the 3D controller gets so many complaints; maybe I need to pick one up again, but it really seems like the ideal compromise for analog control, good usable d-pad, good button placement (with 6 face buttons), and triggers opposed to shoulder buttons.
The stic and D-pad couldn't be used simultaneously (switch) iirc, but that was the nature of the layout-- and they could have reused the design much more closely than the DC pad did... All it needed was the expansion/VMU slot.
I love it because it's comfortable, the D-pad is excellent, and the buttons can be mashed real fast without too much trouble. It's my controller of choice when it comes to platformers and shooters.Quote:
Originally Posted by kool kitty89
Wha????Quote:
Originally Posted by kool kitty89
I mean, Z button is the best "L" button ever.
I know L button is for the dpad on the 64 controller.
L buttons always suck, but the Z button (which subs as an L button) is great.
All of those things are superior on the N64... it just didn't make use of them as much. I'll also say both are superior ont eh Genny/Saturn, though I think the 6-button/saturn mashed buttons better. (3-button is a tad firm)Quote:
Originally Posted by ApolloBoy
I think I may have used the SNES pad more than any other controller, perhaps the N64 though, so I've spent plenty of time with it. It's OK, and good enough for what it is, but it would barely make the top 10 list for me, and that's only if I was allowed only 1 controller per platform.
Yes, triggers are better than shoulder buttons, especially for the d-pad/analog stick hand. Same applies to Saturn 3D controller, DC, GC, Xbox, and even PSX controllers. (plus various PC pads)Quote:
Originally Posted by PimpUigi
Of course, there are cases where digital triggers are better than analog and vice versa. (or just poorly implemented by the programmers)
1. Xbox S controller
Also 1. Genesis 6 button controller
2. The Fatty
3. 3D Saturn pad
4. JP Saturn pad
5. (this is hard) Xbox 360 pad
6. Dual Shock 3
7. Dreamcast pad
8. GameCube pad
9. PSX pad
10. Wii classic controller
Wow. SNES didn't even make my list.
It was a tough list to make...I really don't like anything past 4.
I also can't see the love for the SNES controller, it felt like a cheap piece of plastic and the D-pad was garbage. As for the N64, unless it was your first console, there is no reason to remotely like it.
The N64 was far from being my first system and I still like it.Quote:
Originally Posted by GriskaGyoran
Not in my case. For me, the N64 D-pad is stiffer and the B and A buttons are convex, which means that I can't press them as fast as the concave Y and X buttons on the SNES pad. But I will agree with you on the 6-button Genesis and Saturn controllers. Those two are also up there with the SNES pad as my top three controllers.Quote:
Originally Posted by kool kitty89
I like it enough to regret passing up on an extra one for $15 with expansion pak, power supply, and 2 controllers at good will.Quote:
Originally Posted by ApolloBoy
I think I like it more than the NES, but probably not SNES. (I think we also might own more N64 games than any other console -more PC games though)
Yes, but they're almost flat and very broad compared to the SNES's which are slightly too concave (sharp edged) and small --Genesis 6-button/saturn and possibly 3 button are best in that respect, nice round, broad, modestly concave buttons. ;)Quote:
Not in my case. For me, the N64 D-pad is stiffer and the B and A buttons are convex, which means that I can't press them as fast as the concave Y and X buttons on the SNES pad. But I will agree with you on the 6-button Genesis and Saturn controllers. Those two are also up there with the SNES pad as my top three controllers.
If I had a saturn 3D controller with me, I could decide whether it was my favorite, but I can't. ;) (wouldn't have much use for it either...)
It's adequate IMO and it was the first to have the shoulder buttons (though one could argue it's simply a progressive evolution to the side buttons of some 80s game consoles and triggers on joysticks). Granted the L/R buttons are rather mediocre in operation. (too mushy and not pronounce enough)Quote:
Originally Posted by GriskaGyoran
The D-pad is OK, not as good as the genesis but better than the NES and a number of others. (PSX, Xbox, etc -saturn model 1 for a lot of people)
I'm late to the game but...
The GC controller was unmanageable for me. Which sucked because it had one of the most precise analog sticks I had ever experienced. The Dpad was a joke and the face buttons were just... I think Nintendo was being different for the sake of being different with that thing.
I agree.
Terrible face buttons.
N64 thumbstick is awful. It's so flimsy it feels like breaking when you push it. Because of the narrowness, you can't get a comfortable feel when using it and in most games you can't use the d-pad. It's like standing on a long pole trying to keep your balance. No wonder everyone else went for the fat mushroom stick when they saw that abomination.