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The Most Awesome Video Game Controllers of All Time

The Most Awesome Video Game Controllers of All Time

Controllers can help make or break a console. You’re going to be sitting in front of a system for hours on end. The developer better do everything possible to make that a comfortable experience. Over the years, we’ve seen gamepads come and go. Not every one of them is a winner, but these 10 are some of the best you’ll ever get to use. Game on!

The Dreamcast Controller

The Dreamcast Controller

The Dreamcast Controller was more than a bit unwieldly. It was a significant upgrade over Sega’s Genesis and Saturn controllers, but that isn’t saying much. Where it really shone was with its Visual Memory Unit. This memory stick, when plugged into the controller, could save data and provide additional information. I remember Resident Evil Dreamcast games always showed your status on the VMU, Skies of Arcadia alerted you to Chams, and Virtua Tennis showed the game on that tiny screen. That isn’t even taking into account mini-games like Sonic Adventure ‘s Chao Adventure or Power Stone ‘s minigames.

The Wii Remote and Nunchuk

The Wii Remote and Nunchuk

The Wii started the motion control revolution with its Wii Remote and Nunchuk. It may not have been perfect, but who among us didn’t have a favorite Wii Sports game? Who wasn’t secretly pleased with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess letting us swing a sword? But then, even when you didn’t use motion controls, it had a wonderfully responsive analog stick and well organized controls. I especially loved when games got really inventive, like Opoona , the JRPG that only used the Nunchuk.

NES Advantage

NES Advantage

I was poor as a kid. That meant I didn’t always have all the bells and whistles when it came to gaming. The first time I used an NES Advantage, it blew my mind. An NES controller in an arcade formation, complete with turbo buttons? It helped make all those “Nintendo hard” games feel a little more fair. And that joystick was absolutely incredible. This was a retro triumph.

The Nintendo 64 Controller

The Nintendo 64 Controller

Say what you will about mouse and keyboard settings, the Nintendo 64 controller will always be first for shooters in my book. I’ll never forget how comfortable it was playing GoldenEye 007 , Turok: Dinosaur Hunter , DOOM 64 , Star Fox 64 , and Perfect Dark on the system. It was perfectly designed to shift between the platformers and multiplayer games we knew and loved, with an unconventional grip that let us fire away into the universe. In short, it was great.

The DualShock

The DualShock

You know the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” Well, that’s a premise Sony has been adhering to since the DualShock launched in 1997 in Japan. This was a revolutionary gamepad with dual analog sticks and vibration, as well as a layout that evenly distributed all buttons. Everything fit perfectly in your hand, ready to banish those obnoxious hand cramps that came with previous generation’s gamepads.

The Steam Controller

The Steam Controller

Putting the Steam Controller so high on the list may be a point of contention, but hear me out. This is an adaptable gamepad. Valve has been very proactive about updating it. Users have been putting together profiles that offer tons of configuration options. As odd as this peripheral may be, with its jarring haptic pads, it actually has a lot of potential. With the right game, it can be quite a winner.

The Super Nintendo Controller

The Super Nintendo Controller

Can you believe a controller designed in 1990 could still stand up against the ones we’re using today? Well, when it’s the Super Nintendo controller, it’s pretty believable. This was one of the most amazing gamepads ever designed. It fits perfectly in your hand. The d-pad is accurate, comfortable, and responsive. All of the action buttons and triggers are well arranged. Plus, it’s rather aesthestically pleasing. This oldie is definitely a goodie.

The GameCube Controller

The GameCube Controller

The GameCube’s controller is one of those gamepads you give the side eye until you use it. I mean, look at the thing! The buttons are all different sizes and all over the place. There are weird colors. It looks like a child’s toy. Yet, once it’s in your hand, everything makes sense. The button placement and arrangement works perfectly for games like Mario Kart: Double Dash , Metroid Prime , or Super Smash Bros . It’s one of the most unexpectedly intuitive controllers. And if you somehow managed to get a Wavebird for a wireless experience, you really had a party.

The DualShock 4

The DualShock 4

The DualShock 4 takes everything Sony has learned about controllers and takes it to the next level. It’s a responsive peripheral with perfect button placement. Your thumbs can rest naturally on the analog sticks. The action buttons are exactly where you expect them to be. The triggers are responsive. Even the touchpad is easy to access and use. If only its battery life were better, it’d be perfect.

The Xbox One Wireless Controller

The Xbox One Wireless Controller

Microsoft makes a good controller. The Xbox One controller is an amazing device that works well with every kind of game. It doesn’t matter if you enjoy shooters, platformers, strategic affairs, or simulations. An Xbox One Wireless controller will have you covered. I mean, the analog sticks alone, with their ability to gently cradle our thumbs, are worthy of sonnets. And that battery life keeps you going for days. Plus, it’s practically a plug and play solution for both the Xbox One and PC. No matter what you need, it has you covered.

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