Nintendo has at all times been one for pushing the boat out with its {hardware} designs, and no extra so is that this the case than with its controllers. Sure, these of the NES and SNES had been fairly typical by in the present day’s requirements (although they had been remarkably modern on the time) however within the ensuing years, the Huge N’s controllers have had us waving blocks above our heads, tapping chunky kidney-shaped keys, attaching and detaching buttoned bolt-ons, and even making an attempt to work out how precisely these are supposed to be performed with solely two palms.
Our level is, there’s rather a lot to select from on the subject of discovering the most effective Nintendo controller on the market. There are such a lot of totally different choices, the truth is — and so many alternative opinions — that looking for “the most effective” feels considerably like an not possible process.
With this in thoughts, we at Nintendo Life Towers have come collectively to vote on which controller is our favorite. Presenting a listing of each commonplace controller within the firm’s historical past (together with the ‘Professional’ variants for the more moderen consoles with non-industry-standard default controllers, however excluding the bizarre, distinctive fashions that we have now beforehand mentioned right here), we every voted for our prime 5, with our favorite getting 5 factors, second favorite getting 4, and so forth.
The next is the results of our staff survey, and must you disagree with our picks, there is a ballot on the backside of the web page the place you may have your say.
We’ll construct as much as our primary decide, however let’s begin with the controllers that acquired no love (in vote kind, at the very least) from Staff NL…
10. NES (101), Digital Boy, Wii Basic Controller
Proper on the backside of the pack, this trio acquired a whopping nil level from the Nintendo Life staff and subsequently discover themselves joint final.
The NES 101 mannequin was initially launched in 1993 and was all about emulating the look of the newer SNES system. The 2-tone gray and pink colouring is not all that pleasing to take a look at, and whereas the canine bone form would work on the later, four-buttoned Nintendo controller, it simply appears off when there are solely the A and B choices out there. To be honest, we’re undecided anybody on the staff has ever really used certainly one of these.
It is no surprise that the Digital Boy controller finds itself on the backside of the pile, both. Will this console someday get a rose-tinted renaissance within the type of “The Digital Boy Is Nintendo’s Most Underrated Console”? We doubt it. That Wario Land sport was nice, although!
As for the Wii Basic controller, it is the one which most individuals have forgotten. To not be confused with the Basic Controller Professional (extra on that later), this oval design was constructed for Digital Console gaming, however with analogue sticks that shut collectively, our palms are cramping up at simply the considered taking part in with this one for a few hours.
9. Wii Basic Controller Professional
Leaping forward with only one level (hey, it is an enchancment, we guess) is the Wii Basic Controller Professional.
Launched in 2009, this pronged improve was designed to be a lot nearer in really feel to a GameCube mannequin than the SNES-like design that preceded it. It may not have matched as much as the form of innovation that we noticed elsewhere for the Wii, however it was definitely a step in the fitting route so far as consolation goes.
8. Wii U GamePad
Really modern, really chunky.
The Wii U GamePad acquired solely three factors from us. Whereas the touchscreen controller introduced a boatload of enjoyable to sure video games like Nintendo Land, the cumbersome design and supreme lack of software program that put it to good use meant that it was at all times more likely to seem on the decrease finish of this checklist.
Sure, it paved the best way for certainly one of Nintendo’s best-selling consoles of all time, however when it comes to precise controller design, this wasn’t going to prime anybody’s checklist, nonetheless comfortingly substantial it’s.
7. NES
Ah, the one which began all of it. The NES controller is straightforward and glossy and many people have an enormous variety of glad recollections of mashing these buttons till our thumbs harm.
It is a credit score to how sturdy the later designs are that this mannequin finds itself at quantity seven on the checklist. Whereas it may not be capable of match up when it comes to consolation to fashionable pads, there’s nonetheless one thing particular about this little revolutionary rectangle. Has there ever been a greater D-pad?
6. Wii U Professional Controller
For all of its flaws, the Wii U did have a terrific Professional Controller going for it.
Within the majority of situations, this was our most popular strategy to play the console over the bulkier GamePad if the touchscreen wasn’t in play. The controller’s Xbox 360-esque design was a considerably extra comfy strategy to play and the Swap Professional Controller would take cues from this pad.
5. Swap Pleasure-Con
The usual Swap Pleasure-Con are just a little small, fairly flimsy, and vulnerable to succumbing to some very pesky drift, however we flipping love all of them the identical.
Nicely, a few of us do. Sure staff members are burned after struggling years of abuse from drifting sticks, to not point out crippling hand cramps. Throw in intermittent connectivity points if you happen to sit greater than six ft out of your Swap, and a choose few NL workers members are baffled at how they scored so extremely! Everybody loves the HD-rumble icecubes, although.
On a conceptual stage, these unhealthy boys are genius. With out the Pleasure-Con, Swap’s USP of, you understand, switching, merely wouldn’t be doable. They may not be probably the most dependable bits of package on the market, however the skill to clip them in, slide them out, play with movement controls, and get a extra typical controller expertise with the Grip holder may simply be probably the most modern that the Huge N has ever been with a pad.
You throw within the potential for personalisation with the ever-growing vary of colors and designs, and it’s straightforward to miss the little controllers’ flaws.
4. N64
Now we’re actually stepping into the massive leagues. The three-pronged N64 controller acquired 14 factors from our votes, with certainly one of us even naming it their all-time favorite (pause for gasps, tears, fainting, and many others.)
That is in all probability the closest that Nintendo has ever bought to a very love-it-or-hate-it design. Does it appear to have been designed for gamers who’re capable of miraculously produce a 3rd hand out of skinny air? Sure, it does, and this does not assist with making a silhouette that is pleasing on the attention.
That being mentioned, that is in all probability one of the (if not probably the most) iconic controller silhouettes on the market, and whereas it might look not possible to play with a measly two palms, you may get your head round it fairly shortly as soon as you’re employed out that you do not really want to make use of the analogue stick and the D-pad on the identical time (who knew).
There’s magnificence to be discovered on this comically bizarre design, and it truly is the one correct strategy to play N64 video games. If you wish to expertise Tremendous Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, and GoldenEye the best way nature meant, you will be needing certainly one of these beauties.
3. Wii Distant
The genius of the Wii Distant is its simplicity. The rationale why comparatively few of us have ever performed a PlayStation with an aged relative is as a result of earlier than you may get into the fundamental guidelines of the sport, you would need to begin with a complete rundown of the place each button is hidden away.
With the Wii, you may stick that straightforward white brick into Nan’s hand and earlier than you understand it she’s hitting smash serves in opposition to Matt from Wii Sports activities as if possessed by the spirit of Rafa Nadal.
On prime of this bare-bones design is the movement management system which nonetheless looks like such an outside-of-the-box concept that we often must remind ourselves that sure, it did occur, and sure, everybody owned one. This design additionally honours its forebears; flip it sideways and you have got a makeshift NES pad for all of your Digital Console wants.
It’s straightforward to look again on the Wii in the present day and switch your nostril up at its weak processing energy and regularly shoehorned-in movement controls, however many people agreed that this controller design is consultant of Nintendo at its highest.
2. SNES
Raking in a formidable 20 factors from our votes, the basic SNES controller lands in second place.
It is refreshing to see that whereas fancy management schemes and modern designs are one factor, you continue to must respect the fundamentals. The SNES is at all times going to take a seat fairly extremely in our lists of ‘Finest Consoles Eva’, and which may not be doable with out the stellar controller with its modern shoulder buttons.
The brilliant colors (however not too vibrant, and never vibrant in any respect in North America — though we Europeans are jealous of the concave buttons, granted) make this a magnificence to take a look at, and the enduring form is a trademark of retro gaming.
1. GameCube / Swap Professional Controller
Sure, our favorite Nintendo controller in the end got here right down to a tie — ooh, the drama — with each the GameCube design (which we grouped with the WaveBird mannequin) and the Swap Professional Controller receiving 27 factors.
Even in the present day, it is troublesome to critique the consolation of the GameCube pad’s design. The twin analogue sticks, the different-sized buttons (prioritising ‘A’ and ‘B’ for some high quality Melee gameplay), the two-pronged grips for these of us with out three palms — it is a magnificence. The kidney-shaped ‘X’ and ‘Y’ are an acquired style, admittedly, however we evidently like them. You throw within the WaveBird’s game-changing wi-fi play and also you had been at all times going to have a winner.
And the identical might be mentioned for the Swap Professional Controller. It is a design that has been years within the making and with the Swap, we really feel like Nintendo lastly cracked it. For the entire Pleasure-Cons perks, their measurement could make lengthy play classes a little bit of a ache; thankfully, the Professional Controller fixes that. High all of it off with the ever-increasing variety of enjoyable tie-in designs, and it is smart that this could sit among the many better of ’em.
Nicely there you may have it, our favorite Nintendo controllers as chosen by Nintendo Life. We have had our say, so why not do the identical? You’ll be able to fill out the next ballot to tell us what your favorite controller of all time is and see the way it matches as much as everybody else.
Which design bought your vote? Take to the feedback to sing the praises of your favorite.
Be it rambling about video video games or superheroes, Jim wears his passions on his sleeve. Normally discovered replaying a Zelda title as a substitute of working via his ever-growing backlog, he is a large fan of all-things fantasy and likes nothing greater than to speak about it.
