The Sega Genesis and the Sega Saturn look nice, but the PS2 and this XBOx one look the best, maybe its the nostalgia speaking since I (practically) grew up with them. Well, a rich relative had them but they'd let me play on it once in a while...

>>135595
That's not the duke... The smaller Japanese Xbox controller is nice, and I like Xbox controllers ergonomics, but man their d-pad is awful.

I have a very strong attachment to the N64 controllers too because of nostalgia. But if I were to choose a specific design that I prefer gaming with above the rest, I'm probably going with any of the DualShock designs 2 and above. Probably DS4 because it's got a really nice hold to it.

None of the above.

>>135597
The PS4 controller is nice, but the handles could be a bit fuller. The touchpad is neat though, I like that.

>any of the DualShock designs 2 and above
But the convex, mushroom analog sticks...

It might be my nostalgia, but the Gamecube button layout is sublime. It's an odd case where even though it just has standard buttons the prompts mess me up if I play with other controllers because they're defined by shape instead of just label. I wish it had just a few more inputs so I could use it for more things.
The Wii (and Wii U) obviously have prominent gimmicks that can't really be replicated by other controllers, but a bunch of game don't really use those in a meaningful way and anything that doesn't use those features is better with normal controllers, hence why the Classic/Pro Controllers are a thing.

>>135597
It does seem like it'd fit the hand better, but it's so much uglier than the DS3. DS3 is probably the prettiest controller ever and even with the just-a-little-too-small grips and the need for third-party software just to connect it to anything I'd still probably use it as my main if I didn't also have to jump through the hoop of getting PS button prompts added into stuff (when that's even possible).

I hate Xbox controllers. The D-pad positioning, A/B and X/Y being swapped in relation to Nintendo consoles, the face button colors also being different, the fact that it seems to be the most common layout for third party controllers...

Also not a fan of the N64, felt really weird to use the few times I played it. I didn't own one as a kid and only played it occasionally at friends' houses, so maybe it's not too bad once you get used to it.

Other than that, I'm a simple man: I like my controllers with the D-pad in the main left thumb position, and 4 face buttons, so SNES and Sony platforms are my pick. Not exactly a controller, but I especially love the PS Vita. The buttons feel amazing.

I think the original PSX controller before the analog sticks were added was the most comfortable, it also had a higher quality, less stiff D-pad than the stuff that came afterward.
When it comes to modern controllers they're all so similar, but I think the Switch Pro controller feels the best. No native PC support, though, but Steam is able to handle it if you're able to launch whatever game/emulator you want through it.

I like the wired SFC/SNES, GameCube, and Xbox 360 controllers the most. Never have to worry about batteries or charging. People often criticize the d-pad on the latter two, but I don't find them to be that bad. They're at least passable. In fact, I prefer them over the PS1, PS2, and PS3 DualShock ones. But I dislike the soft mushiness of the Start and Select buttons on the SFC/SNES controllers (as with the NES, GB, and GBC). It could just be the specific worn-out controllers I've used, but sometimes they feel inconsistent or unreliable or difficult to press, as sometimes when I press those buttons those button presses aren't registered as button inputs in game.
The Wii U GamePad tablet is surprisingly comfortable, if a little heavy. The buttons are big and feel nice to press, and the underside is molded to fit your hands.
The joycon grip that is included with the Switch actually makes the Switch joycons pretty comfortable to use, ignoring the annoying stick drift and the lack of a proper d-pad. When you hold the joycons in your hands without the grip, it's uncomfortable to reach your thumbs to the d-pad buttons or the right stick or the buttons below those. The grip positions your hands so that your thumbs can reach them much more easily.

>>135593
>right analog stick for
>Paper Mario
Then remap the controls? Unless you're using an emulator that doesn't let you do that, such as the Wii Virtual Console on an actual Wii, in which case I agree. It also makes it awkward to play Super Mario World with a GameCube controller. At least a few games like Super Metroid offer built-in button remapping.

>>135597
I like the N64 controller too except for the design flaw that causes the stick to be ground into plastic dust over time. The buttons feel nice to press.

>>135598
>The PS4 controller is nice, but the handles could be a bit fuller.
I always felt that the handles of the previous PlayStation controllers were kind of awkward and uncomfortable to hold. The PS4 controller feels more comfortable in my hands.

A fun fact is that apparently you can hook up a SFC/SNES controller to a FC/NES if you just wire it up correctly, so when making an adapter, there's no need to include a microcontroller to convert the button inputs. When you hook it up this way, it's revealed that actually SNES Y is mapped to NES B and SNES B is mapped to NES A, just like the labels on the prototype in pic related (source: https://www.chrismcovell.com/secret/SFC_1988Q4.html). This works well for playing Mario, but might feel slightly weird for RPGs.
I wonder why they didn't just go with this labeling for B and A in the end, with B as the left button and A as the bottom button. They did end up going with this on the N64 controller but not on any other controller since then.

>>135602
The Switch Pro controller is great. The gyro especially. The only complaint I have with it is that there's no analog triggers... That's why I like the 8Bitdo SN30 Pro+. Has gyro support, analog triggers, and can emulate a Switch controller but can still connect to a PC via bluetooth.

>>135602
I used these for thousands of hours playing Splatoon and can firmly say they are the second worst controller I have ever used only behind some one I bought off aliexpress because I thought it was better. The controller has extreme input lag even when connected to your PC via a USB cable, the buttons are mushy - think low quality rubber dome vs mechanical keyboard - and the analogue sticks are prone to drifting, quickly becoming unusable if you get unlucky. They are also expensive to replace. I bought a PS5 controller to use for Souls games on my PC after I became fed up with the Switch one and wouldn't look back. I found that although the WiiU's gamepad - the one with the screen - also felt like it was cheaply constructed and similarly had mushy buttons, I never had an issue with stick drifting and the gyro was far, far more responsive.

I haven't played Splatoon for about a year, but the last time I did I was looking into using a Titan Two to emulate the pro controller using a keyboard and mouse having been raised on FPS games. I didn't end up buying one though due to playing less and the cost being quite high.

>>135603
>Then remap the controls?
To what? The N64 is the only console in existence that used buttons for controlling the camera instead of a stick.

The Dreamcast controller really is horrid.

>>135593
Xbox 360. The newer gen Xbox controllers just feel like crap to hold. Where the 360 fits like a glove the new one has this flat spot underneath that is a hard stop for my fingers.

>>135613
Noticed this too; they're still my goto controller for PC though.

Last year I splurged on one of those Xbox Elite controllers and it's probably the best all around controller I've ever used. The Saturn controller is also great, especially for shmups and fighters.

The popularity of the Switch Pro controller is perplexing. The d-pad is trash and can't really pivot.

>>135610
For Paper Mario specifically, I suggest a remapping like this for a PlayStation DualShock-like controller:
B: Square (left face button)
A: Cross (bottom face button)
C-Down: Circle (right face button) (for partner field actions), Dpad-Down
C-Up: Triangle (top face button) (for HUD toggle), R1 (for Thousand-Year Door-like HUD toggle), Dpad-Up
C-Left: Dpad-Left (items menu)
C-Right: Dpad-Right (party member menu)
R: R2
Z: L2
Stick: Left Stick
Start: Start
L: L1 (probably unused)
Dpad: none, or maybe Right Stick (probably unused)
For N64 games that do use the C buttons for camera controls, it's inevitably going to feel at least a little weird on most normal controllers no matter what button mapping you use.

>>135616
I guess the D-pad would work there. I can't think of any N64 games that use both the D-pad and the analog stick, so as long as you're doing per-game mapping you don't actually need to have both mapped at the same time (same with Z and L). It's still the wrong hand and I feel like that'd create issues with stuff like Banjo that uses the buttons for both camera and special actions via button combos, though.

>>135617
Weirdly, I think the Xbox UFO controller might be the best substitute since it also has six face buttons thanks to the weirdass black and white buttons that disappeared with the 360. Probably easier to find ripoff N64 controllers than OG Xbox controllers these days, though.

>>135617
>N64 games that use both the D-pad and the analog stick
Pokemon Stadium (Pokemon Stadium 2 in JP) uses all three ways to hold the controller if you include the minigames, so if you want only one remapping for the entire game you probably want to map the control stick to both analog sticks, and two of the C buttons are going to have to be mapped to weird leftover buttons like R1/R2, Select, L3, or R3.
Tsumi to Batsu (Sin and Punishment) lets you aim the gun with either your right thumb or your left thumb while you use the D-pad or the C buttons to move around.
>Banjo
Banjo has been brought over to newer consoles, so you could try loosely basing your remapping on the newer control schemes made for those.
https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Banjo-Kazooie/Moves

For 2d, nip Saturn controller.
For 3d, I mostly use a ds4 out of habbit but I have a ds3 and 360 controller.

Dishonorable mention to the Dreamcast. Worst controller ever even xbox fat in my tiny hands was less annoying since at least its analog worked.