Top 10 Sports Gaming Controllers of All Time

[RaychelSnr]

It is hard to believe that console gaming has been around for 35 years (38 if you count the amazing Magnavox Odyssey). What is even more amazing is that it was a "sports" game, Pong, that led the gaming charge into living rooms worldwide. As gaming consoles have advanced through the years so have the controllers. In what could be considered a sign of the times, console control schemes seem to have advanced in complexity each successive generation.

So how exactly has this complexity affected sports games? Many will debate that the simpler schemes of yesteryear provided better gameplay experiences, while many other dedicated "sim" fans are calling for even more buttons. Regardless of your stance on this hot-button issue, there is no denying that several console controllers have stood out among the rest in regards to sports gaming. Over the past couple months, I decided to dust off my old console collection in an attempt to rank the top 10 console controllers in terms of sports gaming fluidity.

So what were the results of my study? Read on to find out.

Read More - Top 10 Sports Gaming Controllers of All Time

[CeltBhoy33]

NES is a great decision for being number one. I have always loved the N64's also.

[ngreatshark]

Well I was kinda with you up until I saw #1. Can't agree with that because the games you pointed out that were so awesome because of the NES controller could be played with any other controller on the list and you wouldn't lose anything. The same can't be said about the NES controller, which was great in the hands of a kid, but is an egronimic nightmare in the hands of an adult. I found one of my old NES controllers a few months back and was kinda shocked at by how small and rectangular that controller was, and it didn't feel comfortable at all. And just like pro athleteles , sports games really rely on quick reflexes and multi directions movement to be truly great, and that controller is anything but.

I feel the PS2 controller is the best overall sports controller. I think that was the controller that made me forget I was even holding a controller because it felt like an extension of my body.It put six fingers to work instead of just 2 or 4, and with the analog stick plus pressure sensitve buttons, it just made sports games feel more organic

[RAMSFAN21]

PS2 hands down is the best controller ever made. In fact it should be standard for all systems

[1WEiRDguy]

PS2 hands down is the best controller ever made. In fact it should be standard for all systems

it shoule be the standard for all SONY systems...]

fixed

[BEARYChi]

Playstation & Nintendo ALL the Way.

[Shinyhubcaps]

Is it the controller's fault that sports games on PS3 feel like a loss of control? NES is good for its time, but let's not give it too much credit. Games like any good motocross game, Skate, NBA 2K, etc. would not be possible if it weren't for the PlayStation controller in some capacity. NES was good for button-mashers.

[ChaseB]

Well I was kinda with you up until I saw #1. Can't agree with that because the games you pointed out that were so awesome because of the NES controller could be played with any other controller on the list and you wouldn't lose anything. The same can't be said about the NES controller, which was great in the hands of a kid, but is an egronimic nightmare in the hands of an adult. I found one of my old NES controllers a few months back and was kinda shocked at by how small and rectangular that controller was, and it didn't feel comfortable at all. And just like pro athleteles , sports games really rely on quick reflexes and multi directions movement to be truly great, and that controller is anything but.

I feel the PS2 controller is the best overall sports controller. I think that was the controller that made me forget I was even holding a controller because it felt like an extension of my body.It put six fingers to work instead of just 2 or 4, and with the analog stick plus pressure sensitve buttons, it just made sports games feel more organic

Yeah I have beef with how tiny the NES controller feels now. It still works, but it doesn't fit quite right anymore.

[jyoung]

Playstation controllers have always had terrible joysticks and shoulder buttons and still do to this day.

The 360 controller is great as long as you don't have to use the awful d-pad. I would rate it #3 overall.

The Genesis controller was always inferior to the SNES pad because of its lack of shoulder buttons. SNES controller is pretty much perfect for 16-bit games and my #2 choice.

I would go with the Dreamcast pad as my all-time favorite. Great analog joystick and shoulder buttons. Plus you had a number of games taking advantage of the VMU screen.

NFL Blitz 2001, NFL 2K, NBA 2K, NBA Showtime, NHL 2K2

All those games controlled amazingly on the Dreamcast.

[Keython-2]

Let me say that I've had all the systems (currently with Ps3 right now) and I agree with nintendo being number 1. Thats where it all started with the graphics. 16 bit baby. From that time (if you were born in the 80's) video games started to get interesteing. From Mario to Golden Cartrard Zelda, it was hands in the air after that. Everything "must have" to be played. The way I look at it, the Ps3, Xbox 360, Ps2, Ps1, Xbox, Dreamcast, sega genesis, sega satarn, gameboy, and all that protains to all the systems out that (expected for the Atari) they wouldn't be nothing or thought of. Remember, I had every system that has ever been made in the U.S.(Even the Turbo 360)

[DrUrsus]

Atari 5200 controller was the best. NOT!

[Mos1ted]

I personally couldn't stand the N64 controller, and I'm glad the Gamecube controller is no where on this list. To me, those two were by far the worst controllers ever made for ANY genre of video gaming LOL. My personal favorites are the Dual Shock and Xbox 360 controllers. The 6 button Genesis controller was the one I preferred over the standard controller.

[Evan_OS]

Glad to see one of my favorite controllers of all time (N64) make the list.

[goatriderhorde]

Let me say that I've had all the systems (currently with Ps3 right now) and I agree with nintendo being number 1. Thats where it all started with the graphics. 16 bit baby. From that time (if you were born in the 80's) video games started to get interesteing. From Mario to Golden Cartrard Zelda, it was hands in the air after that. Everything "must have" to be played. The way I look at it, the Ps3, Xbox 360, Ps2, Ps1, Xbox, Dreamcast, sega genesis, sega satarn, gameboy, and all that protains to all the systems out that (expected for the Atari) they wouldn't be nothing or thought of. Remember, I had every system that has ever been made in the U.S.(Even the Turbo 360)

The NES was 8-bit, not 16. Just wanted to point that out.

[Blzer]

Replace the N64 controller with the Superpad 64 and you have a decent list.