I didn’t find any “Best game console controller” threads, so I made one myself:
Which game console controller do you think is better?
This is based on the versatility for All kinds of games: FPS’s, Fighting Games, everything.
(It’s mainly between the new console controllers… which excludes them Ataris and caleco(sp?) visions).
Best one ever is the Genesis controller. Nothing has fit my hand like it before or since (the XBox S Controller is nice, but a little too big). Your hands just kinda…glided onto the Genesis controller. Everything was in reach and the D-pad was smooth as buttah. I even got some rubber pad things for my NES controller that gave it that Genesis-rounded shape.
The original controller for the XBox is the worst I’ve ever played with. It was a monstrosity.
I gotta say I really liked the n64 controller. As you say, my hands just fit it so well, my fingers were on all the right buttons without even thinking.
My favorite is the original Gamecube controller. But I actually use the Wavebird, because the wireless outweighs the slight failings I have with the ergonomics.
Worst is the Dreamcast controller, because I can’t play it straight-wristed and there is only one way to put your hands on it.
The Saturn controller. Not the big bulky one, the little one that came with my system because I bought it a year after it came out(http://www.vidgame.net/SEGA/Sega/Saturn/saturn_cont.jpg.
Anyway, I love it because it’s perfect for fighting games. It has the three punches and the three kicks, and the special moves on the shoulder triggers…
The PSX and PS2 controller.
The original, big Xbox controller. I’ve got fairly big hands, as do most of my friends, so the size was a plus. We played a lot of Halo when it first came out, and the controller was perfectly designed for the game. The Xbox s is OK, but not as good.
The PS controller gets some sort of honorable mention though.
I’ve always loved the dual shock controller. The buttons are always close to your fingers, never out of the way, and the thing just fits like a glove. I think it works for every type of game out there, though many people have said they hate playing FPSs with it. I don’t understand why though. I own a few FPSs and I think it works just fine with shooters.
My least favorite is the N64 controller. I never got the hang of using those 4 yellow buttons, and it was a pain in the butt to use on fighting games. Also they broke easily too.
Best controllers for consoles: Gamecube Controller
Best for FPS and RTS: Keyboard and Mouse
The Playstation dual-shock controllers are near perfect; all the buttons fit my hands just correctly; I even got a dual-shock clone for my computer. The Gamecube controller is pretty good as well. The N64 controller looked goofy, and only had a single analog sticks 
but it worked well enough. Older controllers(NES, SNES, Genesis, ect) are all just too small.
And the X-Box controllers are oversized demon-spawned abominations. The guys at Microsoft who designed them should be shot. And hanged. And set on fire. At the same time.
I’ve never undestood the Genesis controller. Why THREE buttons instead of four?
I’d have to agree with the folks who say PS/PS2 Dual Shock. A close second is the GameCube controller. The button layout seems a little odd at first, but then it makes sense in that most games have one button you use more than the others. Why not make it real big and accessible?
The Dreamcast controller wasn’t too bad for me.
Worst controller: Xbox. Second worst: N64.
Dishonorable Mention: Arcade machine controls. They’re at the exact height where my hand is at a 90 degree angle to my forearm. Gets painful after a while.
I love my mas super pro stick(http://www.massystems.com/PS.jpg)
but as far as normal controls go, I like the saturn pad alot, but rarely use mine anymore :(.
Dualshock 2 is my current ‘most used’ control, so it has started to grow on me. However, my boss has a Mad Catz wireless for ps2 that he won’t shut up about, and I really want one, but we don’t get them in at work too often.
I love my Gamecube controller, it’s the only one I’ve ever had that really fit my girly hands. The N64 and PS1 Dual Shock were close, but the Gamecube is better, and I’m never button hunting. I think it’s lovely in its design.
Worst is original XBox controller, hands down (no pun intended). I don’t believe they ever thought a girl would pick one up. Ever. The S kind is better, but it’s still too big and not intuitive.
Japanese XBox controller
Ive got GIANT hands though, seemed to fit perfectly. Maybe I was the only test subject when they made it up, cause I think im the only one who really likes em 
The playstation controllers are my favorites. I don’t get to play console games very often, so anything that isn’t too difficult to get used to I like. These fit the bill. The N64 controller is pretty nice too. I kinda like the four c-buttons, and it fits well in my hands no matter which position I’m holding it in.
I can’t stand the gamecube controller. Who decided how they were going to arrange the buttons? The L and R buttons feel weird, and I can never remember for the life of me which is the a button and which is the b without looking down (ditto for x/y/z). It’s also not as comfortable to hold.
People seem to either love or hate the Nintendo 64 controller, and I must confess it is my favourite. I always found it intuitive to use, and the addition of grooves around the 3D stick made the transition from the D-Pad easier.
Original N64 controller, no question. So very intuitive; you never had to look down to figure out what was what, and the “switch hand positions for stick use” method was perfect. I will admit that I didn’t like the fact that the stick wore out after about six months of heavy usage.
I’m fond of the PS/PS2 Dual Shock, but I despise the Logitech Dual Action (dual-shock clone for PC) that I bought to play Madden '04 on my PC… the stick has almost an eighth of an inch of free play around the straight-ahead, and needs recalibrating every five seconds.
Least favorite has to be the original X-Box controller. I’ve got huge hands (or at least, extremely long fingers) and it’s too damn big even for me.
Its not much of a joystick, but on FPS type games, the stragtic commander works wonders. I use the MSSC implace of the ASDW inverted T on the keyboard, and I use my mouse for directional looking/contoll. Between my mouse (7 buttons) and the MSSC (8 buttons, 3 shift buttons = 32 buttons) there are more buttons than I need for changing weps and such.
Because it was not designed for this taks, getting it setup to work as a directional controller is a pain. But once I got it to work, its beautiful.
now using it for what it is made for – starcraft type RTS games – its pretty damn cool too.
NES had two buttons
then Genesis came out with its 3 buttons and 16 bits
then the SNES with four buttons and l,r triggers.
then the Genesis started selling a six button controller for use with games like Street Fighter 2
what’s so intuitive about four? All you need most of the time is 2 or 3
