I'm Losing Control
Yo,
Am I the only one who likes the Gamecube controller? It gets a lot of hate from gamers, but I feel as though it is undeserved. Maybe it isn't ideal for Capcom vs SNK 2, but it had some really good qualities. Games designed with it in mind control really well. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
First off, the shape. Maybe my hands are oddly proportioned but I find it to be far more comfortable than just about any other controller I have ever used. The Playstation's is too small and angular while the Xbox's was massive (I haven't tried an S). There is just enough there to hold onto without being overly large.
Differentiating face buttons by more than a symbol is genius. A large, confirming A button, a smaller B button and the auxiliary X and Y can all be identified by touch alone. It also helps game design, as there is generally one button that gets the most attention anyway. All actions can be easily mapped by importance.
Complaints about the Z button are unwarranted. It was never meant to be a full action button, but rather a small activation, like bringing up a map in Sunshine or switching vision modes in Splinter Cell.
L and R never really got the developer attention they deserved, but I suppose if the original Street Fighter taught us anything, we learned that people like to pound buttons. Perhaps pressure sensitivity has no place in gaming controllers. At any rate, they were well shaped and easily pressed. I don't have any problems pushing them quickly, as some people have complained of. They are certainly no stiffer than the Xbox's shoulder buttons.
The control stick is very satisfying. No other controller's analogs click in such a tangible way, which yields a greater sense of impact. The casing also has small indents to prevent it from sliding around, as I find the PS2's wont to do.
Why does everyone hate the C-stick? It has never been a problem for me. Does anyone use it for anything beyond camera control anyway? It is not as though second analog sticks ever do that much; the face buttons always require much more thumb time.
The Gamecube has a very interesting controller that I had hoped developers would take advantage of to make fun new games. Unfortunately this did not happen. Sure, the D-pad was too small and ports had to make do with one less button than other consoles, but I for one will greatly miss it.
Jeans, Otacon?,
Snake
3 comments:
Z Button-People complained because of the legacy of the original Z-Trigger. 3D action gaming owes a ton to OoT's Z-Targeting, and L targeting just doesn't have the same ring to it.
C-Stick: I had no qualms with it. Heck, switching beams in MP was a joy.
GIANT A-Button: Awesome.
The GC controller is excellent if the game being played was designed to use it. But for ports and classics collections it feels weird. And don't even get me started on Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO.
The problem with the triggers is the 3 inches I have to pull them for a full register.
Also, no other control is quite as loud as the gamecube controller.
Best controller design ever? the Batarang for the ps3. The 360 has a mighty fine design, presuming you don't want d-pad control.
I generally don't mind the inch, especially since most games don't need a full push to register.
Personally I like the noise, makes things more fun.
I haven't had enough time with the 360 controller to comment on it, but it seems decent. Shame about the d-pad though, I would have really liked a good one for some of those older games. Symphony of the Night FTW!
Post a Comment