Ever since I started reviewing game controllers back in the 1980s I have used every version of controller (including version one) from the NES controller to today’s ergonomic wonders. There are many differing opinions on whether retro games should be played on original controllers or if newer controllers are better. Whether you should use original controllers or newer controllers for retro gaming depends on what you are playing and what you value. Certain games were designed with their original controllers in mind and will play better on original hardware. But other games feel just as good, if not better, with modern controllers that have better build quality and ergonomics.
Original controllers from previous generations suffered from real-world design compromises that most gamers didn’t know existed at the time. The NES controller was groundbreaking in 1985 but its D-pad was fatiguing over long gameplay sessions. The SNES controller offered shoulder buttons and better ergonomics but was designed for smaller hands than the average adult. The Mega Drive controller was ergonomic but its button layout could be confusing when switching from a SNES controller. The original PlayStation didn’t have analog sticks until the Dual Shock controller launched which altered game development.
Original controllers matter because they show how games were meant to be played when they were created. Modern controllers matter because they are comfortable and let you play for hours without wrist fatigue. So the question of which is better depends on your values: preserving originality or playing with comfort?
Why Original Controllers Are Better
Original controllers were how games were designed to be played. Button combinations for fighting games were based on the layout of the original SNES controller. Fighting games ended up with six-button layouts because Street Fighter II needed six buttons, and the SNES controller happened to have six buttons spaced for that game. Playing Street Fighter II on original hardware with an original SNES controller feels natural because the spacing matches what you are used to. Playing Street Fighter II with a modern controller will feel off because the spacing is different than what you trained your brain to understand.
The Mega Drive controller only had three buttons laid out horizontally. The SNES’s six buttons were vertically oriented. Games made for both systems took advantage of their respective layouts. Sonic the Hedgehog was designed to compliment the Genesis controller’s layout. Playing Sonic the Hedgehog with its original controller on original hardware feels natural. Playing Sonic with another controller that has different spacing will feel off.
Competitive fighting game players take controller fidelity very seriously. Button spacing and joystick layout can impact how someone plays a game. The fighting game community is pretty divided over controller fidelity because of their experiences competitively. The most important part of the controller to retro gamers is the D-pad. The NES controller had a D-pad that was one single molding and didn’t offer the best experience. The NES’s D-pad made your thumb travel diagonally which was awkward. The SNES featured an improved D-pad that was much nicer to use. The Mega Drive’s D-pad was completely different and some people prefer it over the other pads. Modern controllers have a different D-pad layout that is usually mushroom shaped or individual buttons. Games that were designed to use older D-pads feel different when you play them on a controller with a modern D-pad.
The original PlayStation controller changed the gaming industry by introducing analog sticks to consoles; however the stock controller did not have analog sticks-it was only a cross pad controller. Sony released the Dual Shock controller that added both vibration and analog sticks to the controller. Games designed for the stock controller played differently than ones that were designed to use Dual Shock features. Ape Escape was one of the first games designed to take advantage of analog sticks. You cannot even play Ape Escape with an original controller.
Why Modern Controllers Are Better
Original controllers had legitimate problems that modern controllers have fixed. The NES controller was sharp and caused wrist fatigue. The buttons had to be pressed hard in order to activate. The cord was short on the original NES controller. These problems combined made playing for hours painful. If you don’t want wrist pain whenever you play retro games, then new controllers are objectively better.
Modern controllers are ergonomic, meaning they are designed around the shape of your hand. They fit nicely in the palm of your hand. Button resistance is lower on modern controllers. Modern controllers have smoother triggers and better analog stick resistance. If you are planning on playing a 20 hour RPG, you don’t want to use an old controller because your hands will suffer. Modern controllers let you play for hours without any pain.
Build quality of modern controllers far surpasses their originals. Analog sticks have drifted on old controllers. Buttons have broken off or stopped working on old controllers. New controllers are built to a higher standard and will last you much longer. If you know you will be using a controller for hundreds of hours, it makes sense to buy a modern controller.
Wireless technology is another benefit that modern controllers have. Adapters were needed to connect your controller wirelessly with old ones. Modern controllers snap right onto your console and have built in wireless technology. You can sit back in your chair without worrying about getting tangled in a cord. Some people might think this benefit is worthless, but wireless is a great feature to have.
Compatibility is another benefit of modern controllers. Some people own multiple devices that they play games on. If you want to be able to use the same controller to play retro games on your TV and modern games on your laptop, then modern controllers can do that. You need a wireless adapter to use retro controllers on modern devices. Some third party modern controllers, like 8BitDo controllers, offer cross-compatibility with multiple systems including TVs, computers, and even phones.
Technical Specs That Matter
Button actuation is something casual gamers don’t realise is important. Modern controllers have different button actuation than original controllers. Original controllers used rubber domes under the buttons. Modern controllers use mechanical switches which have higher actuation points and feedback. Rubber domes require more force to push down than mechanical switches. Mechanical buttons also actuate faster than rubber domes. Button actuation can be the difference between winning and losing in fighting games. Button actuation is why some professional fighting game players use either original controllers or high-end modern controllers that emulate arcade controllers.
Analog sticks are another department where modern and original controllers differ. The original PlayStation analog sticks had a specific feel and range of motion. Modern controllers have analog sticks with a different feel and range. Games that were designed to use the original analog sticks may not feel right on modern controllers, despite both having the same input range. Original PlayStation’s analog stick movement feels unique and when you move the stick in a certain way it provides that specific feeling. You can move the stick in the same direction on modern controllers and it will not have the same feel.
The D-pad is where the technical differences are most noticeable. Original controllers had a specific feel and range to their D-pads. Modern controllers have mushroom D-Pads that provide a different feel. Some modern controllers come with individual direction buttons which provide a whole other feel. Play a game that was made to use original D-pads on a modern controller to understand the significance.
Original controllers lacked haptic feedback that modern controllers provide. Modern controllers vibrate and give you feedback through their rumble feature. Certain games were designed to accommodate the shortcomings of older controllers. If you put rumble on for those games, you are adding a feature that wasn’t there when it was originally designed. Whether this is good or bad depends on if you value authenticity or extra stimulation.
Which Should You Use?
The truth is it all depends on what you’ll be playing and your personal preference. If you are a serious competitive fighting game player, then original controllers or high-end modern controllers designed to replicate arcade controllers are worth the investment. Button actuation and consistency matter if you care about winning. If you plan on playing story heavy RPGs or casual action games, modern controllers are much more comfortable and will allow you to play longer without pain.
If you care about playing your games as they were originally intended, then you should use original controllers. There is no replacement for playing Street Fighter II on the SNES with an original SNES controller. You will understand how the game was intended to be played. Your wrists will hurt, but you’ll learn more about the inner workings of the game.
If you plan on playing retro games for fun and aren’t trying to live through the past, then buy a modern controller. Modern controllers will reduce the amount of hand pain you’ll experience while playing. Modern controllers are also built to a higher standard which will last you longer. Gameplay won’t feel exactly the same, but it will be close.
8BitDo controllers are the best of both worlds. 8BitDo controllers have modern aspects but with the original button layout. They are built ergonomically and will comfortably fit in your hands. 8BitDo controllers are built with high-quality materials. 8BitDo controllers are compatible with nearly every gaming system out there including TVs, computers, and mobile devices.
Some people will only use original controllers because they love preserving the past. Some people will only use modern controllers because they don’t want wrist pain. I think everyone should have both and pick which they use based on the game. Hardcore gamers will play what their game requires. Casual gamers can use whatever controller they want.
The Verdict
Original controllers still matter because they teach people how games used to be. Modern controllers matter because they don’t give you wrist pain after playing for hours. Neither are better than the other because they each serve their own purpose.
If you’re in the market for new controllers to play retro games, I suggest you ask yourself what you will be playing. If you’re a fighting game fanatic who loves authenticity, get yourself original controllers or high-quality modern controllers. If you plan on playing every other genre, get yourself an ergonomic modern controller. If you want a little bit of both worlds, get yourself some 8BitDo controllers.
Samuel’s been gaming since the Atari 2600 and still thinks 16-bit was the golden age. Between accounting gigs and parenting teens, he keeps the CRTs humming in his Minneapolis basement, writing about cartridge quirks, console wars, and why pixel art never stopped being beautiful.
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