<div style='font: 12pt ; text-align: left; '>I came to this conclusion based on how much more control you have over Link in Ocarina of Time on N64 in comparisson to any 3D games on Gamecube, Dreamcast, and PS2 (all having very similar joysticks). As for the button placement, I never really had a problem with it because I grew relatively attatched to the Dreamcast configuration (which is essentially the worst, it took me a few months to get comfortable with it) and the Gamecube's placement is similar but vastly improved due to the larger B button. As for the analog pad, it's identical to the GBA's, and I have never had a problem with it'; I've always found it offers more control than the old N64 one. As for the N64 controller itself, I wish Nintendo held onto a model similar to that, it was one that worked.
In fact, the only buttons I have really had problems with are the Z button on the Gamecube controller (which is rarely used anyways), and the L2/R2 buttons on the PSX/PS2 controllers (which also are rarely used), they are in bad locations, there should only be two shoulder buttons on a controller. I preferred the N64 style, it had three buttons, but at any given time only two were in use, and one was in the form of the Z-trigger, which proved to be ideal for 3D games; I only wish Nintendo held onto that design. As for the Dreamcast controller, it's D-pad was problematic for fighting games, I always found that I could not always pull off the moves I wanted to like I can on the Gamecube controller. But for most games, I prefer the Dreamcast D-pad (it is also used much more than the Gamecubes) just because it's what I am most used to. Another thing about the Dreamcast controller that I won't be able to get over are the L/R buttons, I always found that they cramp up my fingers (I have really big hands) if I used them for too long =P
Other than that, I still think my favourite controller is the N64 one; the Dreamcast, PSX, and Gamecube, I can't really objectively decide on because I find that all of them have their faults and hih points. The PS2 controller has the worst D-pad of them all though, it is only buttons, luckily precise controls aren't a requirement for any games I use the D-pad for on PS2, I usually use it for RPG's, and that's it, mainly because I find it is better placed than the joystick.</div>
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