Controller vs Controller: Fight!

From the Vault — originally published May 2, 2011. Some links, videos or prices may be out of date.

As I surfed the web today in search of the latest launch day titles to sooth my never- ending thirst for the perfect gaming experience I found myself once again full of doubt. A familiar uncertainty stemming not from the decision of what game to buy but from the conundrum of deciding what console to buy it for. Clearly this is a crisis of luxury but a crisis nonetheless and one I find myself battling with more than I’d like to admit. What really separates the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 experience when the games on both consoles are virtually identical? Yes their online play definitely serves a role (both with their pros and cons), but even more crucial to defining each user experience is the role of their unique controllers.

I’m an owner of the “Big 3” Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo Wii (for the purpose of this article I’m totally taking the Wii out of the equation for obvious reasons). Every time a title comes out that is not console exclusive I find myself
thinking long and hard about which controller will give me the best match for the gameplay. Is it the Xbox 360 with its ergonomic shape and profound triggers or the Playstation 3 with its familiar shape and balanced design? We all know once you crack the seal on that game box there’s no turning back so making the right choice is critical. My segregated videogame collection has shown me that it’s the genre of the game that makes the executive decision as to which console will be getting my hard earned coin.

First-person shooters for me are a no-brainer. The Xbox controller was built with this genre in mind. The realistic shape of the triggers are perfect for filling aliens and enemy forces with lead (or plasma). The unbalanced positioning of the analog sticks with the left stick nestled close to the triggers enhances your rate of reaction
in first person gaming. I even like the way the bumpers feel when assigned to reload weapons or chuck grenades. There are times I get so caught up in my Xbox FPS play that I feel like there is no controller in use at all. Just me and the satisfying recoil of my AK47 (my Black Ops weapon of choice). The PS3 controller on the other hand doesn’t do it for me when it comes to FPS games. As an owner of Killzone 3 a Sony exclusive and an avid fan of the updated Call of Duty button mapping I still don’t find the controls nearly as effective as those in Halo Reach or Black Ops on my Xbox for
that matter. The L2 and R2 bumpers on the back of the PS3 controller should never be referred to as triggers because the reality is they aren’t. Sure you can buy trigger prosthetics to make you feel better about your lackluster PS3 FPS gaming but most titles still default map the shooting button to the R1 trigger so consider those lame triggers useless.

Where the PS3 controller excels is sports games. The feel of the PS3 controller brings back memories of generations of Madden and other Electronic Arts titles on my PS 2 and PS One that cannot be replaced. I own all of my sports games on the PS3 from NBA 2K to PGA Tour. I like how low profile the buttons are on the face of the controller. They make split second decisions when passing the ball more manageable. I even prefer the basic square, circle, triangle geometric shape assignment when playing games like Madden over the use of letters which are easily mistaken. The unobtrusive nature of the bumpers allows the supporting buttons on top of the controller to replicate the buttons on the face without feeling weird or bulky. The lightweight feel of the controller also helps battle fatigue when playing quarter after lengthy quarter of your favorite sports title. I also prefer the position of the low balanced left analog stick for sports games. Maybe it’s because the triggers aren’t used nearly as much in your average sports game as they are in a typical FPS there is less of a need to have the left analog stick so close to those inputs. Off the topic of controls I would also say that Electronic Arts and 2K Studios do a really good job of containing the online experience in their sports games, making them feel like something separate from The Playstation Network with its sub-par features. This is another important reason why I feel most sports games are tolerable if not better on the PS3.

This next category can be contested but I personally buy all of my fighting games on the Xbox (start throwing rotten tomatoes now). To be honest controls have little to do with this decision. Sony has yet to present an online fighting experience that surpasses the Xbox Live. Even when presented with the option of receiving Kratos on the PS3 version of Mortal Kombat I opted to for the 360 version. I have too many bad memories of sitting in Sony online lobbies waiting 15 minutes to find a match for a 90 second round of Street Fighter. In actuality I prefer the PS3 controller overall for fighters (remember how great the Street Fighter Alpha series felt?). Most children of the 90’s home console boom appreciate the placement of the Sony D-pad. Microsoft in true competitive nature identified this and made adjustments to their premium silver controller. The addition of inverted contours on the analog sticks decreases finger slip when you’re trying to get those projectiles out. They also made their D-pad adjustable. With the twist of a
knob it goes from a flat disc to a well-defined plus. Though still poorly placed this increases the grip on this upgraded piece of hardware tenfold.

At the end of the day true fighting game connoisseurs seeking an authentic experience will opt for the classic arcade joystick or six-button fighting pad; both of which can be purchased for either console. The same can be said for racing games and steering wheel peripherals. This leaves other factors on the table to determine console superiority in these genres (such as online play). I think both consoles controllers are amazing for what they are. Still I look forward to the next generation in controller evolution (insert microchip here).