Better Than The NES?! These 3 Controllers Do It Better Than Nintendo
239Back in the 80s, the NES Controller was iconic. It laid the foundation for every controller that followed with its revolutionary D-Pad and A/B button layout. But let's be honest: that rectangular brick wasn't exactly a miracle of ergonomics! What are 3 controllers that do it better than the original Nintendo Entertainment System controller? Let's take a look at 3-top contenders!
While I absolutely love the original Nintendo Entertainment System pad, other 8-bit consoles took that core concept and ran with it, creating controllers that were simply more comfortable and packed with better features right out of the box.
In this deep-dive, we pit the classic NES pad against three of the best controllers from the 8-bit era. Get ready for some serious retro nostalgia!
The 3 NES Controller Challengers
1. The Sega Master System Controller
The Sega Master System controller took the D-pad and A/B button concept and just made it more comfortable. While the D-pad wasn't as perfect as Nintendo's cross, the rounded corners made a huge difference during long gaming sessions.
Pro: Hugely improved comfort and grip.
Con: It famously lacked a Start/Pause button, forcing you to hit the console button—a major miss compared to the NES pad.
2. The TurboGrafx 16 / PC Engine Controller
This controller is a powerhouse of underrated features. It only had two face buttons (like the NES), but it had a massive, game-changing advantage: built-in turbo switches!
The Turbo Advantage: You had to buy a separate, clunky accessory like the NES Advantage or NES Max to get turbo on Nintendo's console. The TurboGrafx-16 included this essential feature with the system!
Ergonomics: It was more rounded and ergonomic than the NES brick, making those intense horizontal shooters (like Blazing Lazers) much easier on the thumbs.
3. The Sharp Famicom Turbo Twin Controller (The Cheater)
This one is technically cheating because it's an officially licensed Nintendo product—the controller for the Sharp Turbo Twin Famicom. But it proves my point! It's an optimized, superior version of the original design.
The Best of Both Worlds: It had the better, traditional NES-style D-pad, excellent rounded corners, and built-in turbo functionality (similar to the TG-16).
The Microphone: The Player 2 controller even included a working built-in microphone for unique gameplay elements in Japanese games like The Legend of Zelda: a Hyrule Adventure (for the Famicom version).
🔥 Final Verdict
The original NES controller is a legend, but the comfort and included features of its 8-bit rivals were simply ahead of their time. The TurboGrafx16 and Sharp Famicom Twin set a new standard for controller features that the NES required extra purchases to match!
What 8-bit controller did YOU prefer over the NES controller? Let me know down in the comments! Did I miss a great one? (P.S. I'm keeping the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive out of this, that's firmly the 16-bit generation!)
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