The Evolution Of Nintendo Controllers | NES to Switch

Over the years, one of the most iconic things about Nintendo has been its controller designs. Let's take a look through the years at different controllers for different generations of systems.

8-bit NES and Famicom
While both the NES and Famicom controllers share some basic design aesthetics, there are some wildly different things about each of these controllers. The original Famicom controllers were hardwired into the system, and controller two featured a built-in microphone that a handful of games took advantage of. The NES controller was removable and omitted player two's microphone. Towards the end of the NES life cycle in both Japan and the US, they released the Dog Bone controller, designed after the Super Nintendo and Super Famicom controller with much better ergonomics.

Super Nintendo and Super Famicom
Entering the 16-bit era, Nintendo added two more face buttons and two shoulder buttons to their controller design. In Japan and Europe, the face buttons were four different colors while in North America the Super Nintendo controllers buttons were two different shades of purple with concave and convex shapes. I've always loved the Super NES controller shape, I just wish we could have gotten the Super Famicom colors with the Super NES shape.

Nintendo 64
The N64 was the first system where Japan and the US did not have different controller shapes. It could be used in three different ways and featured an analog stick along the centerline. The analog stick was unique for its time, but it was also one of the weakest points of the controller. Thankfully in recent years, third-party manufacturers have really created some amazing controllers for the N64.

Nintendo GameCube
The GameCube is one of my favorite Nintendo controllers of all time. It's comfortable, well balanced, and it just makes sense to me. Nintendo also released the Wavebird wireless controller, which omitted rumble for the addition of wireless capabilities. These are still great controllers and people tournament fight with them to this day.

Nintendo Wii
Ah, The good old Wii and waggle controls. The Wii remote itself was unique in that you could plug in other accessories and peripherals into the bottom. The most common was the nunchuck controller with an analog stick and two buttons of its own. I know many people don't care for the waggle, but I actually enjoyed playing games on the Wii.

Nintendo Wii U
The Wii U was overly complicated in so many different ways, including the controllers. Sure, it was backward compatible with Wii remotes including Wii motion Plus enhanced remotes, but it also had its very own pro-controller and the gamepad could be used as a controller as well.

Nintendo Switch
The latest controller scheme from Nintendo is the Joy-Con controller. It can be used attached to the system itself, detached similar to Wii remotes, or in a grip to create a pseudo-pro controller. Nintendo also has a very excellent pro controller which is one of my favorites they've ever produced.

What is your favorite Nintendo controller of all time? Comment Below!

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