They can do both at once.
The NES revolutionized the console industry, it made the D-Pad the standard directional control input, plus some simple A-B buttons for other actions instead of something more akin to a numpad.
The SNES was more of the same at first glance, but it also revolutionize the inputs with a now-standard ABXY 4-button input plus the shoulder buttons. Add to this the SuperFX chips for early 3D graphics on a console who wasn't designed for it, and you get hell of an innovative console while being otherwise iterative.
N64 was a bit less innovative, but it brought us thumbsticks (well, one) and the rumble pak, both industry standards now. Just remember the outcry when SONY wanted to remove the rumble function on their boomerang-shaped controller...
The Gamecube was probably the least innovative console, or at least with the smallest influence in the console market. But it's nonstandard controller layout is still often considered the best one ever.
The Nintendo eShop rating Thread: http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=237454 List as Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aW2hXQT1TheElVS7z-F3pP-7nbqdrDqWNTxl6JoJWBY/edit?usp=sharing
The Steam/GOG key gifting thread: https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread/242024/the-steamgog-key-gifting-thread/1/
Free Pc Games thread: https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread/248138/free-pc-games/1/
