It's the most comfortable controller I have ever used, honestly. The X360 and Wii U Pro Controllers are up there, but the D-Pad and the digital buttons ruin them a bit for me.

I agree the d-pad, z-buttons are terrible and the button layout is poor for fighting games.

It was comfortable, which is nice, but that's about it. I did like the analog triggers.

Yeah, I guess that's a matter of opinion, and I mostly agree with one exception.

The gamecube was easily more comfortable than the previous three... While the original nes controller was comfortable in its day (it really established the two hands at the sides approach that's easy on the wrists with the dpad under one thumb and the buttons under the other), it was quite simplistic. The N64, meanwhile, was actually quite comfortable and was designed to be held in two different manners depending on whether the dpad or analog stick were being utilized, but the arrangement of the buttons actually took a step back from the SNES and one shoulder button was inaccessible when using the analog stick (the z button was an attempt to fix this). In the end, it was difficult to use quickly.

I think the exception, though, is the SNES controller... They actually put a lot of focus on ergonomics, and I think that's reflected in the design. They began by rounding the edges of the controller, allowing it to fit comfortably into your palms. Your thumbs then naturally extended over the outer rounded parts, under which were placed the dpad (left thumb) and buttons (right thumb). The four buttons were placed in a pattern that were easily accessible and reflected the arcade cabinets they were mimicking (their goal was to replicate the street fighter 2 experience). Finally, two shoulder buttons were placed right where your index fingers would be.

To me this was both ergonomic and innovative, perhaps the first console controller I can say accomplished both well... The atari 5200 might be one but it was so fragile that I can't give it much credit. These days I think the SNES controller is a bit small and thin, but as a kid (their target audience) it was perfectly sized.

I do agree mostly with what you're saying in retrospect, but I'm not sure that's something that would have heavily factored into the opinions of those who experienced the progression of controllers first hand. The earlier controllers felt as comfortable as we could have expected them to as there was nothing better at the time, so (with the possible exception of the n64) I don't think the GameCube controller was the first time we'd really held a comfortable nintendo controller, nor did people have a negative memory of its predecessors. At the very least, that's not how I recall experiencing it... I just thought it incorporated many buttons and joysticks brilliantly, though the c stick was a let down for me.

It was good for its time but that's it. The Wii U Pro controller destroys it. The gamepad destroys it. Its a good cheap controller that should only be used for gamecube games. Time to move on people.

Interesting. I actually think it has the best d-pad of any controller I've ever used, narrowly beating out the NES one. The Wii U one has just the right amount of "click" to go with a slightly pliable feel. It's so easy on the thumb, so natural feeling, and so precise.

It's been a while since I used it, might have to try it again and see if those criticisms were fair. I think the gamecube controller was the best dpad I've used something I forgot to mention.

I was really trying to come up with any criticism for the pro controller and those came to mind, but at worst they're passable. The only thing keeping this from a perfect A is that the wii u is designed in a way that often precludes actually using the dang thing. It's a shame as, overall, I think it's the best controller of this generation if we were actually allowed to use it.

I hope they use something very similar for the NX as, while the wii u may not have been an outright success, I suspect it would have done far better if the pro controller had been the pack in as opposed to the gamepad, and it'd be less expensive to produce.

Rose-tinted nostalgia goggles, same reason the internet would have you believe the Gamecube was a great system despite its sales clearly showing it was a misstep.

Explain to me how it is uncomfortable for mario kart? I only used the gamepad for Mario Kart. I even don't want it on TV, I find myself staring down to play most the time asyou don't see the jaggies as much on the small screen. 

Sales don't necessarily reflect whether or not a console was fun, well built, and had quality games... Sometimes it's a simple matter of another console having more 3rd party support and marketing itself successfully as an inexpensive dvd player.

The Dreamcast, Gamecube, and Xbox were all a lot of fun and offered unique experiences, but they were completely overpowered by the PS2 which essentially had the mainstream draw of the Wii for its dvd capabilities and the most robust third party support for games. The others never had a chance.

It's the best controller nintendo has ever come up with... but that's not saying much.