I use an original PSX Dual Shock with USB adapter;

+ d-pad has very little travel, so BRs are much easier to pull off in comparison to the DS2/DS3
+ all buttons are digital (not pressure sensitive like DS2/DS3), so if you're pressing them then the machine interprets each press as 100% pressure
+ no mushy triggers

- hard to find one with analog sticks that haven't been used and abused
- no motion-sensing (though if you don't have games that require it, it's not a big deal)

If I need "Home" access, i just keep a normal DS3 at my side.

The Saturn controller is a good one to look into, both the US/European and the Japanese models.


I dunno, it depends on how you play, too... I keep airbrake and acceleration sensitivity as low as possible so gas and brakes are all or nothing when I use them. Unfortunately it's not exactly easy to try out tons of different controllers without spending a lot of money...