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5. Simplicity
The NES controller is fantastic. All it has is a D-pad, an A button, a B button, a start button, and a select button, making it incredibly simple. Other than Wii, which also features a basic design, all modern consoles feature a multitude of different inputs. Not only do we have a lot of face buttons and shoulder buttons, but we also have things like touch screens and gyroscopes for motion controls.
I think it’s pretty great that modern controllers give us a ton of different inputs, since they allow us to experience games in different ways. However, when a game tries to be a Swiss Army knife by using every single input available, things can become confusing if they aren’t implemented correctly. Developers often think that they have to use a control input just because it exists, but in reality, it should only be used if it makes sense. Our very own Robert Marrujo expressed a similar sentiment when he wrote an editorial about how developers shouldn’t need to use the Wii U GamePad to make a good game, and I couldn’t agree more.
Because NES has such a basic controller, its games are often simple to learn and hard to master. This is something that I like a lot, since the control scheme isn’t intimidating but the gameplay is complex at its core. Personally, I’d love to see modern games feature this type of simplicity.
Don’t get me wrong, I love all systems! I just think there are are so many great things about NES that I would love to see replicated in the present. What’s your take on the matter? Let us know in the comments below!
