When it comes to a short description of what it's like to play with the GameCube controller the only phrase that sums it up for me is: "Pick up and play!" Granted, having had experience with the N64 controller probably does help with the whole prong-thing but honestly it is hard to describe how effortlessly this controller immediately molded into my hands. Place your hands on it and it is uncanny how the analog stick and the A button draw magically your thumbs to them... their placement is absolutely perfect.

The first big surprise for me was the analog triggers. Not at all what I was expecting and yet, once I tried them out, they made a ton of sense. The analog triggers are loose, very loose compared to the level of resistance I was expecting, but once you think about it the looseness of them makes sense. I had expected variable resistance in the triggers because then I figured you would get a 'feel' of what level of resistance corresponded to what was proportionately shown happening on-screen. Instead though there is no increasing resistance and instead you get a feel for merely what position you can feel your finger in and you then eliminate any comfort issues one could have dealing with increased resistance in a 3/4 held in position. Sorry for all of the theory but the triggers really weren't what I expected but I really like the result. As for the digital click it is hard to say more than it is there and it works... something new to get used to when you've always had digital triggers but I likes me a challenge.

Moving on to other feel issues I think the most notable thing is the D-pad. I don't think Nintendo could have designed anything more clearly to say 'STOP developing games for a D-pad' than making a controller that simply lacked one entirely. Its placement is workable certainly, but between where it is and its TINY size (great for the GBA, not for a large controller) it really doesn't inspire the impression of it being more than a concession. The same can be said of the Z-button, which may be useable but hardly comfortable to get to... which is also by design. One thing to note with people requesting the Z-button... in terms of this design versus the N64 design it shouldn't have even been included. With the third prong on the N64 controller the Z-button was just the center prong's L-button, it's trigger design just being more suited to how the center prong was being held. So truly on a two-prong controller there is no need for a Z-button... but people asked for it and it is there, even if it doesn't feel like anything more than an unplanned inclusion.

In terms of playing games with it I don't know what to say other than it works like a charm. Analog control is nice and sensitive, response seems perfect, and even after playing for a while I didn't have any real discomfort or signs of the once-notorious "Nintendo thumb". One note is that I think the Rumble may be a bit understated but that could also be related to the games I've been playing with it so it is hard to comment on the intensity level it can reach if programmed for.

All in all what may be best to say about the controller is that there really isn't much to say about it. It is what I've come to expect from Nintendo and it delivers in terms of what feels to be a sturdy construction with better heft than the fragile-feeling Dreamcast controller and that is more intuitively layed out than the Sony dual-analog controllers. Larger hands could possibly have problems (though the fairly long prongs would seem to help on that level) but in the end I think gamers of all ages will find the controller to be a perfect and comfortable fit with plenty of functionality to handle any game thrown at it.