Novelty controllers, or any controllers with unique designs, are far less common in modern gaming than they once were. Some have functioned more like “cases” for standard controllers—large objects featuring all the usual buttons but in different locations—while others have attempted to reinvent the wheel by introducing entirely new ways to play. Many of these controllers were little more than novelty collectibles, and today, they can fetch a high price from video game collectors.

Musical instrument peripherals, like the ones used in the Guitar Hero and Rock Band series, made a splash in the mid-2000s and 2010s, but the weirdest video game controllers were much stranger than that. From fake fishing rods to a chainsaw, some controllers have to be seen to be believed.

10

The Tony Hawk Skateboard Kickflipped Into Homes

The Skateboard Controller Was Designed for Tony Hawk Ride

Tony Hawk: Ride is one of many games in the long-running series associated with the most famous and greatest professional skateboarder to ever grind a rail. This entry introduced an innovative motion-sensing skateboard peripheral designed to replicate real-life skateboarding movements. Ride also featured multiple gameplay modes—Casual, Confident, and Hardcore, with each mode affecting the sensitivity and difficulty of the skateboard controls.

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Despite its ambition, Tony Hawk: Ride never caught on with fans and became more of a novelty item, with players preferring other entries in the series. One of its biggest drawbacks of Ride its lack of true player control. Despite its immersive approach, the gameplay was, quite literally, on rails. There was no way to control propulsion using the board, which often left players stuck against walls and obstacles. Ride spawned a sequel, Tony Hawk: Shred, which used the same board, but it received similar criticisms, and the concept was ultimately abandoned shortly after.

9

The Sega Fishing Rod Let Players Pretend to Cast a Line

Sega’s Fishing Rod Controller Was Created for SEGA Bass Fishing

Fishing simulation games can be some of the most relaxing experiences in gaming, with modern advancements in fidelity creating the illusion of transporting players to the water’s edge to cast a line. SEGA achieved this back in the late ’90s on the Dreamcast with Get Bass in Japan, known as SEGA Bass Fishing elsewhere. One of the first widely popular fishing games, it featured a bespoke controller designed to look and function like a fishing rod, requiring players to use the reel on the side to catch any aquatic creature that happened to bite.

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Get Bass is a classic Sega game where players take on the role of a competitive angler, tasked with catching large bass in various environments. The gameplay revolves around selecting the right lure, casting accurately. Thanks to the controller, Get Bass lets players use hyperrealistic reeling mechanics to attract and hook bass. Players must carefully manage line tension to avoid breaking it while battling aggressive fish.

Sega Bass Fishing

Released

April 1, 1999

ESRB

e

8

The Samba De Amigo Maracas Encouraged Players to Shake, Shake, Shake

The Samba De Amigo Maracas Are One of the Most Unique Musical Instrument Controllers

The Nintendo Wii is one of the most popular consoles of all time and found its way into the homes of people who weren’t even gamers. Its appeal came from fun, family-friendly party games that utilized the unique Wii Remote and Nunchuk combo. Many of these games also had the option of specialized controller cases that simulated in-game actions. One of the stranger versions of these controller cases came with the 2007 Wii release of Samba de Amigo.

Originally released in 2000 for the Dreamcast, Samba de Amigo is a rhythm action game that gets players to shake the controllers in specific directions and at precise times, all in sync with the vibrant dance style of samba. Interestingly, the Wii version couldn’t detect varying heights the way the Dreamcast version could, instead relying on different shake actions rather than positional tracking. While the game is definitely “of its time,” it was still a fun and fitting party game for the console

Samba De Amigo

7

The Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style Pad Was Wild

Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style Was a PS1 Fighting Game

Countless games over the years have relied on celebrity endorsements, one example being Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style, a PS1 fighting game released in 1999. Featuring the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan as playable characters, the game reflected the martial arts influences seen in their music.

While the game could be played with a standard PlayStation DualShock controller, Activision also released a special controller in the shape of a “W.” The Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style pad definitely looked cool, but it didn’t have analog sticks, and the strange shape made it almost impossible to play with.

Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style

Released

December 2, 1999

ESRB

M For Mature

6

The ASCII Keyboard Controller Turned the GameCube Into a PC

This Japan-Exclusive Controller Was Created for Phantasy Star Online

Keyboard accessories for video game controllers are fairly common, but the ASCII Keyboard Controller found a way to stand out. Released exclusively in Japan for the GameCube, it was a full-sized keyboard with controller grips on the sides. Designed specifically for online RPG Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II, the ASCII Keyboard Controller functioned like a standard GameCube controller but featured a full keyboard in the middle for seamless in-game communication.

While it was missing the rumble support, the keyboard controller was like a normal GameCube controller in every other sense. Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II was also released in Europe and North America, but players had to use a standard GameCube controller, which made it harder to communicate with other players.

5

The Resident Evil Chainsaw Was the Perfect Way to Fight Los Ganados

The Chainsaw Peripheral Was Made for Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 is one of the most influential and iconic video games of all time, so it’s fitting that it had one of the most unique and memorable controllers. Designed to resemble a chainsaw—one of the game’s most terrifying weapons—the Resident Evil 4 chainsaw controller had two versions: a yellow model for the GameCube and a red model for the PlayStation 2.

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While the controller looks incredible, it was built purely as a novelty item and is generally difficult to use. The button layout is awkward and forces players to contort their hands into uncomfortable positions to reach the triggers and thumbsticks. The Resident Evil 4 chainsaw does include motion-based features, such as revving the controller to perform certain in-game actions, but it was never meant for practical playthroughs and is more of a collector’s item than a functional controller.

Systems

Released

January 11, 2005

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language

4

The Onimusha 3 Katana Controller Let Players Fight Like a Samurai

The Onimusha Katana Controller Even Had a Detachable Sheath

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege is one of the best titles in the entire series. While it’s best remembered for its time-traveling story, it also featured an incredible controller. Called the Katana: The Soul Controller, it had all the buttons and analog sticks of a standard PS2 controller but was shaped like a katana, complete with a detachable sheath that revealed a gray plastic blade.

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Given its unconventional shape, which made prolonged use difficult, and its initial price tag of around $150, the Katana: The Soul Controller was more of a collector’s item than a practical gaming peripheral. While it certainly added a layer of immersion for Onimusha 3 players, its usability in fast-paced gameplay was questionable at best. Now that Capcom is bringing back the Onimusha series, could a modern version of this controller be released as well? Probably not.

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege

Released

April 27, 2004

ESRB

m // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

3

The Novint Falcon PC Controller Had Recoil

Novint’s Falcon Haptic Device Let Players Feel Objects In Game

The Novint Falcon is closer to a mouse—or even a grip—than a traditional controller, but it was used for gaming. It was a haptic device, which means it was designed to simulate physical contact. The Novint Falcon functioned as a computer mouse alternative and gave PC gamers greater control over aiming while also providing immersive force feedback, even simulating the recoil of a weapon.

One of its many optional attachments for the Novint Falcon was a gun grip, but even without it, the handle can be moved left and right, forward and backward—much like a mouse. Unlike a mouse, however, it also moves up and down, allowing for full 3D movement. When the 3D cursor touches an object, the motors engage to make it feel solid.

2

The NES Power Glove Is So Bad

The Power Glove Was a Third-Party Accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System

The Power Glove was an NES accessory that famously appeared in the movie The Wizard, but Nintendo didn’t actually make it. Designed by a third party, it was a gray, fingerless glove with built-in controls, various buttons, and a number pad on the forearm. Movement tracking was handled by two ultrasonic sensors that had to be mounted on the player’s TV screen—an early example of the technology that would later be popularized by the Nintendo Wii. Although it wasn’t very sophisticated in registering movements in the games it was designed for, the Power Glove has remained an iconic piece of gaming history, largely because it is undeniably cool.

Originally sold for the equivalent of $150, the Power Glove was designed for use with Super Glove Ball and Bad Street Brawler. However, due to its high price and the fact that virtual reality gaming was neither popular nor particularly well-developed at the time, the Power Glove struggled to find an audience. Despite its memorable marketing campaign, it failed to sell well and was discontinued after just one year. Today, the Power Glove is such a rarity that it commands incredible prices and is considered a holy grail in the video game collectibles market.

1

The Steel Battalion Control Station Made Players Feel Like Mech Pilot

The Oversized Steel Battalion Controller Was Designed for the Game of the Same Name

Steel Battalion is best recognized for its distinctive and oversized controller, which is essential for piloting the game’s bipedal tanks. The massive controller features 44 inputs, including dual joysticks, a throttle handle, a radio control dial, five switches, three separate foot pedals, along with an array of additional buttons. These intricate controls were integral to the gameplay, since a detailed sequence of button presses were required to initialize the tank before each mission.

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The gameplay in Steel Battalion emphasizes realism. Every function, from switching weapons to managing damage, relies on precise control inputs. Movement is weighty and deliberate, reinforcing the experience of piloting a heavily armored machine. One standout mechanic was the permadeath system—if players failed to hit the eject button in time when their tank was about to be destroyed, their character would die permanently, and their save data would be deleted.