Switch Insider Nintendo Switch News and Reviews
The most-recent Switch update allowed for USB hookups for controllers – including the Pokken Pro pad while a late May update from 8bitdo allowed for many of their controllers to work on the console. With the official Pro controller costing $70 and having an iffy d-pad, it left many underwhelmed and dealing with a bit of buyer’s remorse. As someone with both the dual analog-stick NES30 Pro pad and a newly-acquired Pokken Pro pad, it feels great to have a wider variety of controller options beyond just the grip-laden Joycons.
I originally bought the NES30 Pro because I was unhappy with the grip/Joycon combo for Ultra Street Fighter II and really needed something that worked well with the cancellation of the Turbo Fighter controller. There wasn’t a lower-cost option and for about $30, it certainly provided a lot of value in theory. The controller was a pain in the butt to get paired up, but once it did, it worked like a dream. The short sticks are a bit annoying for SF, but the d-pad works fine and the controller layout works out perfectly by default for someone who got used to playing that game on the SNES. The Pokken controller was only on my radar due to positive feedback on the d-pad and the larger grips, which I would love to have on the NES30 Pro. Using this controller for SF feels natural, with smooth d-pad motions and a perfect layout for a four face button and two shoulder button setup. It feels pretty much like using a PS1 controller, only with a single shoulder button on each side and it works perfectly.
FAST RMX works like a dream with the NES30 Pro, but sadly, doesn’t work with the Pokken pad. I was hopeful that the system would be tricked into thinking that the d-pad was a stick, but that didn’t happen, so the game itself doesn’t work with it. Kamiko works fine with both controllers and remains one of the system’s best games to buy on a tight budget. Depending on which character you choose, you either get a bit of a shooter or an overhead hack and slash and using the grip/Joycon combo never quite feels natural. Using a stick for a game with movement in four directions feels like a waste, and the compact shape of the NES30 Pro feels natural for this kind of game. However, the comfort level of the Pokken Pro pad is off the charts and the longer grips on the bottom do make it a little easier on the hands for longer play sessions.
Blaster Master Zero is another game that works like a dream on both controllers. The overhead sections are a bit easier with the NES30 Pro stick, but the side-scrolling segments feel more natural with the Pokken Pro pad and it still feels good for the overhead stuff. It’s not quite as natural for a d-pad, but the increased comfort level makes the minor decrease in usability worth it for longer play sessions. It’s also a bit easier to use Ekoro’s charge shot with the larger buttons on the Pokken pad and I would give that controller a very minor edge overall due to its higher comfort level.
Puyo Puyo Tetris controls nicely with both controller options, and each works far better than the grip method due to how awkward the segmented d-pad can be. It works well for quick motions in exactly one direction, but needing swift movement to create chains results in absolute failure. Both the d-pads on these controllers feel natural, with a slight edge to the Pokken pad due to its larger d-pad and bigger buttons – like Blaster Master, the larger grips make extended sessions easier and for a game like this that is easy to sink hours of time into competitively, that adds up.
Mighty Gunvolt Burst is an outstanding game – but the NES30 Pro’s d-pad doesn’t work quite as well for it as I would have liked. The overall button layout works nicely for it though. However, the superior d-pad of the Pokken controller makes that the best overall way to play the game and really winds up being the deciding factor for most games. It holds up nicely for that game, Bomberman, and in theory, Shovel Knight and the Neo-Geo games would benefit a lot from it as well. It’s a shame that the controller doesn’t currently have mapping for the Home or Screenshot buttons – but perhaps key combinations can be crafted by Nintendo for it when Pokken Tournament DX launches later this year on the Switch. It’s a great controller overall, but not having the universal game support that the NES30 Pro has does hurt it a bit. Still, for about $11, it’s the absolute best bang for the buck you can have if you want to enjoy retro-inspired gems on the Switch.
