Before I review the controller, I'll provide some context to my gaming habits to accurately reflect how this product was used and if any previous biases may exist. I mainly switch off between SSBU, BOTW and fortnite. 99% of the time that I play video games, I use a wireless pro controller while other the 1% of the time, I use the old school gamecube controllers. With that being said, I'll get into the pros and cons.
Pros:
- Responsive: There is no input lag. The gaming controls felt smooth and responded well in regards to what buttons were being pressed. Normally, third party companies make horrible controllers with a lot of input lag, but this one is surprisingly solid. For PvP games, this is extremely important and I noticed no issues with response time at all.
- Design: The design layout/ ergonomic feel of the controller is the exact same as the wireless pro controller so it was easy to get accustomed to. It feels good and fits well in my hands so I can game on it comfortably for hours. As an added bonus, there is a fun and colorful Mario design on the controller as well.
- Additional buttons/ paddles: This controller has additional paddles/ buttons on the backhand side. No matter how you hold the controller, those additional buttons are placed in easy to reach/ convenient locations on the controller so they add to your gaming experience to make things easier for you. The buttons work well and are easy to operate.
- Mic port: The controller includes a mic port which works surprisingly well. I didnt expect for the controller to have this so this was a nice plus/ surprise.
- Wired: This is both a pro and con, but in terms of the pros, this controller will never die on you. This is also most likely the reason why the controller has great responsiveness and no input lag.
Cons:
- Weight/ finish: This is a personal preference so it may not bothers others as much, but for me the weight of the controller and finish on the surface are issues for me. As mentioned, I'm accustomed to using a wireless pro controller so the PowerA controller is very light in comparison. It feels almost hollow on the inside which makes it extremely light. Also, the finish on the controller's surface is a smooth finish all around. The analog sticks has a hint of rubber feel for additional grip, but it still feels quite slippery.
- Buttons: The button clicks are not smooth. It feels cheap and doesn't have a solid feel. The analog sticks are also stiff so for FPS games it's harder to aim on.
- Wired: As mentioned before, this is both a pro and con. The cons include the inconvenience of having to plug the controller in. The wire provided is extremely long so it's not too much of an issue if you wish to sit 10 or so feet away, but it simply creates more clutter. The other con of wired controllers is that you have to play on a dock in order to use it. You can't plug it directly into the switch if you wish to take it on the go. Also, the controller has a usb port, which is a bit outdated now that everything is usb-c.
All in all, I think this controller is great for the price - especially if you're a casual gamer. Most of the cons listed are personal preferences so they may not be too much of an issue for another person. Overall, since the controller is wired and the price point is less than half of the price for a pro controller, you honestly can't go wrong having the PowerA - whether it's meant as a backup controller or your main controller.
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