GameSir Pocket Taco - Bluetooth Mobile Gaming Controller, Perfect for Retro Scene

Overall, I actually really like it as a device to use with your phone. I generally don't like using my phone as a gaming device, but the clamping design of the Pocket Taco actually solves my biggest gripe about retro gaming on my phone. It goes around my existing phone case pretty easily, though this will vary from case to case. A thicker phone case may still find this to be a problem. The controller itself actually works pretty well; it has all buttons you'd need and expect on a controller like this, including four face buttons, a d-pad, start and select, and four bumpers. Honestly, if you want something that can work with your phone without having to remove the case and in such a small and pocketable form factor, I think this is it. This feedback was all completely original, without approval or input from GameSir. My only compensation was in the form of receiving the device for play testing.

The headline is that I really like this thing. It's compact, has that nostalgic retro design, and even comes with a carry case and a wrist strap. The quality seems good, and it's roughly the right size for my iPhone 15 Pro, with a little bit of black gap space on the screen between the game play window on top of the screen and where the clip on controller stops. But the rest of this will be about my difficulties with the unit. Not all of these have anything to do with this controller, but are info you'll want to know if you are considering this purchase. The instructions are comprehensive, but too small for the human eye to read. Hope you have a magnifying glass and a lot of patience. There's a QR code in the manual, but think twice before following it. I did and downloaded the GameSir app I found at the linked page. That app connected to the controller and even updated its firmware. But it connected the controller in a way that it can't function with a third party game emulator that you're going to need to secure from the App Store. I say you're going to need to do that because the QR code also links to the emulator the controller was designed to work with, called GameSir Boy. GameSir Boy, when I tried to download it from the App Store, returned an error message that it's not approved for download in my part of the world (I'm in the USA). So I did a lot of research and found you should get an app called Delta emulator. Fine. Got it. But it has no games on it. So then you have to search around for old tyme game ROM's, which I gather are illegal to download yet widely available for such anyway. I did find them. And I found online instructions to have my iPhone forget the Pocket Taco the GameSir app had linked with, and to instead connect it manually in "Dual Shock" mode. Then, I was able to use it with downloaded games in the Delta emulator. But, you have to also google for instructions on how to rearrange the buttons to align with the old Gameboy, NES, SNES, etc. consoles instead of the modern controller setup it comes preprogrammed with. So, a lot of hassle, a little concern about legality, but no additional out of pocket cost, just aggravation and time figuring out how to set this all up. In the end, it works well. Battery came 85% charged or so and finished up charging reasonably quickly. The buttons feel solid enough and the lights indicating different statuses work right. I'm being prompted to use certain keywords in this review I would not have thought relevant, such as Mic, Fitness, Hooking up and Manner, but all I can say is if you are technical, or else just nostalgic and willing to put in the time to get this set up, it's a nifty little window into the gaming experience of yesteryear. At a very reasonable price.