Post-test follow up:
I fired up Super Mario 64 to put this controller through its paces, a game I'm sure we're all very familiar with. I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed.
- First things first, the controller feels very cheap. The plastic used seems brittle and, even to the touch, feels somehow off-putting. On top of that, the controller is very light. That may not be a negative to some, but I tend to like some heft to my controllers.
- The buttons are not fun to press. The same hollow "click" associated with knock-off controllers is present here, offering a stark contrast to the NES30 and SNES30 that influenced my purchase. Upon opening the controller, I found cheap rubber pads which do not match up with the N64's superior pads, so fixing the problem is not as simple as switching them out.
- The analog stick works but oddly manages to be more stiff than the N64's original stick. I found Mario's movements when turning to be sudden and spastic. Because I know Super Mario 64 only registers 8 directions of movement, I later confirmed through Windows' Devices and Printers menu that this analog stick HIGHLY favors the 8 corners.
- For the people asking, the D-pad has not been changed. There are still problems with using diagonals as people have pointed out with previous 8bitdo controllers. So for those N64 games that rely on the D-pad, like Mischief Makers, this controller will cause issues. Honestly, mapping those to the analog stick might be a better option.
- Lastly, it might seem like nitpicking, but the USB port is so recessed into the plastic housing due to the curve that normal USB cables will not fit securely. The included USB cable is the only one I have that has a connector long enough to secure itself. I imagine this was overlooked until close to the end of production and including an appropriate USB cable was the easiest fix.
Most of these issues can be solved by swapping the housing, buttons, and contact pads with the original N64 controller's, which is probably worth doing. However, be aware that the original housing will not accommodate the PCB without slight modifications. You'll need to cut out some of the plastic near the top of the controller and of course make holes to allow the USB port, LED indicator lights, and sync button to fit through.
This controller falls short on every front when compared with the original N64 controller, and the build quality is sub-par when compared with 8bitdos previous products.
I'm not sure how much of this is the fault of 8bitdo or, more likely, Retro-bit's involvement. Either way, I cannot recommend this controller unless you absolutely need a N64 controller without a cable that isn't yet compatible with the N64.
- First things first, the controller feels very cheap. The plastic used seems brittle and, even to the touch, feels somehow off-putting. On top of that, the controller is very light. That may not be a negative to some, but I tend to like some heft to my controllers.
- The buttons are not fun to press. The same hollow "click" associated with knock-off controllers is present here, offering a stark contrast to the NES30 and SNES30 that influenced my purchase. Upon opening the controller, I found cheap rubber pads which do not match up with the N64's superior pads, so fixing the problem is not as simple as switching them out.
- The analog stick works but oddly manages to be more stiff than the N64's original stick. I found Mario's movements when turning to be sudden and spastic. Because I know Super Mario 64 only registers 8 directions of movement, I later confirmed through Windows' Devices and Printers menu that this analog stick HIGHLY favors the 8 corners.
- For the people asking, the D-pad has not been changed. There are still problems with using diagonals as people have pointed out with previous 8bitdo controllers. So for those N64 games that rely on the D-pad, like Mischief Makers, this controller will cause issues. Honestly, mapping those to the analog stick might be a better option.
- Lastly, it might seem like nitpicking, but the USB port is so recessed into the plastic housing due to the curve that normal USB cables will not fit securely. The included USB cable is the only one I have that has a connector long enough to secure itself. I imagine this was overlooked until close to the end of production and including an appropriate USB cable was the easiest fix.
Most of these issues can be solved by swapping the housing, buttons, and contact pads with the original N64 controller's, which is probably worth doing. However, be aware that the original housing will not accommodate the PCB without slight modifications. You'll need to cut out some of the plastic near the top of the controller and of course make holes to allow the USB port, LED indicator lights, and sync button to fit through.
This controller falls short on every front when compared with the original N64 controller, and the build quality is sub-par when compared with 8bitdos previous products. I'm not sure how much of this is the fault of 8bitdo or, more likely, Retro-bit's involvement. Either way, I cannot recommend this controller unless you absolutely need a N64 controller without a cable that isn't yet compatible with the N64.