Platform: Switch
Release Date: December 01, 2017
Wired controllers on the Nintendo Switch have not been able to live up to the quality and feature set of the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. The Pro Controller is a great piece of hardware and helps make the Switch feel like a complete console experience. Unfortunately, as I’ve discussed in my Nyko Core Controller Review, the Pro Controller is expensive.
If you want to have a complete console experience without needing to spend so much, looking at third-party wired controllers is a good option. Snakebyte has created their own wired Switch controller, the Game:Pad S. It’s low price, unique control stick position, and the red-black color combination makes it an attractive option for the practical gamer.
For the Practical Gamer
The Snakebyte Game:Pad S controller design stands out, and that could be good or bad depending on your own preferences. It has the stereotypical black and red color combination that’s normally attributed to “gamers,” something I’m not a big fan of. Snakebyte makes good use of the red on the controller by highlighting the buttons, the d-pad, and the control sticks in a practical manner. These buttons and triggers on our review unit didn’t necessarily feel mushy, but the pressing experience was clearly not as fulfilling as it is on the Pro Controller.
The Game:Pad S has all the necessary buttons to operate the Switch, but stands out from the normal design of wired Switch controllers by having the control sticks at the bottom of the controller. This control stick configuration is similar to that on PlayStation DualShock Controllers and, personally, I prefer this layout way more than the traditional layout of the Pro Controller and even the GameCube Controller.
Having the sticks at the bottom make it more comfortable for my fingers when playing games that use mostly the control sticks. Games that primarily use the d-pad means that I only use the top half of the controller, without needing to stretch my thumbs across the bottom left of the controller to reach the d-pad. It’s a personal preference, but the layout of the control sticks on the Snakebyte Game:Pad S is a stand out feature for me. Speaking of stand out features, the one thing the Game:Pad S has one thing over the Pro Controller is a turbo button which allows you to simulate rapid button presses by just holding down the button. All in all, this is another wired USB controller with the basic buttons, sticks, and triggers used in modern controllers.
Lacking In “Pro” Features
Unfortunately, just like the Nyko Core Controller, the Snakebyte Game:Pad S lacks the extra features of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller that make it unique. The Game:Pad S does not have a gyroscope, NFC, or HD Rumble. This means you won’t be able to throw your hat with your hands in Super Mario Odyssey, and you won’t be able to scan in your amiibo for those extra items in Breath of the Wild. The Game:Pad has a small secret up its sleeve when it comes to HD Rumble.
It features a “dual rumble” vibration motor in the controller, which feels like there is a vibration motor on the left and the right of the controller. This way the controller can emulate the HD Rumble in games like TumbleSeed and Mr. Shifty where the rumble location is felt obviously in a certain direction. While it’s not as great as HD Rumble, this feature helps it stand out from other wired controllers who have regular vibration motors or no vibration at all.
Final Thoughts
With the Snakebyte Game:Pad S, you’re getting the very basic needs of a modern wired gaming controller. Inherent benefits of wired controllers mean you don’t have to charge them, you don’t have to sync them, the 10-foot long cable gives you plenty of room to play at your preferred distance, etc. The turbo button, which is essentially a staple of third-party controllers at this point, is always a nice thing to have for those mundane button mashing moments in games.
The lack of special Switch features like NFC, a gyroscope for motion controls, and HD Rumble can be a deal breaker for some and should reinforce the fact that this is not meant to replace the Pro Controller. The Game:Pad S is an affordable piece of hardware meant to give you the experience of the traditional console experience without forcing you to empty your wallet. Snakebyte has made sure to provide as many features as it could, like rumble and the turbo button, to keep it practical, functional, and affordable.
The Snakebyte Game:Pad S is available now on Amazon for $19.99.
Review Product Provided By SnakeByte
