Project reality
Kids today don’t know how good they have it when it comes to third-party controllers. When I was a kid, anything outside of the OEM controllers was a complete dice roll, and by that, I mean 90% of them flat out sucked. They were the controllers you gave to your friend when they came over so you could beat them easily in Super Mario Kart. Nowadays not only are current third-party controllers mostly excellent, ones being created for retro consoles are like pro versions of the originals. RetroFighters has quickly become a favorite of mine with their console-specific lineup. The latest is the Brawler64 Pro, which has rekindled my love for N64 games, even more so than already existed.
The Brawler64 Pro comes with everything you will need to use it on PC, Switch, and of course the N64 itself. There is one USB dongle, one N64 dongle, a USB-A to USB-C cable, an extra faceplate, and the instruction manual. One thing I have come to notice about RetroFighters is that they waste zero space in their packaging. Everything is tightly packed in which both satisfies my OCD and keeps the package safe during shipping. It is a little thing, but one I appreciate.
MSRP: $69.99
Platforms: N64, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $69.99
The minute I picked up the controller, I could feel the quality. Looking at its design, it combines the style of the N64, with a more modern layout, and it works. While it took me a couple minutes to adjust to the Z-button placement as well as the C-buttons, once I did, I was off and running. Everything feels premium as well. The analog stick is light years beyond the original. The face buttons and d-pad feel really good. The d-pad itself has a microswitch kind of click to it that is immensely satisfying. The shoulder buttons are perfectly placed, and the face buttons just feel amazing. I could immediately feel the quality as soon as it was in my hands.
While the controller feels premium, it is what is inside that counts. The Brawler64 Pro checks all the boxes. For customization we have magnetic faceplates. The unit I received came with a transparent one installed, with a solid extra one. Swapping these out is extremely simple and quick. The analog stick also features Hall-effects, and an 8-way notched gate. The wireless mode uses 2.4Ghz, which is fairly standard and works up to 30 feet away, which is more than enough space to work with. Testing the latency on PC and Switch was flawless as was the N64 itself. I never noticed any lag when playing any types of games. This thing is a premium controller and performs as such.
Connection across the board is fairly pain free. Connecting to PC and Switch is done via the included USB dongle. The controller supports both X and D modes via a switch on the back of the controller. Connecting it to PC and Switch is as simple as plugging in the dock and then pressing the sync button. If you are using the standard Nintendo dock though, it is a tight squeeze to press the button on the dongle. As for the N64, the included dongle plugs right into the system and has its own sync button. What is cool is that the N64 dongle has a slot for memory cards, no need for a rumble pack as the controller has built-in rumble.
Now, for the most important part, playing games. I tested a swath of titles across all three platforms, and I am happy to report it is nearly flawless. As I mentioned, the latency is great, so fighting games and precision platformers are no issue. The layout lends itself extremely well to games like MK Trilogy with the d-pad and face buttons not being uncomfortable to use. Racing games also feel improved outside of the usual problem child, F-Zero GX. With the Z-button being used to slide I had to get used to having my index fingers in different positions to slide left and right. Thankfully they have thought about this and allowed for easy swapping of these buttons. Platformers feel great. The analog on this thing is incredible. I felt like I had excellent control of all my favorite mascots such as Conker, Banjo, and of course Mario.
Once again RetroFighters proves they are one of the best in the business when it comes to retro peripherals. This is now easily my favorite controller to use with N64 games, and it being compatible with everywhere I play them is a massive bonus. Whether I am playing on NSO, original hardware, or emulating on PC, this thing handles like a champ. If you are in the market for the perfect N64 controller, look no further than the Brawler64 Pro. It is more than worth the price of admission.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.