Taking back control
Everyone loves their favorite controllers. We all wish we could use those on every platform where we play games. There have been clones and devices over the years that make that possible, but many of them just don’t match the original. This is where Brook comes in. A few years ago, I needed to replace my 360 controller since mine all got massive stick drift or just straight up broke.
The logical choice was the Xbox One/Series controllers, but they didn’t work. So I ordered a USB device from Brook called the Wingman to use those controllers on my original 360. It worked like a charm. So today I am checking out three new devices from them that once again allow players to use their favorite controllers on other consoles, as well as a plethora of third-party controllers as well.
MSRP: FGC2 ($69.99), XE2 ($54.99), NS Lite ($39.99)
For this review, I am taking a look at three Wingman devices from Brook. The first is the NS Lite, which allows players to use a variety of controllers on Nintendo Switch 1 and 2 as well as PC. Next up is the FGC2, which works on PS5 and PC. Finally, we have the XE2 that works on PS3/4 and PC. Quite the variety for sure, and each one comes with its own caveats, but let’s start with what all of them share.
Each device has the exact same design. They are standard USB devices with a passthrough USB connection at the backend. This allows for wired controllers to be plugged in, and for one of these devices is its only control method. Not every Wingman works wirelessly, but the FGC2 does this by design as it is mostly used for fight sticks. Each device also has sync buttons on each side. The devices themselves are quite large, so if you are using them on front USB ports, you will definitely have to account for the extra space they stick out to.
Before using any of these devices, it is always recommended to update the firmware. The process is somewhat painless and can be achieved in two ways. I opted to download the program from Windows for my units. Then you boot up the software, hold both buttons and insert it into the PC, it does the rest from there. There is also an option update via a web browser that works just as easily.
The devices also allow for macro functions such as button remapping and turbo functionality. These are not as intuitive. I would have LOVED to see an app to assign the button remapping as the process can be a bit tedious. You have to hold button combinations, check the dongle to make sure it is in remapping mode, then set the commands. It is not ideal, and you will definitely need to have the instructions at the ready whenever you want to use these features. It is nice that it is there, but it feels clunky nonetheless. There are multiple storage sessions at least, which means you can set it and forget it, as long as it holds.
Alright, time to dive into each device individually. There are a lot of similarities across each one, but again they only work for specific consoles. The NS Lite is obviously designed with the Nintendo Switch/Switch 2 in mind. It is worth noting that the Switch 2 compatibility is tied to the firmware, so make sure to update that before beginning. As far as controller compatibility is concerned, there is a lot here. Most any controller with Bluetooth functionality will work. For my review I tested an Xbox Series, PS5, 8bit Do, and a few other third-party devices. They all worked extremely well. It is worth noting that the input lag is advertised as being minimal, and it is, but some controllers work better than others.
Being a standard Bluetooth signal does allow for interference, but I rarely had issues, and my game room is packed with BT devices. Going wired brings this down a bit for sure, but as large as the device is with a cord hanging out is definitely an eyesore. It is worth noting that things like the Xbox 360 wireless adapter works as well, so if you have an old Xbox 360 steering wheel, you can map it to play Mario Kart, which is really cool.
Playing games like Mario and Zelda with an Xbox controller is surreal, but definitely cool. I was able to adapt most things, but it is worth noting if a game uses motion control, it won’t work. It is also worth noting that some headsets don’t work if the controller has an input jack. I also had issues when not in docked mode. There are some issues, but if you are like me and just want to use standard inputs, this is a nice feature to have. I can now use my preferred controller to play my favorite Switch games.
Next up we have the XE2 which is similar with some different caveats. This one works with PS3/4, PC, and Switch 1. Everything here works essentially the same with only some controllers working wirelessly, but everything works wired. Again, I tested what I had, and it works extremely well. Functionality on PS3 was fantastic. My old Dual Shocks are basically dead, which means I had been using cheap knockoffs for a while. Being able to bring my Xbox controllers to this console was awesome. Input lag was great and everything worked as intended. I truly hate symmetrical analog sticks, so being able to play classics like inFamous and Uncharted with the superior controller is great.
Finally, we have the FGC2. This is one of the newer models of the Wingman designed for PS5 and of course, as always, PC. The biggest catch to this one is that it is entirely wired only. There is no wireless connectivity. With the new models of the PS5 this is a little cumbersome as the only standard USB ports are on the back of the system. This means if you want to connect a controller to it, you have to have the wire running to the side or over the top of the console if it is horizontal. It also means you need to have a pretty long cord if you want to play on your couch.
The device worked as expected. I was able to plug in my Xbox controller or even better my 8BitDo Xbox arcade stick and use it on my PS5. I prefer the Xbox controller, so this was nice, and it maps the touch pad…decently. There are ways to make it work, but I wouldn’t recommend using it on games with heavy implementation of it such as Astro Bot as it is hit and miss. Still being able to use my other fight sticks on the PS5 is nice. The lag is low, and it works as expected, just hoping we can get a wireless version at some point.
Overall, the Wingman line is impressive. I have been using these devices for years and these new ones just open up more possibilities to use other controllers on more platforms. The firmware updates are a little quirky and I do wish there was a unified app to work with all of these devices. Outside of that they work as advertised, and I love it. Definitely worth checking out for your console of choice to be able to use a different or more preferred controller.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
