Addicting Video Games

A long while back, I was heavy into super nintendo emulation. I really wanted a true to system experience. I wanted a controller in my hand. I went out and bought a cheap general computer controller. That one was… Okay. Mostly, I was disappointed with that one because of the D-Pad. Whenever I would press down, I’d go right. When I’d press up, I’d go left. I had decided that the only way to fix it would to find an actual super nintendo controller with a usb port. I was really excited when I got this one. I ripped it out of the box to instant apprehension. The controller feels completely cheap in your hands. It’s a bright white. On the back is a fairly sizable sticker that reads, “MADE IN CHINA.” I went and downloaded an emulator and rom onto someone else’s computer to test it out. To my complete disappointment: The D-pad was terrible. Up = Up-Left. Down = Down-Right. I’m really upset because someone gifted this to me. Someone spent money on me for this piece of junk. I would not recommend this to anybody that wants to be immersed into a game. Do some research on a good SNES controller, and then buy a controller port to usb port converter. That’s my only hope for now. The funniest part about the controller is that the box it comes in says “eight quality buttons.” Count with me, here: L & R is 2. Start & Select is 2. A, B, X, & Y is 4. Up, Down, Left, & Right is 4. That’s twelve buttons. They don’t even guarantee that this thing is awesome on the box. Final details: Cheap plastic. Cheap wire. Terrible marketing. Bad programming. Not worth the purchase.
Rating: 2 / 5

I got two of these controllers because they’re cheap and meet the requirements for what I needed them for (playing emulated NES/SNES/Sega, etc games). I used the free shipping which took so long I forgot that I had ordered them, but it was still here before their last possibly delivery date by 2 days. I immediately opened the first controller, plugged it in, had it recognized by Windows 7 Enterprise and configured it with my emulator and was playing Bubble Bobble with in 5 minutes.

My girlfriend got excited and rushed to open the other one, I plugged it in, had it recognized by Windows but nothing would work to get the buttons to actually do anything. I tried 4 different USB ports on the back of my custom rig to no avail, unplugged the one that worked and wiped controller one to test to see if maybe they were just conflicting and it still wouldn’t do anything at all (I am a certified computer technician and I do it for a living).

I’m going to go ahead and leave it at 4 stars because the one that works works well and all the buttons on it look and feel like an original SNES controller. They’re kind of cheap plastic, but what do you expect for something which costs half as much as the only other option locally (a Logitech game pad for $25 at Best Buy where I’m from, these were $13 each and shipped free).

I have filled out a UPS pick up return for the other one and the package is already waiting outside my door for them to come get the bad one tomorrow. There are no driver cds or anything with them just a really cheap cardboard box with tons of plastic wrap, so YMMV on getting them installed properly, I had no problems with auto-detection on Windows 7.

**UPDATE** 3/27 – I received my replacement for the bad controller yesterday, 4 days ahead of schedule, and it works without issue. Amazon had UPS come pick it up for return at no cost to me and I got the replacement fast. Excellent.
Rating: 4 / 5

Nice controller overall. The buttons are responsive and not mushy. The D-pad is a little noisy and creaky but works well with both Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64.

The pad also works nicely with emulation software on the laptop.
Rating: 4 / 5