PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch: Official GBAtemp Review

review_banner_power_a_zelda_edition_switch_controller.jpg

PowerA has created a number of Switch controllers, a few of which we've reviewed on GBAtemp. This time, we have a PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller, with a brand new design featuring Princess Zelda from Breath of the Wild. It's shaped more like an Xbox One controller than a Switch controller, but can it do an effective job at replacing a first-party offering?

:arrow: PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch: Official GBAtemp Review
 
  • Like
Reactions: KiiWii and NoNAND

Chocola

GBAtemp Meowgular
Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2018
Messages
379
Trophies
0
Age
32
Location
Neko Paradise
XP
723
Country
Korea, South
The dpad on mine is the same as the 4 buttons on the left joycon....I can push down the entire dpad....its just a "dpad" placed on top of 4 buttons, nothing like past Nintendo controllers.

I have the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Pro Controller and I don't see any issue on his digital pad
 

aos10

Yuuki chan
Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2012
Messages
4,756
Trophies
2
Age
38
XP
4,030
Country
Saudi Arabia
why they didn't bother adding basic vibration?
for $50 you expect at least this, i know this has motion and NFC, but without vibration, it's just not worth it with that price.
 

fringle

Well-Known Member
Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2009
Messages
704
Trophies
1
XP
1,107
Country
Canada
I have one of these and if you have kids that like to press buttons hard I'd avoid it. My son managed to crack both pcbs for the zl and zr buttons. It appears to be poor design for the pcb's if you ask me. The lb and rb buttons still work though as the traces for those ran on the other side of the pcb. IMG_0002.JPG IMG_0003.JPG
 

Daisy

Well-Known Member
OP
Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2015
Messages
397
Trophies
1
Location
UK
XP
3,303
Country
United Kingdom
that's even worth, and with no rechargeable battery included, only AA batteries, the $50 is really high.
$30 is good for it.

I mentioned the high price in the Gamecube controller review I did too, but it has since been reduced from £40 to £30, so I can see them reducing the price for this in the future, too.

As I say in the review, it really is worth just paying the extra cash for a Pro-Controller.
 
  • Like
Reactions: aos10

aos10

Yuuki chan
Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2012
Messages
4,756
Trophies
2
Age
38
XP
4,030
Country
Saudi Arabia
I mentioned the high price in the Gamecube controller review I did too, but it has since been reduced from £40 to £30, so I can see them reducing the price for this in the future, too.

As I say in the review, it really is worth just paying the extra cash for a Pro-Controller.
one day, someone will make a switch controller that have motion and rumble (even if basic rumble) and it's wireless and can wake up the switch.
i have the X one Adapter from Brook, i attached it to my Elite controller and i can use it on my PS4 and Switch.
it add motion and bluetooth to the elite controller, but no NFC and can't wake up the switch (for now, maybe an update can fix that, but the dev says they don't have plans for it now)

 

Site & Scene News

Popular threads in this forum

General chit-chat
Help Users
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    I don't have them on mine Ken lol
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    Waste of the 128kb they take
    +1
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Tiger handhelds are good for one thing.... Occupying space in a landfill
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    They make good burning plastic
  • BigOnYa @ BigOnYa:
    Makes me wonder if the Pi5 can play PS2? If there's even a core for it yet.
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    Pi5 should be able to do ps2
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Try Dragon Quest VIII it ran perfectly on a core 2 Duo I had
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Easiest game to run I found
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    Ps2 emulation is cake compared to 3 years ago
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Hardest is probably Gran Turismo 4
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    It's much better now yes but Gran Turismo 4 is still the hardest one to emulate that I have in my collection
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Runs perfectly fine but it's as if I can feel it always on the boarder line of dropping a frame lol
  • BigOnYa @ BigOnYa:
    I ordered a spin ball couple days ago to add to my arcade cabinet, will be nice for games like golden tee, or bowling
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    I always wanted a controller for like Ikari Warriors, Time Soldiers, Heavy Barrel, Forgotten Worlds games like those
    +1
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Not even sure what to call that controller
  • Xdqwerty @ Xdqwerty:
    an online friend I've known since 2021 left me :( bc my attitude is "cutty"
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Sylvester Stallone should have played Kyle Reese lol Arnold still as the Terminator
  • BakerMan @ BakerMan:
    TF DOES "CUTTY" EVEN MEAN?
  • Xdqwerty @ Xdqwerty:
    @BakerMan, he is peruvian so it's probably an idiom
  • BigOnYa @ BigOnYa:
    I thought Cutty was a west coast rapper
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    Cutter
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Dr Cutty
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    It's from House MD lol
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    I took too much viagra Dr cutty oh wait
    K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2: I took too much viagra Dr cutty oh wait