With Donkey Kong Bananza now making its case as the real launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2, I needed a controller that could keep up with Kong’s crashing fists. When it came to a game that epitomized joy and catharsis in equal measure, Nintendo’s own Pro device proved a leading contender as best all-around, but not for the reasons you may think.
I spent my own money on an $85 Switch 2 Pro controller. Accounting for tax, it was closer to $95, which is nearly one-fifth of the total price I paid for my Switch 2. It’s currently one of the most expensive gamepads you can buy for the Nintendo’s new handheld, which is partially why the device has caused its own controversy. The repair gurus at iFixit called it “a piss poor excuse” for a gamepad. They excoriated it not just for how it’s basically impossible to take apart, but for its lack of Hall effect joysticks. Those kinds of sticks use a magnetic field to reduce the risk of stick drift. The Pro 2 still uses potentiometer joysticks, which can wear out over time and create issues where the controller imagines inputs you didn’t intend. When I brought my controller to the checkout counter, the retail worker asked if I wanted insurance. “The sticks can start to drift,” she said. Not a good first impression.
See Switch 2 Pro Controller at Amazon
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller It feels good in-hand, but there are better options if you can deal with connectivity issues. Pros Nice feel in-hand
Nice feel in-hand Extra-large face buttons
Extra-large face buttons Built-in headphone jack
Built-in headphone jack Programmable back paddles Cons Nintendo limits third-party controllers
Nintendo limits third-party controllers Rumble isn't as good as cheaper options
Rumble isn't as good as cheaper options D-pad and bumper buttons are spongey
These complaints are more than warranted, but the Pro controller does feel purpose-built for modern titles like Bananza. It’s comfortable for most players, both big and small, thanks to its overly large face buttons and the smooth, rubbery feel of the sticks. I would prefer triggers with more depth to each pull, but Switch 2 games won’t require any kind of pressure-sensitive trigger unless you play a GameCube title. In that case, Nintendo’s recreated $65 GameCube controller is still your best bet for accurate gameplay. My main gripes with the controls are the soft L and R buttons and the spongy D-pad that won’t pass muster for any fighting game aficionado. Is it the kind of device I would spend nearly $100 on? Normally, no. The problem is that third-party controllers on Switch 2 lack several features of the Pro 2 controller, which seems like a deliberate act on Nintendo’s part.
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