+Brent Don't act completely blind to facts and reality. LCD screens and the resolutions played at, combined with the fact that not a single Switch peripheral transmits the inputs through a wire, EXCEPT for the Switch Pro Controller and others like it, ONLY while PLUGGED IN via USB to the dock are the reason we have input lag. If you want to take some moral highground about being disappointed, at least know what you are being disappointed about. lol
I want 'pro' joycons. Dpad, better sticks, better shoulder buttons, better radios, and maybe some depth so they're easier to grip. Already got modded joycons with a dpad, but the sticks and shoulder buttons are still crap. Split joycons are the most comfortable way to play games, but it deserves better internals.
@@TheMikero the colourful buttons,purple shoulders, swappable dpad, and have it come with a newer switch model (best date for it would be a year after next gen starts) and have the joycons and switch be branded as "super"
Thumbs up for split JoyCons being the absolute best. I can't stand playing the Switch in portable mode at all (joycons on the console), my hands are apparently very unsuited to that configuration, but split is somehow much more comfortable. Deluxe JoyCons with dpad would be amazing.
With joycon drift being an issue I use this one as my regular left joycon when playing in handheld mode. This is so I don't put as much strain on my regular left joycon. I have owned this for a year and so far this hori joycon hasn't drifted yet.
It's official license, so I'm sure they could have used the Joycon name. they just didn't cause as you said, it's missing any unneeded features for the point of it.
I just picked this up for Mario Maker 2 and it's pretty great. I straight up think it's NECESSARY to play Mario Maker in portable mode. It's SO much better than the regular Joycon or using the stick for 2D games. The stick in my opinion feels actually better than the Nintendo one because it's a bit stiffer. The shoulder button and trigger are a bit clickier too, but that doesn't make a huge difference. The only parts that feel cheap are the minus button and share buttons, but I hardly ever use them to begin with. I haven't noticed any battery drain issues or dock frying either. The lack of wireless isn't that big of a deal for me, because I never use my Joy-cons separately from my system. If I'm using a wireless controller, it's my Pro Controller and other controllers are there and they work just fine. Sometimes I do chuck the regular Joy-Con in my bag just in case I ever need to, but I rarely do.
Joycons are designed to be used as indepedent controllers. That is why they can't have a d-pad. Which ironically requires you to buy a pro-controller if you want a d-pad.
I actually took the long and hard road... and did a shell swap. It was worth it for me since I only broke the ZL ribbon cable. Luckily I could buy that piece on its own and cost me about 12 bucks. Only minor annoyance is having to put more pressure to actually make the button press. Great vid and here’s to the switch 🥃
Backlog!!! I like the joycons and have adapted pretty well to them. I play prob 50/50 dock/handheld. Own a pro controller but most times I play with the joycons in each hand while dock. Glad there are options tho
regular normal youtubers: "check the link in the description so that you save a little money, and i make a little money" "check the link down below if you want to support the channel!" bob: "use the amazon link in the description because PAPA NEEDS SOME HEALTH INSURANCE............."
Man I finally got a switch. I was holding out for the Lite but as soon as they said it wasn't going to be able to be docked I went and bought one. I LOVE IT!!!! The Wii U made me so furious that I refused to buy the Switch. Man was I stupid lol that was just an extremely long way to say that you make awesome videos man and you were the deciding factor in my research of buying a switch. I am a PlayStation guy all the way but Nintendo is creeping in.
Dang so he really did cover this controller, atleast I did the bundle with the stand and my video will have atleast some individuality lol- thanks for being awesome and giving the advice last night in the twitch stream!
Having played a bunch of Hollow Knight recently (100 hrs) I came to realize that 4 face buttons are extremely precise for 2D games. They might not feel as comfortable, but when doing really hard challenges (like the Pantheon of Hollownest) precision is everything. I came to realize that because in Hollow Knight you sometimes have to hold and release Y (attack) and B (Jump) independently from each other which is a lot like the kind of things you have to do with a d-pad. Playing Hollow Knight with two sets of 4 face buttons is perfect. No d-pad required.
@@wi1395 maybe, but the point is it's unnecessary. If you add $10 and just buy a set of 2 controllers, just buy the actual joy cons since they're obviously wireless with the HD rumble and motion control.
I love this thing and it's always on my switch. The battery problem is gone and it feels close enough for other 3D games. I always play in handheld mode. Just my two cents.
Great review, Bob! I'm glad you actually went through with it after myself and others pestered you on Twitter about it, haha. I enjoy my Hori-pad, or "D-padCon" as I've been calling it. I made the mistake of leaving it attached after a few sessions late at night and waking up to a dead Switch because of it's pre-6.0 update battery draining, but after that was fixed I've had zero complaints. To me, the lack of a "true" Dpad on the Switch is a somewhat overblown issue that doesn't matter to most people, but for handheld platformer play, I argue this is a better play. The price was right, too. Looking forward to future simple hardware pre/reviews like this, keep up the good work!
as an allround player, I used the d pad joy con for a week now. There is no such thing as battery drain. Its just a neat d pad upgrade. Definitely worth it
You nailed it! I saw it at target too and was hesitant. I’m glad I waited. Theme is nice, but needs internal battery and either switch Dpad position or just have a larger dpad that’s better, and won’t mess up your switch
I just bought one. I was surprised that I really liked it. I thought the rumble was gonna be an issue but the right joy con rumbles the whole console. Also the right joy con supports motion so that's fine for me. My biggest issue is that I had to modify my case for this to fit in it. The dead would also be better if it were less mushy.
I'm glad I remembered this video! I don't have a lot of money and need something to play my switch while my left Joy-Con gets fixed. And on the plus side I'll have something better for 2d games. Thanks Bob!
Only because the dpad on the pro controller is garbage and nintendo can't have consistency the gamecube controller sucked all around and the wii u pro controller was awesome as well as the switch pro except the dpad on the switch is bad why they didn't just use the dpad from the wii u i will never know
About he D-pad : build a D-pad that dont move the all D-pad direction buttom`s, but a klick and just move one D-pad buttom. (example see at the wideo here how all the D-pad moves, example: when u press left all D.pad fallows) in MK11 and other games that`s a problem, this is on most consoles and pc controllers. for the switch alone Also fix size/design for make the thumb get placed more comfortable. direction
I have the blue one from Japan and I've been using it for some time now. It's awesome. I mostly play retro/arcade games and indies, so this was perfect for myself. The issue was indeed patched, but I bought the Zelda one prior to the patch thinking the issue was with the hardware, not software/firmware oriented. It's served me well and I like it so much that I usually just use it as my main Joy-Con.
Wulff den, thanks! I rushed straight to target an hour ago and picked the joycon up at my local target. The dpad feel soft and squishy but one i start paying games on it, it felt like a dream, even the analog feels a lot better than the standard joycon. Overall the controller feels lite, the design is sold, great and overall it is way better than the stock joycons and is worth the purchase. Ill have to play some more 2d fighting games and then get back with u guys on that but so far its great, i love it.
Back when joycon shell replacements came out, with a D-pad option, I did a swap on a pair. Love it. They're the pair I always leave on my Switch, so something like this isn't for me. That said, I NEVER play my Switch portably with the controllers attached to the Switch. I always bring my pro controller with me and just use that. The mentioned shell replacement I mainly have in case of a 2nd player.
I fully agree that they should make a joycon that replace the left thumb stick with a dpad and not remove the buttons. It is an uncomfortable position where the dpad is now and replacing the thumb stick would allow it to be used as a full joycon even in single joycon mode.
I can use the left joycon for the most part but when it comes to 2D platforming this is essential. I was just thinking last night trying to play Ice Hockey in portable, "Nintendo should just release a stand alone left joycon with a dpad, people would buy it". With the NES push I figured maybe they'd do it as an alternative to the wireless NES controllers, some of the titles are nearly unplayable without it and feel off on an analog. I'll settle for Hori if it's decent. Hell at 24.99 maybe Hori is better, I just started the video so I assume it's got no HD rumble or gyro, but Nintendo would probably ask at least $40-45 for one.
I bought it because my left Joy-con's mother board got completely fried and don't have enough to buy another pair for the moment, and I have to say that I actually prefer the separated buttons due to miss inputs that can occasionally happen. However I completely adore the Zelda design! And if it sucks all the life out of the battery easy! I'll remove it from the console when I'm not using it.
Thanks to you Bob I was convinced to get one of these today; fantastic little controller for the price. Will be my go to for DBZF in handheld (or any 2d based game)
I think this is a great investment for anyone even if they don't need a Dpad. With the drifting issues and the $15-$20 price tag it will def prolong your left joycon. Use this one for handheld mode and you wont wear down your left joycon analog sticks. Better wear this one down than your actual one. And you don't notice the lack or rumble or gyro bc the right joycon will still rumble which will shake the entire console in handheld mode. Same with Gyro. All games in handheld mode use the right joycon
@@Toastcat890 i've had it for about 4 months now and no issues yet. If I'm gonna guess I would guess yes. It feels just like the official one. The good thing is this one cost $15 to replace.
Am I the only one that loves playing the switch sprawled in bed with a joycon in each hand and my hands in a non standard gaming position (behind my head, or weirdly across my body)? It always sounds like everyone plays it with a pro controller when not in portable mode, the split controller is what makes this thing great!
I do mostly like to chill with detached joy cons over my pro controller, but that's due to laziness and me wanting to keep my arms closer to my sides lol.
@@amyrai4179 No, it seems like there was some sort of glitch with the launch units. It was patched way before I got mine. To me it lasts about as much as it would with normal joycons.
Thanks Bob! I picked up one of these at Target today and canceled my amazon preorder! Finally I can enjoy the nes games and hollow knight in handheld mode. It might be a slight discomfort on the left hand, but hopefully I'll get used to it. I've been wanting a d-pad for a long time, and I've recently been really frustrated trying to play nes zelda and mario without a dpad.
Since the switch was first unveiled, I've been concerned about the lack of D pad being directly across from the facial buttons...this controller is a step in the right direction by bringing the D pad itself back, but, as WUFF pointed out, we are still missing a product that places the D pad directly across the facial buttons. Until something like that releases, I'll be staying away from this product unfortunately.
While i agree with this point it was not enough to lower my impressions of it. The d pad is great for fighting games quarter and half circles feel great on it! But it def could have used that dpad in a different spot.
D-Pad stands for Digital Pad, because it only can be Pressed or not, only 1 or 0, so it is digital. Analog Sticks are analog because you can move it a bit, some more, almost completely and completely
Not sure how MOST people play their Switch but i play it 99% of the time in "table top" mode with a tablet holder (flexible arm variant) or when i'm not at home i'll use a third party kickstand. Why do i play this way? Because split Joy Cons are SO comfortable
Yeah, I'll just stick to my white modded joy-cons with a d-pad. It might not be as good, but at least I still have HD Rumble, wireless, etc. and it still works fine alone too. I played Mario Kart and Snipperclips with just the left joy-con while my friend used the right joy-con and I had no issues, it was just a bit tougher to press.
The basstop dpad mod was easy to install. I don’t have to much exp on what goes where so I went slow just in case. Glad I did the basstop. Works on the grips and case covers that I use. Overall if you want to get a better dpad then yea basstop is the way to go. Maybe watch some RUclips videos first. I recommend to buy extra screws just Incase it strips or you lose them.
Welp, if someone is worried about the battery, get a battery case, it has like double the original capacity so it "should" extend playtime to double / triple.
Oh the Hori D-pad Joycon eh? That battery sucking piece of sh*t. Lol. No but really, I wasn't going to before, but I'll have to check it out. Great stuff as always Bob.
Leonardo Hernandez Jimmy Dean Jimbo Not weird at all. I also liked using the stick until i got the dpad. It was not as bad as i thought but dragon punches were a little tough...fireballs much easier.
@@thejokerstyle100 Is it worth buying then? Is it better than the standard left joycon? How is the dpad and most importantly, does the joy con still drift to the left and downwardz?
red crimson102 Def worth buying if you have fighting games on the system and do not like the analog stick or the 4 button dpad on the standard joycon. The dpad is fantastic but like in the video, I wish it was swapped with the analog stick or have it centered on its own. There is no drifting that i noticed at all.
I love this controller. The only issue I have with it is that it doesn't fit in the Skull & Co grip, but it does fit (very tight) in the Satisfye grip.
I own a modded Orange pair with dpad like the one you showed. The dpad feels excellent and i'm happy with my purchase, but oddly enough, i've gotten used to the normal direction buttons on the standard joycon as well. It's really not a big difference once you get used to it. It's just unfamiliar. $25 bucks isn't a bad price for the Hori if someone plays precise 2d platformers in handheld mode a lot, but money is better used elsewhere if someone is just curious about it. The dpad buttons work perfectly fine in most cases.
Hoping Hori or anyone makes a set of Joy-Con and grip for TV mode, designed to be comfortable first, portable second. Wider, with diagonally aligned buttons and sticks, better and taller analog sticks, grip that's not just girth (the Wii U gamepad would be some good inspiration honestly). And holy crap, could a third-party Switch controller not skip over rumble for once?
The Hori Joy-Con d-pad looks identical to that of the Pokken Tournament controller. I thought that controller had an amazing d-pad, so if the Hori Joycon d-pad has that quality, then I think it's worth buying.
This is exactly what I need with nothing I don't. I only need it for handheld mode because I have an 8bitdo controller and a pro controller for TV mode. I don't need motion or rumble because the games I need it for don't use motion or rumble. The battery drain was the only problem I had with this, but now that seems to be fixed.
There is a Super Mario version as well, which would be good if you have the Blue/Red joy-con set, like i do, so you'd have a Red/Red duo, which looks a lot better.
bought 1 in store like 2 months back ( I live in Singapore though so not sure about U.S. release date) it's not the best with all the limitations and the fact that is actually sucking power from your Switch BUT it's the best way to play all those nice 2D platformers and beat 'em ups so it's definitely worth it (also pretty cheap, a good deal)
Personally, I like using my left joycon with the separated dpad, even in TV mode. I’m just happy to have precision, even if it could be more comfortable.
The hori pad is very good i wouldnt say its the best. The dpad is good but two soft and it will hurt your fingers. If the buttons were hard it would be perfect. I dont mind the no rumble and no wireless function plus the price is great. I hope the next joycon they add all those functions. Lastly it doesn't drain my battery neither did it fry my dock, thats crazy. I do recommend this dpad
Subbed brother. Love the switch.The 2D and indie games are ok. I’ve bought several. But really want those higher end games like Pokémon and star fox. Newer versions of what I’ve played. I’ve still got all the original games on original consoles.
Got one of these and love it. Great for hollow knight in portable mode. Obviously would prefer a straight up 1st party joycon with a for real dpad, but for now this is good, basically lives in my switch. Battery does drain faster in habdheld mode, not a lot but noticeable, but a power pack is a highly recommended switch accessory anyway, so... *shrug.
I only own joy-cons but that's mainly because I prioritize getting games than controllers. Though i don't have a problem with the built in "D-Pad" so it isn't really for me. I like watching your well crafted videos though!
Yeah you dont get all the features but it’s not needed for this hori controller. I use the Nintendo joy con for all switch games then swap it out for the hori when I play Super Nintendo games or mega man games. You don’t need the rumble or charging because it’s only needed when playing in handheld mode with a classic game. Then when in dock mode I’ll use a Super Nintendo controller or a pro controller
Your videos are hilarious and the absolute best. I also got this controller last week from Target and love it. Great for Street Fighter in portable mode as well as Mario 3. It is SLIGHTLY wider than the standard joy con and thus does not fit in my grip case by Skull & Co. Kind of a bummer but whatever.
Oh no, that's a deal-breaker for me, 100%. I use the Goplay Grip and love it. But if this is any more than a millimeter wider it likely won't fit that either.
It should look OK with the grey ones but yeah I was just thinking how it would kinda clash, which is why I never wanted the neon red/blue switch to begin with
I don't mind the directional buttons, but they *suck* for Street Fighter...and that's saying something, because I can play DragonBall FighterZ with the joycon grip, no problem
I love the idea but I'm looking forward to there being a better option. Probably a first party Nintendo joycon. I'm hoping they'll listen to the community and make one.
I know you love the 8bitdo controller and I love the design of it. But when I look at the Amazon reviews of it I mostly see 1 & 2 star reviews on problems with the control stick sticking & the controller just flat out not working. I wanted to get the controller after seeing your video but I didn't want to spend 50 dollars on a chance, especially when the reviews talk about their terrible customer service. I tried looking for other videos on these reviews like this but I had no luck. I would love to see you cover this in the future.
I haven't had any issues with the 8bitdo controller, and I've used it quite a bit with Octopath and the Mega Man collections. It was a pain to sync it though but I only had to do that once
I have the FC30 Pro (NES/Famicom style with micro sticks and glowy blue lights) and the SN30 Pro (the SNES+analogs one) and the battery on the FC30 is tiny to the point of impracticality, it's just empty every single time you want to use it. The SN30 was great until I hooked it up to the wrong USB-C cord and fried the battery.
It’s very difficult to report on problems that I don’t personally experience. That’s why I try my best to include known issues, like the battery draining issue in this video. The best I can do is test MY OWN hardware and mention the problems others might have had
Not a waste of time, the extra work you're putting into these videos is the reason this channel is a whole snack.
Wow! People are saying That now!?...
Thats a thing? "a whole snack!? " lol
I saw this lag thing on another channel. This is a huge disappointment for me, - doesnt the original NES, SNES have almost zero lag?
I'll get this for dbf
+Brent Don't act completely blind to facts and reality. LCD screens and the resolutions played at, combined with the fact that not a single Switch peripheral transmits the inputs through a wire, EXCEPT for the Switch Pro Controller and others like it, ONLY while PLUGGED IN via USB to the dock are the reason we have input lag. If you want to take some moral highground about being disappointed, at least know what you are being disappointed about. lol
wages- LOL - its actually the USB interface that introduces the lag - go LOL somewhere else
I love how he puts the switch sound when he swears, and also keep up the good work
This is great, this controller may not be a gangbusters revolution but it does open up the possibility of some cool niche controllers down the line.
The Hori controller here is a poor attempt at a good idea. The dpad is mushy and unresponsive, and the minus button is almost unusable.
I want 'pro' joycons. Dpad, better sticks, better shoulder buttons, better radios, and maybe some depth so they're easier to grip. Already got modded joycons with a dpad, but the sticks and shoulder buttons are still crap. Split joycons are the most comfortable way to play games, but it deserves better internals.
I'd love the enhanced depth since the current form factor makes my hands start to numb in portable mode.
And have them be SNES coloured
Garfsuke themostbeautuful DUWANG
HELL yeah!
@@TheMikero the colourful buttons,purple shoulders, swappable dpad, and have it come with a newer switch model (best date for it would be a year after next gen starts) and have the joycons and switch be branded as "super"
Thumbs up for split JoyCons being the absolute best. I can't stand playing the Switch in portable mode at all (joycons on the console), my hands are apparently very unsuited to that configuration, but split is somehow much more comfortable. Deluxe JoyCons with dpad would be amazing.
Idea: put a D-Pad where the stick goes, keep the directional buttons, and make it wireless
Now you can use it by itself AND as a D-Pad joy-con
YES that would be perfect
8BitDo has a controller that uses two D-Pads in place of two sticks.
Oh boy
@@avenkaru What are they thinking, lmao. Can't even play Minecraft without the right stick.
@@TritonGamezYT it just replaces both sticks with d pads but they work like the sticks do
With joycon drift being an issue I use this one as my regular left joycon when playing in handheld mode. This is so I don't put as much strain on my regular left joycon. I have owned this for a year and so far this hori joycon hasn't drifted yet.
@@JaydensSweatyGstring He is talking about the analog stick
It's official license, so I'm sure they could have used the Joycon name. they just didn't cause as you said, it's missing any unneeded features for the point of it.
It doesn't have all the goodies that original joy con has. So it shouldn't be called it joycon
@@jacklenetaylor6864 That's what OP said. lol
Unnecessary features like being able to play on TV with your controller.
@@UnrequitedLove23 Great minds think alike
I just picked this up for Mario Maker 2 and it's pretty great.
I straight up think it's NECESSARY to play Mario Maker in portable mode. It's SO much better than the regular Joycon or using the stick for 2D games.
The stick in my opinion feels actually better than the Nintendo one because it's a bit stiffer. The shoulder button and trigger are a bit clickier too, but that doesn't make a huge difference. The only parts that feel cheap are the minus button and share buttons, but I hardly ever use them to begin with. I haven't noticed any battery drain issues or dock frying either.
The lack of wireless isn't that big of a deal for me, because I never use my Joy-cons separately from my system. If I'm using a wireless controller, it's my Pro Controller and other controllers are there and they work just fine. Sometimes I do chuck the regular Joy-Con in my bag just in case I ever need to, but I rarely do.
Nintendo needs to get their heads out their ass and just make a joy cons with dpad
krishauer9000 Then how will the joycon be used in multiplayer. Oh wait most people don't have friends to play with
@DN_Horror problem is its not the same is it as buttons
DN_Horror How? You would only be able to push one button at a time. Alot of games require two buttons at a time
@@bt3743 I'm not saying all left joy cons have to be with a dpad but Nintendo should make one with wireless capability
Joycons are designed to be used as indepedent controllers. That is why they can't have a d-pad. Which ironically requires you to buy a pro-controller if you want a d-pad.
To be honest, I got used to the left Joycon, but I really do love d-pads. However, I think I just might use my Pro Controller. I might give it a go.
I like mine a lot for fighting games...much easier quarter and half circles
Pro controller worth every penny for the battery life alone. I literally go weeks without charging it!
Same I’m sticking with my sf30 pro
I actually took the long and hard road... and did a shell swap. It was worth it for me since I only broke the ZL ribbon cable. Luckily I could buy that piece on its own and cost me about 12 bucks. Only minor annoyance is having to put more pressure to actually make the button press.
Great vid and here’s to the switch 🥃
Backlog!!! I like the joycons and have adapted pretty well to them. I play prob 50/50 dock/handheld. Own a pro controller but most times I play with the joycons in each hand while dock. Glad there are options tho
Hori just decreased the price. It's $19.99 everywhere. Get yours before they are gone!
Thanks for the tip i picked it up day one, actually i got it before they actually release the thing to most retail
its $15 now!
I got it for 10
Branson Plumb121w got mine for $5
@@SyCoYT Wtf where? :O
Bob's search for the best D! The controller looks cool like a decent option, but for me, I play mostly in docked mode with the SF30 pro.
Deck
regular normal youtubers: "check the link in the description so that you save a little money, and i make a little money"
"check the link down below if you want to support the channel!"
bob: "use the amazon link in the description because PAPA NEEDS SOME HEALTH INSURANCE............."
Great for fighting games, which is all I really play
Do you play smash? If so can you tell me how good it is with smash?
Man I finally got a switch. I was holding out for the Lite but as soon as they said it wasn't going to be able to be docked I went and bought one. I LOVE IT!!!! The Wii U made me so furious that I refused to buy the Switch. Man was I stupid lol that was just an extremely long way to say that you make awesome videos man and you were the deciding factor in my research of buying a switch. I am a PlayStation guy all the way but Nintendo is creeping in.
Dang so he really did cover this controller, atleast I did the bundle with the stand and my video will have atleast some individuality lol- thanks for being awesome and giving the advice last night in the twitch stream!
Having played a bunch of Hollow Knight recently (100 hrs) I came to realize that 4 face buttons are extremely precise for 2D games. They might not feel as comfortable, but when doing really hard challenges (like the Pantheon of Hollownest) precision is everything.
I came to realize that because in Hollow Knight you sometimes have to hold and release Y (attack) and B (Jump) independently from each other which is a lot like the kind of things you have to do with a d-pad. Playing Hollow Knight with two sets of 4 face buttons is perfect. No d-pad required.
Wouldn't a dpade be as percise?
@@wi1395 maybe, but the point is it's unnecessary. If you add $10 and just buy a set of 2 controllers, just buy the actual joy cons since they're obviously wireless with the HD rumble and motion control.
@@wi1395 the Switch joy cons are perfect. I'm in love with playing docked Mario Odyssey and using detached joy cons.
MidnaSMW completely agree. I’ve gotten use to the four face buttons and really don’t think and pad would feel any better.
Hollow Knight is pretty slow though, for me Celeste was the game that made it clear the joycons weren't really going to cut it long term.
Thanks for the heads-up that Target had them in stock. I've been waiting for this to come out. I just picked one up 😎😎😎
I love this thing and it's always on my switch. The battery problem is gone and it feels close enough for other 3D games. I always play in handheld mode. Just my two cents.
Great review, Bob! I'm glad you actually went through with it after myself and others pestered you on Twitter about it, haha.
I enjoy my Hori-pad, or "D-padCon" as I've been calling it. I made the mistake of leaving it attached after a few sessions late at night and waking up to a dead Switch because of it's pre-6.0 update battery draining, but after that was fixed I've had zero complaints.
To me, the lack of a "true" Dpad on the Switch is a somewhat overblown issue that doesn't matter to most people, but for handheld platformer play, I argue this is a better play. The price was right, too. Looking forward to future simple hardware pre/reviews like this, keep up the good work!
I actually love the joy con d pad. The separate buttons make it really clear when I’m pressing certain inputs
as an allround player, I used the d pad joy con for a week now. There is no such thing as battery drain. Its just a neat d pad upgrade. Definitely worth it
Honestly, I never had a problem with the direction buttons, but the option is always nice.
Thank you bob i appricate your test that means when dbfz comes out i can play with the hori with no big input lag! So thanks
I really like the zelda theme, and a much as I love my splatoon joycons, I really want nintendo to make official joycons like that
You nailed it! I saw it at target too and was hesitant. I’m glad I waited. Theme is nice, but needs internal battery and either switch Dpad position or just have a larger dpad that’s better, and won’t mess up your switch
I just bought one. I was surprised that I really liked it. I thought the rumble was gonna be an issue but the right joy con rumbles the whole console. Also the right joy con supports motion so that's fine for me. My biggest issue is that I had to modify my case for this to fit in it. The dead would also be better if it were less mushy.
I'm glad I remembered this video! I don't have a lot of money and need something to play my switch while my left Joy-Con gets fixed. And on the plus side I'll have something better for 2d games. Thanks Bob!
With the price drop to 20 bucks and me not using joycons EVER in docked mode, this is the perfect product for me.
The split D pad is better for puzzle games though. Especially puyo puyo tetris
Only because the dpad on the pro controller is garbage and nintendo can't have consistency the gamecube controller sucked all around and the wii u pro controller was awesome as well as the switch pro except the dpad on the switch is bad why they didn't just use the dpad from the wii u i will never know
It's kind of cumbersome in Lumines which has a wide playing field you're constantly racing across. It feels like you're doing twice the work.
Your testing is much appreciated. I was unaware it didn't include any rumble so it's probably not for me but dang it sure looked like a good idea.
About he D-pad : build a D-pad that dont move the all D-pad
direction buttom`s, but a klick and just move one D-pad buttom. (example see at the wideo here how all the D-pad moves, example: when u press left all D.pad fallows) in MK11 and other games that`s a problem, this is on most consoles and pc controllers. for the switch alone Also fix size/design for make the thumb get placed more comfortable.
direction
I have the blue one from Japan and I've been using it for some time now. It's awesome.
I mostly play retro/arcade games and indies, so this was perfect for myself. The issue was indeed patched, but I bought the Zelda one prior to the patch thinking the issue was with the hardware, not software/firmware oriented.
It's served me well and I like it so much that I usually just use it as my main Joy-Con.
Wulff den, thanks! I rushed straight to target an hour ago and picked the joycon up at my local target. The dpad feel soft and squishy but one i start paying games on it, it felt like a dream, even the analog feels a lot better than the standard joycon. Overall the controller feels lite, the design is sold, great and overall it is way better than the stock joycons and is worth the purchase. Ill have to play some more 2d fighting games and then get back with u guys on that but so far its great, i love it.
Back when joycon shell replacements came out, with a D-pad option, I did a swap on a pair. Love it. They're the pair I always leave on my Switch, so something like this isn't for me. That said, I NEVER play my Switch portably with the controllers attached to the Switch. I always bring my pro controller with me and just use that. The mentioned shell replacement I mainly have in case of a 2nd player.
I fully agree that they should make a joycon that replace the left thumb stick with a dpad and not remove the buttons. It is an uncomfortable position where the dpad is now and replacing the thumb stick would allow it to be used as a full joycon even in single joycon mode.
I can use the left joycon for the most part but when it comes to 2D platforming this is essential. I was just thinking last night trying to play Ice Hockey in portable, "Nintendo should just release a stand alone left joycon with a dpad, people would buy it". With the NES push I figured maybe they'd do it as an alternative to the wireless NES controllers, some of the titles are nearly unplayable without it and feel off on an analog. I'll settle for Hori if it's decent. Hell at 24.99 maybe Hori is better, I just started the video so I assume it's got no HD rumble or gyro, but Nintendo would probably ask at least $40-45 for one.
I bought it because my left Joy-con's mother board got completely fried and don't have enough to buy another pair for the moment, and I have to say that I actually prefer the separated buttons due to miss inputs that can occasionally happen. However I completely adore the Zelda design! And if it sucks all the life out of the battery easy! I'll remove it from the console when I'm not using it.
Forgot I had pre ordered this in early August! Can’t wait to get it in and put it to use!
i dont even have a switch yet
edit: i have one now.
Jasoncrafter82 I feel like a pro in the Switch when I don't even own one :(
I feel u man
Jasoncrafter82 😂
Same problem here
I recognized it the first time, but nice try 😏
Thanks to you Bob I was convinced to get one of these today; fantastic little controller for the price. Will be my go to for DBZF in handheld (or any 2d based game)
I think this is a great investment for anyone even if they don't need a Dpad. With the drifting issues and the $15-$20 price tag it will def prolong your left joycon. Use this one for handheld mode and you wont wear down your left joycon analog sticks. Better wear this one down than your actual one. And you don't notice the lack or rumble or gyro bc the right joycon will still rumble which will shake the entire console in handheld mode. Same with Gyro. All games in handheld mode use the right joycon
Does this one get drift over time like the official joycon.
@@Toastcat890 i've had it for about 4 months now and no issues yet. If I'm gonna guess I would guess yes. It feels just like the official one. The good thing is this one cost $15 to replace.
@@Toastcat890 after owning it for almost a year no drift yet.
I'm not necessarily opposed to the D-pad placement. I'm very much excited to see how this will turn out!
Am I the only one that loves playing the switch sprawled in bed with a joycon in each hand and my hands in a non standard gaming position (behind my head, or weirdly across my body)? It always sounds like everyone plays it with a pro controller when not in portable mode, the split controller is what makes this thing great!
I do mostly like to chill with detached joy cons over my pro controller, but that's due to laziness and me wanting to keep my arms closer to my sides lol.
I've had this for a half year, and has become my mainstay "joycon" for handheld mode.
Did u notice any battery life drain ? Im thinking of picking it up
@@amyrai4179 No, it seems like there was some sort of glitch with the launch units. It was patched way before I got mine.
To me it lasts about as much as it would with normal joycons.
@@lirfrank Thanks for replying! Will get one tday !
@@amyrai4179 No problem, hope you like it as much as I do!
@@lirfrank how about update now?
Thanks Bob! I picked up one of these at Target today and canceled my amazon preorder! Finally I can enjoy the nes games and hollow knight in handheld mode. It might be a slight discomfort on the left hand, but hopefully I'll get used to it. I've been wanting a d-pad for a long time, and I've recently been really frustrated trying to play nes zelda and mario without a dpad.
Since the switch was first unveiled, I've been concerned about the lack of D pad being directly across from the facial buttons...this controller is a step in the right direction by bringing the D pad itself back, but, as WUFF pointed out, we are still missing a product that places the D pad directly across the facial buttons. Until something like that releases, I'll be staying away from this product unfortunately.
While i agree with this point it was not enough to lower my impressions of it. The d pad is great for fighting games quarter and half circles feel great on it! But it def could have used that dpad in a different spot.
D-Pad stands for Digital Pad, because it only can be Pressed or not, only 1 or 0, so it is digital. Analog Sticks are analog because you can move it a bit, some more, almost completely and completely
It’s directional pad actually but ok
Not sure how MOST people play their Switch but i play it 99% of the time in "table top" mode with a tablet holder (flexible arm variant) or when i'm not at home i'll use a third party kickstand. Why do i play this way? Because split Joy Cons are SO comfortable
that's been out in eb games (gamestop) for about a month i think so i'm glad you're reviewing it.
Yeah, I'll just stick to my white modded joy-cons with a d-pad. It might not be as good, but at least I still have HD Rumble, wireless, etc. and it still works fine alone too. I played Mario Kart and Snipperclips with just the left joy-con while my friend used the right joy-con and I had no issues, it was just a bit tougher to press.
The basstop dpad mod was easy to install. I don’t have to much exp on what goes where so I went slow just in case. Glad I did the basstop. Works on the grips and case covers that I use. Overall if you want to get a better dpad then yea basstop is the way to go. Maybe watch some RUclips videos first. I recommend to buy extra screws just Incase it strips or you lose them.
Welp, if someone is worried about the battery, get a battery case, it has like double the original capacity so it "should" extend playtime to double / triple.
Oh the Hori D-pad Joycon eh? That battery sucking piece of sh*t. Lol. No but really, I wasn't going to before, but I'll have to check it out. Great stuff as always Bob.
I only bought this when my left joycon broke
It is worth the money? mine is broken for the second time and I'm a bit tired of the problematic left joycon
pelotaz0 Only if you sue portable mode a lot. I never had problems with it when I used it but it only works on portable.
This is essential for SF collection or all the fighters on eshop.
ZetZatar couldn’t agree more...I got one last week and dig it a lot
Leonardo Hernandez Jimmy Dean Jimbo Not weird at all. I also liked using the stick until i got the dpad. It was not as bad as i thought but dragon punches were a little tough...fireballs much easier.
Yeah i agree cos SF collection is unplayable with the normal joycon
@@thejokerstyle100
Is it worth buying then? Is it better than the standard left joycon? How is the dpad and most importantly, does the joy con still drift to the left and downwardz?
red crimson102 Def worth buying if you have fighting games on the system and do not like the analog stick or the 4 button dpad on the standard joycon. The dpad is fantastic but like in the video, I wish it was swapped with the analog stick or have it centered on its own. There is no drifting that i noticed at all.
I love this controller. The only issue I have with it is that it doesn't fit in the Skull & Co grip, but it does fit (very tight) in the Satisfye grip.
Thanks for testing the controllers input!
Waiting for the upcoming model of the SN30 Pro with the grips.
Hopefully it functions exactly the same
I own a modded Orange pair with dpad like the one you showed. The dpad feels excellent and i'm happy with my purchase, but oddly enough, i've gotten used to the normal direction buttons on the standard joycon as well. It's really not a big difference once you get used to it. It's just unfamiliar. $25 bucks isn't a bad price for the Hori if someone plays precise 2d platformers in handheld mode a lot, but money is better used elsewhere if someone is just curious about it. The dpad buttons work perfectly fine in most cases.
Hoping Hori or anyone makes a set of Joy-Con and grip for TV mode, designed to be comfortable first, portable second. Wider, with diagonally aligned buttons and sticks, better and taller analog sticks, grip that's not just girth (the Wii U gamepad would be some good inspiration honestly). And holy crap, could a third-party Switch controller not skip over rumble for once?
that’s amazing looking i love the zelda look!
You sir, are funny, entertaining, and informative. Subscribed
The Hori Joy-Con d-pad looks identical to that of the Pokken Tournament controller. I thought that controller had an amazing d-pad, so if the Hori Joycon d-pad has that quality, then I think it's worth buying.
Is this Kenny Loggin's from the 80's??? LOL!!! Great Review's...!!!
This is exactly what I need with nothing I don't. I only need it for handheld mode because I have an 8bitdo controller and a pro controller for TV mode. I don't need motion or rumble because the games I need it for don't use motion or rumble. The battery drain was the only problem I had with this, but now that seems to be fixed.
picked up one of these due to the fact that my left joycon continuously disconnects while in portable mode and it works great.
I’ve never had any issues with the regular left joy con buttons. But it’s Zelda theme so I’ll buy it.
Your video’s are always great Bob! Keep it up and keep em coming!
There is a Super Mario version as well, which would be good if you have the Blue/Red joy-con set, like i do, so you'd have a Red/Red duo, which looks a lot better.
I purchased it since I play a lot of fighterz super stoked when DBF comes out tomorrow, the controller should be next week
bought 1 in store like 2 months back ( I live in Singapore though so not sure about U.S. release date) it's not the best with all the limitations and the fact that is actually sucking power from your Switch BUT it's the best way to play all those nice 2D platformers and beat 'em ups so it's definitely worth it (also pretty cheap, a good deal)
I bet it looks good with the regular grey joy con. Also, good point on the removing the analog stick thing, but I think I get why they didn't.
Personally, I like using my left joycon with the separated dpad, even in TV mode. I’m just happy to have precision, even if it could be more comfortable.
My only preference would be that it might come with another controller to go with it. So it's a proper set.
The hori pad is very good i wouldnt say its the best. The dpad is good but two soft and it will hurt your fingers. If the buttons were hard it would be perfect. I dont mind the no rumble and no wireless function plus the price is great. I hope the next joycon they add all those functions. Lastly it doesn't drain my battery neither did it fry my dock, thats crazy. I do recommend this dpad
Subbed brother. Love the switch.The 2D and indie games are ok. I’ve bought several. But really want those higher end games like Pokémon and star fox. Newer versions of what I’ve played. I’ve still got all the original games on original consoles.
Pro controller all day baby! This looks pretty neat though. The price is sweet too, so ill probably still pick it up.
Honestly the Basstop mod is the best way to go. Really anyone can do it if you can operate a screwdriver and follow a RUclips video.
You greatly understate the difficulty lol
thx for testing the input lag. :)
Got one of these and love it. Great for hollow knight in portable mode. Obviously would prefer a straight up 1st party joycon with a for real dpad, but for now this is good, basically lives in my switch. Battery does drain faster in habdheld mode, not a lot but noticeable, but a power pack is a highly recommended switch accessory anyway, so... *shrug.
You sound kinda like Will Arnett. Your voice is nice.
The only complaint I have is that the release button is designed differently than the normal joy cons which means it doesn't fit in any grip case
I only own joy-cons but that's mainly because I prioritize getting games than controllers. Though i don't have a problem with the built in "D-Pad" so it isn't really for me. I like watching your well crafted videos though!
Yeah you dont get all the features but it’s not needed for this hori controller. I use the Nintendo joy con for all switch games then swap it out for the hori when I play Super Nintendo games or mega man games. You don’t need the rumble or charging because it’s only needed when playing in handheld mode with a classic game.
Then when in dock mode I’ll use a Super Nintendo controller or a pro controller
nice vid, good detective work!
Your videos are hilarious and the absolute best. I also got this controller last week from Target and love it. Great for Street Fighter in portable mode as well as Mario 3. It is SLIGHTLY wider than the standard joy con and thus does not fit in my grip case by Skull & Co. Kind of a bummer but whatever.
I'll take the case if you don't want it, I don't plan on getting this 'joy con' whatsoever lol...
Oh no, that's a deal-breaker for me, 100%. I use the Goplay Grip and love it. But if this is any more than a millimeter wider it likely won't fit that either.
Probab going to buy one because my left joycons has a terrible drift I can’t fix. Nice cheap replacement until I buy a new pair
It should look OK with the grey ones but yeah I was just thinking how it would kinda clash, which is why I never wanted the neon red/blue switch to begin with
Am I the only one who likes having actual buttons instead of a d-pad?
No!
Yes
I don't mind the directional buttons, but they *suck* for Street Fighter...and that's saying something, because I can play DragonBall FighterZ with the joycon grip, no problem
Yes
I dont know why every hates the original directional pad? I dont mind it at all. And I game for long hours with it
I'll probably get this controller if any NES games come out that interest me or SNES games come out on switch.
I love the idea but I'm looking forward to there being a better option. Probably a first party Nintendo joycon. I'm hoping they'll listen to the community and make one.
Bought the 8bitdo sn30pro and I'm loving it
Bob just out here gettin the scoop on fake joycons.
Nintendo should come out with a joycon where you can take off the anolog stick or d buttons and replace it with other types of buttons.
Do you know if this fits in the satisfye grip? I have the RDS grip and it doesn’t
@@JenCQuint wait I don't remember ever answering this I don't even have a satisfye grip
I know you love the 8bitdo controller and I love the design of it. But when I look at the Amazon reviews of it I mostly see 1 & 2 star reviews on problems with the control stick sticking & the controller just flat out not working.
I wanted to get the controller after seeing your video but I didn't want to spend 50 dollars on a chance, especially when the reviews talk about their terrible customer service.
I tried looking for other videos on these reviews like this but I had no luck. I would love to see you cover this in the future.
Same!
I haven't had any issues with the 8bitdo controller, and I've used it quite a bit with Octopath and the Mega Man collections. It was a pain to sync it though but I only had to do that once
I have the FC30 Pro (NES/Famicom style with micro sticks and glowy blue lights) and the SN30 Pro (the SNES+analogs one) and the battery on the FC30 is tiny to the point of impracticality, it's just empty every single time you want to use it. The SN30 was great until I hooked it up to the wrong USB-C cord and fried the battery.
It’s very difficult to report on problems that I don’t personally experience. That’s why I try my best to include known issues, like the battery draining issue in this video. The best I can do is test MY OWN hardware and mention the problems others might have had
I've had the SN30 Pro since it got released and I've never had a problem, touch wood. I also connect it to my phone for my emulators and it's perfect
Technically you can use the Quarry controller when you're playing on a TV if you just get a charging grip