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In the last few years, nostalgic video game devices like Nintendo'due south NES Classic and Sony'due south PlayStation Classic take been all the rage. It's clear that many adult gamers today want to recreate the gaming experience they had equally children, but buying a shrunken downward game arrangement isn't the only way to do this. 8Bitdo's SN30 Pro+ gaming controller ($49.99) was designed to mimic the look and color scheme of the form SNES controller, but with a few modern additions to go far easier to use on today'south games.

Design

If you used to ain a Super Nintendo back in the 1990s, then the SN30 Pro+SEEAMAZON_ET_135 See Amazon ET commerce will instantly look familiar with you, and yet distinctively unfamiliar. Information technology'southward almost equally though someone took the original and glued handles and a couple of thumbsticks onto it. This gives it the advent of something halfway between an NES controller and one of Sony's DualShock controllers. The controller also has two trigger buttons that the original SNES model lacked.

These added buttons and thumbsticks are key to the success of this gamepad. The original SNES controller worked well for its time, merely modernistic games simply utilize more buttons and multiple thumbsticks are substantially a must for 3D games.

Usage and Gameplay

Despite having a similar configuration to Sony'due south DualShock controller, the SN30 Pro+ is not compatible with any of Sony'due south game consoles. Information technology is compatible with Nintendo's Switch, however, and it likewise tin connect to PCs, Macs, and Android devices using Bluetooth or a USB cable.

8Bitdo includes a software utility that allows you lot to remap the buttons to support various games. It also supports a somewhat rare feature that gives you granular control over the triggers and analog sticks.

PCMag reported in their review of this device that its the outset time they have seen a sub-$100 controller that has this characteristic. The reviewer at PCMag also indicated that the controller worked most perfect in the games that he tested and that the management buttons on the SN30 Pro+ were superior to the ones on Nintendo'south Joy-Cons. The controller'south vibration is manifestly weaker than the Joy-Cons, but the reviewer went on to say that the controller worked perfectly with solid vibration when used on a PC.

Conclusion

8Bitdo retails the SN30 Pro+ for $49.99. At this cost bespeak and with its reportedly excellent functioning, the SN30 Pro+ is well worth considering if you need a new controller for your PC or Nintendo Switch. It's significantly less expensive than buying a new set of Joy-Cons, which retail for $69.99. Nintendo's Switch Pro Controller also retails for $69.99, and while it is on sale for $62.06, it'due south just can't stand upwardly confronting the $49.99 SN30 Pro+.

Now read:

  • Nintendo Volition Bring Back the NES Classic Edition in 2018
  • Nintendo Warns Its SNES, NES Classic Consoles Volition Shortly Fade Away
  • Review Roundup: The PlayStation Classic Is Acceptable, Uninspiring