Retro Fighters Brawler64 Wireless Smoke Gray Gamepad

It is incredibly convenient to play N64 games with a wireless controller! I’ve had no problems at all with connectivity, the turbo feature has been very helpful for me, and it’s neat to have a more standard controller for the system. If you’re considering getting a brand new controller for the system, I would definitely recommend this one. The only reason I don’t give it five stars is a handful of issues I have, but I’d rather give it a 4.5 since they really are minor. The thumb stick is smooth and convex, so sometimes it feels like my thumb is slipping off. The dongle which plugs in to the system seems kind of top heavy and large which is pretty necessary for the controller pak slot, so I can understand that. Also, the placement of the dpad below the stick trips me ... MoreIt is incredibly convenient to play N64 games with a wireless controller! I’ve had no problems at all with connectivity, the turbo feature has been very helpful for me, and it’s neat to have a more standard controller for the system. If you’re considering getting a brand new controller for the system, I would definitely recommend this one. The only reason I don’t give it five stars is a handful of issues I have, but I’d rather give it a 4.5 since they really are minor. The thumb stick is smooth and convex, so sometimes it feels like my thumb is slipping off. The dongle which plugs in to the system seems kind of top heavy and large which is pretty necessary for the controller pak slot, so I can understand that. Also, the placement of the dpad below the stick trips me up sometimes, but that’s not a big deal.

Absolutely fantastic! Never did I think that a third-party option could compare to first when it came to controllers. In this rare case, however, the third-party option doesn't just compare.. it outshines the original! Everything from the convenience of wireless, the smooth feel in your hand, the responsiveness of the buttons, the improved ergonomic design; the Brawler64 wireless is an absolute must-have for anyone still playing on original N64 hardware. I simply cannot recommend this product enough not only for the stellar product but for the bar none customer support from the team at RetroFighters, the latter I'll be detailing in a future review. Do yourself a huge favor and pick up a Brawler64 wireless & you'll see why these controllers are so raved about!

I love these controllers, both version 1 and these new version 2s. Everything about them feels great, this was my 3rd purchase. The definitive N64 controller. But I was really disappointed to find out that the version 1 orange that matched the fantastic orange console has been changed to be a much more reddish brownish sort of orange. The color was a near exact match on the old version, where as the new one is much farther off, this is the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5. Original version 1 to the right, version 2 with the reddish brown orange to the left.

I ordered two controllers with standard shipping. I was expecting it to come after 20 days or so because my friend said his did, but it showed up in 7. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My buddy was jelly that the boys here at retro hooked it up that quick. As for the controllers themselves…..wicked. I used to get tangled up in the wires from the old controllers all the time and have to get my wife to help get me out. Not anymore. With the wireless controller I got back the freedom I’ve always dreamt of. Will order more for sure. Thanks.

As a kid of the 90s, I grew up with the N64 and still play a lot today. Every experienced N64 player knows the problem with the old controllers, especially with the wear and tear of the analog stick. And anyone who has ever tried a third-party controller will know how disappointing they are! It's different here! If you have played N64 a lot, you can quickly tell whether a controller is good or not. Here you quickly notice that the controller is great. The reaction to the inputs cannot be distinguished from that of the original and the analog stick is at least as precise as the original and without a drift. I have only tested the controller for almost 10 hours and have been very satisfied so far. The only thing that "bothers" me is that the controller is lighter than ... MoreAs a kid of the 90s, I grew up with the N64 and still play a lot today. Every experienced N64 player knows the problem with the old controllers, especially with the wear and tear of the analog stick. And anyone who has ever tried a third-party controller will know how disappointing they are! It's different here! If you have played N64 a lot, you can quickly tell whether a controller is good or not. Here you quickly notice that the controller is great. The reaction to the inputs cannot be distinguished from that of the original and the analog stick is at least as precise as the original and without a drift. I have only tested the controller for almost 10 hours and have been very satisfied so far. The only thing that "bothers" me is that the controller is lighter than the original and the position of the Z-buttons. But that's simply because you are used to it differently with the N64. Overall, absolute buy recommendation.

TLDR; Best N64 Controller on the market in my opinion, has some nice improvements over the original wired version. This is my favorite N64 controller. The controller feels great and is comfortable to hold, the buttons are great, and the joystick is responsive. This controller takes the original Brawler64 and improves on it in a few ways. The first and most obvious is the wireless functionality. I like wireless controllers, so that adding wireless is by far the best change for me. I have not personally noticed any added latency compared to the a wired controller. It may be there, but it is not noticeable to me. The next biggest change are the Z triggers. As they said they would, Retro Fighters has gone from a more analog "pull" to a more digital "push" on this new ... MoreTLDR; Best N64 Controller on the market in my opinion, has some nice improvements over the original wired version. This is my favorite N64 controller. The controller feels great and is comfortable to hold, the buttons are great, and the joystick is responsive. This controller takes the original Brawler64 and improves on it in a few ways. The first and most obvious is the wireless functionality. I like wireless controllers, so that adding wireless is by far the best change for me. I have not personally noticed any added latency compared to the a wired controller. It may be there, but it is not noticeable to me. The next biggest change are the Z triggers. As they said they would, Retro Fighters has gone from a more analog "pull" to a more digital "push" on this new controller. Since the N64 does not have analog triggers, the digital "push" feels much better. Rather than having to move your finger a significant distance to press down, causing a short delay in the button pressing on the wired version, the new Z triggers are much more responsive. Now onto some more minor changes. The bottom of the analog stick (the part that sits beneath the shell) is now slightly larger. This fixes an issue on the wired version where when tilted into any of the corners, a tiny gap between the analog stick and case appeared. While this is by no means a big deal, it is nice to see that this detail has been fixed. Additionally, the buttons feel slightly different from the wired version. The best way I can describe it is the wired version buttons feel a bit softer when pressed. The A and B buttons are raised slightly from the wired version. In my opinion this is very slightly better. The ONLY thing I do not 100% love about the controller is the analog stick range of movement. The analog stick sits in a perfect octagon. However, on the original N64 controller, the octagon is imperfect, tending slightly more towards a square. While I personally can not notice and difference in terms of actually using the stick in games, extremely high level players may. The difference in the analog stick can be seen in controller testing software run on an N64 flash cart, such as an Everdrive64. For me, this imperfect analog gate does not matter, and does not effect my gameplay, but it still would have been great to see some more adjustment to more closely mimic the original's range of movement.

Good Afforfable Replica

Purchased this thinking that other than the missing "Nintendo" insignia, this should be a straight-rip replacement - well, its close. The controller is the same size, and button placement is exact, but the joystick is a different design and seems more direct; it has zero dead-zone on it. The under-Z button is different in it's action, but was easily overcome with some practice rounds. The biggest different in the replica is the cord length (shorter by about 8") and the controller plug in does NOT match the color of the controller. The red controller had a gray plug in - disappointing not knowing, but still worth the cost being nearly half an OEM controller. Time will tell on this viable replica.

Ross's review of Nintendo 64 Controller for Nintendo Switch

I'm really impressed with the quality of the controller and its utility within the Switch's N64 Online app. The vibration mechanism is modeled closely on the old Rumble Pak, with a fairly large spinning motor placed inside the the expansion slot area, which feels much stronger than the small motors we're used to in modern controllers and mobile phones. It doesn't feel exactly the same, given the Rumble Pak would hang behind the controller, changing the effect somewhat, but it's refreshing to feel a 90s-style vibration function in a new controller from a big console manufacturer.The controller is presented in a fairly attractive red box with a large viewing window, which might prove appealing for those who might want to display it as part of a collection.The internal ... MoreI'm really impressed with the quality of the controller and its utility within the Switch's N64 Online app. The vibration mechanism is modeled closely on the old Rumble Pak, with a fairly large spinning motor placed inside the the expansion slot area, which feels much stronger than the small motors we're used to in modern controllers and mobile phones. It doesn't feel exactly the same, given the Rumble Pak would hang behind the controller, changing the effect somewhat, but it's refreshing to feel a 90s-style vibration function in a new controller from a big console manufacturer.The controller is presented in a fairly attractive red box with a large viewing window, which might prove appealing for those who might want to display it as part of a collection.The internal battery is great too, only needing a recharge about as often as a Switch Pro Controller, which is a bit of a gold standard in the current generation of consoles.The only real downside of this controller is its limited functionality outside of the N64 app. You can find games that work well with the controller (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a particular highlight), but they won't currently use the vibration function. Even the Super Mario 3D All-Stars pack which has been patched especially to work with this controller lacks the vibration feature, which is a real shame given the choice to base the version of Super Mario 64 on the Japanese "Shindou" version, which introduced Rumble Pak support. Allowing western fans to play the game with an N64 controller and vibration would have let most of them play it as originally intended for the first time. Outside of that, there's currently no support for the Switch's in-built control customisation settings, so many games that could have worked with some simple tweaks are pretty much unplayable with the controller.If you're simply looking for a more authentic way to play the N64 app though, this is a really great controller, and one that long-time N64 fans are unlikely to take issue with.

Stefanie's review of Nintendo 64 Controller for Nintendo Switch

The shop was easy to navigate and I checked out very quickly (these have been out of stock for a long time and I did it fast to make sure I could get one) it was very easy to purchase. The controller itself it's really nice! It feels really good quality, the buttons are all really smooth and feel great to push. It connects really easily to the switch and there's no delay at all when pressing the buttons like I found with some other controllers. I think it's a little heavier than the original controller but it's a good weight and doesn't feel empty and cheap! I'm really pleased with this purchase and I would highly recommend it to any Nintendo fan, especially anyone who played the original n64. It's a really cool touch for those that love nostalgic stuff!

Works Great!

I am an n64 collector who still plays their games. I managed to collect all of the original controllers and have them on display, and realized that I didn't want to have to take one down every time I wanted to play. I also have a gamecube with a wavebird controller and have found the wireless nature to be very convenient. This controller checks all of the boxes: its affordable, a great color option (EXTREME GREEN!!!), convenience of wireless, and it's a great deal more comfortable than the original controller. Very highly recommended!!!