In part 1 of this series, we looked at some of the Switch’s core physical characteristics. In this post I provide some commentary on its controllers.
Joycons
What I thought then - These are brilliant
What I think now - These are still brilliant … and I am afraid they are going to break
Sometimes the sign of a brilliant idea is that it just shows up on the scene one day, and makes so much sense that you cannot understand how nobody thought of it earlier. That is how I feel about the Joycons. A fully functional modern controller that can split up into two smaller controllers with the same number of inputs as the SNES? Sign me up.
The Joycons were one of the only things about the Switch I liked back in 2017, and my opinion remains unchanged, but man, these suckers are going to break eventually, aren’t they? Already my children have managed to chew some … let’s call them “Custom engravings” into the blue Joycon:
Also, one night I accidentally put some pressure on the side of the red Joycon, and the plastic had a bit of give to it, as if there was empty space inside. And of course, one cannot talk about Joycons without mentioning the dreaded Joycon Drift.
Everything about these controllers gives me the impression that they are time bombs just waiting to blow up, which is unfortunate considering a) Nintendo hardware has traditionally been very sturdy, and b) these are very expensive time bombs. A new pair of Joycons cost eighty bucks!
“Dog Face Holster”
What I thought then - That looks stupid and uncomfortable
What I think now - This is not ideal, but it works
What I am referring to here is the “dog face” holster that the console comes with. It … kinda looks like a dog with droopy ears:
You plug the Joycons in to each side, and you get a full controller:
Upon seeing this setup for the first time, my main concern was one of weight. But it turns out that the bigger problem is size. The controller is a bit too cramped for my liking. If the holster itself was a bit wider, the problem would not exist.
Overall, though, it works. You get all the features, all the buttons, and the holster even has battery life indicators for both Joycons.
HD Rumble
What I thought then - This is brilliant
What I think now - This could be brilliant … but mostly it is just loud
1-2 Switch is kind of a garbage game, but it is also the best demonstration of what the Switch’s “HD Rumble” vibrations are capable of. Of particular note is the minigame in which you pretend the Joycon is a closed box filled with ball bearings, and you have to move it around to guess how many are in there. It is unbelievable how much it feels like there are actually balls rolling around inside. I did not think you could use force feedback to simulate such a sensation.
Sadly, HD Rumble is used to nowhere near as good an effect in other games. In fact, it actually becomes a liability on account of being extremely loud. Killing a boss in Blaster Master Zero makes the Switch sound like a two pagers vibrating on a glass table. It was so loud it woke my wife up. I end up turning it off most days, and I hate that this is the case.
Pro Controller
What I thought then - Seventy bucks? Are you kidding me?
What I think now - Seventy bucks? Are you kidding me?
I do not yet have a Pro Controller. I have never held one. It looks nice enough. I imagine it feels close to an Xbox pad.
But you can get an Xbox controller for twenty bucks less. A PS4 controller can be found for even less than that. Both have wireless and force feedback. The Dual Shock 4 also has a built-in speaker, a touch pad, and basic motion controls. What the heck is the Pro Controller doing that justifies such a markup?
I would still very much like to get one, but only on a decent sale. Until then, I can wait.
Other Thoughts
The Switch comes with these little plastic caps that you can slide onto the Joycons when they are detached:
They help make it easier to hit the shoulder buttons (which, as you can see, are sort of embedded within the controller’s attachment rails). They do help out, but I always forget to put them on. There simply is no good place to put them when not in use, and I am not sure what, if any, alternative solution there might be to this problem.