This ZL button pretty much ensures this controller will feel terrible to use with anything that isn't strictly NSO. Maybe they did this on purpose to dissuade people from getting them just to use on PC, but I find that so aggravating. GC controller is my favorite ever, and I was praying that when they eventually did GC NSO that mirroring the Z button across to the left side would be a "no-brainer". I guess not.
50 Comments
What will that button even do?
NSO?
Yes the Z and sharp S buttons
They dropped the ball on so many aspects, it’s hard to name them all…
I mean, I know why they did it. To keep it looking as much like the original as possible while implementing the functionality of a full controller. But that thing is gonna be a pain to use.
Those were the weird buttons who were barely used anyways.
We have this already with the Power A Gamecube Switch controller.
I’m sure Power A will probably do the same for Switch 2.
Game cube controller?
I really liked the way that controller felt to hold though. I’ve despised the N64 controller since I first laid eyes on one in a Babbages
Here’s to hoping 8bitdo makes one
Maybe we’ll be surprised.
I wish we could use the switch 1 model
lol. 1 small button and the world is ending. It’s probably the most comfortable controller. Pretty sure I can touch it if needed.
They do that quite often
There’s literally 6million 3rd party gamecube style controllers that already do this.
Why would they change the design?
The original controller has the big blue one
Reminds me of that shitty c-stick they added on the n3ds xl
Might not meet your standard for authenticity, which is totally valid, but if you’re looking for a GameCube controller that’s versatile enough to use in lots of other contexts, consider:
[https://retrofighters.com/our-collection/battlergc-pro/](https://retrofighters.com/our-collection/battlergc-pro/)
[https://retrofighters.com/our-collection/battlergc-next-gen-wireless-gamecube-controller/](https://retrofighters.com/our-collection/battlergc-next-gen-wireless-gamecube-controller/)
[https://retrofighters.com/our-collection/bladegc-gamecube-wireless-controller/](https://retrofighters.com/our-collection/bladegc-gamecube-wireless-controller/)
its for NSO
also the only game i see many people use this controller for that isnt a gamecube game (smash bros) doesn’t benefit from the zl or zr buttons from what i heard
it sucks but they are trying to keep authenticity
I loved the wave bird controller for gamecube
Also Home and Screenshot up there are very questionable, there is plenty space on the front.
GC really was the “look how quirky we can be” controller…
Im more worried about it having drift tbh
The only gamecube controller I use is Exlene. USBC rechargable, wirless, wakes the switch up, 2 Z buttons, turbo and screenshot buttons, and less expensive than the official ones.
I see they assigned this button design to whoever came up with the Switch OLED power button…
Well if you only use this controller for GameCube or other retro games the ZL button will never be needed.
You want to beef with Nintendo controllers and *THIS* is where you begin?
Really. I think historically there have been more pressing issues…
PowerA gave them proper triggers. If you’re looking for GameCube pro-controllers, I’d buy from them.
Brother, you’re 24 years too late!
As much as I am obsessed with symmetry, this is a nothing-burger complaint. The whole entire controller’s layout is asymmetrical by design. Reversing the Z on the left is certainly a choice, lmao
You think they dropped the ball THERE? Really?
Nintendo dropped a lot of balls April 2nd. Lol
honestly surprised to see so many people still throating nintendo in this thread
Maybe you could 3d print a bigger button and replace it, it wouldn’t be perfect, and it shouldn’t be like this to begin with, but I think it’s a neat and serviceable idea
Mine never had another button on the left? Just the z button! I didn’t even know they made a tiny button there until now.
Didn’t they point out during Nintendo Direct that couple of Switch 2 Joy-cons buttons are bigger now?
Shouldn’t this philosophy carry over across other products?
8bitdo has made a very successful business of correcting Nintendo’s mistakes. We’re in good hands.
Visually, I agree with you, but having played a lot of Smash Bros with a wide variety of people, I think what they chose is the right choice.
Some players have a claw grip on the left thumbstick, where they hold it a bit like a drone or RC remote thumbstick (the ones where the stick doesn’t have a grip cap) with the stick pinched by the index and thumb. The flat spot on the controller is an excellent location to rest part of the hand while they maneuver with their index+thumb. Whether they hold it in their lap like a fight stick/laptop keyboard and use their middle finger as a brace on the flat edge, just wrap the edge of their palm on the left curve/edge and cup the bottom of the stick with their ring/pinky, the loss of that area ends up breaking muscle memory and creates accidental button presses.
nintendo is an ecosystem like apple. they make things that work great for a specific purpose.
I have played a lot of smash and can tell you the original z button sucks. Very inconsistent and requires a specific angle of attack to get consistent.
That’s why people mod their controllers to add a mouse button z button. It’s just way easier to use.
Nintendo needs to stop with the tiny buttons…
But OP, clearly looks are more important than functionality plus obviously as soon as you’re done playing your GC games which you pay $79.99/year for you’ll just put down that controller and use the normal joycons, right? Why would anyone *ever* want a cool first party controller you can use for all your games? Anyway that’ll be $80 please for your controller that is only actually comfortably usable within GC games, thanks.
There’s not much in NSO that I can’t duplicate outside of nintendo. The controllers are nice though
There’s a button there?
-a person who has used a GameCube controller twice before
I would be so happy if they renamed L R ZL ZR to
L
LL
R
RR
Shoulders 1 letter, triggers 2 letters
My brain freezes at how weird every game decides to write zL etc in games and it’s so dumb lol, I get that it’s the 64 z
Nintendo, the company that innovates and thinks outside the box every time… even when you really wish they hadn’t.
Every time I hold an N64 controller and try to navigate the map on 3d worlds I’m baffled as to how I used it comfortably all those years ago.
Nintendo, the company most known for awkward controllers and warring against their fans.
The theory is that it’ll be used to open the NSO menu, rather than function the same as ZR. This would explain why they’d want to make it small and clearly differentiated.
Does it at least have gyro now
I’m glad they didn’t. I want it as close to the original as possible. Let it stay being just for GC games.
The original gamecube Z button was bad enough.
Just here? Here is where you draw the line on the presentation we all saw?! Incredibly generous of you.