Friday, December 6, 2024

Got the NSO Nintendo 64 Controller

photo of a grey Nintendo 64 controller, looking indistinguishable from the original

Since I became a subscriber to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack thanks to Four Swords, I can also play Nintendo 64 games on my Nintendo Switch now. But using a Pro Controller isn't fully ideal here, because the button layout can be slightly confusing (it puts C-Left on the Y-button and C-Down on X) and you have to hold down ZR to get the proper C-button experience, or use the right stick like on previous systems.

Now, as part of Nintendo's Black Friday deals in Europe, they have offered a discount on the Nintendo 64 controller that you can get for your Nintendo Switch, so I thought that I should give this a try... Which I did today with some Ocarina of Time.

screenshot of Ocarina of Time running on NSO, Link is running towards the gate to Hyrule Castle Town at dusk

And it certainly gives you an authentic experience, maybe a little too authentic. The analog stick is the same old stiff twig as in the original, which will probably wear down if you do too many quick spins. And the motor for the built-in Rumble Pak is such a monster that you could use this thing for a drill hammer.

I never owned a Rumble Pak for my Nintendo 64, so I've only experienced this once or so before, but I don't feel like I missed anything back in the day... Well, finding all the secret holes without the Stone of Agony was certainly a challenge, but I had too much time to play this game as a kid anyway.

The backside of the controller also features the home and screenshot buttons, as well as a tiny ZR button, which is used for the cursor and applause during online sessions. And it can be charged via USB-C, where they provide with one of the same cables that also come with a Pro Controller.

As far as I know, the emulation does not support the Controller Pak as of now, which means that you have to rely on Suspend Points with games like Turok 2: Seeds of Evil that didn't have battery saves. But I'd rather have this than the monster rumble.

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