PDP Wired Fight Pad Pro Controllers Review

With Super Smash Bros Ultimate almost a year old, Performance Design Products (PDP) is set to launch more of their Wired Fight Pad Pro Controllers, so gamers can prep for their next Smash Bros Tournament. While the marketing around these controllers has focused on Smash Bros – because who doesn’t want to play Smash Bros with a GameCube inspired controller! – it’s easy to forget that these controllers can be used for other games too!

*Updated September 18th*

And that is ultimately how we tested them, mostly playing Super Mario Odyssey and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and lately a lot of Dragon Quest Builders 2! In most instances, the controllers performed exactly how we would have expected.

The controllers themselves are pretty chunky, and don’t follow the traditional GameCube design to a T. For example, the curved, finger friendly shoulder buttons from the original GameCube controller are replaced on this controller with buttons you might find more commonly on the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, which is absolutely fine with me. I always found the GameCube style shoulder buttons had to much travel, so these shallower, Pro Controller style buttons are preferable.

The travel on the sticks themselves is a bit more than I would like in a controller, and while I forgot about it over time, it seemed to rear it’s ugly head every so often when my movements weren’t enough to register on the screen. It’s a minor annoyance for sure, and one that definitely won’t affect casual players in the slightest. But those who plan to play a lot online might find it a bit hard to deal with.

With so many GameCube inspired controllers hitting the marketplace, PDP made sure to set their apart. The controller currently comes in three different themes – Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon – and the right joystick can be swapped between a traditional stick and the always contentious yellow c-stick!

In early 2019, PDP will launched two more of these fantastic controllers, modelled after Luigi and Princess Peach. Like the Mario, Link, and Pikachu ones before them, these controllers have the detachable c-stick, which can be swapped for a traditional joystick if one chooses!

The build quality of this controller is top notch, and I’ve really enjoy using it when playing various Nintendo Switch titles. Thankfully, the company has continued to release new versions of the controller. Just this month, PDP has launched a Yoshi, Sonic, and two additional Zelda Controllers! With my ever growing collection, I cannot wait for what’s next!