NexiGo Advanced Controller Grip for the Nintendo Switch Review
109In this episode, we unbox and test out the NexiGo Upgraded Ergonomic Controller for the Nintendo Switch.
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
1:17 - Unboxing
4:32 - Pairing
5:10 - Street Fighter 2
7:12 - Horizon Chase Turbo
8:07 - Super Mario 3D World
9:13 - Punch Out
9:54 - Super Mario Bros 2
10:26 - Initial Thoughts
12:37 - Final Thoughts
I have admitted in the past that I am not a huge fan of the Nintendo Switch in handheld mode. I think it is slippery, the buttons on the Joy-Cons are too small, and I think the system is just too big for me to enjoy. I have tried a few grips, cases, and other solutions in an attempt to improve my handheld Switch experience, and the latest one to come across the bench is the NexiGo Upgraded Ergonomic Controller. Designed to provide a better handheld experience, they sent me one for the purpose of review, so we did just that.
At first glance it the NexiGo controller reminded me of the Hori Split Pad Pro which I had previously reviewed, but there were enough differences here to take a look at. First, this is one solid unit, with a back piece joining the left and right controls together, unlike the Split Pad which was 2 separate units. This also has a USB-C port in the center, something we'll address in a bit. The NexiGo Controller also has built in rumble and gyroscope, something that was nice to see. Now, this doesn't support Amiibo, but that was not a surprise to me. You also cannot dock your Switch with this installed, again, not something that surprised me.
As many 3rd party accessory manufacturers have done, NexiGo replaced the 4 face buttons on the left Joy-Con with a more traditional D-Pad design. While a welcome change, the D-Pad itself is a bit on the stiff side and didn't operate as well as I would like. It also seemed like the travel was not consistent from side-to-side, specifically to the right. The right travel seemed quite a bit shorter than the other directions, and during gameplay I felt the performance of the D-Pad hampered my overall experience. It was disappointing and something I hope NexiGo addresses in the future.
The right analog stick has a removeable thumb sticks, and 2 additional optional thumb sticks are also included. I was not a fan of the installed nub from the box, not in the least. I thought it was way too small and very uncomfortable. The two optional thumb sticks were larger and felt better, but they were also very slippery and I was not a fan of either. I would have liked to see something more closely resembling what the left thumb stick comes with, as that is quite nice out of the box.
The triggers on the NexiGo controller are pretty big, much larger than either the Joy-Cons or even the Pro Controller. In my testing I found the springs to be a bit on the soft side, much softer than I'd like. I was also disappointed to see these were digital and not analog triggers for the ZL and ZR. While few manufacturers offer analog triggers, they do exist and the Switch does support them.
Beyond this, there are no real bells and whistles or additional features built into the Nexigo controller. There's no turbo functionality, and as I mentioned, there isn't support for Amiibo. One thing I will say is the rumble was quite good, and the overall ergonomics of the controller were very nice. I'll also say that, while the D-Pad disappointed, the left analog stick worked very well in all of my testing.
Why it RoX:
- 3 right-sided thumb sticks included
- Better ergonomics than stock
- Very good rumble
- Left analog stick felt very good, as did the face buttons
What could be improved:
- USB-C passthru is unnecessary
- D-Pad was not great
- No Amiibo support
- Considerably larger than stock Joy-Cons
- Digital instead of analog ZL/ZR
- No additional features such as turbo
Should you buy one?
If you are considering a separate grip for the Nintendo Switch then you might want to give the NexiGo Advance Controller a look. It has a very similar feel to the Hori Split Pad Pro, but I feel the ergonomics are much better. I also think this mounts much more securely to your Switch, as there was a considerable amount of flex at the rails for the Split Pad Pro. The NexiGo had none of that, and if anything, held the Switch amazingly well. I was disappointed in the performance of the D-Pad, the lack of analog triggers, and the confusing messaging about charging on the product page and the box. The USB-C is only a pass-thru for charging, there isn't an integrated battery, so be aware of that. This has potential, and it really might be a great solution for some gamers, I am just not one of them.
#NintendoSwitch #Nexigo #Controller #Review
The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107
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