Nintendo’s official Switch-compatible wi-fi controller Nintendo 64 was introduced practically two years in the past however has been elusive to many. Supply appears to have lastly caught up with demand, with the pad presently nonetheless out there to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers by way of Nintendo’s web site following a latest restock, however the coveted peripheral — basically a contemporary model of the traditional three-pronged gamepad with quality-of-life enhancements like USB-C charging and built-in rumble — has been notoriously tough to come back by.
Intended to be used with N64 video games included within the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, the controller can solely be formally bought on-line immediately from Nintendo for $49.99. For avid gamers like me who’re outdoors of North America, Europe, Australia, or Japan, transport merely isn’t supplied.
But I used to be not going to let that cease me from enjoying traditional N64 video games on my Switch utilizing the controller they had been meant for. Though its unconventional design has lengthy divided opinion, the unique controller is for me the solely method to play these video games. That desire is knowledgeable each by ’90s child nostalgia and the way unnatural it feels enjoying these titles on some other controller.
Despite being an expansion-tier NSO subscriber, I used to be pressured to show to eBay to snag an official NSO controller for a reasonably penny as a result of Nintendo received’t ship them to Singapore, the place I reside. But now, 8BitDo, the Hong Kong-based producer of wi-fi controllers and different retro gaming peripherals, has a extremely purposeful and doubtlessly more cost effective choice on provide.
A cheaper various to Nintendo’s choice?
I lately picked up an 8BitDo Mod Kit for Original N64 Controller, which turns an unique retro N64 controller right into a wi-fi Switch-compatible Bluetooth controller full with a chargeable battery, rumble results, and an elective ultra-precise Hall Effect joystick. The equipment requires no soldering and is pitched as being comparatively straightforward to arrange, reworking your unique controller right into a wi-fi Bluetooth pad suitable with Switch and Android gadgets. The outcomes have genuinely exceeded my expectations.
As somebody with out the slightest little bit of modding expertise, the notion of cracking open a chunk of tech and tooling with its innards is a tall order. But after seeing tutorial movies of 8BitDo’s DIY resolution, it appeared easy sufficient and a less expensive method of getting myself a second N64 controller for multiplayer use, with eBay choices nonetheless going nicely increased than MSRP earlier than transport.
For those that, for no matter purpose, aren’t keen or capable of splash out on Nintendo’s official choice, the 8BitDo equipment is known as a no-brainer. This is especially true for those who already personal an outdated or defective N64 controller. Modding is the proper strategy to give defunct {hardware} a brand new lease on life, and doing so is truthfully very gratifying.
Whether it’s cost-effective or not is up for debate. 8BitDo’s Mod Kit goes for goes for $29.99 with simply the alternative board and rumble pack, or $39.99 with the Hall Effect joystick included, which is what I opted for, plus transport. If you don’t already personal an outdated N64 controller, you might find yourself spending extra in whole than you’d on the official pad, significantly for those who go for an unique color.
But the controller used for the mod doesn’t must be purposeful, that means you’re higher off shopping for a damaged one on a budget and restoring it. What you’ll want intact from the unique controller are the shell, buttons, and soft-pad membranes inside – and doubtlessly the joystick for those who choose to maintain the unique one for essentially the most genuine really feel attainable, which is all down to non-public desire.
Restoring a traditional
I managed to discover a yellowing outdated N64 controller regionally, which price me round $15. The very first thing I did was disassemble the controller with the magnetic screwdriver that conveniently comes included in 8BitDo’s mod equipment so that you received’t have to supply one. I took out the unique board and wiring, then washed and soaked the shell, buttons, and membranes in soapy heat water.
Reversing the yellowing on the shell was very simple. Exposing the plastic to hydrogen peroxide and UV mild will get the job carried out. I actually rigged a pants hanger with plastic sandwich luggage to soak the shell in peroxide and hung it out my high-rise window. All it took was about three hours within the Southeast Asian solar, although it will differ relying on how a lot daylight you get.
Once the shell, buttons and membranes are rinsed and dried, the meeting course of takes as little as quarter-hour, and 8BitDo has a video tutorial on-line (under) along with an Ikea-style instruction sheet. Once you drop the brand new important board in, the trickiest bit is positioning the boards for the shoulder buttons because the stiffness of the connector ribbons made them regularly come out.
A take a look at on-line critiques for the equipment instructed that others appeared to seek out it tough to reposition the board for the ‘Z’ set off, although I had no bother doing so. The equipment features a rubber stopper that plugs the outlet the place the wire had been, which neatly lights up in pink whereas charging.
Once all the pieces is the place it ought to be, it is as easy screwing it again collectively and plugging within the rumble pack.
8BitDo’s wi-fi transmitter is contained throughout the rumble pack and should be hooked up always. The attachment consists of dwelling and screenshot buttons, a pairing button, and a ‘ZR’ set off to open up within the menu within the NSO app, in addition to a toggle that permits the controller for use on PC and different gadgets by way of Bluetooth, which is a significant performance plus for those who intend to make use of emulators.
How does it examine to the official NSO pad throughout gameplay?
For those that aren’t keen or capable of splash out on Nintendo’s official choice, the 8BitDo equipment is known as a no-brainer
Holding the tip product in hand merely felt great. The controller synched to my Switch seamlessly and is definitely recognised as an N64 controller, as if it had been an official NSO one. All the UI quirks and button configurations work as they need to. Latency and battery life are on par with the official pad — round 8 hours — with the one draw back being that buttons can’t be remapped on Switch (until you accomplish that at a system stage).
To check it out, I fired up F-Zero X and was blown away by how nice it felt to regulate utilizing the Hall Effect joystick. Whereas conventional joysticks use a potentiometer to detect friction and deduce motion inputs, Hall Effect sensors use magnets to ship extra exact controls and are purportedly extra sturdy than potentiometers, which may put on out over time and result in controller drift.
Compared to the official N64 wi-fi controller, the Hall Effect joystick is stubbier, extra akin to the Gamecube controller’s stick, and is much extra manoeuvrable. I recall having a minor thumb sore after a marathon session of Mario Tennis owing to the resistance of the official joystick. The Hall Effect choice is certainly extra snug to play with for lengthy stretches.
Manoeuvrability additionally felt extra exact in Mario Kart 64, Pilotwings 64, and Super Mario 64, significantly when the stick should be delicately pushed ahead in order to not wake sleeping Piranha Plants. I switched between the official wi-fi and modded N64 controllers whereas enjoying Rare’s masterpiece Banjo-Kazooie to check the general really feel, which was mainly indistinguishable, aside from the totally different joysticks.
If you go for the Hall Effect stick, your thumb placement will probably be barely decrease in comparison with the taller and stiffer stick on the official pad. If you’re a purist, you may choose to retain the unique stick, however I discover the 8BitDo’s Hall Effect stick with be higher general. The solely different distinction is that the official controller’s rumble feels ever so barely extra sturdy than the modded one.
Is the 8BitDo DIY Mod Kit price it, then?
All in all, 8BitDo’s DIY Mod Kit for the N64 controller is an excellent various if you’re unable to get your arms on the official product or if you have already got a defective N64 controller inside attain. The sheer satisfaction of dissembling and restoring an outdated piece of tech can also be not be underestimated. Doing so made me recognize how a controller is actually higher than the sum of its components.
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