Nyko Tries to Make Circle Pad Pro Pretty
Posted by Thomas Whitehead
Extends battery life, tries to stay out of ugly tree
The 3DS Circle Pad Pro isn't widely loved, it's safe to say, with comments around the peripheral ranging from 'it's OK and works' to 'OMG WTF!!!'. Much of the attention when it released was around arguments that 3DS should have included two Circle Pads in its design, and also that it was aesthetically challenged. Our Circle Pad Pro review said that it was 'lop-sided and bulbous', taking away any visual symmetry in the quest for extra functionality.
Trusty gaming peripheral company Nyko has, as is often the case, stepped in to try and offer an improved option. Pictured is the Power Grip Pro, which not only provides an extra Circle Pad but also a protective case and battery that it claims will triple typical playtime. The image may be rendered, but it looks like it hasn't fallen quite as far from the ugly tree.
The Power Grip Pro is due for release in October. What do you think of the design, and are you tempted by the increased battery power and protective casing?
#1
NintenDude97 said:
I NEED THIS.
#2
Morphtorok said:
Oh my, that's actually pretty cool and functional.
This is what the CPP should have been to start with!
Protection + Battery + extra Circle pad + extra set of R and L buttons + a led battery indicator that can be seen at all times + better grip = I want one
#3
ennan said:
Provides battery??? Awesome news. Why didn't Nintendo make this??
#4
thanos316 said:
I might just have to get this. Looks nice and sleek. Hopefully nl will review this soon.
#5
SonyFACE said:
Looks way better. hope it costs the same.
#6
Portista said:
Is it out yet? I didn't see anything about a release date.
#7
6ch6ris6 said:
and i still dont need a second circle pad xD
#8
Geonjaha said:
Thats quite nice.
Cant really criticise for trying to make it look better.
#9
1takauchiha said:
This one actually looks ok, and the increased battery power is a must. I'll definitely think about this one.
#10
bezerker99 said:
This looks much better than the CPP. If they could only get rid of that NYKO logo, it would look spectacular!!!
#11
GCNSean said:
Pretty sweet...I wonder if the card slot is open on the back (unlike the CPP)
#12
irken004 said:
Interesting design
#13
kyuubikid213 said:
It depends. If the card slot is open and I can use R no matter what, then yeah.
#14
DarkEdi said:
This is better than the original. I want a blue one.
#15
Morphtorok said:
@PeopleWonderingAboutTheCardSlot: If this image is any indicator, it seems the top part of the 3DS is exposed (notice the lighter gray color in the top).
#16
NX01Trekkie1992 said:
my question is how the top cover affects the cameras and, as kyuubikid213 said, the card slot, if it doesn't interfere with either of those functions, I'd say this is more likely the better alternative over the 'official' Nintendo version
#17
zachts98 said:
yes the dream case!!!!!!
#18
zachts98 said:
no 3ds xl for me!!!!!
#19
rjejr said:
Now if they only announce more games this afternoon that would actually use the 2nd pad to justify getting this. It makes the 3DS look so big it should come w/ a briefcase to carry it around in.
OK, all kidding aside it does look pretty good. Now make it in red.
#20
Chrysanthemum said:
Ha, the standard battery LED is red and the charging LED is blue!
#21
StarDust said:
Definitely prettier than Nintendo's option. Does the Nyko Circle grip include surgery vouchers to get an extra inch or so grafted into my thumb? Those buttons are a pretty far reach, even with big hands
#22
MadAussieBloke said:
This has solved my routine of 'play game with CPP until battery starts blinking, remove CPP then attach NITHO Lithium-ion battery, play VC game or go online for half hour until internal battery is charged, remove NITHO, attach CPP and continue'. Thank you NYKO for abolishing this 3DS ritual curse
#23
hydeks said:
looks ugly, i prefer my circle pad pro. sorry ppls
#24
grumblegrumble said:
Now, this looks MUCH better. Less obtrusive, more stylish (even through the screen is what kills it), but my question is... since the extra circle pad is only used for a small tiny handful of games, is it still worth it? If you are a fiend for those particular games, perhaps?
#25
seronja said:
i have no problem with my 3DS how it looks now, but i would buy this 100% day 1!!
#26
Dodger said:
I would get this if I needed a CPP at some point. I don't like Nyko much but this looks like a better product.
#27
spamineggs said:
ok, I wasn't sold on the original CPP, but I like the look of this!
Edit: I read more of the article, and OMG! ok, I want one now!
#28
Luigifan141 said:
@Portista It say the release date in the last paragraph: "The Power Grip Pro is due for release in October."
Also, will this include the additional R, ZR and ZL buttons?
#29
kdognumba1 said:
I'm very tempted to get this. If there is no redesign at this E3, I probably will.
#30
undead_terror said:
thats really cool,will get it when it comes out.
#31
mandemote said:
theres only one question... will it hold on the 3ds stand!!!
#32
Koto said:
Looks nice, BUT does it have the ZL and ZR buttons? And will they look similar to Nintendo's official ones for the CPP? And since it provides battery, that means it connects via the charger port instead of infrared right? Will we also be able to swap out games? AND, will it feel as comfortable as Nintendo's own CPP?
#33
firearrow505 said:
Nyko does what Nintendon't
#34
Tasuki said:
I was tempted in getting the CPP but I think I just might wait for this to come out.
#35
Dreadjaws said:
Wait, so it provides extra battery instead of needing one? Sold.
#36
japzone said:
Definitly better then the CPP, If I ever need a second CP and Nintendo doesn't upgrade the 3DS's design, then this is what I'll most likely will buy. Still would prefer something more collapsable but at least this thing does more then just tack on 2 extra buttons and a CP.
#37
Phocks5 said:
This is EXACTLY what I've been waiting for when the circle pad pro came out in the first place. I knew Nyko would do something like this and I was just waiting for it. Mostally because I couldn't bear to part with my current Nyko battery extender in order to have the circle pad pro instead.
#38
TheDreamingHawk said:
This helps prevents a 3DS redesign... Thank you nyko!
…But I still won't get it after my bad experiences with Nyko over the years.
#39
Phocks5 said:
Oh and for those of you wondering if it will still work on the 3DS Stand. I'd bet it would. My current Nyko battery almost doubles the depth of my 3ds and it still works great on the stand.
#40
Rastamouse said:
For a better battery,I wouldn't mind.
#41
GreenDream said:
I STILL think that creating and bundling a new and improved thumb stylus with every 3DS, as was bundled with the original DS, would have been better than creating all these add-ons and stands. Less resources used, less silly peripherals. Kid Icarus was a perfect example of how a thumb stylus, combined with good touchscreen calibration options, can create a viable alternative to a 2nd analog piece.
#42
Sam_Loser2 said:
I said that I would wait for a circle pad pro with extra battery, but I didn't actually expect it so soon. This doesn't look half bad! If I can find one (haven't even seen a normal circle pad pro anywhere) I'll probably be picking it up.
#43
Bass_X0 said:
Who needs 3DS XL?
We do! We do!
#44
ouroborous said:
No way, who cares. There's no way I'm buying ANOTHER CPP and yes, the 3DS should just have had 2 analogs to begin with. There aren't even any games other than MGS and Res Evil that support the CPP (I'm lookin' at you Kid Icarus!!).
#45
ohhaime said:
Me Likey.
#46
SkywardLink98 said:
What's the price range? I'm interested in this, but if it's more expensive that a normal battery life-extender than I'll hold off on it until I have a game that supports the Circle Pad Pro.
#47
SMEXIZELDAMAN said:
Looks nicer than the real one, but then again @bezerker99 said it first, darn nyko logo ruins it
#48
MagicLink95 said:
I accidentally broke my CPP recently, so that's nice.
#49
SyFyTy said:
dam and I JUST bought that other thick bottom 'charger' they sell as X3 the ds battery life
#50
Rect_Pola said:
sigh
It's not the first time a third party schooled the first.
#51
Nightsider said:
Maybe if there is a Metroid prime game. Other than that, I don't need a second circle pad at the moment.
#52
rayquaza_master said:
Might get this for luigi's mansion DM. I'll need that extra battery
#53
Xtremetdifan said:
Might get it for the extra battery life. How much does it cost?
#54
Xtremetdifan said:
I might get it for extra battery life, how much does it cost?
#55
R-L-A-George said:
@NINTENDOFACE $10 more, which is not bad.
#56
Gioku said:
@Pengaweeno That's funny!
#57
Rensch said:
It's still godawful and I refuse to buy it unless there is a game that really needs it that I absuletly want! Whoever makes it, I don't care. It still looks horrible.
#58
Koto said:
Makes me wish even more than Capcom will start being nice to westerners for once.
#59
runeacer74 said:
Protective case and tripled battery life? I'm buying it!
#60
TimboBaggins said:
I might actually get this, considering the circle pad pro sold out almost instantly and I can't even find it anywhere
#61
Dusktail16 said:
My stand on this:
I need a case, and I wanted a better one then a simple case that only protects. So with this, it works perfectly as a case, and (if i ever were to get the CPP) you can have both the Circle pad and the case on at once as they are built into the case. The extra battery life built into an all-time case is awesome, and the fact that i'll have the CPP all the time is awesome. alot of people say "i would buy if theres a game i want that uses it. Well, for me, KH3D uses it, but besides that, there's nothing. So i say, it's worth having there if any more games come out that i want. I won't have to worry about buying the CPP, as it will be right there, in my 24/7 case. Awesome, if you ask me.