Retro-Bit's Tribute64 Controller Can Be Used With The N64 Or Your Switch

If it doesn't have three prongs for my two hands, it's not an N64 controller.

Looks more like a tribute to a Saturn Controller

Hmmm. It's cheaper than the retrofighter pad, but has the design of the rare hori pads. The retro fighter pad has a better layout though. Ill wait for reviews.

You can use it to play all those N64 games on your Switch!!!.....oh wait......😞

It looks dumb because a normal controller would have two prongs and the D-pad would be under the left stick. But no, the d-pad is in the middle. I don’t like it.

Wait how is it compatible with both systems? Is it wired plus wireless or does it have some kind of USB cable thing

I'd be more interested in an official wireless N64 controller that Nintendo would release alongside virtual consoles for every single Nintendo console.

Looks crap and completely wrong as the dpad and analogue are the wrong way round, and when has anyone needed a larger start button? And sorry but "three prongs were conceived to be uncomfortable for gameplay" is completely wrong.
Stupidity re-imagined

Looks more like an 'inspired by' over an actual tribute, as it ditches the iconic grip.

Still, after their recent Genesis repro controller it should be a solid release

Rubbish d-pad placement. It may not have been the most used feature in the Controller, but it was ideal for Mortal Kombat and essential for Kirby 64

It looks like an almost exact clone of the Hori controller for N64.

I’m really digging that D-pad..!!

I prefer White Classic Pro Controller for Wii. 😁
Simple and White.

My thumb aches just looking at that dpad position

I'd have to get my hands on one to make an assessment, but here are a couple impressions off the bat:

I don't mind the two-prong design, as I only have two hands. A fondness for the three-prong model is rooted in nostalgia and nothing more.

It looks like the d-pad location was decided upon at the last second.

Bottom line: I'd love a redesigned N64 controller, but it has to feel good. The old controller has its place in history, and it should stay there.

I'm sticking with my smash pro. official ninty products are the way to go

No.

That's all I wanted to type NL.

I'll stick to my actual N64 controllers thank you, its still one of my favourite controllers ever

Anyone that finds the N64 controller uncomfortable is an idiot. I'm surprised people don't know how to hold it.

That d-pad location is gonna be awful for WWF No Mercy.

Have four Hori Mini pads for my N64, and they're a godsend gift for all games, excluding a small list of compatible with d-pad only. I use the original gamepad in those rare cases.

I loved n64 controller and I am addicted to collecting controllers for the switch so I’ll end up getting this but removing the gun like centre holding will make it completely different

Like others have said, d-pad placement is horrible. How are you supposed to use the d-pad and the A/B buttons when they're on top of each other. It's so not for me. The original n64 controller was one of my favorite controllers ever. Not sure why people gripe about it. It was extremely comfortable in my opinion. I still have 2 functioning ones and love bringing out the n64 to play every now and then. Had a really good d-pad too. Thing got a lot of use with wcw/nwo world tour, wwf warzone and all the other wrestling games that came to the n64 😃

"Retro-Bit® made a version of their own and updated to two handles which have been deemed to be more appropriate." Is that a joke? Its clearly the same design as the Hori N64 controller.

I've always wanted a Hori pad or 2 for my N64, but the price and age of them put me off.

I'll look to get 2 of these for my N64, and potentially try and encourage some longtime friends to see if they fancy getting competitive again at Perfect Dark, Mario Kart, ISS 2000, San Francisco Rush 2049 and others we used to frequent ^_^

Looks like a tribute to the Hori Pad.

Wow that looks ugly as heck

That d pad looks out of reach for either hand.

This looks near identical to the hori pad.

I love the 64 controller. It’s the best controller to play 64 games. You suppose to hold the controller like grappling a sword.

That thing looks horrific

I prefer the looks of the Hyperkin Admiral

@Bunkerneath Just from reading the press release, I think it's pretty clear it was just a terrible translation job. My guess is they meant "Perceived" (By consumers) to be uncomfortable, not intentionally "Conceived" (By Nintendo) to be uncomfortable.

I thought it looked good at first but now I'm thinking I'll stick to the original controller. Shame you can't buy brand new ones as the analogue sticks wear out.

Can't believe they made it through that whole press release without mentioning Hori. This is clearly a rip-off... and I mean that in a good way. Hope these match the Hori's quality, with an affordable price.

lol that d-pad placement tho

Retrobit typically does pretty solid work and this looks like a great alternative to the N64 controller, but... The dpad placement is a bit problematic. How does that even work? Maybe it's more comfortable in actual practice than it appears but that would be a serious dealbreaker for games like Mischief Makers.

Looks like a solid alternative to the hori pad.

Due to the layout of the original N64 controller, many different games were built on how you held the controller. This design isn't all that bad when you consider that most games used the analog stick portion and the buttons portion at the same time. However if you want to have a controller suitable for all N64 games, you'd need an original design. There's nothing inherently wrong or terrible about this design if you're just using the analog + buttons.

The original controller design is still superior, especially if you want to play any games that actually used the d-pad properly (like 2D fighters for example), or if you want to play games like GoldenEye and Perfect Dark in basically modern dual analog style by holding two pads at once with one in each hand gripped by the center prong (which was actually very comfortable and intuitive).

That D pad won't be comfy when you use it. no one has that long thumb to reach that D-pad. No sale! Now with that said... come with something better lol

@bwellington "A fondness for the three-prong model is rooted in nostalgia and nothing more."

That is complete and utter ignorance talking and nothing more.

First, the classic 3-prong design allows you to play in 3 specific positions (4 if you count the dual controller mode) that this new design simply cannot reproduce properly and that are actually very useful in certain situations and all very comfortable.

How are you supposed to seriously play games that focus on d-pad control with this abomination (such as 2D fighters for example)?

Reaching across to that d-pad, particularly if you still need to use the shoulder buttons at the same time, seem like an ergonomic disaster.

Also, how exactly do I comfortably play GoldenEye and Perfect Dark basically proper dual analog style with this new controller, which was previously done on the original N64 by holding two N64 controllers at the same time with one in each hand by the center prong (which was a ingenious solution that was very comfortable, intuitive and effective by the way)?

You don't know what you're talking about.

@Trajan This right here.

@Yorumi Come to think of it I may have a replacement stick lying around somewhere, thanks.

@impurekind

I'm ignorant because I don't share your opinion? You're a real class act.

I never said this controller was superior to the original, so why are you arguing as such? You're acting like Nintendo hasn't released 20 years worth of controllers that have vastly improved on the N64 design. I mean, wow, I can reach the d-pad AND the analog stick! But keep telling yourself that this can only be achieved with three prongs.

I miss the good old trident. Pretty much the most comfortable controller ever as I played it most during my puberty years (and thus hand size change...I don't have large hands as I'm female but I do have long fingers) and there was a hand position for each game.

@Yorumi

"Basically I'm required to have a 2d controller and a 3d controller for comfort." But you're not at all, hence why you used the qualifier "basically." I find modern controllers to be exceedingly comfortable and form-fitting.

"Which is quite frankly utterly ignorant of what people actually say about the controller." This is a silly thing to say. I'm a person and I've stated my opinion on the matter, so it makes no sense that you've decided to exclude me from "what people say." People have their reasons for liking the N64 controller but let's not pretend that nostalgia isn't a factor. I mean, who can defend that analog stick?

@Yorumi

"A statement that would include every person and the claim it’s accurate because you alone don’t like the controller?" More than pretty sure that is the most poorly structured sentence I've read all day.

You made the claim that they haven't improved on the N64 controller (citing that it's because you "basically" need multiple controllers) but that is objectively false. I can't think of a single instance in the last 20 years where I thought, "Man, this game would be so much better with an N64 controller, or a third prong at least." From a design perspective, you have to consider more than comfort and button layout; components and durability factor in as well. There's a reason why the GameCube controller remains so popular all these years later.

But you'll continue to hyper-focus on my offhand claim about people having a nostalgia-driven bias, while ignoring my main point: that the design needs to be revamped. I have NES and SNES controllers that have held up better.

@Alucard83 here ya go: https://www.amazon.com/Brawler-64-Gamepad-Nintendo/dp/B078KHKHPX/ref=pd_aw_fbt_63_img_2/141-5916293-3261810?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B078KHKHPX&pd_rd_r=a2d5c2c2-6716-11e9-b421-cdcde3290510&pd_rd_w=6AmY9&pd_rd_wg=yVUF8&pf_rd_p=3ecc74bd-d08f-44bd-96f3-d0c2b89f563a&pf_rd_r=ZH4XYJPKAZBTHE2J7DYD&psc=1&refRID=ZH4XYJPKAZBTHE2J7DYD

@bwellington No, you're ignorant because you accuse people who actually like and respect the N64 controller design of being the ones who are simply "clinging to nostalgia"--basically meaning if it wasn't for them not being able to see past their nostalgia they'd surely see it wasn't very good, which is both insulting and plain wrong--when it's actually your ignorance of the controller's many design strengths that you simply don't get.

"I don't mind the two-prong design, as I only have two hands. A fondness for the three-prong model is rooted in nostalgia and nothing more."

First, you NEVER had to hold the N64 controller with anything other than two hands, so your point is utterly stupid. It simply offers you multiple different ways to hold the design that mean you don't have compromise based on the particular option you're using for whatever game. So, if you're playing a 2D fighter or 2D platformer then your fingers are in the optimal position holding the left and right prongs to use all the controls and buttons you might have to use. And if you're playing a first person shoot then your fingers are in the optimal position holding the middle and right prongs to use all the controls and buttons you might have to use. And if you're playing certain games but are left handed then you can hold the left and middle prongs to use all the controls and buttons you might have to use. And if you want to play a first person shooter with dual analog then you can actually hold two controllers both by the center prong with one in each hand so you are in the optimal position to use all the controls and buttons you might have to use, which means the N64 had this capability before even the PS1 (I think GoldeEye on the N64 was the first fps to ever offer dual analog controls).

This alternative N64 controller design is better than the one above:

But still, try playing GoldenEye or Perfect Dark in any of the 2.X dual analog modes using that controller and see how you fare. . . .

"The old controller has its place in history, and it should stay there."

Other than for games that require dual analog--even though the N64 controller(s) can technically do dual analog too--that assertion is a load of crap. It's like saying "The SNES controller has its place in history, and it should stay there.", as if there's no place for such a controller because all the new controllers are actually superior for playing simple 2D d-pad games than the SNES controller was/is, which is also a load of bull in most cases (and the SNES Classic absolutely reminded me of and confirmed this).

Second, see my first point: You're the one that's ignorant; don't go projecting your ignorance onto others.

Looks weird. Very weird. But I like it. You can never get enough of controllers...

@Yorumi

"If durability is a major concern for your n64 controllers then you’re not taking good care of them." If your original controllers handle just as they did out of the box in the '90s, replacement parts not considered, your case is indeed the exception to the rule. But given my own experience, I'd venture to say that you're full of it. Plastic analog sticks + Mario Party = floppy flops.

@impurekind

"First, you NEVER had to hold the N64 controller with anything other than two hands, so your point is utterly stupid."

I'm inclined to say that you don't recognize a low-effort joke when you see one. It's like I was being deliberately obtuse to (successfully) get a rise out people who were saying things like, "It's not an N64 controller if it doesn't have three prongs." Because clearly, any and every person who loves the original is an expert on design.

Also, you guys never asked me how I feel about the N64 controller: I really don't hate it; as a mechanical design engineer, I'm just always asking: How can this be improved?

I don't visit this site or participate in its community because I seek meaningful debate (nor do most people), but look who I'm talking to: someone whose comments number in the thousands. You guys allocate far too much time to something that has little to no return on your involvement, and it comes across as pathetic.

@Yorumi

Just making an observation.

@bwellington Here's what I got from that: Blah, blah, blah.

@impurekind

That says more about you than it does me.

Not sure why they thought they had to reinvent the wheel with that d-pad. Either go full N64 or do the dualshock. Don't just slap it in the middle!

@bwellington I'm sure it does.