Japanese peripheral maker Hori is releasing another Super Mario D-Pad Joy-Con for $24.99 on 23rd November.
This controller is restricted to handheld use and cuts a number of features such as Bluetooth, Gyrosensor, HD rumble, the battery and the SL/SR buttons. Obviously, it's not compatible with the Switch Lite. Here's the official description:
Give your Nintendo Switch that classic feel with the d-pad Controller (L) by Hori. Made for the gamer on the go, The d-pad Controller (L) is great for d-pad intensive titles, where Lightning accuracy counts such as NES and SNES classics on Nintendo Switch Online and your favorite Nintendo Switch platforming, puzzles, and fighting games. For portable mode only. Officially Licensed by Nintendo
This item is available to pre-order from Amazon right now:
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Hori previously released a different Super Mario D-Pad design, and has also released Legend of Zelda and Pikachu themed ones. You can read more about this controller in our hardware review.
What do you think of this latest design? Tell us down below.
Comments (26)
"For portable mode only", well that's a bummer
These joycons are decent, cost a fraction of the price Nintendo charge and they don't drift.
D-pad is just a bonus.
Imagine, Nintendo could actually make a clip on that simulates a d-pad for existing sets and release an alternate Joycon with a proper one built in. But I guess with how unbothered they seem with their current Joycon problems, it's just a pipe dream
@Razer They still use the Joy-Con's analog sticks, so they're susceptible to the drift.
@N00BiSH your not using this for games with a stick so drift doesn't matter a ton anyway
I have one of these and LOVE it.
Use it all the time when not docked.
Dpad works well and love the look (have the semi transparent red mario one released long ago)
For the price, I can smash the hell out of it without worry of a costly replacement! 😜
These are actually pretty good, dpad is nice.
I need this but I need it to work with the flip grip
@Razer Actually my Zelda Hori joycon is drifting. Loved it when I actually could use it though!
Rhodes are slightly lighter than regular joycons, and that’s driving me unbalanced...
No drift so far on my Zelda’s
Not worth it. I have 3 different ones (Mario, Pikachu, Zelda) and they all started drifting after about a month or so. Which is a shame because the d-pad is great.
@N00BiSH I've had a Zelda one for almost two years now, no drifting in sight.
Do third party joy cons suffer from drift? (Honest question)
Does this hori pad has drifts? And can i use it also when docked? I want that option.
I will buy it when they release a version with all functions from the nintendo one, like rumbling and some others otherwise it is a big no. not trading everything the stock joycon offers for a Dpad.
@The-Chosen-one It has no battery/wireless so you can't use it in docked or tabletop modes.
@NintendoKnight It's probably why they're cheaper. No wireless.
@HIGHscores85 Yeah, I've got one and like it but it really sucks that it doesn't work with the FlipGrip. I thought about trying to wire the Switch side connectors out to it when in the FlipGrip but decided it was too much of a pain to do.
My dream would be a JoyCon that worked in the FlipGrip and had a little digital stick (in place of the analogue stick) like the NEOGEO Pocket Color had.
You know at first I was pissing and moaning about the stock joy cons not having a proper D-pad. But after some time I got so used to without it (and also having the Pro Controller too) I don't know if I care anymore. You broke me, Nintendo! Kudos!
@GrailUK My Zelda HORI one does, yes
@LEGEND_MARIOID well damnit all to hell then 😂.
I'm sure mines going to drift soon then... I'm going to bin it when it does and grab another.
I gave up on joycons a while ago for either the hori switch pad or a unified portable dock type device. I will probably never buy another set.
I hate that these don't match any of the existing joycon colours. If they matched the grey red or blue joycons i probably would buy one but i just don't like the non symmetrical colours.
What is with all these controllers that can only be used in Handheld mode only? What a waste of time building a half functional controller
I play in Portable Mode about 99% of the time. I leave my tv free to watch other things while playing. I did the same thing with the Wii U. I played in Handheld mode and watched something else on tv at the same time.
My Zelda Hori joycon hasn't drifted yet, but it's still lasted far longer than my Nintendo ones. I just wish they had a right joycon.
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