Switch's N64 Controller Is Hiding Some Extra Buttons

Very logical and expected.

Still can't believe they haven't updated the analogue stick. £50...way too much.

Very very good to have the home button and ZR on there to get into the menu. I use my Cube controller almost exclusively on the Switch and keep having to go fetch my crap Joy-Con to get into the menu.

So it has a Rumble Pak slot?

What about the Rumble Pak?

The N64 controller is a must buy, if I can ever actually buy one that is.

Looks pretty sweet. Why am I now wanting that n64 controller lol

@NintendoByNature,

It looks awesome, glad Nintendo do stuff like this.

The N64 had first party controllers of various colours. I remember blue, black, yellow, red and green. I don’t suppose they would release this new Switch controller in these colours. Not likely, but would be nice to see.

@johnvboy me too. Admittedly, I didn't buy the nes and snes ones. I think I may get them if they put them on a steep discount. However, 64 is my 2nd favorite console of all time so i may just need a wireless 64 controller to play zelda, MK, mario 64, golf, banjo and whatever else comes. I was going to say, mario party would've been a nice addition, but considering the timing of the expansion pak and the mario party superstars, I get why they didn't add it.

I am curious if this new N64 controller will have the same issues with the analog stick becoming worthless over time.

I'm curious as to how the C buttons are going to be programmed as on the Switch. If they can act as a special replacement for the R control stick, that will make for some potentially interesting controls on Switch games.

I'm also curious to see if the L buttons and D-Pad will be usable in games they previously weren't. It would be quite the nice touch.

Finally, everyone's been asking about the Rumble Pak accessory. Is there built-in rumble for this?

@HIGHscores85
The N64’s analog stick has always been worthless out of the box.

Since this doesn't do games for Switch but only NSO that a easy pass..

1. No NFC
2. No Rumble
3. what else......
4. Doesn't function like Pro/Joy-Con controllers.... easy PASS

@mohr365 If you're worried about wasting your precious time, you didn't have to click on the article, and you certainly didn't have to post an angry comment. What were you expecting, a panel that opens up to reveal a hidden Amazon Alexa button?

@SwitchForce The NSO NES and SNES controllers worked for games that they had enough buttons for, like Mario Kart 8. This probably won’t be any different.

Unreasonable expectation- that the slot works for save cards and rumble packs and whatever extra attachments that worked on the original controllers

@mohr365 I don’t think it is clickbait, but ‘extra buttons’ would be more accurate than hidden buttons.

Did they update the internals? The original N64 sticks were held together by what little faith I have in humanity. Hopefully these are a much more sturdy build.

Ok but can I use my original rumble pack and transfer pack?

Give us different colours.

@YusseiWarrior3000 The fact that the stick failure rate was high is the reason people dislike it. The shape is ugly and uncomfortable, so that’s another. Now you can understand LOL

I wonder if someone's gonna try making a wavebird 64 dongle for the original system...

@kurtasbestos Sorry, comments are also site feedback, so we can comment on the clickbait as much as they utilize it.

@BongoBongo123 We don't know if the internals of the stick yet is the same as the one in the originals. As far as the stick itself it is meant to invoke the feeling of playing the original hardware which means the classic hard plastic stick. Though it's not that bad (speaking as someone who grew up with it and still used it with my original system till a few years ago when I got the Retro Fighter Brawler 64 pad) and only gets really uncomfy if you're playing old-school Mario Party.

Considering this is an optional controller I'm sure you'll be able to use a Switch Pro Controller or other 3rd Party controllers that are more modern. This one is meant for those seeking a more "authentic experience."

@dustinprewitt Saves will be digital and saved to your Switch so no need for memory cards and I'm sure the rumble will be built in. Have yet to see the back of the controller, but I'd assume the rumble will be built into the old expansion compartment in the back. Though you never know maybe Nintendo will offer a rumble pack... though in my opinion that would be quite not cool of them to charge extra for rumble when that was a selling feature of games like Starfox 64.

@YusseiWarrior3000 Man, I live in Bolivia, but I'll do everything humanly possible to get one by the end of the year hahahah.

But is the stick better? That's my question, personally I always loved how the N64 controller felt it just didn't last long.

@BongoBongo123 How do you know they haven't updated the stick? Wait until they come out with a tear down before making comments like this.

I just wanna hug that N64 controller. One of my favorite designs.

@YusseiWarrior3000 A friend recently brought this up the other day. Since I started to replay N64 earlier this year, I realized there are two way to hold the controller, depending on what the game wants you to do.
You can hold it from the left handle so you have your left thumb on top of the D pad and left index on the L button, this is for games like Kirby 64 or the Pokémon Stadium games (save for some minigames). The other way is to hold it from the middle, with your thumb over the Control Stick and your index over the Z button, this is the way most games play and usually the D pad and L button aren't used on these games.

@Tandy255 but they aren't even extra... if anything, they are missing the zL button (unless it's under the controller). They are normal buttons on the Switch controllers. The article, as a whole, was not needed. That's all.

They didn't even bother updating the analog stick and they expect me to shell out how much for this? Embarrassing.

@mohr365 the z trigger will function as zl

I didn't give this controller much of a thought before. Now I'm starting to think it would be really cool to play Ocarina of Time with a N64 controller for the first time.

I'm surprised they're including the whole expansion bay portion of the N64 controller. I have to assume that it's just aesthetic, but is there some sort of chance it will actually be functional? For that matter, will the N64 controller have rumble built into it for games that could use a rumble pack?

I’ll probably be getting these, it will depend on what they’ve done with the analogue stick. The optical sensors on the original N64 analogue stick allowed for much better precision that what we get on modern controllers. It’s why I still use an original N64 controller instead of the recent alternative controllers like the Brawler or the Retrobit. While it’s true the plastic bowl does eventually wear out on them, mine lasted a good 20 years before the wear became a problem.

I still really want some sort of alternate joycon with 6 face buttons for playing N64 games in handheld mode. It’s kind of surprising that a system designed around modular controllers doesn’t have a bit of an ecosystem of special controllers for games.

I know that runs the risk of being like Guitar Hero or the Wii where there would be some new gimmicky plastic controller with every game but it would be nice to have a bit of variety beyond new colours.

Time for some N64 drift.

@HIGHscores85 I am curious if this new N64 controller will have the same issues with the analog stick becoming worthless over time.

You know, I have a few original N64 controllers that are still working fine.

I really don't understand some of the flak given to the N64 controller, particularly the stick. I wonder if those complaining are complaining about how the stick works today, 20+ years after it was released, or if they actually owned one back in the day. To fire up Mario 64 for the first time, and discover there's not a desicated run button anymore - it's how far you tilt the stick that decides how fast you move - there was nothing like that around.

If it was the d-pad people complained about, I could've understood it, but the stick worked flawless (until Mario Party game number three).

The issue with the origional N64 controller was never the stick. It was the plastic axis guides that wore over time from the friction of the stick whilst being moved. Open one up and it was just grey dust 😂. I wonder if the controls could be mapped on Turok to play as it origionaly was. Interesting.

@Kidfunkadelic83
That was my first thought. I have both TUROK games on Switch and would love to go back to the C-Button movement and analog aiming. I always felt like they were the console version of PC controls (keyboard & mouse).

To some who are curious about why the Sega Genesis 3 button Switch controller had a Mode button was cause that button will function as either ZL or ZR which are the only way you could go back to the NSO menu (not the main Switch menu interface) interface similar to NES and Super NES NSO. The NSO menu is the one with all the box arts.

@Wavey84
The N64, more than any other system, had games MADE for that controller. The feel of that stick.... Using the Z button to fire like you were holding a pistol. I like playing SM64 on my Switch, but using that controller again will feel like coming home.

@Markiemania95 It already failed the two biggest factors so that is a easy pass already. I don't care about the NES, SNES controller the N64 should be like the Pro/Joy-Con controller with those functions not having that is why no one will buy it.

This has rumble built in, right? Or, are they at least letting us use our old rumble packs with this?

Something tells me the answer to both will be a "no" and this will be another one of those dumb Nintendo decisions, but I'd love to be wrong.

Did anyone else hold the the 64 controller from the sides and reach over to use the joystick? I remember just naturally doing it that way and then seeing my homies use it how it's meant to be used and thinking "ohhh that how's you hold it". It was too late, I was already used to it the other way.

@mohr365 @BloodNinja Well, I, for one, was interested to find this out, as I believe the SNES controller only had two tiny ZL/ZR buttons also used for the menu. Nice to know this one's a little more feature-complete.

@Mattdad no, never. it even showed you how to hold it correctly in every manual

@Wexter the only reason i would want the rumble attachment would be for the weight since I've become so used to it.... and the save cards so I could carry over my old saved games. I don't remember what other accessories were available to plug in that slot

Definitely not deal breakers or even expectations or demands, just silly wistful and wishful thinking

Just get it. Nintendo 64 is best played with the Nintendo 64 controller.
Even doing a small thing like doing Marios long jump with the z button at the back feels so good.

Waaaaahoooo

Now I'm curious if the n64 controller can be used on ports like Doom 64 and turok or mario 3d all stars, or the sega controller on sega ages games.

@dustinprewitt They should be able to be used on most Switch games that support more than just Joycons, but results may vary in game because of how specialized these controllers are.

The original N64 control stick was easily repaired: Just open it, clean it and you're done.

@dustinprewitt Ooooh I did not think of that... yeah that would be nice to have access to old saves like that... Now I kinda want that...

@Mattdad
No, I was a smart teenager. 🤓

@dustinprewitt It should work with those games. I think the SNES controller worked on Smash Ultimate and Mario Maker 2 same with the GCN controllers. So I see no reason the N64 Controller won't work on Doom 64 or Turok 2 Seeds of Evil.

EDIT: Welp you just sold me on this controller. Just thinking about playing Turok 2 with the N64 controller again made me put in a pre-order. Now I really hope we get the underappreciated Turok 3 on NSO! For anyone who has not played Turok 3 you should as it is the best of the Turok trilogy on N64!

@Wexter
Man, I WISH I could play Turok/Turok 2 with the N64 controller like in the old days. But as long as the developers don't bring a special update to support it, it almost certainly won't work. 😕

Nice! Finally a home button on their retro controllers

I never liked the genesis controllers so I’ll use my snes controllers there. Gonna have to get one of those n64 controllers though

@Bustacap Actually the Z button on the N64 Switch controller will act as the same Z button as was on the original N64 controller as it too was an action button. There are no ZL button on the N64 Switch controller cause it's not needed as ZR already handle that purpose and that purpose was to return to the NSO menu. Outside of NSO, it may function as ZL perhaps. Same thing if you use a normal Switch Pro controller for N64 NSO, for that the ZL will function as the Z button.

@theberrage The thought of playing Sonic with a SNES controller gave me a chuckle! Considering I have an NSO compatible SNES controller I might give that a spindash!

@MichaelP Really? They don't allow mapping movement and camera to a single analog stick? That is very disappointing now as they let you do that with Perfect Dark XPLA :I Maybe we might get Turok and Turok 2 on NSO for the N64 versions? I hope we do now

@BongoBongo123 The N64 analog stick is better than you clearly give it credit for.

I wonder what the memory pak slot looks like
@YusseiWarrior3000 day one for me too! I have an N64 with original games and controller and I too love the controller. It works really well with the games it was designed for to the point that if you don’t use one, it just doesn’t feel right or work as well.

Wonder how long until someone figures out how to connect to a real 64. Or I'd love it to work on my Wii U with my VC games. Didn't realize these games would be an additional membership so I'm out on playing on the Switch.

can this only be used for the n64 libary or can it be used for all games?

This controller just shouts 'Lylatwars' at me

Why only grey?

Need black/green/blue/red etc

Also will it have rumble? The N64 rumble pak was revolutionary tech

@jake41 all games as long as those games dont need more buttons than provided

@Wexter
You can only switch the left and right stick for moving/looking around.

To add: I to wish, those games would come to the N64 lineup. The ports on Switch just felt completely wrong.

@SwitchForce The reason I mentioned the NES & SNES controllers are because they are not limited to only working with NSO games - as you assumed the N64 controller would be - so with that in mind, it’s highly unlikely that the 64 one will be restricted in that regard either.

As for your two ‘biggest’ factors:

1. People buy 3rd party Pro Controllers without NFC all the time. Most people don’t use it, & even those that do, do so rarely.
2. You don’t know that it won’t have rumble.

Otherwise, literally the only issue, which is what I was highlighting before, is the lack of buttons. What did you want them to do? Plaster another stick, X, Y & - buttons onto the front of the pad? Not only would they not have room to do that, but at that point, it’s not even an N64 controller anymore. None of the points you’ve specified will be reasons as to why “no one will buy it” - the most likely factors will be price, and that they only sell them to NSO subscribers.

People complaining about the N64 stick… lmao. My original N64 still works and I was a kid in the 90s who used it extensively.
20 years later it works.
Now.. ahem…. For the joycon sticks …. Cough cough ….. 3 months of use and I had to throw them into the garbage. Unusable little shts

I’ll buy two of these controllers DAY ONE

My question is will N64 Accessories work with the N64 controller for Switch?

Seems odd to have the port there for an expansion pack like say rumble in an age where having rumble pre-built into the unit seems more logical. We also have Memory cards and GB Cartridge adapters. I'm sure there is something I'm missing. Just a curious thought. Would be cool if it could choose between legacy and built in rumble. Details would be nice.

@BongoBongo123 Disappointing. I was hoping they would make it like a modern analogue stick on ths inside but still with the N64-type stick.

@Scrubicius if it doesn't they should use that slot as a game card holder would be pretty handy to hold like up to 5 games or something on the controller itself

50Hz means consistent framerate no doubt

Sorry but does this thing have rumble or not? The rumble pak was a huge plus back in the day. I mean, that rumble in OOT to let you know a secret was near… without that it’s just not the same for me.

Has anybody been able to purchase the nes and snes controllers from Puerto Rico? I used to buy from the online store a lot back when the wii u was the current Nintendo gen but havent been able to purchase anything from there since the switch came out. Ive tried several different credit cards and none work, I also tried contacting a representative and they have no idea why I cant purchase anything from there either

This looks more and more amazing each time I see it. My only question is, can i get 4 of these to boogie?

@YusseiWarrior3000
Same here mate ! ^^

@BongoBongo123 they have it’s called just use a different controller with a better analog stick, this is just so people can experience the way 64 was supposed to be played.

@Mattdad i didnt "need" a manual. everyone back then read them immediately on the way home after buying the game.
maybe you shouldve read the manual instead of looking like a fool holding the controller like that

@SigourneyBeaver Who says they haven't? Probably there will be new internals for the Analog. However I had the N64 for many years back in the day and never had any issue that I can remember. I just remember using analog for the first time being amazing!

I don't understand people who claim the N64 controller was uncomfortable. It was incredibly comfortable. It makes me think they're those weirdos who gripped the left handle when trying to use the control stick. Regarding durability, I still have the same controllers from 1996 and the control sticks still work perfectly. Granted, however, I never played the Mario Party games.

@Mattdad I don't understand, why would you hold it like that when you can't even reach the Z button, and the only buttons you can reach on the left are all completely useless for most games? I guess you can maybe get through Mario 64 without ever ducking, or doing the long jump, or a high jump, or crawling, or a butt stomp (all done with Z), but it seems like you're not really getting the full experience. Maybe you should have read the manual, as clearly you didn't know how to play video games.

@Mattdad
Just admid you were a dumb kid and get it over with. 😏

I've really been wanting a wireless N64 controller that doesn't try to "improve" the original design or thumbstick.

@Nintendo_Thumb
It never ever would've come to my mind, to hold the N64 controller on the left handle and awkwardly strech my thumb to reach the control stick. It's like steering a car from the passenger seat. 😆

Who wants to bet that Retro-Bit Gaming will release a Switch Version of their popular Tribute 64 Controllers, with ZL and ZR Buttons, Home and Capture Buttons, and more?

@mattdad did you…eat a lot of paint chips when you were a kid??

So assuring to read I wasn't the only one totally failing my first time holding an N64 controller.

I still vividly remember my first time. It was at an import store, well before the actual EU release. It was awkward, but I was hooked day one. Rented one several times afterwards, just so I could get some practice in before getting my own.

Goodness this reads like a dirty story...

@Mattdad How the hell did you use the Z button then?

I still have about 8 N64 controllers, 4 of which are plugged into my still used N64.
I have every game released on it but for some reason I still want me one of these Switch ones.
I have a red, green, blue, black, yellow and standard grey ones.
I still have a brand new black one unopened since the day I bought it as a back up and still haven't needed to open it.
The N64 controllers are easily fixed and I have hardly need to at all and I have played lots of games on it, 243+ to be precise.
I just bought myself a new N64 console too.
A CIB like new Swiss variant which had less than 5000 released.
Love my N64's.

yeesh, complaining about HD Rumble? When we have had the HD Rumble in every Nintendo product except the handheld line of consoles?

That'll be cool or mapping macros. I'll use ZL as the open retroarch menu button.

Man, it would be cool if you could still plug in a Rumble Pak, Transfer Pak, or Controller Pak, even if they did nothing!

@CodyMKW that's a fking genius idea

We're just one generation away from GameCube. Which means Wavebird could be coming to Switch. That could be awesome, if the joystick is as high quality as the original. It could also mean Super Monkey Ball 1 and 2 as part of a Gamecube online app (with the original Monkey Target 1 and 2, etc). And Timesplitters 2 and Future Perfect, and F zero GX (and AC!, the tracks are on the Gamecube disc!), and Geist, and Eternal Darkness, and Xtreme G 3 (hopefully boosted up to a locked 60fps), etc etc

@120frames-please Everything is an opportunity to speculate.

@YusseiWarrior3000 Yea, I always loved the N64 controller. Call me crazy but it seems it was built for left handed people, and I'm left handed. I have a hard time adapting to other brands controllers, but Nintendo always seems to get it for me.

Now we just need Goldeneye. Whatever millions of dollars they have to pay to get that on NSO, they need to do it.

@YusseiWarrior3000 I've got 6 broken analoge sticks wanting a word with you! 😂😂

But the design itself is awesome, and I indeed don't get the hate. (Apart from the self destruct joysticks)

Do these controllers use Bluetooth? I mean, can you use them on other platforms as well?

Nintendo could give a chance to us from South America (and members of NSO) to buy these.
Anyone from Brazil here who managed to buy the NES/SNES ones by other means?

Nintendo really needs to improve payment options for their MyNintendo store. It's a shame they don't offer basic stuff like bank transfer or PayPal.

Shame on Nintendo and Sega for giving Japan the awesome 6 button controller and giving us the lame 3 button one, same as with the Genesis mini thing

@Markiemania95 you already missed the point already. No point in telling what you didn't understand.

@SwitchForce I feel like it’s you that’s missed the point and not understood, but sure 😂

I wonder how the C buttons are mapped, are they mapped to the second analog stick as just full stick in whichever direction? I love that the NES and super NES controllers are compatible with any random game on switch of course if it has enough buttons for that particular game, but I'm such a dork I would want the Nintendo 64 controller to work with regular switch games as well.

I've been playing lots of different games with the GameCube controller recently with the 8-Bitdo wireless adapter deal that lets any of the Wii U Wii / nunchuck plug controls or original GameCube controllers.

People had problems with N64 control sticks? I have many classic N64 controllers and none of them have any problem with their control sticks.

Doubt I'll get the controller unless it works on my pc as well, seems wasteful if I can only use it on NSO n64 games

God, I hope they've not changed the stick too much (or at all). I always preferred the feel of the N64 stick to other designs.
I never had any issues with durability, but then I didn't own Mario Party.
N64 games feel weird with resistive sticks, optical all the way.

@Doktor-Mandrake Shouldn't be long before it works on PC, all the other Switch controllers work on the PC with a bit of setting up.

@BongoBongo123 I mean literally the entire point of this controller is nostalgia so changing too much could also be seen as a negative

@Doktor-Mandrake it’s Bluetooth so I see no reason why it wouldn’t

@120frames-please You can already use a wave bird on switch with an official adapter

I loved the n64 analog stick, it's the only one I could accurately aim in FPS games with. Move with c-buttons, aim with stick in Goldeneye etc. Shame it wears down so quickly.

@Doktor-Mandrake It should work on more Switch games than just NSO ones, if it’s anything like the NES and SNES controllers.

@BongoBongo123 Why would they change the analogue stick? It would defeat the purpose of giving you a near replica controller to play N64 games with.

They should of used the analog stick from the GameCube in this instead. 100% more reliable.

I wonder if the N64 controller will be compatible with all the old attachables. :3

@skyward_nicky
I'm sure they've constructed this N64 controller with a more durable stick than the one on the original models. :v

@johnvboy Well, it looks like the SNES controllers are still available, which tells me that even if the N64 controllers sell out, Nintendo will restock them eventually.

@KayFiOS,

Hopefully, although you will still be able to use the pro controller i guess.

@johnvboy That'll be fine for some games, but have you tried playing DK64 with the Wii U gamepad? It is a damn good thing the Wii U Virtual Console allowed you to map the controls yourself, because I spent roughly 20 minutes trying to find the optimal control setup that allowed me to play the game. Setting up those controls had more depth to it than anything DK64 considered a "puzzle," but no one wants to waste time getting ready to play a game when you could just be playing the game.

@YusseiWarrior3000 HOW?!!! 😂😂
I really wasn't doing anything weird with them. But over time the spring or whatever would get looser and looser, till I had to go full speed ahead to even crawl forward!

They're notorious for this too, but I'm glad you never had that issue!

@KayFiOS,

The correct controller the games were designed for is always the best way, and I would argue this is even more the case with the N64's unique set up, but until I get my hands on one.......

@YusseiWarrior3000 but so did I, people couldn't go near mine with any good, I had a drawer where I didn't just yeet everything but rolled it up nicely!! 😱😱😱😂😂

(I got too carried away with swinging Bowser... Didn't I?! 😂😂😂😭)

This might be a good 3D World controller xD

But doth though rumble?

@CodyMKW that would be cool!

Why would they have the rumble pak slot?

@popey1980 Probably to keep the original look of the controller...right?

Good thing I got my 2.4ghz Tribute 64 Controller. Maybe they'll release an update with the mapping to match the Official Switch controller. Or at the very least, a Bluetooth version with added Capture Button.

@RupeeClock or perhaps at the back there is a Z and a ZZ/ZL button, though I have no idea where it would be back there.

@Lyricana OK, with that logic it should have a working port for a rumble pack/transfer pack etc.

The n64 analogue stick was literally broken. They should include a better, more modern analogue stick. Quality of Life improvement.

@BongoBongo123 How was the analogue stick "literally broken"?