Excellent review! Finally one that mentions the digital trigger buttons! The saturn had analog hall effect trigger buttons and stick. This flaw plus the dongle makes me feel good not supporting this company even though the made the best gamepad in the world. What a crazy world
I see why the triggers are digital. Because in the PC mode you have to map them as bumpers . C/Z and LB/RB are the same buttons. It would be weird with analogue triggers with actual depth.
I always felt like the wired controllers retro bit made felt nicer than their wireless build-wise. How does this one compare? I play a lot of fighting games on a saturn pad and I'm strongly considering this one so I can get my analog stick access back without having to give up my favorite controller.
@@thegamelounge659that’s good to hear! I hope the d-pad has that nice stopper in the center too, but that’s reassuring. I felt like the wireless saturn felt way too light so if this one has some extra heft to it that sounds perfect
I would actually love one of these. Bummer that C and ZED (yes zed, I’m Canadian lol) are just mirrors of L1 and R1, but I understand, there’s modern controller standards that need to be matched. But still I would love a all in one, controller, symmetrical analog sticks, six face buttons, 4 shoulders, and to boot, the EPIC Sega Genesis/Saturn dpad. To me, without using one (yet), it’s the best thing out there I bet. I do own the wireless Genesis controller by Retrobit already. Great controller, (my favourite controller brought back the modern age). And that one is my go to fight pad on my Switch. Love it. If I need to complain about that one is I find the L and R buttons aren’t rubber membrane. But neither was the originals MODE button. But let’s be honest, we’ll use those L and Rs FAR more than that MODE button
Great comment. Totally agree with all of this & I never even realised about the C,Z, L,R buttons. The Genesis controller is also superb, but I love the Saturn pad just a little more. Nothing wrong with ZED. In the UK they say ‘Zed’ & ‘Zee’ 😂
@@thegamelounge659 Zed, Zee, same thing here. A lot of those things happen here because we have, how can I put it, we have “Loud Neighbours”. So we accept those pronunciations as well as words that omit the U so Color and colour are both accepted
I really like this controller, i personally think that it would be fine with most games on the Saturn but if you just want something for the Saturn go with something that has a better analogue stick or save some money and get one closer to the original. My only complaints are the small sticks, the digital triggers and the fact the C and Z buttons are automatically mirroring the L and R buttons. But for the most part this is a good classic Sega controller and I am happy I got one.
Just discovered if you try to install the firmware from July 2024, following the instructions to press start+ the pin hole reset in the back will brick the entire thing. Apparently its a huge problem.
Thanks for this comment. I’m hearing similar things so not going anywhere near this firmware update. Have we had any more announcements from RETRO-BIT?
@thegamelounge659 I just got mine yesterday and managed to brick it in less than 4 hours. I was hoping the new firmware allowed the analog sticks to work but I just burned $50. Funny part is the firmware update didn't Install. Hitting the pin hole reset and start made it stop reaponding.
OP, the only issue with dreamcast is for racing games right? otherwise for horror games and whaatver else games its fine? and going down as sega classics its fine for all gens?
Correct, it’s primarily racing games where this pad makes a difference. There are other games but it isn’t as pronounced. For example in Shenmue when you lightly pull the trigger you walk rather than running. The controller will still work on these games, just without the subtlety of the DC original.
@@thegamelounge659 I recently decided to build emulation collection, and looking to buy gamepads to make it feel classic. On Nintendo Side i decided on NYXI warrior, its modern gamepad with hall sensor sticks with GameCube buttons, wireless, even works with OG GMC,[ no need for that], but it also has interchangeable thumbstick gates, so you can do classic Nintendo 8-way gate or modern circle gate. Its not cheap, near 80$ but i had double discount, their 14% sale + YT reviewer had a link with extra 10% and shipping is free. So this one should be OK to play all 3D Nintendo games N64 up to Switch. For SNES ill buy cheap SNES-like gamepad. On Sega side, i wanted to get retro-bit sega saturn pro, but under every review tons of people complaining about bugs and that "something" stopped working, also the price with INT shipping is more than the price for the AMAZING Brand New Vader 4 Pro. I have Vader 3 Pro and its IMHO the best gamepad in the world bar none and i have a small collection of them and it beats even models that cost twice as much, it has everything you may need: Dual triggers, full range analog or "no travel" digital, floating 8-way d-pad, SUPER comfortable 4 back buttons, hall sensor sticks + extra 2 remapable buttons located under the face buttons so instead of sega 3+3 you have 2+2+2 [I wish they did sega style in next iteration]. It has PC soft and you can do button combos or keyboard macros mapped to the extra buttons. Vader 4 Pro adds to that "rotating circles" around thumb sticks you can spin them while gaming to adjust thumb-stick tension, also they say the mechanical buttons [its fully mechanical gamepad, no rubber pad or domes, its moue type click click buttons] has been improved. Can you tell me if there a lot Saturn/Dreamcast games that need a thumbstick? Is there any games that NEED both Thumbstick + 6-face buttons? Basically my plan is to buy 8BitDo Sega 2.4ghz gamepad its 20$ on Ali, and every review says its superb. And for few Saturn/Dreamcast games that need thumbstick, i can use my collection of PC xbox style gamepads. If they dont, i can deal with standard gamepad and use 8bitdo for all the rest.
Do your controller’s Switch macros work? Just got this controller and none of those macros do what they’re supposed to. Super bummed, I really need the dpad to be able to do analog stick inputs
@@thegamelounge659 thanks for your answer!! Nice I'm using a retroarch on an android TV box and I was looking for a control with Sega format with analogue. This is perfect!
Excellent review! Finally one that mentions the digital trigger buttons! The saturn had analog hall effect trigger buttons and stick. This flaw plus the dongle makes me feel good not supporting this company even though the made the best gamepad in the world. What a crazy world
Thanks, yes I totally agree. It’s a great pad but it just misses the mark for me. I would have happily paid another $10 for analogue triggers
I see why the triggers are digital. Because in the PC mode you have to map them as bumpers . C/Z and LB/RB are the same buttons. It would be weird with analogue triggers with actual depth.
Yes this is a real shame. Personally I would prefer analogue and the RB/LB to map to the C/Z buttons and the LT/RT to keep the analogue
Oh, this would be great for my Megadrive then! I’d love a wireless controller for it
It’s actually perfect for the Mega Drive
I always felt like the wired controllers retro bit made felt nicer than their wireless build-wise. How does this one compare? I play a lot of fighting games on a saturn pad and I'm strongly considering this one so I can get my analog stick access back without having to give up my favorite controller.
So this feels great actually. The extra width and weight make it feel great as a wireless controller. Personally this is my favourite retro pad
@@thegamelounge659that’s good to hear! I hope the d-pad has that nice stopper in the center too, but that’s reassuring. I felt like the wireless saturn felt way too light so if this one has some extra heft to it that sounds perfect
I would actually love one of these. Bummer that C and ZED (yes zed, I’m Canadian lol) are just mirrors of L1 and R1, but I understand, there’s modern controller standards that need to be matched. But still I would love a all in one, controller, symmetrical analog sticks, six face buttons, 4 shoulders, and to boot, the EPIC Sega Genesis/Saturn dpad. To me, without using one (yet), it’s the best thing out there I bet.
I do own the wireless Genesis controller by Retrobit already. Great controller, (my favourite controller brought back the modern age). And that one is my go to fight pad on my Switch. Love it. If I need to complain about that one is I find the L and R buttons aren’t rubber membrane. But neither was the originals MODE button. But let’s be honest, we’ll use those L and Rs FAR more than that MODE button
Great comment. Totally agree with all of this & I never even realised about the C,Z, L,R buttons. The Genesis controller is also superb, but I love the Saturn pad just a little more. Nothing wrong with ZED. In the UK they say ‘Zed’ & ‘Zee’ 😂
@@thegamelounge659
Zed, Zee, same thing here. A lot of those things happen here because we have, how can I put it, we have “Loud Neighbours”. So we accept those pronunciations as well as words that omit the U so Color and colour are both accepted
@@thegamelounge659 no in UK we say zed, not zee
I really like this controller, i personally think that it would be fine with most games on the Saturn but if you just want something for the Saturn go with something that has a better analogue stick or save some money and get one closer to the original.
My only complaints are the small sticks, the digital triggers and the fact the C and Z buttons are automatically mirroring the L and R buttons. But for the most part this is a good classic Sega controller and I am happy I got one.
Totally agree with everything you say here!
Id like to see a hardwired one
They have a hardwired controller without the analog sticks but it’s USB which won’t work on a real Saturn sadly.
@@thegamelounge659 this controller is wireless via dongle only ? it cannot work wired ? (concernend for latency for FGC )
Just discovered if you try to install the firmware from July 2024, following the instructions to press start+ the pin hole reset in the back will brick the entire thing. Apparently its a huge problem.
Thanks for this comment. I’m hearing similar things so not going anywhere near this firmware update. Have we had any more announcements from RETRO-BIT?
@thegamelounge659 I just got mine yesterday and managed to brick it in less than 4 hours. I was hoping the new firmware allowed the analog sticks to work but I just burned $50. Funny part is the firmware update didn't Install. Hitting the pin hole reset and start made it stop reaponding.
@@petervenkman8835 Do you know if the bug has been corrected with the latest update?
@playtower1 Nope mine has been bricked since day one firmware haven't tried anything else. Controller is totally unresponsive.
Did you fix it? There is a 1.1 August update.
OP, the only issue with dreamcast is for racing games right? otherwise for horror games and whaatver else games its fine? and going down as sega classics its fine for all gens?
Correct, it’s primarily racing games where this pad makes a difference. There are other games but it isn’t as pronounced. For example in Shenmue when you lightly pull the trigger you walk rather than running. The controller will still work on these games, just without the subtlety of the DC original.
@@thegamelounge659
I recently decided to build emulation collection, and looking to buy gamepads to make it feel classic.
On Nintendo Side i decided on NYXI warrior, its modern gamepad with hall sensor sticks with GameCube buttons, wireless, even works with OG GMC,[ no need for that], but it also has interchangeable thumbstick gates, so you can do classic Nintendo 8-way gate or modern circle gate.
Its not cheap, near 80$ but i had double discount, their 14% sale + YT reviewer had a link with extra 10% and shipping is free.
So this one should be OK to play all 3D Nintendo games N64 up to Switch.
For SNES ill buy cheap SNES-like gamepad.
On Sega side, i wanted to get retro-bit sega saturn pro, but under every review tons of people complaining about bugs and that "something" stopped working, also the price with INT shipping is more than the price for the AMAZING Brand New Vader 4 Pro.
I have Vader 3 Pro and its IMHO the best gamepad in the world bar none and i have a small collection of them and it beats even models that cost twice as much, it has everything you may need: Dual triggers, full range analog or "no travel" digital, floating 8-way d-pad, SUPER comfortable 4 back buttons, hall sensor sticks + extra 2 remapable buttons located under the face buttons so instead of sega 3+3 you have 2+2+2 [I wish they did sega style in next iteration].
It has PC soft and you can do button combos or keyboard macros mapped to the extra buttons.
Vader 4 Pro adds to that "rotating circles" around thumb sticks you can spin them while gaming to adjust thumb-stick tension, also they say the mechanical buttons [its fully mechanical gamepad, no rubber pad or domes, its moue type click click buttons] has been improved.
Can you tell me if there a lot Saturn/Dreamcast games that need a thumbstick?
Is there any games that NEED both Thumbstick + 6-face buttons?
Basically my plan is to buy 8BitDo Sega 2.4ghz gamepad its 20$ on Ali, and every review says its superb.
And for few Saturn/Dreamcast games that need thumbstick, i can use my collection of PC xbox style gamepads.
If they dont, i can deal with standard gamepad and use 8bitdo for all the rest.
im using this on the saturn console, quake does not work with the analogue sticks. when this mode is activated the gun starts bobbing up and down.
90s😢
I know, good old nostalgia!
Do your controller’s Switch macros work? Just got this controller and none of those macros do what they’re supposed to. Super bummed, I really need the dpad to be able to do analog stick inputs
for me i buy the one without the stick still 34$ now the old release one is cheaper than this 50$ one
Is it possible to use with retroarch app on android TV box?
Yes, it syncs up like a normal controller and works great. I have tried it with a FireTV stick which is a custom version of Android with no issues
@@thegamelounge659 thanks for your answer!! Nice I'm using a retroarch on an android TV box and I was looking for a control with Sega format with analogue. This is perfect!
Mine kept disconnecting on pc. Ill have to send it back
That’s frustrating. Were you in X-Input or D-Input mode?
@@thegamelounge659 x-input
Too bad the action replay and this controller is not a good match 😅
Oh really, I haven’t tried this. What happens?
No Bluetooth is a big fat L
I prefer the 2.4ghz, less lag and feels closer to playing original hardware