Retrolink USB P&P SNES Controller (Review) (Two Updates)

I got in a new product (from ToyWiz through Amazon) the other day, and I decided I was going to review. Here it is, in the box.

There are two things, right on the box, which are important. First? USB. Your favorite general-use standard cable. No need for boxy adaptors or messy custom wiring. Second? Plug and play! Your favorite kind of device! No searching for drivers, no installation of drivers, no maintenance of drivers.

In the box are 2 things — a plastic frame that holds the controller, and the controller itself. No messy un-boxing, no extra papers, none of that. Everything except the controller is toss-able and forgettable.

The controller is lighter than I remember SNES controllers being (though I think the size is the same). The plastic is smoother. It feels pretty solid. I think I could snap this thing in half between the SELECT and START buttons if I really wanted to — but I’m certainly not going to do it accidentally. The D-Pad, and each and every button is much higher than the SNES was, if I recall correctly. Also, the X & Y buttons on the original controllers had a depressed dome — by which I mean, the tops curved down –, and the A & B buttons curved the other way. Again, if I recall correctly. The four buttons on the Retrolink controller are all flat. It has no turbo functions or buttons.

In actual use, with SNES9X and various ROMs over the course of today, I found that the controller performs solidly, if not perfectly. The START button in particular is slightly finicky. The response time, however, is great. I noticed no issues during gameplay of Terranigma, Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past, Super Mario World, Super Mario All-Stars, Starfox, and other classics.

All together, very functional controller. Could benefit from heavier construction and mimicking original button design details like height and top curvatures a little better.

I’ll give it 9 stars out of 10. For $25 + Shipping? Buy it.

UPDATE: Two weeks or so this died on me. Completely, and with no warning, nor any sign of damage. I’m going to see if a friend of mine can figured out what the issue is, someone more versed with peripheral guts then I am. My recommendation has changed to: Find another. This dies quick.

SECOND UPDATE: It’s working again. I don’t know what was up earlier.