Review: PowerA Advantage Wired Controller For Switch 2

Similar to the Switch 1, the Switch 2 will undoubtedly support numerous third-party controllers throughout its (hopefully) extensive existence. Leading the charge is PowerA with its Advantage Wired Controller, which I received in a rather cheerful Mario Time design. There’s also a Mushroom Kingdom themed version and a plain black option – you know, in case you’re a bit dull (just kidding!).

Featuring a resemblance to Nintendo’s official Pro Controller, the Advantage controller has offset analogue sticks, two customizable ‘AGL’ and ‘AGR’ buttons on the back side, and a convenient headphone jack located at the bottom. In fact, the only significant alteration in terms of layout is the positioning of the start, select, home, GameChat, and capture buttons, which are all located beneath the d-pad and right analogue stick.

Honestly, this alone was sufficient to disrupt my focus; I’d frequently reach toward the center of the pad to press the home button, miss, and instead fondle Mario’s image (Sorry, Mario) before realizing that the home button is actually positioned lower down.

Having all these buttons clustered in one location is convenient in a sense, and it really allows the artwork to stand out if you opt for one of the themed versions, but it certainly disrupts about thirty years of muscle memory where controllers typically positioned the start and select buttons centrally. Why amend what isn’t faulty, you know?

Regarding the mappable buttons at the back, these don’t operate like the ‘GL’ and ‘GR’ buttons found on the Pro Controller. Well, they do, but assigning inputs to them isn’t as straightforward. With Nintendo’s own model, you can simply hold down the home button and assign inputs through the quick settings menu, but that option is not available for PowerA’s controller.

Instead, you need to hold down the extra ‘PRGM’ button at the back until the LED light at the bottom changes to dark blue. Then, you press the button you wish to remap and assign it to either ‘AGL’ or ‘AGR’. It’s fairly manageable in practice and won’t take long to master after a few attempts, but it would have been nice if it allowed quick remapping through the settings menu like the Pro Controller.

In terms of construction quality, this is largely a budget controller, thus it’s extremely light at just 143g. For contrast, the Pro Controller weighs 235g, the GameCube controller weighs 210g, and 8bitdo’s Ultimate 2C Controller is also 235g. Coupled with the required wired setup, the lightweight design makes lengthy gaming sessions incredibly effortless – no concerns about discomfort or battery depletion at all.

On the other hand, it’s… well, too light; to the extent that it seems rather cheaply made. It feels as though there’s hardly anything inside the device, and you can discern this by simply tapping on the exterior with your finger: it sounds quite hollow. This is intensified by the buttons, all of which emit loud ‘clicks’ when pressed.

The worst offenders are those aforementioned back buttons, which produce a sound like they’re reverberating throughout the interior of the controller when pressed.

Examining the analogue sticks in a bit more detail, I can’t raise many complaints here. They’re completely smooth and functional, with decent travel and a good grip. Once more, they make a fairly loud noise when hitting the outer casing, which you’ll definitely note if you’ve been using the Switch 2’s official Pro Controller, but otherwise, they’re good.

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the d-pad. It’s slightly thicker and more rounded compared to Nintendo’s offering, and feels oddly spongy when pressed. Needless to say, this makes more exact inputs a bit trickier in some retro games, and I wouldn’t even think about using it for Street Fighter 6.

Overall, this isn’t a controller I would suggest if you’re seeking a daily driver for the Switch 2. Currently, your best choices are Nintendo’s own Joy-Con 2 or Pro Controller. However, if you’re looking for something inexpensive and cheerful for the player two in your life, this is a perfectly adequate choice. Yes, it may feel a bit too light for some, the absence of rumble and motion control support can be annoying, and the wired setup sure isn’t for everyone, but it’ll serve well in a pinch if you’re after some local multiplayer enjoyment.

The sample utilized in this review was provided by PowerA.

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