0 0

Read Time:3 Minute, 25 Second

Pokémon Day was only a few short weeks ago and you may remember to celebrate it I reviewed the PowerA Charizard Storm Enhanced Wired Controller. Well, now it’s MAR10 Day and you guessed it, I have another PowerA controller to showcase! This time it’s the turn of the Super Mario PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller. More specifically the Mushroom Kingdom Pop Art edition!

Here we go!

What’s your favourite Super Mario game to play? And did you know not at all scientifically playing a Super Mario game with a Super Mario controller improves your skills by eleventy-six points? It’s true. My uncle at Nintendo told me. He lives in Canada, you don’t know him.

A colourful Nintendo Switch Super Mario PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller box featuring Mushroom Kingdom art, with a toy Mario figure in a cat suit beside it. Image shows the back of the box and product details
Mario can’t wait to get his paws on this controller

Design

When this controller landed at TCHQ I was struck by the art work in the controller. The product pictures for the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller: Mushroom Kingdom Pop Art Edition had not done it justice at all. The colours are lovely and the design really pops. Pun intended.

The controller has the usual Nintendo button layout making it easier to use for those muscle memory gamers out there. Although not as weighty as I would like, at 309grams it feels solid enough and has a nice smooth finish. In terms of size, the controller itself is exactly the same size as its wired counterpart, i.e. a length of 15.3cm, 11.2cm wide and 6.3cm tall. Again making it easy for kids and grownups to use. Although just as with the previous PowerA controller I reviewed, this also does not support HD rumble, IR or amiibo figures.

Side on view of the Super Mario PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller predominantly showing the Princess Peach and Power star artwork by the right thumbstick
Pretty in Pink, and blue, and yellow, and purple, oh and white…..

Features

PowerA have once again made a nice price accessible controller featuring pleasing responsive buttons. The thumb stick controls are smooth thanks to the embedded anti-friction rings around them. And of course you have the ever useful, mappable buttons of which there are two. This came particularly in handy when playing Mario Odyssey with the Middle of the TC Mini Crew, who found using one as an extra jump button really improved their gameplay.

Once the low battery light blinks at you, it’s time to get out the 3metre USB-C charge cable. Although in the days, yes days, I tested this controller it never once needed charging. Sorry, that should be “we tested this controller” seeing as though it’s the only controller Middle wanted to play with! According to PowerA the controller can last up to 30 hours with one charge, and I’d definitely believe it.

One thing I will point out is that there is no audio jack, meaning you can’t plug a headset into your controller.

Connectivity

Connecting the controller to my Nintendo Switch was easy. I just had to turn it on and then go into my Switch controller settings and there it was, ready for me to start playing with. Middle of the TC Mini Crew didn’t quite believe it was that easy. But it really is thanks to the Bluetooth 5.0 technology. 

A colourful Nintendo Switch Super Mario PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller box featuring Mushroom Kingdom art sits on a marble effect table. Above it is a white usb charging cable.
Mario can’t jump high enough to get that power cable.

Final Thoughts

According to the PowerA website this controller will set you back about £50, but it can be bought from their official retailers (Argos and Amazon) for nearer the £40 mark. Is it worth £40? It’s Mario, it’s wireless, it’s got customisable buttons, so for those alone then actually, yes it is. Are there better controllers out there? Also yes. But they won’t be as pretty looking as this one. Or maybe not even as impressive battery wise. And let’s be honest, we all love a themed controller!

The PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller: Mushroom Kingdom Pop Art Edition gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award.

Disclaimer: A product sample was received to write this review.

Thumb Culture

YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Discord | Podcast

About Author





Source link