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Gaming accessory manufacturer PowerA has released a brand-new controller for the Nintendo Switch, that allows you to easily remap buttons and cycle through different LED color effects.
With the announcement of the Nintendo Switch OLED edition, many were hoping that improvements would be made to the platform's existing joy-cons. After all, since the launch of the original console, these controllers have been plagued with a myriad of technical faults (most notably the infamous drift issue) and many gamers find that they are not particularly ergonomic either.
Unfortunately, Nintendo has already confirmed that the OLED model will not be addressing any of those problems, and that the joy-cons will remain fundamentally the same. As such, if you want a better controller for the Switch, you will need to buy one separately.
The official Nintendo Switch Pro controller is a good choice and, at a recommended manufacture's cost of $69.99, it is reasonably priced (plus, they can often be found for cheaper).
An even more affordable option is now available to purchase too, courtesy of PowerA. Their new "Spectra Enhanced" wired controller is priced at $34.99 and has a number of interesting features.
Its main gimmick is the LED lighting that surrounds its face and shoulder buttons, as well as the thumbsticks and the directional arrows. By pressing a button at the back, you can illuminate the device and cycle through 8 different colors, making it look like a futuristic prop from a sci-fi movie. There is even an option to activate a "rainbow phase" effect, during which the LED lights will gradually fade through all the possible hues.
The other attention-grabbing feature of the Spectra Enhanced controller is that it has two "advanced gaming buttons" at the back, which are positioned near where your index fingers naturally rest when playing. These special buttons can be used for remapping certain inputs. For example, you can program them to substitute for the X, Y, A, B, plus and minus commands, as well as for the shoulder triggers or even for pressing down on the thumbsticks.
It is an intuitive feature that is surprisingly easy to use. All you have to do is hold down a toggle on the back and then press down the button that you want to swap, followed by the "advanced gaming button" that you want it remapped to. A blinking light will then indicate when this change has taken effect.
Elsewhere, the controller also has anti-friction rings on the thumbsticks (for smoother motion), a more comfortable design than the joy-cons, and a 3.5 mm audio port for chat headsets.
On the negative side, the Spectra Enhanced controller is not compatible with the Switch's rumble feature and it does not have NFC support either (making it impossible to use Amiibos). It is also not available in a wireless version and so will be unsuitable for travel-centric gamers.
If any of those omissions are deal breakers for you, then you are probably better off going with the Switch Pro controller instead. Otherwise, this is a solid alternative controller for those on a budget and will help you overcome the notorious drift issue. You can place an order for the Spectra Enhanced Nintendo Switch controller now on PowerA's website.
