Nintendo Wii U Pro Controller

MSRP
$49.99

• Pros
  Solid, comfortable feel. Responsive.
• Cons Incomplete compatibility. Doesn't work with Wii games. Power and Home buttons feel too close together.
• Bottom Line
  The Pro Controller is the best conventional gamepad you can get for the Nintendo Wii U.

Nintendo has always experimented with game controller designs. The NES introduced the direction pad, the N64 introduced the analog stick, the Wii introduced motion controls, and they've all felt very different from the controllers that came before. The Wii U$305.00 at Amazon uses a large gamepad with a touch screen in the middle; it feels unique and provides a new and unusual functionality, but it's also pretty bulky. Meanwhile, both the Xbox One$379.00 at Amazon and PlayStation 4$399.99 at Dell have excellent conventional gamepads that are ideal for most games. If you want that experience with the Wii U, you'll need to get a separate controller. You can use a Wiimote and Classic Controller or a GameCube Adapter and GameCube controller, but the most convenient and simple way to do this is with the Wii U Pro Controller. This $49.99 gamepad is the most "normal" controller a Nintendo system has seen in years, and depending on your tastes, it could be a vital part of your gaming arsenal.
DesignThe Pro Controller is a dual-analog gamepad available in black or white. It's very similar in shape to the Xbox 360 controller, with rounded wings for grips and solid trigger and bumper shoulder buttons. Its layout is different from Xbox and PlayStation gamepads, however. The analog sticks are parallel with each other, but they're placed above the direction pad and face buttons, rather than below or alternating. It's an unusual design when you're used to the other two systems, but I had little problem getting used to it.
The Home, Power, and +/- buttons are small, recessed circular controls in the center of the gamepad, like on the Wii U gamepad and Wiimote. The Power and Home buttons feel similar and are very close to each other, so you have to be careful when you want to access the Wii U's main menu. A micro USB port on the back lets you charge the controller, or use it wired with the included micro USB cable and the Wii U's front USB ports. A row of four lights on the bottom edge of the gamepad shows if the controller is powered and connected, and which controller slot is assigned.
Connection and CompatibilityConnecting the Pro Controller to the Wii U is exactly like pairing a Wiimote. You press the Sync button on the Wii U, located behind the door that covers the front USB ports, and then press the Sync button on the controller. The screen will tell you the controller is connected. Nintendo estimates 80 hours of constant use with the Pro Controller's built-in battery, and it can be used tethered and charging from the Wii U itself.
The Pro Controller will work with most popular Wii U games, including Super Smash Bros.$59.99 at Dell, Mario Kart 8$59.99 at Dell, Bayonetta 2$57.91 at Amazon, The Wonderful 101$26.75 at Amazon, and Hyrule Warriors$59.99 at Amazon, and all Wii U Virtual Console games. However, it won't work with any regular Wii games, or Wii Virtual Console games you haven't upgraded to (or aren't available on) the Wii U Virtual Console.
Gameplay FeelI played Bayonetta 2 on 3rd Climax difficulty with the Pro Controller, and the difference between it and the Wii U gamepad was incredible. Bayonetta 2 was perfectly playable on the Wii U gamepad, but the smaller Pro Controller felt more precise and natural than the large tablet controller. I experienced no noticeable lag at all over the Bluetooth connection to the Wii U, and had no problem dodging attacks and consistently triggering Witch Time.
Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. felt similarly good with the Pro Controller, with both games responding accurately to my control inputs. I didn't notice the lack of the Wii U gamepad's screen with any of the games, though to my surprise I found I could play the games through the Wii U gamepad screen while it was charging in its cradle with the Pro Controller, using it as a portable display. It's a handy little function, even if it underscores just how easily you can ignore the Wii U's biggest feature: the second screen.
If you like action games on the Nintendo Wii U, you should seriously consider picking up the Pro Controller. The Wii U gamepad is serviceable, but its bulk and unnecessary screen hold it back from really feeling comfortable. The Pro Controller simply feels good, and it's responsive enough for Platinum Games titles on hard settings. It's a shame it isn't compatible with older Wii and Wii Virtual Console games.