If you’re still a little miffed about the recent delays to the Analogue 3D, a 4K reimagining of the N64 that wisely drops the Nintendo name, Retro Fighters’ new Brawler64 Pro controller hopes to make the wait a little easier. Currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, the Brawler64 Pro isn’t just for reliving GoldenEye on the original hardware — it can also make playing the N64 classics library on the Switch (1 & 2) that much more nostalgic.
That’s assuming you haven’t already blasted through your funds to pick up the official Switch 2 Pro Controller. We’ve yet to try out Retro Fighters’ latest controller, but we seriously doubt it can top Nintendo’s own stick technology, even if the Brawler64 Pro offers up a Hall Effect stick that’ll keep it healthier for longer.
The Brawler64 goes Pro
Where the original Brawler64 sought to distance itself from the M-shape of the N64 controller, the Brawler64 Pro continues that tradition with a more comfortable and modern look. It’s still only got one stick — making it ill-equipped to handle current-gen games on the Switch. It’s also a whole lot more colourful, with Classic Grey, Watermelon, Extreme Green, Turquoise, Atomic Purple, and Smoke Black all making a return.
“The Brawler64 Pro was built with responsiveness in mind. Using lag-optimized 2.4GHz wireless, every button press and analog input travels instantly to your games on original Nintendo 64® hardware or modern platforms. For the absolute best in performance we’ve included a wired USB mode that unlocks a blazing-fast 1000Hz polling rate for the lowest latency possible.”
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One of the biggest complaints of the original Brawler64 was the lack of a proper octagonal gate shape for the analogue stick, and that hasn’t been corrected here, unfortunately. If the campaign hits its $50k goal, Retro Fighters could fix the issue by releasing magnetic faceplates that add the octagon back into the mix.
There’s no telling when the Brawler64 Pro will be ready for purchase, though interested customers can join the waitlist to be notified when it’s available. Pricing is still under wraps, too, though judging by the company’s original Brawler64 coming in at around $45 (∼R780), we’re expecting anything from $50 and up.
