

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. You'll see on the screen if the controller is connected. 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. A row of four lights on the bottom edge of the gamepad show if the controller is powered and connected, and which controller slot is assigned.Ĭonnection and Compatibilit圜onnecting the Pro Controller to the Wii U is exactly like pairing a Wiimote.

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. 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. The Home, Power, and +/- buttons are small, recessed circular controls in the center of the gamepad, like on the Wii U gamepad and Wiimote. It's an unusual design when you're used to the other two systems, but I had little problem getting used to it. The analog sticks are parallel to one other, but they're placed above the direction pad and face buttons, rather than below or alternating. Its layout is different from Xbox and PlayStation gamepads, however.

It's very similar in shape to the Xbox 360 controller, with rounded wings for grips and solid trigger and bumper shoulder buttons. This $49.99 gamepad is the most standard controller a Nintendo system has seen in years, and depending upon your tastes, it could be a vital part of your gaming arsenal.ĭesignThe Pro Controller ($145.00 at Amazon) is a dual-analog gamepad available in black or white. 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. If you want that experience with the Wii U, you'll need to get a separate controller. Meanwhile, both the Xbox One ($200.00 at eBay) and the PlayStation 4 ($499.00 at Amazon) have excellent conventional gamepads that are ideal for most games. The Wii U ($979.99 at Amazon) uses a large gamepad with a touch screen in the middle it feels unique and provides new and unusual functionality, but it's also pretty bulky. The NES introduced the direction pad, the N64 brought the analog stick, the Wii introduced motion controls, and they've all felt very different from the controllers that came before. Nintendo has always experimented with game controller designs.
