Review: Wireless Bluetooth Genesis/Saturn Controllers from Retro-Bit

V1RACY November 9, 2019 Games, NES/SNES Classic, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation, PlayStation 4, Raspberry pi, Retro gaming, Reviews Comments Off on Review: Wireless Bluetooth Genesis/Saturn Controllers from Retro-Bit

Hey everyone! Earlier this year we covered the newly released Sega Genesis and Sega Saturn controllers from Retro-bit (read all about that here). At the time, we knew that Retro-bit had gotten the license from Sega to do what they will. We got wind that they not only would be releasing 1-to-1 clones of the original controllers but also that they were releasing wireless versions of those controllers for $29.99 each. Well, guess what? We got our hands on them and cannot wait to talk about them! Scroll on, my friend.

Unboxing Video:

• ‘Officially-licensed wireless controller featuring Bluetooth® Technology
• Compatible with Steam®, PC/Mac®, Android®, and Switch
• Rumble capability on supported games
• 30ft/10m range
• 550 mAh rechargeable battery
• Micro USB® charge cable
• Up to 20 hours of gameplay on full charge
• Features Home & Select buttons and X-input/D-input modes
• Compatible with original Genesis® consoles via Retro-Bit Receiver with Bluetooth® Technology (sold separately)’

Sega Genesis Pros:

• D-Pad: So in my unboxing video above, I talk about the fact that the D-Pad is more raised on this controller. I chalked it up to being a better scenario for the fighting games that exist for Genesis. So naturally, after connecting the controller to my PC, I tried some fighting games on the Genesis. And yes, your Mortal Kombats and your Street Fighter IIs especially work very well with this D-Pad. Even more surprising, I found that by having a taller D-Pad, that most games I played were just easier to control. This was the opposite of how I thought the whole thing would go. I originally thought the raised D-Pad would make things more awkward and not feel nostalgic at all. And while this isn’t mentioned on the box, I feel like it’s one of the best features that this controller has going for it.
• Weight: I love the weight of this controller in my hands. The same can be said about the Saturn controller too. They both have a fantastic weight and balance to them. You’d think by the cord being absent that it would weigh a lot less when playing a game. However, the battery inside replaces the inane weight that the cord used to give. And you’ll also notice on the clear controllers that Retro-Bit further balanced the weight of the controller by centering the battery down the middle and putting it on the back behind the circuit board.
• LEDS: LEDs are always a must for modern-day controllers. What we have in the best case scenario is that people are playing co-op games with you. You all have your different controllers and they’re all connected via different methods to the console of your choice. Having the LED indicators to let you know who is what controller saves you from guessing who is supposed to control the main menu of the game. It also helps you remember who is what character on screen, especially if a controller dies and someone has to swap. All that I’m saying here is that Retro-bit most certainly could’ve skimped on this and they did not.
• Ergonomics: Previously I had mentioned that I loved the way that these controllers felt in my hands in terms of the weight. The grandeur of this controller doesn’t stop there. Now, it obviously takes the original design that Sega nailed in the first place and improves upon it. The shape of the controller is definitely humorous if you have the cord out of the scenario. It’s more of a boomerang looking controller. But looks aside, everything is so well placed and within reach. I just hold it in my hands even when I’m watching TV and kind of mess with the buttons like a fidget cube or something. It’s so damn smooth and satisfying. When you’re playing games, you truly don’t pay the controller any mind mid-game.
• Bluetooth: Just wanted to now talk about the wide range of devices that this can connect with seeing how it’s a Bluetooth device. Now, I’m not going to list everything that this can connect to, just the important and more prevalent ones. There’s a full compatibility list at the bottom of the page. So out of the box, just as is, the Genesis (and Saturn) Bluetooth controller can connect to PC and Mac, Android devices, Steam Boxes, and Nintendo Switch. There are some one off systems that you can connect this to as well. The PS3 and the Super Retrocade are among those oddities. Lastly, you will soon be able to use this on the Sega Genesis Mini using the official adapter and the original Genesis as well with that very same adapter!
• Sleep: And finally, the last pro. This can be said of the Saturn controller as well, but I had to talk about Sleep Mode. It’s something I didn’t even know was a thing as it is one of the few features not advertised on the box. So as much as I wish I could just enable it myself, I figured out that Sleep Mode is automated. If you are using the controller and then you walk off to make a sandwich or something, the controllers will go to sleep on their own after a length of time. Now, if you’re back to the controller within 5 minutes, then you will still have a live controller. However, should your time away from it exceeds 5 minutes then you will have to wake it up.

Sega Genesis Cons:

• New Buttons: Now let’s talk about the Home and Select buttons. They’re flush. Too flush. Maybe in their testing, someone might accidentally strike them off of the X and A buttons. But in my testing of having several friends of various hand sizes use it playing intensive games; nobody ever accidentally slid their fingers off of the primary face buttons.
  There are also shoulder buttons on these controllers. I talked about this in the previous article covering the USB controller version of this. It’s a pro, most definitely. But since I’m talking about new buttons in the cons section, I didn’t want you to get the wrong impression and think that the added shoulder buttons were bad.
• MicroUSB: These microUSB ports really have to fizzle out. The port is way too asymmetrical of a design to have to charge something as I play. These are known to have the cord snap off inside of the port or make the port become loose in the future. So I just don’t even risk it. I charge the controller while not using it and unplug it while I use it. This means, like the Teslas, I have to charge it and not use it during that time. This can really cut into my game time when the controller finally starts to die. You may not personally care, and that’s fine, but for me it’s definitely a downer.

Sega Saturn Features:

• ‘Officially-licensed wireless controller featuring Bluetooth® Technology
• Compatible with Steam®, PC/Mac®, Android®, and Switch
• Rumble capability on supported games
• 30ft/10m range
• 550 mAh rechargeable battery
• Micro USB® charge cable
• Up to 20 hours of gameplay on full charge
• Features Home & Select buttons and X-input/D-input modes
• Compatible with original Saturn® consoles via Retro-Bit Receiver with Bluetooth® Technology (sold separately)’