Reddit reviews 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Gamepad (G Classic Edition) - Nintendo Switch

My favorite controller for sidescroller games has always been 8Bit-do's Sn30 line of controllers. It's $45, so a bit more than what you were looking for, but the d-pad is leagues better IMO. It's about $12 less than a pro controller.

Details:
http://www.8bitdo.com/sn30-pro-g-classic-or-sn30-pro-sn/

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GKLG3ZP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PLxQCbC0ES54T

A YouTube review:
https://youtu.be/cQB2oEokiRo

> Playing

I'm still plugging away at Fire Emblem: Three Houses and just started back into Dragon Quest XI. I don't have a ton of new thoughts on either, but I'm playing them and hoping to get through Fire Emblem fairly soon. Hey guess what, that guy what likes JRPGs really likes Dragon Quest go figure.

I bought a 8Bitdo Sn30 to help expand my rotation of controllers. It's a neat little controller with a killer D-pad. The D-pad is so good, in fact, that it kinda makes me worse at the games I've been playing, namely Celeste. I've gotten so used to the kinda squirrely nature of the Joycon analog stick that trying to play with an honest to god D-pad made me fail repeatedly. I played a few SNES games with it and they all felt great, though Super Mario World was a lot harder than I remember.

> #content

Podcasts and catching up on old videos

> This week

I have a busy week ahead of bullshit work retreats, so we'll see how much time I have in the evenings.

Excellent, glad you have both.

For another gaming option, if she has an iPhone, I would also suggest checking out the Apple Arcade stuff with a proper controller (you can use PS4 controllers now). I'm still in the free trial period, but it's been promising so far. I've put some decent time into Bleak Sword.

Back to the Switch, I'm not aware of any authoritative data on how people use the Switch. I don't think the subreddit survey even broached the question. I think it's also worth distinguishing between "plugged in" and "tabletop mode". I'm sure tons of people use the Switch while it's plugged into AC (or external battery) power, so they don't have to worry about running out of juice. Tabletop mode is just handheld mode, but using an external controller. The only problems specific to tabletop mode would be comfort/ergonomic related (not software).

Even with my regular Switch, I find tabletop mode a little challenging. Most tables are kind of low, so I have to look down for the screen. The built-in kickstand isn't designed to provide an angle that points the Switch at an adult's eye-level, so I usually need to put it on top of a stack of books or something...or use a separate stand that has more angles. Once this is all done, I feel I need to stay pretty close to the Switch, since the screen is pretty small (even on my regular Switch). Part of the problem is that I've been playing a lot of RPG's lately, which tend to be text- and UI element-intensive. If I was playing something like Yoshi's Crafted World, I don't think it'd be a problem.

I use the gooseneck stand to play in bed while laying down. It's bliss.

As far as portability goes, do you have any SNES controllers around the house? Either original, or maybe from the classic SNES mini? If those are comfortable for her, I would definitely consider the 8bitdo SN30 Pro (without the plus). It doesn't have the palm rest grips, but I still find it to be pretty comfortable--slightly more so than the actual SNES controller (due to it's slightly larger size). However, it's extremely portable. It slips easily into the small back-pouch on my backpack. I'm not sure how much benefit it would provide over the built-in controls on the Lite, other than saving it some wear and tear (hopefully avoiding analog stick drift), but it does have a more dual-shock style layout, which it seems like she prefers.

So there are 2 models of old (discontinued) SF/SN30 Pro and 2 newer models of SN30 Pro (G Classic and Sn Editions).

I'm traveling this June too across the Atlantic and this is what I will be taking with me after some thinking/research.

1. Case: Mumba Carrying Case
   Great protection + lots of space especially if you have a grip on your console. Decent price to what you're getting.
   
   
2. Battery Pack: RAVPower 26800 PD Power Bank
   26800mAh would be the power limit that planes allow onboard. They ask for less than 100 Wh.To get the Wh of a power bank, use this formula (mAh)/1000 x (V) = (Wh) (V is usually 3.7 for these types of packs)
   
   
3. Controller: 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Gamepad (G Classic Edition)
   Slim and portable and works great with the types of games I play (one of them being Octopath!)
   
   
4. Stand: HORI Compact Stand - Zelda Edition
   As most people recommend, a stand is a great thing to carry so you can play without straining your hands from the weight of the switch. This one lets you charge your switch and is designed for it, not a repurposed phone stand.
   
   
   And obviously your charger, usb-C cables, headphones, joy con straps.
   
   ​

8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Gamepad (G Classic Edition) - Nintendo Switch

I would advise against it, as its just a cheap chinese knockoff product.

Type in "Switch wireless controller" on amazon, and there are three other companies selling the exact same device. And theirs are cheaper.

8bitdo makes the best third party controllers that we've found. Wireless, gyro, and basic rumble for $50.

There is also a lot more vareity in their designs, so you can have your choice of colors without worrying about reliability.

Once Amazon processes my refund, I'm going to get one of the new revisions with the horizontal start and select buttons instead of the slanted ones and see if it too has the problem (link below). They don't look as good as the originals, but at this point I really just want a controller in this form factor that works the way it's supposed to.

​

This one is themed to resemble the Game Boy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GKLG3ZP?pf_rd_p=d1f45e03-8b73-4c9a-9beb-4819111bef9a&pf_rd_r=BG1RRKBZ5JFADPN2EA1R&th=1

Good catch with 2.4g vs. bluetooth, I always forget about that.

The biggest differences between each 8bitdo line are aesthetics and features such as rumble, analog sticks, motion controls, triggers and turbo:

• The SN30 is a base model that only features a d-pad, face buttons and a set of L and R buttons on the top. It resembles a SNES/SFC controller and works over Bluetooth and USB-C.
  
  
• The SN30 Pro takes the SN30 form factor and adds rumble, analog sticks, motion controls, turbo, and a second set of triggers. Still works over Bluetooth and USB-C.
  
  
• The NS30 Pro 2 has all the features of a SN30 Pro controller with a slightly different layout. The second set of shoulder buttons are set inside the first set.
  
  
• The SN30 Pro+ is a SN30 Pro controller in a form factor that adds grips similar to a Sony Dualshock controller. Still works over Bluetooth and USB-C.
  
  Features
  
  It all boils down to what features you want. The SN30 is a great replacement for a stock SNES/NES controller and is about $10 US cheaper than the other models. The Pro and Pro+ will also work great with the NES Classic, and will allow you to play PS1 games that require analog sticks.
  
  Aesthetics
  
  8bitdo has a number of color variants for each of their lines that have no effect on how the controllers operate. The SN30 GP line are a set of SN30 controllers stylized like the original Game Boy Pocket line. There's no functional difference between a SN30 and SN30 GP controller other than how it looks. The SN30 Pro line has two options: One that matches the original Game Boy and another that looks like a U.S. Super Nintendo controller.
  
  And there's the newer NS30 Pro2, which has an NES option that should match well with the NES Classic.
  
  ---
  
  For me, I like the SN30 Pro because it's a good compromise with the SNES controller form factor combined with modern features. The triggers aren't great for modern games, so I only really use my SN30 Pro for emulators and retro-style games.
  
  I already own a set of Dualshock 4 controllers, so I didn't see a need to have grips on my 8bitdo controller. But if I were using an 8bitdo controller as my daily controller, I would strongly consider getting the SN30 Pro+ for the added grips.
  
  8bitdo doesn't do a great job at describing the differences between each of their controller lines. Some sort of feature grid would be extremely helpful.

I have this type:

8Bitdo SF30 Pro Controller Windows, macOS, & Android - Nintendo Switch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0748S3GXG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_gbcXBbYA3R6R8


And this one:

8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Gamepad (G Classic Edition) - Nintendo Switch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GKLG3ZP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xccXBb2MB5XSP

Of the new revisions, the SN (purple, SNES-styled) is released and the G (maroon, Game Boy-styled)

Both are listed here.

I love these controllers. The gameboy version - (8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Gamepad - G Classic Edition) - is the one I’m using, as it’s the most appropriate for Link’s Awakening.