I have gone through many controllers in my Switch’s lifetime like the Handheld Hori Split Pad Pro, to the NitroDeck from Crkd (a personal favorite,) as well as docked mode controllers like the 3rd party wired ones to get me out of a jam, to the official Pro Controller. All of them bring their own unique quality to the table and have got me through many hours of gaming. Then I stumbled across the Power A Fusion Controller for the Nintendo Switch, a $200 controller that claims to be a professional controller that allows you to play your way. What’s the most expensive controller on the Switch like? Let’s find out…
Product & Presentation
To start, the presentation of the packaging exudes a prestigious, high-quality look. The glossy, embossed base slides out to reveal the Power A Fusion carry case which contains the Controller itself, the mappable pro pack, swappable control sticks, an alternative faceplate to switch the colour of the controller, and a 3-meter braided charging cable. The carry case has a molded foam exterior and can fit all components of the Power A Fusion inside it, including the additional faceplate. It’s presented well and made me feel like I was getting the quality I paid for so we are off to a good start.
Features
The Power A Fusion’s customisation ability is a strong selling point. You can swap both sticks out for longer bases and remove the mappable pro pack with a smaller cover plate, allowing the controller to be more in line with Nintendo’s own Pro Controller. What sets the Power A Fusion aside however, is the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack which can be used when the controller is in USB mode, a feature that was almost exclusively only available on PDP’s range of “Face-off” controllers. Gamers can change between USB Mode and Bluetooth with a flick of a switch, and even in Bluetooth mode, you are able to turn your system on from sleep mode… which I didn’t even know was unavailable on most 3rd party controls until researching for this review. The other main feature of the Power A Fusion, is the mappable pro pack, a set of 4 paddles that sit at the back of your controller much like the Xbox Elite series of controls. I have used mappable back buttons before in games like Fortnite and Nintendo World Championships NES Edition, and when used correctly, they can certainly up your game. With all these features, it’s baffling that they left out a feature that’s standard in even the most cost-effective controllers, and that is any form of rumble. For the premium price point, one would assume the inclusion of rumble at least. The controller also features smooth Gyro controls that seem to be fairly responsive and accurate.
Comfort & Control
While all these features sound great on paper, how does it feel in execution when it’s in the palms of your hands? The controller feels solid in construction, even more so than the NitroDeck; another premium controller. Its build quality feels similar to the Xbox Elite controller, with molded rubberised grips, solid and well-engineered thumb sticks, and buttons that have the same satisfying click as that of a mechanical keyboard. The ZL and ZR Buttons are pointed in an almost triangular shape, leaving less surface area to press which may divide some gamers. It took me a bit of getting used to at first and I’m still on the fence about how those buttons feel in particular. Another potential bugbear is the mappable pro pack which has rather prominent pedals. I personally like the feel of them as my Elite controller felt like they were to flush with the design, whereas the Power A Fusion has them protruding outward slightly. some gamers may not like this, and removing the mappable pro pack is a simple task should you wish to do so.
Response
All of this means nothing if the controller doesn’t have decent response times and accuracy, so how does it stack up? I’m pleased to report the Power A Fusion feels great for gaming and I experienced zero hiccups during my playtest. I couldn’t tell the difference between USB mode and Bluetooth, and there was no input delay when playing games like Fortnite, Ace Combat 7, and Nintendo World Championships. Analogue sticks were accurate, aiming felt precise, maneuvering a jet through a canyon felt responsive, and in general the Power A Fusion felt better than the other controls I have tried in my time.
Value
Retailing at $200 AUD, the Power A Fusion asks for a lot of your hard-earned money. In return, it gives you a very solid and high-quality build that’s both comfortable and responsive. Not a single thing about this controller feels cheap, from the box it comes in, to the controller itself. There’s no question about the value for money with what you get in the package, instead, it comes down to what is missing in the sense of rumble and gyro. Despite this, I feel like the Power A Fusion is a controller that’s all about you, giving you the freedom to switch out sticks and packs to customise to your comfort. For me, there’s no going back to regular controls, The Power A Fusion is the best controller for my needs, and I personally think it’s amazing.
So, What’s It Like? The Power A Fusion is Like the Nintendo Pro Controller, crossed with an Xbox Elite V2.
