Brook Gaming Vivid Controller for Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, & PC

In this episode, we unbox and test out the Brook Vivid Pro Controller designed for the Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, and PC

Over the years, Brook Gaming has made a name for themselves in producing a number of different controller adapters for different systems. From the Nincaid which allowed you to use Bluetooth wireless controllers on the NES Classic and Super NES Classic, to adapters for the PlayStation, Saturn, and Super Nintendo that allow you to do the same, to a number of docks for the Nintendo Switch, they have had a very well thought-out product line. They recently decided to put their expertise to the test but designed their very first controller, the Vivid. Designed to be compatible with a wide variety of devices, we were sent one to put to the test.

Out of the box, the Vivid includes the controller itself, a USB-C charging cable, and a clip to mount the Vivid and attach a smartphone to the top. Other companies such as 8BitDo have done this in the past so that you can play Xbox or other games on the go. This is not something I do myself, but it's nice to see as an option.

The ergonomics of the Vivid are really nice, they've absolutely nailed the comfort level on this. It doesn't have any sharp or sudden edges to it, everything is nicely curved and conforms wonderfully in the hand. The A, B, X, and Y face buttons all have a good click to them, and both analog sticks are amazingly smooth. The L, R, L2, and R2 triggers are all logically placed and also feel very smooth. L2 and R2 have an analog throw to them, so if the game recognizes analog inputs you should be able to utilize them. The back of the controller features two programmable buttons, similar to Scruff controllers. I'm not a fan of these personally, but if you don't want to utilize them you just don't use them.

While all the buttons and everything felt decent, the one thing that left me concerned initially was the D-Pad. It didn't feel like it had enough travel for me, so for fighting games, I'm curious whether or not I will be able to roll the D-Pad to pull off the shuriken or Hadouken in Street Fighter.

Along with the programmable back buttons, the Vivid also has programmable turbo buttons as well. Simply pull down the turbo button and press the button that you wish to have turbo assigned to. To deactivate turbo, follow the same procedure. In addition to this, you can also adjust the intensity of the rumble, up or down. This is a really customizable little controller.

Inside the box, you will not find an instruction manual. that is one of the things that I can't believe that Brooke did on this, where in the past they at least had a quick start guide or something with a QR code to scan for a manual. None of this was here. I went down to their website to see how to pair it, and how to utilize the controller. Something as simple as including an instruction sheet or a QR code should not be a cost-savings measure.

Once I paired the Vivid to my Switch, I got to playing Street Fighter 2 30th Anniversary. My initial fears of the D-Pad were instantly realized when I could not pull off any rolling D-Pad moves with it. It simply needs more travel to be able to work in these types of games. I moved to the analog stick and from that point forward everything was wonderful. It's really a shame, this really holds the Vivid back.

Up next I tested a variety of different games, current and retro. Playing Super Mario Bros with a D-Pad felt okay, but again the D-Pad still held things back. I felt much more comfortable playing everything with the analog stick. The turbo fire worked great for shooters, Gradius, Star Fox, Twin Bee, all benefited from this turbo functionality. Battery life and range were terrific, I had no issues with either, and I had no connectivity issues.

Why it RoX:
- Only $40
- Extremely comfortable
- Smooth analog sticks
- Turbo functionality
- Wake from sleep
- Available in two colors

What could be improved:
- The D-Pad was borderline terrible
- I'd like a version without the phone clip to bring the cost down
- No instruction manual included

Should you buy one?
Brook Gaming has a long history of quality products, and the Vivid is a good first attempt at a controller. If they could include an instruction manual and somehow make the D-Pad actually usable this would be an easy controller to recommend. If you're looking for something to utilize a D-Pad on, I would say this is a strong pass. If you normally use the analog stick, even with older retro games, then yeah, this is something you could consider. I'm hoping to see them continue to refine and enhance the Vivid, and a Vivid 2 could be even better.