Should You Buy the Hyperkin Scout Premium Bluetooth Wireless Controller for the SNES & Super Famicom

In this video, we unbox, test, and review the Scout Premium Wireless Bluetooth controller now available from Hyperkin.

The Super Nintendo has not gotten all of the aftermarket controllers that some of the other Nintendo systems have. Hyperkin is trying to address the need of a budget-friendly wireless controller for the system with their new Scout Premium Bluetooth Controller. The Scout platform has been around for a while, and they are bringing a wireless Scout-proper to the original hardware, and it looks promising.

Where many wireless controllers lose out is in terms of the wireless technology they decide to implement. It's easy to use a generic 2.4 gigahertz connection, by doing this versus Bluetooth you don't have to pay a royalty fee, reducing the cost of the controller to manufacturer. The problem with this decision, however, is that you don't get as locked in of a feeling. Thankfully, the Scout has opted to use actual Bluetooth, which should mean the connection should be robust.

The overall size and layout of the Scout is virtually identical to the original controller. The L & R triggers are a little bit larger, and there are two molded humps into the back of the controller to make it more comfortable to hold. Beyond this, aesthetically, it's pretty much the same controller as the original

I started my testing by pairing, which was super easy to be honest with you. From there I broke out some of my favorite games of all time. Super Street fighter 2 Turbo played absolutely perfectly. The dragon uppercut could be pulled off on the regular, I felt really connected to what my character was doing on screen. In Star Fox, I was able to maneuver my Arwing without any issues whatsoever, even savings Falco's sarcastic tail.

In addition to testing on my Super NES Jr, I also did some testing on my Japanese Super Famicom. M.U.S.C.L.E. was not a good game to test, I just recently bought it and I have no idea what the controls are. Super Mario All-Stars, however, was a great test for how this controller handled platformers. I was able to navigate without any issue, although it is clear that I need to spend more time playing as I died far too many times do to stupid mistakes. I even tested it with my Super Game Boy, and unsurprisingly it works like a champ.

Why it RoX:
- Great performance at a reasonable price
- Very good ergonomics
-Exceptional range and battery life
- Easy to setup and pair
- Bluetooth provides better connectivity than generic 2.4 gigahertz

What could be improved?
- Controller and dongle should really be paired out-of-the-box
- I don't understand why the Hyperkin logo is face down on the dongle when you plug the adapter into the system
- You cannot play via USB
- Turbo functionality would be nice

Should you buy one?
if you are a fan of the Super Nintendo and are looking for a good way to play wirelessly without breaking the bank, the Hyperkin Scout is actually a very good controller. It felt responsive in all of my testing, was quick to pair, had exceptional range, and battery life was not an issue. It may not have quite the premium feel as some of the more expensive controllers out there, but it just works and works well. I think it is a little odd that the Hyperkin logo faces down when I plug the dongle into my system, and the fact that I cannot play via USB is a bit of a bummer. Beyond those minor nitpicks, you could do a whole lot worse when you are looking for a replacement controller for your Super Nintendo.

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include—

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;
(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.
(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)