Should You Buy the Yok Wireless Controller for the PlayStation Classic Edition

In this video, we unbox test and review the YoK wireless controller designed for the Sony PlayStation Classic.

When it comes to the Sony PlayStation Classic, it was kind of a flop out of the gate. The games were not emulated well, the selection of games was very hit or miss, it was priced too high, overall Sony really missed the mark.

In the months following its release, however, The Homebrew community has really turned the PlayStation Classic into the little emulation station that could. Because of which, a lot of people in The Homebrew community have embraced this little device.

YoK, an accessory maker for a number of other consoles, recently came up with a new wireless controller for the PlayStation Classic Edition. I managed to pick one up recently for just $10, and for 10 bones, my expectations are actually pretty low.

From the box, the setup is really simple. The controller uses 2.4Ghz wireless technology that has been pre-paired to the dongle. There's no pairing button or anything like that, overall a pretty nice and painless setup. The controller is powered by two double a batteries, and going from box to play time takes no time.

YoK has done a fairly good job of replicating the ergonomics of the original Sony PlayStation controller. One place where there's a slight exception is the D-pad. It's weird is the best way that I can put it. The up-down-left-right points from the original now have a disc that connects everything above the chassis of the controller. Initially, those points dug into my thumb, but I soon adapted and overcame.

From the word go the controller works really well. The face buttons and shoulder buttons were all really responsive, whether I was playing PlayStation games, or playing emulator games using Retroarch. Because the controller runs on regular AA-Alkaline batteries, battery life really was not an issue. I played for a few hours during my testing, and never saw any noticeable drop and performance or reigns as the batteries were used.

Why it RoX:
- Extremely budget-friendly
- Controller comes prepared to dongle
- Adds Wireless controls to the PlayStation classic
- Fairly good ergonomics
- Very good range
- Good responsiveness
- No tiny little Phillips retainer screw on the battery door

What could be improved?
- The D-pad is okay at best
- A home button would be appreciated
- It feels a little lightweight in the hand

Should you buy one?
You're kidding, right? For $10, of course, you should buy one if you own a PlayStation Classic. It feels as responsive as the wired controller without being tethered to your system. It's also much less expensive than the comparable 8bitdo USB dongle which would allow you to use a Bluetooth controller, but using 2.4Ghz worked well in this application. my one issue with this controller quite simply is the d-pad, and it's one I can get past. For $10 you could do a heck of a lot worse than the WoK Wireless Controller for the PlayStation Classic!

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.)