Nyxi Wizard Gamecube Controller for Nintendo Switch & Switch OLED

In this episode, we unbox and test out the Nixie wizard controller designed for the Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED to give you a GameCube-style experience.

The Nintendo GameCube controller is one of the most popular of all time. It's well-balanced, comfortable, well-laid out, and overall just a great design. Nintendo has tried to improve upon it over the years and just never quite nailed it.

The team over at Nyxi has a long history of making quality Nintendo Switch accessories and controllers, including replacement Joy-Cons. They recently announced an entirely new controller, packed with features, and most importantly for some, designed to replicate the experience of a Nintendo GameCube controller. Called The Wizard, we are super excited that they sent us a sample for review to test out.

Looking at the box, you totally get GameCube controller vibes from the Wizard. The image on the box shows it with the joiner in place so it looks like one solid controller, and it looks fantastic. From there, inside the box, you will get the controller itself, instruction manual, and USB-C charge cable. Now interesting to note is that both the left and the right wizard feature a USB C charge port on the bottom of each of them. You don't need to utilize this, it will charge off of a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con charging dock, and off of a Switch while docked.

The analog sticks on the Wizard are super cool, and have some neat technology built into them. Both are hall-sensing joysticks, meaning there are no potentiometers here to eventually wear out and drift. It's a vastly superior setup to what Nintendo utilizes on their own controllers. They also include both octagonal and round gates to go around the analog sticks, this way you can tailor the feel for what you most enjoy yourself.

To pair the Wizard to my Switch all that I did was connect them to the rails like a regular Joy-Con and they paired. Super easy! I did play a little bit in handheld mode, and they made the system feel wide, very wide. I'm not a huge fan of how wide the Switch feels normally in handheld mode, so for me, this was not something that I can see myself using in handheld mode often, but for those who do like handheld mode, this is a good solution.

Disconnecting the Wizard from my Switch and connecting them to the joiner, I went into a traditional docked mode to play for a while. Man, does this ever feel like a GameCube controller! Major kudos to the design team. Some of the cool features you can also adjust on the Wizard include LED brightness behind the buttons, and you can adjust the rumble. I started out first playing Super Mario Sunshine on the Super Mario 3D Land collection, and it was phenomenal. I went on to play other games as well, and it worked just as well. Except for one minor thing.

If there's one weak point to the Wizard I have to say the D-Pad does not have the travel that the Pro Controller or other controllers have. It gave it a very firm sort of feel, but it wasn't firm, it just didn't travel very far. I'd like to see the travel on the D-pad increased, maybe half a millimeter is all it would take to make me really happy.

Why it RoX :
- Nailed the GameCube aesthetics
- Works in handheld and Pro Controller mode
- Adjustable LED brightness on the buttons and adjustable vibration
- Super comfortable
- Hall effect sensors on the analog sticks
- Octagonal and round gates included
- Charges right on your Switch or Switch OLED
- Wakes system from Sleep

What could be improved:
- D-pad needs more travel
- Not compatible with amiibo
- Not cheap
- No analog triggers

Should you buy one?
The Wizard is a fantastic controller, and Nyxi has outdone itself with this one. I'd love to see a version of this where it had the traditional button placements and sizes, I like the GameCube layout but I don't love it as much as other people do. I also wish the R2 and L2 triggers were analog and not digital. But this is truly one of the finest third-party controllers and Joy-Cons you can get for the Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED, and should be high on your shopping list if you are looking.

#NintendoSwitch #Nyxi #WizardController #SwitchOLED #nyxiwizard