Should you buy the Hyperkin Specialist Controller for TurboGrafx 16

In this episode, we unbox and test out the Specialist Controller from Hyperkin, designed for the TurboGrafx 16 & PC Engine.Show more

0:00 - Introduction
2:23 - Unboxing
5:21 - Video Setup
6:05 - Fantasy Zone
7:34 - Pac-Land
10:12 - Bonk's Adventure
12:57 - Keith Courage
14:33 - Initial Thoughts
15:15 - Final Thoughts

If there is one video game system that I was always interested in as a kid but never owned it was the TurboGrafx 16. It was a pioneer at its time, with better graphics than my NES, but not quite to the same level as the Sega Genesis. It was a tweener, as it were well I never owned one back in the day, I am thrilled that I actually own one now. One of my issues with the system, however, is the fact that I don't have an original TurboPad. The folks at Hyperkin have a solution designed to give you a terrific experience, call The Specialist.

One of the really unique features of the TurboGrafx 16 is the fact that the controllers actually had built-in turbo slide switches. The Specialist duplicates that, along with the overall design aesthetic of the original. Much like their Scout and Cadet controllers for the NES and Super NES, The Specialist also adds humps to the back of the controller for additional comfort. Finally, Hyperkin also uses a 10-ft long cable to connect to your system, and also includes an adapter so that you can use the Specialist with the PC engine.

One of the things I noticed early on is the fact that the Specialist is a little bit thicker than the stock TurboPad. This isn't a terrible thing, but I did notice it the D-Pad is also a point of concern, as you can push it all the way in and it actually inhibits the movement in motion. It'll be interesting to see how much of an issue this becomes.

Starting things out I threw in Fantasy Zone, a terrific schmup from Sega of all companies. Fantasy Zone demands quick movements of the D-Pad to avoid being shot or flown into by enemy ships. I did notice the functionality of the D-Pad limiting my movements here a little bit. It wasn't terrible, but it was definitely noticeable.

Pac-land is more of a platformer, and it uniquely uses the one and two buttons to make Pac-Man run left or right and the D-Pad actually initiates a jump. It's an interesting mechanic but it works. As the D-Pad was less crucial in this game, I didn't notice any issues in it, and in fact the game played perfectly.

Bonk's Adventure has quickly become one of my favorite games on any system. It's such a great game with amazing graphics and great control. I didn't notice any of the D-Pad issues in Bonk that I did in Fantasy Zone, however there were a few button presses that didn't seem to register.

Finally, Keith Courage was a pack-in for early TurboGrafx 16 systems, and has a very unique approach that divides your gameplay between being human and being a mech. Once again, play control was exactly as I would have wanted it to be, no issues whatsoever.

Why it RoX:
- Comfortable ergonomics
- 10-ft long cord
- Compatible with PC engine
- Integrated turbo slide switches

What could be improved:
- Not the biggest fan of the D-Pad
- Expensive
- Occasionally did not read button presses
- I'd love a wireless version

Should you buy one?
While the market for TurboGrafx collecting isn't as large as for Nintendo or Sega, there's still a very large and passionate audience for this amazing system. Original controllers can run upwards of $50 in good shape, which makes the Specialist an interesting offering at $30. The D-Pad definitely leaves something to be desired in some games, and occasionally button presses were not registered. The overall design is comfortable, and I have to say the 10-ft cord is a welcome addition. I wish I could take the performance of the Old Skool controller and combine it with the 10 ft long cable on the Specialist, because that would be terrific. As it is, there's definitely room for improvement in terms of both pricing and performance.
The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

#TurboGrafx #Hyperkin #Specialist

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