8 BitDo Pro 2 Controller Review

 

8-BitDo Controller Review

Erik Abbey

 

Hi there, do you use your hands to play video games? Do you have a Switch, Windows PC, Android, or Mac? Then PUT THIS CONTROLLER IN YO HANDS!

What’s up guys, it’s the FilthyCasual back on the blog with my first, but hopefully not last device review. Today I’ll be reviewing the 8-BitDo Pro 2 which is an upgrade from the SN-Pro from a while back. While I never had a chance to use the original, I am absolutely impressed with the Pro 2. I happened to choose black, but it also comes in a Super Nintendo inspired color scheme, and a Super Famicon inspired color scheme. My experience with the controller has only been a couple days because I paid for this myself. Now, this does run in the $50 dollar range, but there are definitely times where it will likely be on sale much like the original SN-Pro and SF-Pro. I mainly use it for the Switch, but I also gave it a go on my Galaxy device using the Xbox cloud gaming app, and a PC. I don’t have an Apple, so your mileage may vary on those devices.

 

First and foremost, the look of this controller is just absolutely gorgeous. It's sleek. The black color scheme is clean, although if you’re someone who needs to be able to clearly see the button labels, especially switching between multiple devices, you might be more suited to the other variants as the black lettering on black housing is difficult to see. The texture of the controller is nice. The rear shell has a similar feeling to the PS5 controller, and the Xbox Series X controller. The front is matte black with glossy ABXY buttons. Speaking of the buttons, they are definitely most compatible with the Switch as it is set up like other Nintendo controllers.

The controller fits nicely in my hand, and I don’t feel too cramped. There are two back buttons that are customizable, like all the buttons in fact, however the 8BitDo Ultimate Software for Pro 2 is needed to do so, or the app on Android or Apple. Links at the end. I really like the location of the “Home” and “Share” buttons for ease of access, some may find their location weird because they are below the action buttons and D-pad respectively. They are quick and responsive and the D-pad is nice and not squishy if that makes sense. The Plus + and Minus – buttons are replaced with the classic Select/Start buttons. There is a button on the front in between the two thumbsticks that is used for selecting between three profiles, which again are customizable using the Ultimate Software.

So far, I’ve been able to connect to 3 devices, my Switch, android, and laptop seamlessly. I don’t know if you can use two devices on the same setting, as there is a switch on the back that allows you to choose the connection you want to use.

It comes with a 1000 mAh rechargeable battery preinstalled, and a USB-A to USB-C charging cable. One of the best things, in my opinion about technology, is the ability to have rechargeable batteries. If, however, the battery pack becomes worn and unusable, it can be removed and two standard AA batteries can be used. It doesn’t come fully charged, so don’t do what I did and wonder why it won’t work properly when it’s 99% dead.

I have very few dislikes about this controller. It’s one of the best third-party controllers out there but it has the same issue with other third-party controllers as it has no wake function for the Switch, and of course, there are no NFC capabilities to utilize for Amiibo compatible games. The rumble function is fine. It’s not HD Rumble, but I think that would jack up the price due to the “high tech” involved in it.  Sadly, I don’t believe that this controller is compatible with PS4 or PS5.

For a $50 dollar controller, I think this is a great option. Some might gravitate towards some other controllers like the Power A pro controllers, and that’s okay, but this is a great buy for someone who needs a spare controller or a second controller and you know you won’t need the few features that it lacks.

I will leave links to the software, manual, and Amazon store at the end down below so you can check it out for yourselves and make the best decision for you. Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you in the next one.

 

 

Manual Link: https://download.8bitdo.com/Manual/Controller/Pro2/Pro2_Manual.pdf

 

Software link: https://support.8bitdo.com/ultimate/pro2.html

 

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XY86472?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details&th=1

How Do I Begin To Care About Me

     I’ve had this in my head for a few weeks now, and I think it’s time to get it out into something other than my head. I used to write. I used to write a lot. Now, I am hard-pressed to complete a blog, or even finish a book (reading, I mean). I know, you’re thinking what does that have to do with writing, right? Well, the more you read, especially things that enthrall you, the more you want to write. The more you read, the better you write. Good, bad, ugly, atrocious, wonderful, fact, fiction, somewhere in between (Historical fiction, I’m looking at you) it all helps you want to write, and share your experiences or just invent a new world. I don’t know why I stopped, but I want to begin…Again.

 

For the longest time, I’ve tried to care about me, but I have never been able to get it right, for too long anyway. I’ve started and stopped so many times that even starting is feeling like a chore. But I have indeed started. I started on December 23^rd, 2020. I know I’ve documented it on Instagram, and on Facebook as well but I wanted to also do a little writing, so I figured I’d do it about this. I am a big man. I’ve allowed myself to become cartoonishly large without ever really realizing it. Have you ever had that happen? One day you go to sleep thinking you’ll be okay and you’ve got a plan and then you wake up and all of the sudden you are where you never thought you’d be? I used to see people out on the street, or on TLC that were my size and I said to myself I’d never let myself get that big. Boy, was I wrong. I’ve never thought that I would get so out of hand, and then one day I realized that I couldn’t do the things I once did to even attempt to get healthy. I’m afraid to go to the gym because I’m afraid that I’ll break equipment, and let’s face it, no one wants to ever do that. Not to mention the fact that when it comes to actual fitness planning, I have no clue what on earth I need to do, or how hard I need to go. It’s expensive to hire a personal trainer and in these times, it’s made even worse. So, I’ve started with DDPY. I’ve had some success with it in the past, and I hope to have great success with it in the present.

 

Doing DDPY isn’t inherently difficult, but it’s also something that you need to be not only consistent in the workout, but also in the dietary regimen as well. There’s so much literature out there, and maybe I just need to grit my teeth and try one, but I want to make sure that whatever lifestyle changes I make, are sustainable. There’s nothing worse than thinking something will work and then falling off and feeling even worse than before. Failing is important, but that doesn’t mean that anyone likes to fail. I, unfortunately, don’t have very good reactions to failure. I don’t handle it as well as I’d like, and it is something that I’m working on, but like everything, it takes time. I don’t want to be just another statistic that the DOH chalks up to heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, or something similar. I struggle to correct my ways, because I’ve got poor mental health, poor self-esteem, poor self-image, and I often feel like my life is insignificant because, well, I don’t really know. I guess I’ve almost always felt this way. I want to be better. I can be better. I am better than what I’ve settled for my entire life. I have always unfortunately always seen an obstacle and put minimal effort in, and eventually gave up because I knew that it was an option. To me, now, it’s no longer an option. At 620lbs. I either put my head down, and drive through the obstacle, or it kills me. I’m not being figurative here, I’m being literal. It brings me to tears at times, and I’m telling you this because I believe it’s necessary to get these things out.

 

My time on earth, like others is obviously limited. I don’t want to spend it working towards someone else’s dreams. I don’t want to spend it being limited to staying in a shell, staying at home, shutting myself in because I’m afraid to let others see me, or because I’m just plainly uncomfortable both physically and emotionally. I want to be able to spend time doing things with my nieces, that involve more than staying in one area or just giving them something to do and letting them do it by themselves. It is one of those types of things that makes me tear up. Not being able to show them how fun life can be, and how fun just being a kid can and should be. I’m trying to commit to more than just barely trying. I’m trying to take everything step by step, one thing at a time.

 

Like an anthem in my heart, this is what I commit to doing, not for anyone but me, but I hope my peeps care. I commit to working towards a healthier relationship with food, work towards fixing what is obstructing my progress in my head, and I commit to doing as much as I can, to be here for as long as science and health allow me to. I like living. I like the experiences that this world brings, and I don’t want to end that ride any time soon. I want to live and experience everything there is to experience, and I know that includes the bad but without the bad times, we don’t know to cherish the good times. I hope that I’m done starting over again. I hope I’m done feeling as though my life has no meaning. I hope I’m done feeling expendable.

 

Hey, if you’ve made it here, I want to thank you for reading this short blog. I’ve not done a regular blog for a while, but I’m hoping that I can keep this up and let you fine folks know what I’m up to, and how I’m doing. Obviously, I’m also over on a number of other platforms, so if you’d like to follow me there, links will be below. I want you to have a great day, and I hope you know that you matter, you can do anything that you put your mind to (within reason, sadly ain’t no one about to become Superman or some other crazy thing, but you got this). Your support means the world to me, and I thank you for it immensely.

 

~Much Love,

Erik

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