I’ll start this simply: If you own a Wii and play Virtual Console titles, you must own this controller.
The Super Famicom Classic Controller is exactly what it’s name implies. It’s a Wii extension controller (it plugs into a Wii Remote) designed to exactly replicate an original Super Famicom (SNES) controller. It is, in every way, a Super Famicom controller. The control pad and shoulder buttons all have the same squishy feel, the face buttons have the same responsiveness, and it’s even made of the same plastic.
For Virtual Console games, this controller just feels right. The buttons aren’t quite as clicky as the standard Classic Controller, and the control pad isn’t quite as responsive. Normally, those would be condemnations, but in this case it’s a benefit. For a number of classic titles, the Classic Controller is almost too responsive. When playing a fast game like F-Zero, it actually becomes significantly more difficult with the faster responses and looser control pad on the Classic. Remember, these games were originally designed around the (comparitively) mushier controllers of the era, so using an updated controller on them isn’t always the best thing.
That is not to say that the Super Famicom controller feels slushy or in any way inadequate. Quite to the contrary, actually; it only took me a minute or two to fall back right back into that familiar feeling from my youth. In every way, this controller feels like the real thing, and that feeling is amazing when you’re trudging through the Mushroom Kingdom or working your way through Dracula’s Castle. (On a side note: I found out after getting this that the control pad and button placement on the new Classic Controller is identical to the placement on the SNES controller, in spite of the different overall shape. Who knew?)
Here’s the catch: This controller was only released as a Club Nintendo bonus offer in Japan. It was never released for retail sale, nor was any version of it ever released in the States. In order to get one, you’ll probably have to resort to eBay, where they run between $50 and $65. That can be a bit of a wallet-shock, and I haven’t found one cheaper anywhere yet.
That’s $50 well spent, though, specially if you’re into classic games and download a lot of VC titles. Admittedly, playing non-SNES games with it was a little odd, at first (playing Sonic with a SNES controller is… interesting), but it’s still head and shoulders above the standard Classic Controller. If you see a lot of plumber jumping in your future, do yourself a huge favor and find one of these today!
