PDP Rock Candy Wired Controller (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://www.pdp.com/rock-candy-wired-cont-switch-frost-white
Third-party controllers are usually thought of as a joke, something you offer to a friend to give yourself an advantage, or pawn off on your younger sibling. But first-party controllers are more expensive than ever, these days, while third-party controllers are far better than they were 20 years ago. Are you really going to have the cash to drop $70 just so you can have a player 2, let alone players 3 through 4 during your local gaming sessions? So when you're out there, looking for a budget alternative, and all of those third-party controllers are sitting there, should PDP's catch your eye?
There are two very nostalgic aspects to the PDP Rock Candy controller: its size, and its design. The controller has that frosted transparent that was so common in the late 90s, giving you a full look at all the fun internals within. This one, in particular, is the frost white variant, and it looks great. The appearance is probably the biggest drawing point here, as it comes in a ton of different eye-catching colors. I could see these being great for kids, since they're so bright and colorful.
The controller is also incredibly small--it reminds me of the Madcatz Micron GameCube controller I grew up with. My hands are fairly small, and even they almost dwarf the tiny gamepad; if you're someone with large mitts, then you might find your hands cramping up even after short use. Again, that reiterates the point that this is a really ideal controller for young kids.
Personally, I find it to actually be pretty comfortable--not nearly as much so as the Pro Controller, but I've found myself enjoying using the controller whenever my wireless ones were busy being charged. That's right, the Rock Candy controller is wired-use only, with a micro-USB connector. I'm usually irked to see products still rocking the aged micro-USB connection in this day and age, but when you're dealing with budget-priced options, you do have to make a few concessions. At the very least, the cable that comes in the box is fairly long, and in my case, ran across from my entertainment center to my couch without issue.
When it comes to the face buttons, they're very clicky and satisfying to press. Since the controller is smaller than normal, the buttons are too, and because it has this glossy, slippery texture to it, I found my fingers slipping from or completely missing the buttons on some occasions. On the other hand, the analog sticks are very smooth and travel well. I'm left wanting as far as the d-pad goes, but that's completely standard fare for just about any d-pad, even on first-party controllers. The triggers are a little loose, and don't have much travel, which could be annoying if you play many shooters--I don't, and didn't really run into any issues with them. Conversely, the bumpers are tactile and are great compared to a lot of the sticky, mushy bumpers that I've come across, especially with the Switch Pro Controller.
For a whopping $19.99 for the frost white color, or even $13.99 on sale through many retailers, the PDP Rock Candy Switch Controller is a surprisingly great little controller. You're not going to get a wealth of features, obviously, but if you need a gamepad for your kid, or friends with small hands, you really can't go wrong at this price point. The build quality is shockingly good for the cost, and it's held up well throughout the month I've used it to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate--a true test of the life of a controller.
Verdict
- Incredibly cheap
- Nice analog sticks
- Looks cool
- Loose triggers
- Very small
