Canadian peripherals firm Dbrand has constructed its model round an irreverent, sarcastic social media presence that is landed it in scorching water on a number of events. However regardless of a number of missteps and apologies in recent times, it is nonetheless producing high quality skins and equipment for shopper tech – and nonetheless elevating eyebrows with its advertising and marketing.
The agency’s newest Change 2 product is the Pleasure-Lock Controller Holder, which, in characteristically provocative trend, the advertising and marketing claims is “80% cheaper than a Professional Controller, but by some means much more snug.”
A daring assertion, there, however making an allowance for that Nintendo’s standalone pad will set you again £64.95 / $89.99, something approaching that degree of consolation for a fraction of the worth is value consideration. For 90 bucks, you can get a recreation and Dbrand’s “extra snug” accent. However is there any reality to the spiel?
First issues first. Though the Holder itself is available in at $19.95, you will need a pair of Pleasure-Lock Grips for them, too, that are additionally $19.95, though you get a $5 low cost should you purchase each. So, until you have already got some Killswitch sheaths, the actual price right here is $34.90 for the precision plastic into which you will slide your Pleasure-Con. (There are some $10 stick grips obtainable, too.)
Arriving in small foam beds inside handsomely printed black card slipcases, I used to be despatched each the holder and grips for testing, however I needed to first see how the holder held up by itself. As one thing sufficiently small to throw in your bag with a slimline case, it may simply improve the Change 2 tabletop expertise.
As you possibly can see beneath, you should utilize the holder sans grips, however that actually pushes Dbrand’s Nintendo-beating consolation claims into the realm of the bovine. I have not but had huge points utilizing the bigger Pleasure-Con 2 solo for prolonged durations, however becoming a member of them collectively with out further grippage, if something, made them really feel worse.
Slide them into these grips, nevertheless, and issues begin feeling extra like an actual pad, with a pleasant curved ridge to relaxation your center fingers on. The grip materials is coarser than the graceful holder or the Pleasure-Con themselves, however slippage throughout intense play is not a fear. Every grip has a trio of shiny stripe particulars that look nice, too.
The Pleasure-Con’s LEDs shine via into the holder, and color detailing within the magnetic interiors matches the default pink/blue. It is a sturdy little bit of plastic, comparable in construct high quality to Nintendo’s gear. The hinge is powerful sufficient to resist unintended opening and shutting, with six positions to select from by pulling the prongs aside, starting from straight-down perpendicular to a 45-degree(ish) boomerang cut up.
I discovered only a notch or two out from perpendicular supreme; holding it ‘straight’ felt much like utilizing the official Grip that comes with the console (the one which makes your ‘controller’ appear like a sq. pet). Nothing massively unsuitable with that, however anybody with a Change 2 already has one. We’re nonetheless not in better-than-Professional-Controller territory.
Pull these prongs aside with a delicate tug (regular), although, and…hmm. Sure, it feels extra like a daily pad. Sure, it is pretty comfortable. However no, Nintendo or any agency producing a top quality standalone pad will not be dropping sleep over this.
For testing, Pentiment did not appear the software program to place the holder via its paces, however it held up fantastic throughout tense Pragmata hack-and-shoot classes, likewise when crossing worlds with Sonic and firm. The consolation declare apart, it features as you’d count on and affords some welcome flexibility.
The problems right here come extra from the button association on the Pleasure-Con than any inherent flaw with Dbrand’s accent. Cracking the hinge open a few notches and evaluating the Professional Controller (see above), you possibly can see that the precise stick is far nearer to the sting of the Pleasure-Con, round a centimetre from the place my thumb would relaxation naturally. Transferring my thumb to a snug place on the stick pushes my palm from the sting, which compromises grip – and that is the issue. Nonetheless you maintain it, you at all times really feel that management is barely compromised in some method.
Clearly, your hand dimension, digit size, and due to this fact your mileage will fluctuate, particularly should you’re a younger gamer or somebody with smaller mitts. If this have been simply $20, it will be simpler to advocate should you’re determined for a pad-like feeling with out breaking the financial institution; for $35, it is not fairly snug sufficient.
And with costs taking pictures up throughout the board, whether or not for consoles, add-ons, storage, or software program, extra gamers might be scrutinising whether or not they really want to spend money on a Professional Controller when the Pleasure-Con they personal get the job executed. The Pleasure-Lock Holder is not dangerous in any respect for what it’s, however it’s not sufficient of an enchancment over Nintendo’s common grip that comes with the console. Except you’ve got already obtained some Pleasure-Lock grips, this halfway-house resolution will not cease you dreaming of a correct pad.
Conclusion
For those who’re decided to keep away from the $90 premium for a Professional Controller, there’s benefit to Dbrand’s providing right here. It is not a foul product; the construct high quality is nice, and even when the consolation ranges aren’t as marketed, it really works effectively sufficient.
The issue is that the grips required to attain acceptable consolation bump the worth up nearer to standalone pad alternate options. Crucially, whereas Dbrand’s consolation claims have been by no means to be taken severely, I can not think about an answer like this ever approaching the ergonomics and luxury of a correct gamepad. You will at all times be hampered by the place of the Pleasure-Con’s buttons.
Finally, should you purchased a Change 2, it got here with an official grip within the field that basically performs this operate. Dbrand provides you a mite extra flexibility, however not 35 bucks’ value. If it charged your Pleasure-Con, it is perhaps a distinct story; as is, that is value consideration should you already personal the Pleasure-Lock grips. In any other case, I would advocate investing a bit of extra in a standalone controller.
Sturdy, enticing construct high quality
Good colour-coding and particulars
Six angles provide respectable flexibility
Seems a bit like Pac-Man should you put it on its facet
Actually wants the Pleasure-Lock Grips to really feel like a pad (which bump up the worth)…
But nonetheless nowhere close to the consolation of an honest standalone controller
Not Dangerous 6/10
The pattern used on this overview was offered by Dbrand. The Pleasure-Lock Controller Holder and Grips can be found from Dbrand’s web site.
Gavin first wrote for Nintendo Life in 2018 earlier than becoming a member of the location full-time the next 12 months, rising via the ranks to grow to be Editor. He can presently be discovered squashed beneath a Change backlog the scale of Normandy.
