There’s a new Nintendo Switch controller on the block, and it bears a strong resemblance to one of the best gamepads in Nintendo’s legacy.
The NYXI Wizard is a new, wireless Nintendo Switch controller that replicates the oddball layout of the Nintendo Gamecube’s pad, complete with that big green A button and slightly off-kilter X and Y buttons. But there are plenty of extras here that place the Wizard firmly in ‘pro’ controller territory.
NYXI Wizard is currently available for purchase from the brand’s website (opens in new tab) for $69 (about £57 / AU$99). Only US pricing is listed, but NYXI is able to ship internationally if you’re shopping outside the US.
So it looks like a Gamecube pad, but it doesn’t seem like all the NYXI wizards are going for it. Users can customize the controller to a high degree, including swapping out thumbsticks and using the Button Mapping Profile function.
The pad also has two turbo function buttons for faster inputs, two rear buttons for mapping secondary inputs, a very small trigger lock not dissimilar to the Nintendo Switch Pro controller, and a pleasant light-up effect on the face buttons.
smash or Pass?
Along with the Wizard, NYXI primarily markets its controller at Super Smash Bros. Ultimate players. Its website also notes quite proudly that the Wizard is the best controller for the legendary crossover brawler from Nintendo and Sora Ltd.
It’s a bold claim, but there may be some truth to it. The Nintendo GameCube controller has long been a legend in the upper echelons of the Super Smash Bros. community, with thousands of players opting for the pad over others. The launch of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate also brought a special edition GameCube controller, so players who like it weren’t left out in the cold.
But the NYXI magician seems to have gone a step further. It doesn’t look like any old Gamecube pad. Rather, it’s very clearly emulating the look and feel of the Wavebird, an iconic wireless GameCube controller that, back in the day, was in high demand. The Wavebird can command ridiculous prices on auction sites these days, as you’d expect, so options like the NYXI Wizard are a relief for those looking for an immersive experience.
It’s a pad we’ll be keeping an eye on, as if it’s good enough it might end up on our list of the best Nintendo Switch controllers you can buy this year.