Retro Fighters Battler/Blade GC Review: The Best GameCube Third-Party Wireless Option To Date!

[@AxfNPn3l]

I love my Battler so far. Every time you toss a controller out the balcony I always imagine one of your neighbors wondering why there's a small device flying through the air like that lol.

[@ArchadesGames]

"ah crap there's the flying controllers again" 😅🤣

[@Ragnorok64]

This is the most comprehensive review I've seen thus far and you directly addressed the concern I had about the stick sensitivity registering so high, that I saw on a KZbin short. 👍🏿

[@ArchadesGames]

I try my best 😂

[@HybridAngelZero]

Ordered a Blade GC a few days ago, I'm so excited to get ahold of it. I play a lot of Game Boy Player, and a lot of the menu-driven RPGs on Wii and GameCube, so having a high-quality option with a D-Pad at the forefront is gonna be awesome

[@ArchadesGames]

Excited to see how it treats you!

[@retroshane8844]

How did you find it mate?

[@DJ_Moero]

Nice review. I was looking at the GC Hori alternatives by Old Skool and Retro-Bit for 2-D heavy games/GC player, but I think the Blade's D-Pad and full layout will make it a fantastic all-rounder controller.

[@ArchadesGames]

Definitely a more versatile option! The Old Skool's D-Pad also really sucks without modification according to most users I have seen talk about it.

[@Martin.chapman]

I've got a old school GameCube controller

[@BATMAN-nb6nc]

Got my Analogue Pocket and my 2 pre order Blades last week. I think we may be headed for the Apocalypse.

[@ArchadesGames]

That's a good day 😂

[@SoulSecureOfficial]

Man that back to back out the window action! Great info as always. Trusted reviews right here folks!

[@ArchadesGames]

Gotta give the people what they want!

[@noobking111]

I love it. I do wish the triggers had a click through

[@blackskrillexvevo]

fance meeting you here

[@noobking111]

@Black Skrillex Vevo indeed. Lol

[@VSMOKE1]

Awesome video👍 looking at the blade version

[@ArchadesGames]

Can't say enough how much I like it for the D-Pad stuff!

[@ufoguy]

Love the thumbnail ! Love the balcony drops too !

[@ArchadesGames]

Double drop this time 😂

[@ufoguy]

@@ArchadesGames I loved that you did the effort to go downstairs pick it up and throw it again :)

[@teneesh3376]

Finally, a review of these controller that actually show what shape the controller makes in software. Thank you. Cause from my experience with retrofighters, their sticks are strange. My experience with their ps2 controller shown a perfect square. While Nerrel's review on the n54 controller also shown a square. So I was wary. This still doesn't look the shape it's meant to be, but it's good enough

[@bbqdrew4301]

Excellent review! Gonna purchase one of each.

[@SMWiz]

You should have your kids play NES or Atari 2600 if they want to experience truly short cords, lol. I'm stoked for my Battler. I might need to pick up a Blade for the GameBoy Player. Thanks for another great review.

[@ArchadesGames]

Lol yeah those were bad

[@bland9876]

It's not that hard to put the console on your table and have the wire for video to go to your tv. That's how I play GameCube and it works fine

[@ArchadesGames]

That's a good way to destroy something with kids

[@bland9876]

@@ArchadesGames why are your kids destroying things? I've never understood that. Maybe it's my autism but I took really good care of my stuff. Or at least I tried to.

[@Flpstrike]

That BattlerGC looks really interesting!

[@ArchadesGames]

Definitely worth looking into if you're a GC fan!

[@takehirolol5962]

I am tempted for this one...

[@ArchadesGames]

How bad would the import fee be for it these days?

[@takehirolol5962]

@@ArchadesGames Well, it costs $40, that would be around $42 more for shipping and taxes...a total of $82.

[@ArchadesGames]

Yeesh

[@takehirolol5962]

@@ArchadesGames Yep, no other way around it...our local store only sells Hyperkin...

[@ArchadesGames]

I hate import fees

[@Louis16261]

These WHERE the best GameCube wireless controller options when they where announced for pre-order over 18 months ago. But now the GameCube BlueRetro controller port mod is available from 8 bit mods. For just £90 you can use 4 Bluetooth controllers with the GameCube, including PS4, PS5 Xbox etc and it does not require any external dongle. Basically these controllers became almost obsolete between the time that they were announced and the time that they were released. I pre-ordered my Blade GC controller and it is due to be delivered today. But I already have the Blueretro mod installed now.

[@bland9876]

All the wireless GameCube alternatives don't have analog triggers or rumble so this is still a better option for a lot of games.

[@Louis16261]

@@bland9876 Are they? After 2 hours use my left analogue stick has now got extreme drift. The controller is unusable and I will have to return it. I have never had a controller fail soo quickly.

[@bland9876]

@@Louis16261 that's really bad. Hopefully you can contact customer support. I had a third party controller once that died before June when I got it during Christmas one year. Good times.

[@IceBlueLugia]

I was thinking this too but honestly, all of the switch gamecube controllers don’t have analog triggers and some don’t even have rumble

[@TheViper4Life]

The triggers seem to be the one area Retro Fighters has problems with. I just got me a BladeGC, but I already owned the Wireless Brawler64 and Defender. The Defenders triggers are way too sensitive while the Blade aren't sensitive enough. I think with the Blade and Battlers they would have benefitted more just going with the clicky GC style triggers rather than making them more modern style. Fantastic controllers otherwise though...Retro Fighters are quickly becoming the go to for retro consoles that need that wireless touch...especially when OEM hardware is becoming insanely over priced (Wavebirds).

[@bland9876]

I don't understand what's wrong with the GameCube controller I mean when you look at every controller Nintendo comes out with it's just weird that they didn't stick to the GameCube button layout the entire time. This controller looks kinda like what if Nintendo had stuck to it but still swapped up the shape of the controller. It reminds me of the 8bitdo sn30 pro2

[@kokotheclown2588]

It’s all find and dandy but where’s the limited edition platinum gc controllers blade GC that won’t be limited edition but still but joking aside maybe I’ll pick one up thx for the review bro the cube lives on

[@ArchadesGames]

I want Platinum!!

[@GangstaMartinez]

I need this in my life. One question about the d-pad of Battler GC. Does it strain your left thumb when using the d-pad?

[@ArchadesGames]

For me it is like using A PlayStation controllers thumbstick

[@GangstaMartinez]

@@ArchadesGames Awesome then. TY

[@MotownBatman]

BALCONY DROP! That Got Some Dystance! Chuck N0rris 👍

[@ArchadesGames]

Lol

[@luckyspray]

Does it have the triggers the same as the original ??? With the clic at the end ???

[@TheShoe1990]

I'm thinking about getting one of these, but the trigger issue is concerning. Since the making of this video, have they released a firmware update that fixes this?

[@ArchadesGames]

The current versions for sale should be fixed. But it is worth noting they have a new version coming out (BattlerGC Pro) that could be worth looking into instead.

[@dougieshizzle]

Would love to hear your feedback using these for Super Monkey Ball and Super Mario Sunshine :)

[@ArchadesGames]

Sunshine felt good to me! I have a copy of Monkey Ball in the mail right now.

[@dougieshizzle]

@@ArchadesGames Awesome thanks for the reply, love your channel! If you're modded check out Super Monkey Ball Deluxe :) for GameCube

[@thejumpman1349]

Looks very good I am quite tempted to buy the Battle Version. What I really want is a gamecube style controller for Xbox series dolphin Emulation. Are there any or an adapter to use Real gc controller?

[@ArchadesGames]

Get a Brook adapter then you can use these on it

[@ultraspinalki11]

If only I didn't already have 4 Wavebird Controllers :(

[@ArchadesGames]

Lol sounds like you're set then!

[@sydchodelic]

Does this work well on Wii and especially emulators on modded Wii?

[@bland9876]

I'm guessing on switch it has no motion controlls.

[@Drag0zard]

Does changing the trigger dead zones in steam have any effect ?

[@ArchadesGames]

No, it's a hardware thing not software.

[@Chronos774]

Do the motion/Gyro Controls work on this controller?

[@IceBlueLugia]

Nah

[@Martin.chapman]

Can it connect to GameCube

[@teneesh3376]

It's a shame that retrofighters are still a budget company. Sure, most games don't really use the click. But the ones that do really need it. Metal gear, star fox and especially the Resident Evil titles with the type C control scheme desperately need that click

[@AVO31ST]

Shidd I might use this for the the Xbox emulation

[@ArchadesGames]

It isn't natively compatible with the Xbox. You would need a brook adapter or something.

[@AVO31ST]

@@ArchadesGames I have the brook adapter 😊

[@ArchadesGames]

Very nice

[@bababooey9251]

@@ArchadesGames so this controller would work with one of those adapters?

[@rookiemonster1704]

@Bababooey I have the setup on my XSX... it works great. The Wingman xb is the adapter

[@rulasmania]

Have anyone tried it on a xbox ?

[@ArchadesGames]

You need a book adapter to do so but it works fine

[@MisterKee]

The analog sticks are inaccurate and it feels cheap. Stay away.

[@IHaveBadWiFiBro]

I’ll find out Friday

[@geepeso84]

hows the d pad on the blade gc?

[@ArchadesGames]

I've enjoyed it