RetroBit Saturn Pro Controller: Best D-Pad Ever!

[@RushG]

Before we get too excited, this is a wireless pad and only supports a handful of devices out of the box. I'm not sure yet if the pad will work with a Brook convertor for PS5 connectivity but will look to find out

[@richfan10]

agreed Mega Drive 6-button pad and the Sega Saturn pads were the absolute controllers for 2D fighters

[@Carcassi578]

Hey Rush, if you haven't already- check out the 8Bitdo M30 Wired Controller for Xbox/PC. It has 6 button layout on the front with 4 usable shoulder buttons. The switch on the back allows you to toggle the shoulders to LSB LB - RSB LT so you have access to 10 mappable buttons with no button overlap. The D-pad on the M30 is reminiscent of the Saturn one too. My only gripe with the M30 is the compact shape... hand placement can be awkward if you have larger hands. Loving the content mate, keep it up! Cheers

[@RushG]

Wow I've just taken a look at this after your recommendation Carcassi! I remember reviewing the M30 with just two shoulders before, great pad but not my preferred layout. My mind is blown, ordering it NOW. Thank you 👊

[@Abbelboxe]

I didnt know a 10 Button version of this existed. I got the 8 button version, which is not bad. I even used it in a tournament. The problem here was, that the buttons soften up very quickly. Dpad wise, it is the same Sega Dpad we all know and love. No complaints there.

[@RushG]

Thinking about it Abbel, there's little difference between this Sega Saturn pad and a standard wired one based on the fact I cant map to LB and RB. Retro Bit do a wired standard Saturn pad. Maybe I got a little too excited, dpad still is fantastic though!

[@420haxx]

Looks like a great controller, i was always a fan of the D-pads on the Megadrive 6 button pad and the second iteration of the Saturn pad. I might have to pick this pad up.

[@RushG]

Easily the best dpads of any controller IMO, I have great memories of the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Saturn

[@tndrunning3328]

The Razer wolverine v2 chroma has a ridiculously good D-pad for fighting games but it doesn’t have 6 face buttons. It’s a clicky tactile d-pad that feels amazing. Razer need to make a dedicated 6 face button fightpad with that d-pad. Nothing else would touch it

[@RushG]

I've heard about this pad, only thing for me personally would be the layout as you pointed out. Dpad sits low like on and Xbox pad. Good to know though 👊

[@EmixmaBts]

You have the new version of the razer raion 6 button from razer, they fixed the D-pad issue from the first version.

[@RushG]

I have heard this but I think one of the issue is that you don't know which one is the newer version until you've ordered it? A friend of mine purchased one recently and it was the old model

[@EmixmaBts]

@@RushG I purchased mine on eBay just ask question to the seller if the S/N is PM2xxx

[@omarelshamy3576]

thanks for this review @rushg I dont actually use pad for fighting games but I do for old school platformers and I was eyeballing this pad wondering if the dpad has clean inputs, definitely trust your judgment on this, looking forward to your update to see how durable this thing is!

[@RushG]

No problem, I'll keep you updated

[@Hey_Cru]

Actually makes me consider buying these types of controllers

[@RushG]

Just be cautious as it is a wired device and it lacks direct compatibility with current gen consoles. Thinking about it yesterday there's no actual advantage this has over the standard wired Saturn replica pad that Retrobit sell due to the way the LB and RB buttons are configured

[@XeroLimitGaming]

I prefer a cross d pad. I have adjusted to the HORI Fighting Commander OCTA and the software lets you set the sensitivity of each individual direction on it's own rather than all of them being set a the same level which is really nice, but whenever I go back to my Hori Fighting Commander 4 I notice my directional inputs are WAY more consistent. Consistent to the point that I might just get a converter and switch back to the 4 when I pay on PS5.

[@RushG]

I guess it's personal preference, I dont dislike the old Hori cross dpad it moving to these circular dpads in recent times has been a blessing. I could never go back

[@prinyaz]

Hopefully this new version has better D-pad longevity. I have the older version and they wore out after a time, the input starts to not register properly. I would start to miss diagonals and such.

[@RushG]

Ah that's a shame, to be fair I experience this on all pads but misinputs like that are huge

[@ForeverWinter1812]

I'm happy to let you know that the d-pad issue was with the version 1 releases. If you have a V2 version of the Saturn or six-button Genesis controllers you're guaranteed the better d-pad that will not break on you. I have the six button, the big six, and the Saturn pro controller and they all work great. Zero issues.

[@tencheenian]

M30 D-pad is way better than this. yes, i own the previous version of this retrobit saturn pad and the d-pad is broken after a while, i manage to buy a better d-pad from taobao and fix it... :) still, M30 d-pad is the best one so far...

[@ForeverWinter1812]

​@@tencheenian the m30 has a good d-pad, definitely not better though. I've had some issues with it. I can definitely tell there's a bit of latency with the m30 vs the 2.4 gigahertz Saturn controller.

[@returningwhisper]

Great review!

[@nickkiller-0710]

These Saturn and MegaDrive styled pads look really good for FGs, I'm currently using an 8BitDo M30, it's pretty much a MegaDrive pad with two shoulder buttons, it has wireless functionality but it actually works wired which is pretty nice, specially since the response time on it does feel better than my previous pads tho I can't really confirm it. I'd love to see how its dpad compares to this RetroBit, since they're based on a similar design.

[@RushG]

Hey Nick, somebody else mentioned the updated M30, I've ordered it and it arrives today

[@EmixmaBts]

I just received mine for sf6 PC but, weird if i set up driver impact on L button C is drive impact to so i can’t set up heavy kick. I tried whit second mode you can’t use big triggers so I will send it back to Amazon.

[@Matucks]

I always found the SEGA controllers to be far superior than any other companies controllers. The D-Pad and 6-Buttons made so many games easier to play. The addition of the analogue stick is the one thing that took this to the next level. I highly recommend this controller, I wish more of those retro handheld devices would adopt this layout rather than the Nintendo, PlayStation, or Microsoft controllers.

[@Zeus_Sama]

I've settled on the Victrix pro BFG. Dpad is immense. No more weird inputs, and the fightpad module is peak

[@RushG]

Hey man long time! I've heard mixed reviews, fair shout I'll take a look 👊

[@SirSnowman88]

I just got mine and had it for 2 weeks and I'm returning it because the triggers are too sensitive and also the controller especially with the triggers is to unwieldy to the point where it gave me blisters on my middle finger. Also, the fight pad has a problem where it moved the buttons down below instead of on top and so that made it harder to use the fight pad

[@DaveVoyles]

Do you find that X-Input (2 green bars) randomly disconnects? Steam recognizes this as an X360 controller. Every 2-3 minutes it does for me. But D-input (1 green bar) works fine. Steam recognizes this mode as a PS3 controller.

[@JomasterTheSecond]

...didn't even test it with the Saturn which is the only thing I'm interested in using this for so I guess I gotta look elsewhere for compatibility tests.

[@RushG]

The manufacturer states its Saturn compatible on the site - 8bitmods.com/retro-bit-sega-saturn-pro-wireless-2-4g-controller-white/

[@ForeverWinter1812]

If you just want a 3D pad replacement, get a 3D pad. If you want a super comfortable great Sega Saturn controller that's usable on multiple systems grab this.

[@Troonielicious]

I would had really loved if you could map it with the RB + RT like the Betop

[@RushG]

Same, would of been perfect. However... www.8bitdo.com/m30-wired-controller-xbox/

[@gfdgdfgdfgdfggfdgdfgdfgdfg9709]

Are the trigger buttons analog? I didn't understand this in your review. Other than that pretty good review. Too bad it doesn't connect via cable and only via dongle. This anti consumer design makes me not buy it. Otherwise this would be my dream pad. It's actually great the Z and C buttons mirror L and R because otherwise it would mess up every game in existance. You would need to program a custom driver for this pad for every game in the world to support more buttons than an streamlined (xbox etc) pad has.

[@RushG]

@@gfdgdfgdfgdfggfdgdfgdfgdfg9709 when you say the trigger buttons being analogue, what do you mean? The triggers are not buttons they fold downwards if that's what you mean. Having a pad that ticks multiple boxes is better for sure. I think I'd prefer is the extra face buttons mirrored L3 and R3, that way the shoulder buttons remain their normal configuration

[@angryfish3679]

They recently released a firmware update that gives it wired support. Which is great because the wireless is very unreliable. This is now the best fight pad imo. It only lacks L3 R3 mapping.

[@RushG]

@@angryfish3679 interesting! Thanks for pointing this out, maybe my Email to them got the ball rolling to look into this 😅

[@angryfish3679]

@@RushG Awesome that you did :D I have been using it wired now for a while without issues. Had to give up a couple of macros, but it isn't a huge deal. Everything else is so good that it was worth it. Loving it tbh.

[@RushG]

@@angryfish3679 awesome, I sold on my old one so will get a new one to test out. Thank you

[@sxcaars__6563]

Would you recommend this for 3d fighting games like Tekken

[@Khinh-xq6lx]

this one got thumbsticks get this one

[@RushG]

And it now offers wired play after a firmware update

[@qwerty-rrrr]

Have you tried using the USB-C charger to see if it also connects it to the PC wired? Just curious

[@RushG]

@@qwerty-rrrr at the time yes I did and it didn't work. But they have since updated the firmware which allows you to use this pad wired via that same cable

[@ericsimonson8002]

I'd be more interested in your feelings on this controller after a serious stress test. Some controllers feel amazing at first but the buttons get squishy too quickly to justify the money spent.

[@RushG]

100% agree, I'll keep you guys updated

[@feifonglong4321]

Have you tried the 8bitdo m30? I think it has nearly the same dpad.

[@RushG]

I have the old one not the new one with the 4 shoulder buttons, have ordered the updated version, excited to test it later today

[@kyledonovan2987]

How do you get rumble to work on pc.

[@DavideNastri]

The saturn pad is the best 2d controller ever made. Fight me.

[@RushG]

No fists from me, my younger self agrees

[@DavideNastri]

And the saturn is a fighting game beast.

[@jonathandrake7635]

Does it work with xbox series ?

[@KaZey77]

I just buyed it

[@RushG]

Nice Kazey! 'd also check out the 8bitdo M30 Xbox wired pad. I've been told by viewers that this pad has 4 working shoulder buttons which can be mapped independently! I've ordered it and it comes today so will let you know

[@KaZey77]

@@RushG Ok i hope i can map my config with this pad, I need DI on L1, HP on L2, Parry on R1, HK on R2. Otherwise I will return it and take the other. I tested at least 10/15 different pads to find a dpad better than my 360 controller, I couldn't find one haha. My best pad so far for dpad would be the nacon pro compact.

[@RushG]

Ah okay. Not sure if you watched the video but you cannot map it like that from what I could see. Give it a try and see if you find a way. The 8bitdo M30 video I just did, you can map exactly like you have asked

[@KaZey77]

@@RushG Ok thanks I buyed both, yes I watched but sorry my english is bad

[@RushG]

It's NP bro. Hopefully you can test when you get the controller

[@elgoog-the-third]

Ehh, I found the 8bitdo M30 D-Pad better.

[@RushG]

One thing I've noticed more recently (and I need to be wary of this), these cheaper brands not every pad feels the same. I had another 8bitso M30 and the second one I had the dpad felt slightly different (more loose and inaccurate). I can bet if I got another retrobit Saturn pad it may feel worse. I'll keep this in mind for future reviews. I appreciate the feedback

[@mikey22355]

Ps5 has terrible compatibility with 3rd party controllers, I know PlayStation release updates to stop the controllers working

[@RushG]

Damn, the brook converter I feel is key for 3rd party devices. As this uses a wireless receiver I'm not sure if it will compatible with the brook