Video: The Nintendo 64 Controller Works With Any Switch Game (Kinda)

There’s been a lot of rage and indignation going around about all this Nintendo 64 stuff, including the fact that the games aren’t playing well, the N64 controllers don’t work with accessories, or connect to the PC. Safe to say it’s probably not a great time to be dropping a ton of money on the Nintendo Switch Online Subscription Expansion Pack!

However, our lovely Jon Cartwright has put together a video about the N64 controller, or, as he calls it, “The Big Boy”. There are a few new things, and a few different things, like the fact that the Rumble Pak is now included within the housing itself, and not as a separate, chunky attachment. RIP, Rumble Pak

Even better, though, the controller has secret dual analog sticks, with the C-Buttons functioning as a second stick in any non-Nintendo 64 game. Jon tries out Breath of the Wild, Demon Turf, Final Fantasy VII, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Dark Souls, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in the video to demonstrate what’s possible!

There are a few issues, of course — you can’t remap the buttons, and there’s no X or Y, which means that you just cannot access some things, like the sword in Breath of the Wild or the menu in Final Fantasy VII. It’s still potentially doable, though, if you want to try playing BOTW with nothing but bombs. Or FF7 without healing. Or Dark Souls without Estus Flasks. It’s a fun challenge!

(As a bonus: there is a small bit of Jon ASMR right at the start of this video. Enjoy.)

Have you been trying out the N64 controller? Are you disappointed, or just happy to finally be holding the world’s best controller design again after decades? Let us know in the comments!