Genesis Wireless MegaDrive/Genesis Controllers: Worth It?

[ThatOneLum ThatOneLum]

So I recently got my hands on a wireless controller for the MegaDrive that also happens to work with the Master System and a bunch of other modern systems.

While I was blasting through Quackshot I started out with a slightly weird feeling because I was playing an MD game without a big chonky wire tethering me to the console. As I got further into the game, I honestly stopped noticing it and was actually enjoying not having to sit too close to my TV or worrying about accidentally moving the system around due to how thick the controller cables are.

I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience using modern after-market products like this on their original hardware?
Long-term I was planning on investing in a bunch of wireless controllers and other after-market upgrades (OSSC/Retrotink, etc), but considering how strange the controller initially made my playsession feel, I'm now in two minds about whether or not its worth getting these kinds of products or not.

 

[Kamako]

Firstly, gotta shout-out the fact you burned through Quackshot - Have always loved that game.

Re: Third-party controllers, I've mainly had positive experiences personally. In the early 2000's my family acquired a raft of weird and wonderful joysticks and controller types. Most worked fine with the odd driver download required here and there. And alot of games that I played around that time had full controller mapping/re-binding options.

As recently as the Dualshock 4 I've purchased 3rd party controllers and they've worked great. Third party PlayStation 2 controllers, on the other hand, are by far and away the most uneven in terms of quality (I've found). Everything from cheap plastic, to unresponsive d-pads, stiff analogue sticks and thin hand grips. With Dualshock 2 replacements it really pays to get official Sony controllers, or going with the brands that have the highest number of positive reviews. I found Cipon branded dualshock 2's worked well, and at a very reasonable price, too.

 

[bjork]

I think if you enjoy what the product does and it isn't prohibitively expensive, go forth and have a blast.

I'm the opposite when it comes to controllers though, as I feel something is off when there isn't a wire, heh. It works out okay for me since I sit fairly close anyway, so the cable length is never really an issue. The only issue I've had is when people have bought me a controller as a gift, because I specifically say "wired" and the guy at the store will be like, "are you sure?" to them.

 

[NeonKnights]

Firstly, gotta shout-out the fact you burned through Quackshot - Have always loved that game.

Re: Third-party controllers, I've mainly had positive experiences personally. In the early 2000's my family acquired a raft of weird and wonderful joysticks and controller types. Most worked fine with the odd driver download required here and there. And alot of games that I played around that time had full controller mapping/re-binding options.

As recently as the Dualshock 4 I've purchased 3rd party controllers and they've worked great. Third party PlayStation 2 controllers, on the other hand, are by far and away the most uneven in terms of quality (I've found). Everything from cheap plastic, to unresponsive d-pads, stiff analogue sticks and thin hand grips. With Dualshock 2 replacements it really pays to get official Sony controllers, or going with the brands that have the highest number of positive reviews. I found Cipon branded dualshock 2's worked well, and at a very reasonable price, too.

I couldn't agree more about 3rd party Dualshock 2 controllers. Just the other day I was setting up my PS3 for my sister to play Kingdom Hearts and her aftermarket PS2 controller didn't work with my usb adapter, however my Dualshock 2 worked perfectly. I should add that I have one PS3 controller and it's a knockoff facsimile of some kind that cant sync to the console and feels like cheap plastic. I even took it apart and touched up/reflowed some of the solder joints and it still doesn't work. This is why I use a PS2 controller wired to a usb adapter, also L2/R2 feel better on the Dualshock 2 than on the DS3. I am used to wired controllers as they have been how I originally experienced most of these consoles when they were new so the wireless controller was never something that seemed necessary to me or like the big upgrade it seemed it was for many others. The only consoles that feel right to be wireless are anything PS3/360 and later.

 

[DanCalibur]

My brand new PS2, the first video game that I bought with my own money got bricked when my brother stumbled in the wire. I guess that ruined wired controllers for me

 

[ThatOneLum ThatOneLum]

I couldn't agree more about 3rd party Dualshock 2 controllers. Just the other day I was setting up my PS3 for my sister to play Kingdom Hearts and her aftermarket PS2 controller didn't work with my usb adapter, however my Dualshock 2 worked perfectly. I should add that I have one PS3 controller and it's a knockoff facsimile of some kind that cant sync to the console and feels like cheap plastic. I even took it apart and touched up/reflowed some of the solder joints and it still doesn't work. This is why I use a PS2 controller wired to a usb adapter, also L2/R2 feel better on the Dualshock 2 than on the DS3. I am used to wired controllers as they have been how I originally experienced most of these consoles when they were new so the wireless controller was never something that seemed necessary to me or like the big upgrade it seemed it was for many others. The only consoles that feel right to be wireless are anything PS3/360 and later.

See I had already heard this about the PS2/3rd party controllers, but I also really can't stand how clunky my older ps2 controllers feel know. Makes precision nearly impossible with the analogue sticks. On that platform I'm considering an 8bitdo wireless adapter that will sync with a DS4 for pure convenience.


Re: cheap 3rd party controllers, the current wireless one is official sega and actively feels like it which is nice, but this one is a loaner so I'm trying to decide if long-term investment is worth it.

 

[NeonKnights]

My brand new PS2, the first video game that I bought with my own money got bricked when my brother stumbled in the wire. I guess that ruined wired controllers for me

I feel your pain yo.
This happened to me one night when I was 25% into FFIX and my brother walked in somewhat drunk and walked into the wire and knocked over the PS1 and scratched disc 1 irrecoverably.
The PS1 was fine and took it like a champ. That did not ruin wired controllers for me though lol. Wired all the way 24/7 every day.

 

[DanCalibur]

I feel your pain yo.
This happened to me one night when I was 25% into FFIX and my brother walked in somewhat drunk and walked into the wire and knocked over the PS1 and scratched disc 1 irrecoverably.
The PS1 was fine and took it like a champ. That did not ruin wired controllers for me though lol. Wired all the way 24/7 every day.

That seems to happen a lot. Did you finish Final Fantasy 9 after that? In my case it was Shin Megami Tensei 3, still unfinished to this day