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Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller: one-minute review
Retro-Bit’s Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller is a gamepad revival done right. It successfully recreates the look and feel of Sega’s original unit, while adding some very welcome modern flourishes that (mostly) help it to feel like a solid contemporary option – especially for some fighting games and retro game compilations.
The original Sega Saturn controller has always been a winner in my book, with its six face buttons and glorious ergonomic D-pad. That experience has been replicated on Retro-Bit’s version, but you can also expect handy additions in a pair of Hall effect sticks, trigger buttons, and, of course, wireless connectivity. As a result, this could be one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers for you if you get regular use out of those Nintendo Switch Online retro game libraries.
It’s also an impressive value proposition, with a price firmly in that budget-friendly bracket, costing about the same as a standard Xbox Wireless Controller. You’re getting compatibility with PC, Mac, and Nintendo Switch here with the included 2.4GHz dongle. But the package also includes a Sega Saturn-compatible V2 receiver, so if you’ve got a Saturn lying around, this is an excellent modern wireless option for that system.
There are some mild annoyances to wrestle with, namely in terms of so-so build quality and the thumbsticks being a little too small for my liking. The newly added Home and Select buttons in the center are also placed in rather cramped fashion. But overall, in terms of retro-inspired controllers, Retro-Bit’s Sega Saturn model is certainly among the best.
Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller review: Price and availability
- $49.99 / £44.99 (around AU$78)
- Costs about the same as an Xbox Wireless Controller
- Available at Retro-Bit and Amazon
The Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller is available to purchase now, either from Retro-Bit’s website or Amazon, for $49.99 / £44.99. In terms of pricing for PC-compatible gamepads, this falls squarely in range of the Xbox Wireless Controller or the GameSir T4 Kaleid.
This is rather impressive value, given the pad’s wireless connectivity options and smart additions like Hall effect thumbsticks though the retro nature of it makes it tough to recommend for a wide range of genres, including first-person shooters or strategy games.
But for some of the best fighting games like Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves or Street Fighter 6 (thanks to that six-button layout), it’s a great pick. It’s also a fine choice for the many retro game compilations we see today, including Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics and Castlevania Dominus Collection.
Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller review: specs
|
Price |
$49.99 / £44.99 (around AU$78) |
|
Dimensions |
5.91 x 3.54 x 1.18in / 150 x 90 x 30mm |
|
Weight |
13.8oz / 390g |
|
Compatibility |
PC, Nintendo Switch, Sega Saturn |
|
Connection type |
Wireless (2.4GHz, V2 for Sega Saturn), Wired (USB-C) |
|
Battery life |
15-20 hours |
Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller: design and features
Aesthetically, Retro-Bit’s Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller is designed after the console’s MK-80116 gamepad. All the original colors are accounted for here, from the pink Start button and triggers to the green, yellow, and blue face buttons. If authenticity is the goal, Retro-Bit has nailed it.
The controller maintains that old-school ‘boomerang’ style silhouette that was common among the fourth and fifth console generations (think the Super Nintendo, Sega Mega Drive / Genesis, and indeed the Saturn). That also means shorter grips and face buttons that are on average larger than what we see on many of the best PC controllers of today.
Despite the retro design, the Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller still sits incredibly snug in the hands – its edges perfectly rounded to allow for a comfortable play position. All six face buttons are easily reachable, and the large D-pad rests firmly under your left thumb.
While I like the new additions to this controller, their placement is a little off. The new Home and Select buttons, as well as the two Hall effect thumbsticks, are a little too close to the center of the pad for comfort.
Things aren’t too bad with the sticks (even though they’re a bit smaller and shallower than what I’m used to), but you’ll really have to stretch your thumbs in order to reach those central buttons, to the point where I often found myself looking down at the controller to register their position relative to my thumbs.
Build quality is also something that I wish was slightly better. It’s not overtly nasty by any means, but the controller does feel quite hollow, and you can hear the D-pad shaking about when you rock it around in your hands. The face buttons also feel slightly loose, and the sticks are noticeably notchy as you move them around.
Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller: performance
Thankfully, some of those design shortcomings don’t do much to ruin an otherwise comfortable and responsive play experience. This controller is a particularly good fit for fighting games, as mentioned earlier. The six-button layout is great for Street Fighter 6, and allows your light, medium, and heavy inputs for both punches and kicks to be reachable with your right thumb.
That also frees up the bumpers and triggers for other inputs or macros. In the case of Street Fighter 6, that meant easy macroing for actions like Drive Impact, Drive Rush, and throws. And for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, which is a four-button game, those extra two face buttons came in handy for throw and REV macros.
Helping this along is the truly excellent D-pad. At first, I was unsure of it, as, like the face buttons, it is quite loose-feeling. But during play, it feels exceptionally tight and responsive. Directional inputs for special moves simply weren’t an issue here, thanks to its rounded nature, and I found I could pull them off much more reliably than with traditional four-way D-pads found on other controllers.
Fighting games aside, the Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller was also an excellent choice for retro (and retro-styled) games and compilations. I had a blast playing through beat-em-up Streets of Rage 4 with this gamepad. Side-scrollers really benefit here too, with the likes of Touhou Luna Nights, Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection, and Nintendo Switch Online games including Super Metroid and Shinobi 3 feeling well-suited.
On the other hand, I would argue that the controller isn’t the best fit for more contemporary games, particularly first-person shooters. The thumbsticks, while a nice addition, simply don’t have the smoothness to offer a satisfying play experience. Their relative closeness also means that your thumbs may barge into each other as you rock the sticks around.
Should I buy the Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller review: Also consider
If the Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller isn’t quite what you’re looking for, consider these similarly priced alternatives.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller |
GameSir Super Nova |
Horipad Turbo |
|
Price |
$49.99 / £44.99 (around AU$78) |
$44.99 / £49.99 / AU$89 |
$29.99 / £29.99 (around AU$47) |
|
Dimensions |
5.91 x 3.54 x 1.18in / 150 x 90 x 30mm |
6.1 x 4.2 x 2.3in / 156 x 106 x 59mm |
6.1 x 4.7 x 2.5in / 155 x 119 x 64mm |
|
Weight |
13.8oz / 390g |
9.3oz / 263g |
12.3oz / 350g |
|
Compatibility |
PC, Nintendo Switch, Sega Saturn |
PC, Nintendo Switch |
PC, Nintendo Switch |
|
Connection type |
Wireless (2.4GHz, V2 for Sega Saturn), Wired (USB-C) |
Wireless (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz USB dongle), wired (USB-C) |
Wired (USB-C) |
|
Battery life |
15-20 hours |
15 hours |
N/A |
How I tested the Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller
- Tested for a week and a half
- Played primarily on Nintendo Switch and PC
- Compared to the Xbox Wireless Controller and the Horipad Turbo
I tested a variety of games, both old and new, with the Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller on both PC and Nintendo Switch over the course of a week and a half. While I unfortunately don’t have a Sega Saturn on hand for testing there, I got plenty of play time with fighting games like Street Fighter 6 and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
I also played a number of retro collections, including Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics and Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection.
First reviewed April 2025
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