As you will see in the following pics, the RetroCON looks something like an updated NES pad. The simple rectangular shape goes against every bit of ergonomic reasoning behind most of today's pad. However, while the aesthetic is decidedly old school, the features are as contemporary as any. You still get two analog sticks, analog buttons, digital and analog modes, and dual vibration motors. Hell, the designers even threw in backlighting, which shines through slits in the D-pad, action buttons, and start and select buttons. The RetroCON is not a perfect pad, but the combination of performance and style make it a damn attractive model. And if you are simply looking for something different, then you should check out the pad as soon as you can.
Many of my coworkers thought the blocky controller would be uncomfortable or impractical. However, as soon as anyone picked it up they realized that the controller is actually very comfy. The feel is much different from the typical Dual Shock 2 design, but it is totally natural. The only feature that takes some getting used to is the shoulder buttons. There was no room for the standard upper and lower layout, so Mad Catz set them inward and outward. You can use your fingertips for all four shoulder buttons, but I prefer to use my fingertips for the inner set ones and the pad of my first finger joint for the outer.
The rest of the layout is fairly standard. The main action buttons are set in the familiar diamond, the analog sticks are set in the middle, and the D-pad is far to the right. The RetroCON has a very compact feel to it, although it is not much narrower than a normal Dual Shock 2-style pad. Some of this comes form the fact that the individual components are scaled down. For instance, the analog sticks are much smaller than the official ones.
Mad Catz gets a nod for designing some of the best analog sticks on any controller, third party or otherwise. Most importantly, there is plenty of resistance behind the short folks. Companies often make nice sticks and then mount them incredibly loosely, which renders them useless. These are stiff and have a healthy tension to them. They are also very nicely shaped. The tops are a bit small, but the scallops in the middle hold the tips of your thumbs very well. The rubber coating is also first rate.
The main action buttons are much like Sony's but have a snappier fell to them. They are extremely fast and well calibrated. During racing games I was able to control the gas very accurately and in general I found the performance excellent.
The only downside to the RetroCON is the D-pad. It feels much like the pad on the GBA SP. It has a low profile and a very clicky feel. I actually like this design, but the D-pad is poorly calibrated. The problem? You have to push it much to hard in order to get a reaction from your character. Before playing with it I thought the case would be the opposite. I assumed that such a digital feel would translate to immediate action and precise control. Unfortunately, the amount of energy it takes to use the D-pad makes it sluggish. For this reason I would not recommend the pad if you play primarily fighting games. If you mix genres, then you are fine. However, you fighting maniacs might be seriously disappointed.
It might sound silly, but I really didn't want to write that last paragraph. I wanted to like the RetroCON so much that I almost tricked myself into thinking it was beyond reproach. I still love it, but the D-pad is a glaring problem on an otherwise excellent pad.
The shoulder buttons are tricky. I do not think the horizontal orientation is as efficient as the traditional vertical mounting. However, some of this is no-doubt due to the fact that I am accustomed to the later. I did get used to it, but I had to get used to it. Know what I mean? I also understand that this layout was a necessity given the basic design of the pad.
The most surprising element of the pad is the vibration feedback. Somehow the designers were able to fit twin motors in the thin controller. The size of these motors makes for a very high frequency rumble. It feels more like a cell phone or shaver than a videogame controller, but it is definitely noticeable. If you like a heavy duty rumble to your games, then this one might disappoint, but it will be more than adequate for most gamers.
Conclusion
I like the RetroCON very, very much. I can't play my beloved Hawk games quite as well as I can with other controllers, but the RetroCON offers a neat combination of originality, aesthetics, nostalgia, and performance. This makes some of the negatives somewhat forgivable. As I said in the introduction, it is not a perfect pad. However, it offers what few others can and for that it deserves credit. With hope we will see future updates to this solid debut from Mad Catz.
Recommended.