Should You Buy the 8BitDo TG16 2.4Ghz Wireless Controller for the Turbo; Grafx 16 Mini?

In this video, we unbox and test out the 8BitDo 2.4GHz Wireless controller for the TurboGrafx 16 Mini.

8BitDo has been making wireless controllers for a long time. One of the original reviews I produced for the channel was about the 8BitDo wireless controller for the NES Classic Edition, and since then I've checked out a ton of their products. When I heard that 8BitDo was creating not one, but three, wireless controllers for the TurboGrafx Mini, I wanted to check it out.

When I mention there are 3 variants of their wireless controller, there's one each patterned after the TurboGrafx 16 controller (shown here), one after the Core Grafx, and one after the PC Engine. Each one takes design cues from the original model's controller, but each one also has their own unique take. One of the biggest is the replacement of the Turbo Slide Switches with turbo buttons. Instead of using the same button for single fire or rapid fire you have a dedicated turbo button. The advantage of this is you can use turbo when you want OR use a single button press when you want, and you don't need to deactivate the turbo function.

As cool as the turbo button is, it seemlingly lacks the original's adjustable fire rate. While it is not covered in the manual, you CAN actually change the rate of rapid fire on the controller itself. Simply hold down the Select, II, & I buttons at the same time for 5-seconds to adjust the turbo speed. I don't know why this wasn't in the manual, but it's a pretty big miss by 8BitDo.

The shape and size of the controller is a little different than the originals. It is a bit smaller than the OG controller, but the back also has a different shape and profile than the originals. I don't know that I like this change, as the original is really comfortable and I like the humps on the back. While the overall size is smaller, the D-Pad and buttons feel pretty similar and are quite responsive.

But how does it play games? First of all, like most 8BitDo controllers, it's pretty darned responsive. I didn't feel like I was feeling any sort of lag or delay while playing. Battery life is really good, but I will say I wish the charge port was a USB-C connector instead of Micro USB. The range is listed to be 30-feet, and while I never went that far I never ran into any range issues. Finally, for convenience, the controller was pre-paired to the dongle.

Why it RoX:
- 3 Styles to match or complement your system
- Turbo functionality
- Under $30
- Decent responsiveness
- Good build quality
- Also works with Nintendo Switch

What could be improved?
- Instructions don't tell you how to change turbo speed
- No visual indication of actual turbo setting
- Change in ergonomics may not suit all
- Micro USB charge port instead of USB-C
- Power button should be labeled
- 8BitDo has never once responded to any communication, so I have little faith that, if I have an issue, I'll be able to get help

Should You Buy One?
If you absolutely want to have to go wireless with your TurboGrafx 16 Mini, at this time, this is about the only way to go. That means by default it is the best way to go if you want to go wireless. That being said, I don't feel that this is superior to the original USB controllers at all, except for being wireless. If I take my TG16 Mini into my living room to play, I'll use this as I'd sit further than 10-feet from the console to play. Beyond that, I'll stick with the stock controller myself. I think it is more comfortable, and I also prefer the slide-switch setup for turbo vs the dual button setup.

#8BitDo #TurboGrafx #Review

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

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