Hardware Review: PowerA Fusion Pro - A Customisable Pro Controller Rival With A Steep Price - Nintendo Life

Despite being available the same day the Nintendo Switch hit store shelves back in 2017, the official Pro Controller remains the interface of choice for the many people who prefer to play docked – and with good reason.

It's a comfortable controller with decent battery life and support for a robust range of features – including HD Rumble and NFC, the latter of which allows you to use your amiibo figures in-game.

PowerA is, of course, no stranger to the video game peripheral market, and has already produced several decent budget control options for Switch (some of which are officially licenced by Nintendo itself).

However, its Fusion Pro controller is entering a rather more upscale market and looks set to challenge the official Pro Controller more seriously than any other rival.

The Fusion Pro comes with a removable 'Pro Pack' on its rear, which contains four paddles that sit beneath your fingers as you hold the controller.

Mapping buttons is a breeze – you simply hold down the button on the back of the controller until the white LED on the front starts flashing, then you tap the button you want to map before finally pressing the paddle you wish to map the button to.

It all works really well, but if you don't think you'd find this of use then you can simply unclip the 'Pro Pack' and fit a blanking plate in place (in fact, we'd advise this if you're not going to use the paddles, as they do tend to get in the way if you're not using them).

You can only pipe audio through the controller when it's set to wired USB mode (selected via a switch on the back of the pad) and connect to the Switch dock.

The rubberised texture on the underside of the controller is brilliant and really aids grip.

Overall, the Fusion Pro feels sturdy and well-made, while the buttons and sticks are responsive – the low-friction rings which surround the analogue sticks really do make a difference, as gimmicky as it sounds.

The D-pad is also great to use and, in our opinion, is slightly better than the one on the official Pro Controller.

NFC also doesn't make the cut, and this will definitely hold the Fusion Pro back in the eyes of people who like scanning their precious amiibo figures for in-game bonuses (although you could argue that this process can still be done, you just have to use your Switch Joy-Con instead)?

Unless the idea of customisable parts and remappable rear paddles excite you, then it's likely that you're going to be better off with the official Pro Controller, which not only includes HD Rumble and NFC, but is also cheaper than the Fusion Pro, too!

Still, PowerA should be applauded for attempting to offer the same specialised interface experience as companies like SCUF Gaming – even if the Pro Controller and 8BitDo's superb Pro 2 remain better options for casual players.

Rumours that he turned down a role in The Hobbit to work on Nintendo Life are, to the best of our knowledge, completely and utterly unfounded.

Button customization is always a plus, though I haven't run into a game yet where I need it, and the Switch let's you do that already, yes.

I don't think this is a bad product at all, just not something I need right now?

100 bucks for a controller with no rumble.

For now, I'm just hoping for a Monster Hunter Rise Pro Controller restock, or perhaps some other Pro Controller variant (as I'm indifferent to the MH:R design).

Dang Nintendo, can you just give me wireless audio yet?

Its too pricey to be missing features like rumble really.

if it had HD rumble this would be really tempting.

@BloodNinja I haven't had a chance to test that yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if it acts like a standard USB controller when using the cable.

Plus, it's missing rumble and I need rumble when I play mario kart.

I’ve been looking everywhere for a controller that offers this capability?

This looks exactly like the controller from Alibaba/AliExpress.

How does someone make a controller for £100 and only make the D-pad slightly better than the pro controller.

There's just no need for this thing when it isn't feature complete?

Could someone please tell me the VERY BEST Switch wireless controller for D-pad gaming?.

I've just finished Super Metroid using my Xenoblade limited pro controller, and the D-pad is waaaaay off.

It is shaped like a PS controller more than a Switch controller but the D-pad is great and is in prime position for 2D side scrollers, Tetris 99 etc.

I was ready to buy, assumed it had rumble.

All those buttons, that you don't need, but no rumble and no nfc.

Is it something about infringing on Nintendo patents or something.

@Moistnado I think Nintendo has an unspoken contract that no third party controller can have all pro controller features.

As a big lover of the Xbox Elite controller I’ve been trying to find a good substitute for the Switch.

On the topic of rumble I must say I’ve been getting very salty about it lately.

I’ll never forget the first time I blew up Andross’ factory in Star Fox 64 and it felt like the controller would rip outta my hand.

A game has some level of rumble associated with it

And it’s just too damn much in my opinion

I have lost track of the number of times I’ve set a controller down to watch a cutscene and the damn thing just rumbles itself off a table

With the length of cutscenes in some of these games do they really expect me to hold on to the controller the whole time

Hold a little rumble stick that shakes every time John McClain goes pew pew pew

The wireless on I have drifts uncontrollably, and the wired one is just really cheap with crappy sticks and a terrible d-pad

No HD Rumble I get

Nintendo has that tech locked

But no rumble at all..

For that price without rumble and an extremely inconvenient headset connection, I think I'll pass

The Switch Pro Controller has become my go-to for PC gaming and I don't want to lose out on gyro aiming, but I would like the back paddles for games that require extra buttons like a fully modded Skyrim

@Zaphod42 you can use an 8bit duo adapter and map your Elite controller to your Switch

You can plug nearly any controller into it and then put the adapter into the Switch, PC or PS3 and can use that controller

I bought him an official pro controller at the weekend, he’s gonna be very pleased

And this is the code you'll need..

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