PowerA’s Advantage Wired Switch 2 Controller is worth your consideration

Are you loading up Mario Kart World at every given opportunity? If so, I’d like to inform you that you can do just that in significantly more style. That’s where the PowerA Advantage Wired Controller comes in, a new officially licensed controller that perfectly pairs up with the brand new Nintendo Switch 2.

I’ve been using the controller for the last week or so, and I can quite honestly say that I cannot fault it. Whether it’s Mario Kart World, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, or Disney Villains Cursed Café, the Advantage Wired Controller has suited my needs perfectly when I don’t want to play in the traditional handheld way; let’s face it, the Nintendo Switch 2 feels pretty heavy after a while. Anything that can alleviate that whilst still allowing you to continue on is something to take note of.

It’s that reference to style that I want to elaborate on first and foremost. The PowerA Advantage Wired Controller comes in three designs: Mushroom Kingdom, Mario Time, and Black. It’s the Mushroom Kingdom design that I’ve been using, so it’s the only one I can speak on. I have to say, it’s stunning. If you’re a fan of the Mario franchise, you’re going to want this one in your collection. The pastel coloured design features all of your favourite characters, from Princess Peach to Yoshi. In fact, I’d go as far as saying that this is the prettiest controller in my collection, and I’ve used a wide array over the years. It’s as vibrant and charming as Mario Kart World’s open world, extending that colourful exuberance into my hardware.

Yes, all of the functions you could possibly hope for are here. As this controller has been made specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2, it features a C button, so you can easily launch GameChat without having to switch over to your Joy-Cons. While this may not be a ‘pro’ controller, it does come with two mappable buttons on the rear allowing you to get a taste of what the pro realm has to offer. These can be switched out at any time, and the feature is something I found endlessly helpful in Mario Kart World because you often find yourself doing a fair few things at once.

There are contact-free magnetic sensors in the thumbsticks which, according to the controller’s official description, offer “a more fluid pro-level feel” and I’d say that’s wholly accurate. Every input on this controller felt fluid and easy; I never met any resistance or encountered any clunkiness. You can also control your audio headset via this bit of kit.

My favourite feature may just be the fact that the PowerA Advantage Wired Controller comes with a 10ft cable. We’ve all seethed when you’re forced to sit right in front of the TV due to a short cable; I’m looking at you DualSense. You won’t have that problem here, so you can plug in your controller and sit wherever you wish.

Perhaps most importantly, you’re going to want to know about pricing. The PowerA Advantage Wired Controller costs an extremely reasonable $39.99, and it’s worth every penny. It’s a lightweight controller so will it stand the test of time? That I cannot say at this point, but considering the price of competitors, you’d be hard pressed to find better value for money than this.

Reasonably priced, comfortable, high quality, and wonderfully designed, the PowerA Advantage Wired Controller really does have everything I could possibly hope for.

A review sample was provided by PowerA.