The Nintendo Switch is already 5 years old! In the years since its release, many third-party developers have released their own take on the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. With the abundance of options in the market, it has become increasingly difficult to pick the right option. Recently, the folks over at Brook released their Brook Vivid Wireless Controller for the Switch. Brook’s latest offers a robust selection of features at an affordable price point. How well does it hold up in a market littered with choices? Let’s find out.
What’s In The Box
Opening the box for the first time, the Brook Vivid Wireless Controller includes a USB-C charging cable, controller phone mount, 2 sets of cat paw joystick covers, and a user manual. The manual is incredibly basic, providing 6 bullet points in multiple languages. A more detailed guide, right out of the box, would have gone a long way. Thankfully, they did include a printed QR code for more detailed instructions.
Contents of the box.
Two-Tone Two Options
The Brook Vivid Wireless Controller for Switch is available in two color options: Aqua and Sunshine. Both choices sport a dual color tone, accenting the main darker color with something lighter for contrast. Aqua sports a light blue center, contrasted with a white back and grip. The Sunset option inverts the dark/light scheme, with an off-yellow center accompanied by orange grips and black buttons. More color options would have added a nice touch.
Feature Rich Options
Many 3rd party Switch controllers typically lack functionality. Thankfully Brook’s controller has features found on Nintendo’s official offering. This includes the ability to wake the system from the controller, 6 Axis gyro sensors for motion control, and rumble. The 6 Axis motion sensing is responsive, and the rumble vibrations are incredibly strong.
Brook Does What Nintendon’t
In addition to the basic actions of a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, the Brook Vivid features additional functionality. Turbo mode enables rapid fire of any of the controller’s buttons. This mode offers three (3) additional frequencies, five (5) presses a second, ten (10) a second, and fifteen (15) a second. Turbo doesn’t just give players a competitive edge but also helps prolong the life of the controller itself.
Top view of the controller.
Paddle Up
Another addition not found on Nintendo’s official offering is the two back paddles, “AL” and “AR”. These paddles offer players the opportunity to tailor the controller to better suit their playstyle. When switched into Macro Recording Mode, any button combination can be pre-configured to either paddle. This can range from assigning a single button to a paddle, to any combination of 25 button presses.
Shooters Rejoice
Additionally, “AL” and “AR” can be used to modify the stick sensitivity. Efficiency Shoot Mode is another option that allows the paddles to be used to adjust the sensitivity of an analog stick. By pressing down on one of the paddles, the sensitivity of its corresponding analog stick will decrease. This allows for accurate aiming in shooters and other games that require more precision movement.
Additional customizable paddles.
Multi-platform Compatibility
The Brook Vivid Wireless controller was designed specifically for the Nintendo Switch, however, the controller is also compatible with PC and mobile devices. All the Brook Vivid’s additional features are fully compatible when played on PC or Mobile, making it a great option for services such as Game Pass or GeForce NOW. The included mount allows players to mount their phones to the actual controller. The phone holder itself feels a bit wobbly and may have issues holding larger phones.
Play For Days
Clocking in at 650 mAh, the battery life on the Brook Vivid controller is approximately 10-12 hours. While in comparison to Nintendo’s official controller, Brook’s offering does feature a much smaller battery. Throughout testing, the controller’s battery life claims held true to its word. In a real-world example, the battery lasted just a bit over 10 hours. Thankfully, the Brook Vivid controller does charge relatively fast, taking around 3-4 hours to charge from dead.
Not Without Qualms
While the Brook Vivid is a feature-heavy controller, it is not without its downfalls. The physical dimensions of the controller are noticeably smaller than the official Nintendo Pro Controller. This may result in minor discomfort for those with larger hands. Thankfully, the controller’s lightweight design does not feel cheap, but it doesn’t compare in quality to Nintendo’s official offering. It does however feel sturdier than other 3rd party controllers in its price range.
Front view of the controller.
We Have Control
Another minor annoyance is the controller’s D-Pad and Analog Sticks. The D-Pad itself is responsive and doesn’t present inaccurate presses, however, it is stiff. While its stiff nature doesn’t affect a tactile game such as Tetris, it does make fast button combinations, in most fighting games, incredibly difficult to perform.
The analog sticks also feel a bit slippery, which occasionally results in jaggy character movement. These gripes are not deal-breaking, but something to be aware of.
A Great Budget Option
The Brook Vivid Wireless Controller for Switch is a very serviceable 3rd party controller option. While the quality doesn’t compare to that of Nintendo’s official Switch Pro, it is on par with other controllers in this price range. The Brook Vivid retails for $40 and is available on Amazon, Stone Age Gamer, and Brook’s official website. For the Holiday 2022 season, the Brook Vivid Wireless Controller is currently on sale for $35.
A Brook Vivid Wireless Controller for Switch was provided for the purpose of this review.
