Our Verdict
The Pikachu and Peely controllers look fantastic and play even better, being comfortable to hold with highly-receptive buttons. The cases, meanwhile, offer adequate protection and even come with a foam mold to fit your Switch Lite.
As much as I love my Nintendo Switch, I can’t deny that I much prefer standard gamepads to the Joy-Cons; the fact that they tend to have less drift is certainly a bonus. So, when PowerA offered me the opportunity to check out a nice Enhanced Wireless Controller with a Pikachu design and a rather adorable case for my precious console, I jumped at the chance.
I’m no stranger to PowerA accessories, as my Ms Chalice controller review indicates, so it’s fair to say that I was expecting quality, given how much use I’ve gotten from my precious Cuphead controller over the past couple of years. It turns out I was right, as once again, PowerA shows that it knows what it’s doing.
Before I get into the technicalities of the controller, I need to say that this might be the most adorable bit of kit I’ve ever used. Look at it. The design is cute beyond measure. You can never go wrong with Pikachu, but the Pokémon mascot is looking extra adorable, gnawing on a cherry in the left-hand corner of the gamepad, with vines and flowers adorning the rest of the accessory, featuring a rather nice pastel color scheme. Blue, pink, and white blend together perfectly for a pristine finish.
The controller feels nice in my hand, being the perfect size and weight for lengthy gaming sessions. Being someone who plays games on multiple systems (Switch, PS5, and Xbox), I find it nice to have controllers that resemble each other, making it easier to switch between platforms without having to reacquaint myself with a specific bit of kit.
While I love my snazzy Ms Chalice controller, it does require batteries, which isn’t the case with Pikachu, as it’s a wireless gamepad you need to charge instead. So, how well does it hold its charge? PowerA claims that you can get up to 30 hours out of it before you need to give it some juice; the company is right.
I put the controller through its paces with a week of annual leave, during which I wracked up more than 60 hours on Pokemon Scarlet alone, never mind dipping my toe into other games, too. During that entire week, I only needed to recharge the controller once, taking about an hour. It’s not like you need to stop playing while it charges, either, as the gamepad comes with a three-meter long cable, giving you plenty of give and reach for you to play. There’s no need to worry about pulling the dock off the cabinet or anything.
One thing that can quickly turn a seemingly good controller into a disappointment is the buttons, but PowerA’s Enhanced Wireless Controller features highly responsive buttons that spring right back; there’s no need to worry about them getting stuck. While the button layout matches your typical Switch controller, the two mappable buttons on the back of the gamepad are comfortable to reach and easily accessible. At no point was my finger straining to touch them. Instead, they’re nestled behind the controller, placed just where your fingers are as you hold the gamepad – they’re very convenient to use, though aren’t necessary for what I play.
The analog sticks also work perfectly, with no signs of drift, and the grip on top of the sticks keeps your thumbs from slipping. All in all, while not revolutionary, PowerA has knocked it out of the park again, offering a comfortable, well-designed wireless controller that suits the needs of any gamer.
So we’ve established that I love the controller and consider it to be the best Nintendo Switch controller I’ve used, but what about the case? Like the gamepad, it boasts a pastel and floral color scheme with Pikachu nomming on a cherry. Of course, no matter how cute a case is, it’s futile if it can’t protect your Switch. I have to admit that it’s sturdier than I was expecting, offering adequate protection. The PowerA Protection Case also comes with a foam mold that allows you to snuggly fit your Switch Lite in the case without worrying about sliding about, making it one of the best Nintendo Switch carry cases out there.
Like many cases, it has storage for your game cards. It can’t hold as many as my other case, allowing for only nine cartridges. However, the storage doubles as a screen protector flap for your Switch, so I can’t grumble too much about not being able to store an obscene amount of games.
As wonderful as the Pikachu items are, my colleague Sam Comrie got his hands on the Peely variant of both the case and controller, though he also got a pair of wired earphones to complete the Fortnite-inspired set. Here’s what he thinks of PowerA’s items:
“For Fortnite fanatics out there, PowerA’s assortment of Peely-themed accessories are equally as impressive as Pikachu’s presence. While wired earbuds aren’t for everyone, Power-A’s affordable alternative to some of the best Nintendo Switch headsets are surprisingly great. Backing up any firefights in FPS games with a nice balance of thumping bass and purring mids, my fears of them amounting to not much more than a pair of tinny earphones were quickly offset. The microphone leaves a little to be desired clarity-wise, but it easily gets the job done.”
“I’ve been storing these inside the wonderfully vibrant Peely Switch case, too, which handily includes a foam mold to help keep your Switch Lite sturdily placed. Of course, the real highlight is PowerA’s wireless Peely controller. Although its main difference is the design, its hefty weight and comfortable size makes the transition from something like a DualSense controller far more approachable. ”
As you can tell from my and Sam’s experiences, we highly rate PowerA’s Pikachu Garden and Peely line of devices. If you’re in need of some new Switch accessories, I highly recommend you give these a try. The controllers are comfortable to hold, look fantastic, and are highly responsive, while the cases offer great protection, and the earphones get the job done.
If you decide to get the Peely items, we think it’s safe to assume you’re a Fortnite fan, so why not go and give our Fortnite skins and Fortnite llama guides a read?