Comfortable gaming position?
The placement of the analog sticks is fine. Your thumbs rest in a relaxed way and the controls feel very intuitive and natural. In this they are not inferior to the analog sticks on Nintendo’s Joy-Cons. We also did not encounter any problems with drifting, which is a big plus. The four shoulder buttons can be operated with two fingers. Due to the hexagonal design of the PB Tails Choc, your index fingers fall exactly at the right angle. Admittedly: it takes some getting used to to operate the shoulder buttons in this way, but within a few jars you have mastered the operation.
Initially, the controller gives the idea of being a comfortable alternative for anyone with a Nintendo Switch, the console on which the gamepad has mainly been tested . But unfortunately, cracks quickly arise in that experience and a fundamental problem arises: you can’t play well with it. Of course, a controller is different for everyone. That is why we have also called in people from the immediate vicinity, looking for additional experiences. Everyone concludes the same: it’s a cool looking controller, but the design gets in the way.
Buttons too close together
The four action buttons on the right are too close to the edge. As a result, your thumb is often in an uncomfortable position. Three of the five buttons in the center, presented in a V-shape, are also difficult to reach without physically moving your hand. In many cases you touch the analog sticks that are positioned too close to those buttons. For example, if you want to use the Turbo button, you have to lift your hand and make an arc with your thumb, otherwise you will not reach it properly. This is a case of form over function and that works against the Choc.
Because the Choc is so thin and narrow, you can use your ring fingers and pinkies don’t go well. They are a bit in the way. It’s a shame that such problems come to light, because the PB Tails Choc has nice properties. Think of motion-sensitive controls and clearly perceptible force feedback. In addition, you can activate your Switch with the controller, which the Pro 2 from 8bitdo cannot do, for example. Installing is also done in no time: you connect the controller with a USB-C cable to your Nintendo Switch, after which it is immediately registered on the system.
Who is the controller for?
Gamers who sometimes playing games on a smartphone or laptop and taking those devices with you on a trip may benefit from the compact factor of the PB Tails Choc. The manufacturer supplies a small case (including USB-C cable) as standard in which you store it. The package takes up little space and can be a solution for people who game on the go. But that is too small a user case and a very specific situation, which also does not make the negatives disappear. Even for this amount you can better leave Choc.
The Choc is a bluetooth controller from game startup PB Tails. That company was founded in 2020 and released various controller accessories, among other things. With the Choc, the manufacturer is venturing into its own controller after a successful Kickstarter campaign, which took more than six months to develop. PB Tails calls its controller revolutionary, because it “combines aesthetics and functionality”. Despite fine words, the Choc has a fundamental problem.
The four action buttons on the right are too close to the edge. As a result, your thumb is often in an uncomfortable position. Three of the five buttons in the center, presented in a V-shape, are also difficult to reach without physically moving your hand. In many cases you touch the analog sticks that are positioned too close to those buttons. For example, if you want to use the Turbo button, you have to lift your hand and make an arc with your thumb, otherwise you will not reach it properly. This is a case of form over function and that works against the Choc.
Because the Choc is so thin and narrow, you can use your ring fingers and pinkies don’t go well. They are a bit in the way. It’s a shame that such problems come to light, because the PB Tails Choc has nice properties. Think of motion-sensitive controls and clearly perceptible force feedback. In addition, you can activate your Switch with the controller, which the Pro 2 from 8bitdo cannot do, for example. Installing is also done in no time: you connect the controller with a USB-C cable to your Nintendo Switch, after which it is immediately registered on the system.
Who is the controller for?
Gamers who sometimes playing games on a smartphone or laptop and taking those devices with you on a trip may benefit from the compact factor of the PB Tails Choc. The manufacturer supplies a small case (including USB-C cable) as standard in which you store it. The package takes up little space and can be a solution for people who game on the go. But that is too small a user case and a very specific situation, which also does not make the negatives disappear. Even for this amount you can better leave Choc.
Gamers who sometimes playing games on a smartphone or laptop and taking those devices with you on a trip may benefit from the compact factor of the PB Tails Choc. The manufacturer supplies a small case (including USB-C cable) as standard in which you store it. The package takes up little space and can be a solution for people who game on the go. But that is too small a user case and a very specific situation, which also does not make the negatives disappear. Even for this amount you can better leave Choc.
