I’ve had more than a month with Nintendo’s GameCube controller, and it’s basically become an extension of my hand. It fits like a glove, and I’m more than happy with it. InterAct has shipped me their new SuperPad controller for the GameCube. This is the same exact controller thousands of people will be getting in their pre-ordered package deals they did with some retailers. Will people be happy, or will they be screaming at the people that work at Electronic Boutique? I put the SuperPad through the motions, and here are the results.

At first glance, there are a couple differences between the SuperPad and the stock Nintendo GameCube controller. First off, size. The SuperPad is a little bigger, wider, and has longer prongs. The directional stick and the C-stick are larger, and indent inward instead of outward. The D-pad is now replaced with a circular pad that has raised areas where the directional would be. In an odd switch, the Interact Pad kept the kidney bean shape of the B button, as well as didn’t raise the X and Y buttons. They’ve also added a switch to turn off the rumble.

I decided to test the controller with two games: Rogue Leader, and Wave Race: Blue Storm. Rogue Leader is still rather new to me, and it requires using multiple buttons at the same time, and Wave Race just has precise control.

Since the prongs are longer and the controller is slightly wider, it instantly feels different than the Nintendo controller. It feels kind of like you are holding a N64 controller but if you put the analog stick where the D-pad was. The directional stick and C stick are a little looser than Nintendo’s stick, and took me a while to adjust to it in both Rogue and Wave Race. The directional stick can actually be pressed down a bit like a button (like the PS2 controller) which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. The A,B, X, and Y buttons and the Control disc/pad feels fine, and even though the B button shape is from the Pre-E3 prototype, it didn’t feel a whole lot different in game. The L and R shoulder buttons are a little smaller, yet have good tension. One major improvement I felt was the Interact Z-trigger which clicked a bit more. On the Nintendo controller sometimes it’s hard to tell if you pushed it, and Interact’s felt a little stiffer, which I liked.

Overall, the SuperPad is a decent option to the Nintendo’s own controller. It performs well, but does take a little while to get used to the size. It’s a basic, no-frills pad lacking programmable features and turbos. But you get what you pay for. With a $19.99 price tag, it’s a whopping 15 bucks cheaper than Nintendo’s controller. With that saved money, you can pick up a memory card, or treat yourself to 3 cases of Mountain Dew. If you’re a gamer on a budget, and need to get a couple controllers for your friends, the InterAct SuperPad is an adequate, inexpensive alternative.