For every Sony ‘Dual Shock’ controller, there are five ‘Dual Force’s. If you see one Nintendo GameCube game pad on the shelf, you’ll most likely encounter a ‘SuperPad’. Yes, it seems that every console is accompanied by a myriad of third party controllers, most of which are sub-par replicas with little difference in design. While it is apparent that MadCatz attempted to do something a little different when designing the MicroCON, the controller follows the ritual of shoddy craftsmanship and focus.

The MicroCON was clearly designed for the GameCube’s younger demographic. The controller features smaller buttons, triggers, and analog sticks that are all squeezed together thanks to the pad’s shrivelled layout. While the MicroCON has a longer cord than Nintendo’s standard pad does, it also has both a bigger d-pad and handles, which sort of defeats the purpose of constructing a controller for those with tiny hands. One thing MadCatz has continuously implemented successfully with their latest slate of third party controllers would be the rubber grips on the handles. Though some may view the grey ridges as a cheap add on, they do help prevent the controller from slipping out of one’s hands. It should also be mentioned that the controller features a second shoulder button (opposite the Z trigger) that has a macro function.

Unfortunately, MadCatz’s latest creation also comes up short when it comes to the quality of the pad’s various buttons and analog sticks. Thanks to the contracted size of the face buttons, the average gamer above the age of ten should be able to simultaneously press all four buttons with merely the top half of his or her thumb. One of the controller’s main downfalls would be the quality of the analog triggers. Any GameCube owner should understand the importance of how much resistance a GameCube pad’s triggers gives, as too much or too little resistance would definitely ruin functionality of the digital button within the trigger. Not only do the MicroCON’s analog triggers give too much resistance, but it seems they grate against the plastic mold of the controller itself, thus hampering the use of the two triggers for games that require precise pressure to the buttons.

Finally, the controller’s main (left) analog stick does not only lack rubber or any other kind of surface that would provide any relative friction, but it doesn’t even feature a design that would. The top of the main analog stick is made with the same material as the majority of the buttons on the controller and features a design that looks more like a small nipple than anything else. This results in having your left thumb slip off the stick multiple times within less than a minute, something that really detracts the experience from many games.

Overall, I couldn’t recommend this controller to anyone other than people trying to get their children into videogames, or those who enjoy collecting oversized novelties for their keychain.