While my NES Classic has gotten shoved aside more recently (hello, Switch!), I had a grand old time with that little system, despite the weird controller restrictions. So, I was excited to check out the My Arcade GamePad controller to potentially beef up my NES Classic enjoyment with a wireless controller. Unfortunately, I was never really able to get the wireless controller to work consistently. Throughout my wireless playtime with the My Arcade GamePad, my controller repeatedly lost sync, especially if I had any sort of interference in between the console receiver and the controller. When I was closer to the system it didn’t have the same issues, but that kind of defeats the purpose of having a wireless controller, especially with the NES Classic.

Probably the best thing about the My Arcade GamePad is that it also came with a 10-foot extension cord that could be used effectively to extend any compatible controller. The ergonomics of the My Arcade GamePad aren’t quite the same as the original NES controller, but it’s comfortable enough to be a satisfactory way to play your Mario Bros. and your Zeldas on the NES Classic. The My Arcade GamePad also has a built-in way to access the main menu of the NES Classic remotely, which is a noted improvement from the included controller.

While I had spotty success with the wireless function, I don’t think the My Arcade GamePad is a terrible controller. If you’re okay with dealing with a 10-foot cable instead of wireless freedom, it’s a solid alternative from the standard NES controller. If you can find an NES Classic, maybe try to, at the very least, get one of My Arcade’s extension cables.