I have been on a bit of a Sonic the Hedgehog binge since I finally got around to recording Sonic playthroughs this year. Sonic Origins is coming out in a couple weeks, and I plan on picking it up so I can finally have access to Sonic CD. However, I wanted a good controller to use with that game, as well as some other Sega games that I have on my Switch (Contra Hard Corps and Castlevania Bloodlines, in particular). My arcade stick certainly would have worked better than the Pro Controller's crappy D-pad, but I wanted to branch out a bit.
I looked into the official Sega Genesis controller that Nintendo released for its online service, but that thing was a total ripoff at $50, not to mention the fact that it's the 3-button version and only woks with the retro games through the online service (not Switch games in general). I didn't pay for the ridiculous online expansion to gain access to Genesis games, so that idea went out the window.
I then saw comments on multiple videos saying that Retro-Bit had an officially licensed version of the Sega Genesis 6-button controller that worked with pretty much all Switch games and cost a lot less, so I decided to go with that. There are actually two versions: a bluetooth version and a 2.4 ghz version. I went with the 2.4 ghz version because it was easier to find on eBay, has less input lag, and the D-pad sits at the correct height (the bluetooth version has a raised D-pad due to the rumble motor). This thing is really cool. The packaging even looks like the original Genesis 6-button controller box.
It also comes with a handy storage case.
I tested the controller out with both Sonic Mania and Castlevania Bloodlines, and it works great. However, one annoying problem is that I cannot reassign the buttons outside of the limited options contained in the games themselves. Despite the indicated layout on the controller, the Switch views the A button as a B button, the B button as an A button, and Z and C as ZL and ZR, respectively. Nonetheless, this isn't too much of an issue because I can at least change the controls within the original options menu of some games and end up with a decent button assignment that works for me. But for purists who would only want to use the A, B and C buttons, this would be an issue. Perhaps the Bluetooth version allows for button remapping since it's not viewed as a USB controller by the Switch.
Also, I managed to watch both Sonic the Hedgehog movies, and I have to say I enjoyed them overall. I also picked up a box of the recently released Sonic cereal, though it wasn't easy to find since I had to rely on eBay. I had purchased a box of the Mario cereal a few years ago and wasn't very impressed. The Sonic cereal was actually better than the Mario cereal and was pretty good overall. So it looks like Sega just won the cereal wars. I'm keeping the box as a bit of a collector's item.
