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I find myself longingly looking at 8Bitdo's authentic gray N64 controller more than I'd like to admit. However, I've just discovered that if you try to look up the gamepad at Amazon, it won't actually appear in the storefront's search results. Therefore, this is a PSA to confirm it does exist at the retailer, and I'll be jealous if you pick one up.
The specific listing you'll need is the 8BitDo N64 Bluetooth Controller for Analogue 3D for $44.99 at Amazon. I'm not entirely sure why it fails to pop up when you use the search bar, and it feels like the retailer only wants to show you the white version right now. So, if you've been looking at what I'd call the best retro controller for the Nintendo 64 available right now, you now know where to look.
I should point out that the gray version is the same gamepad as the 8Bitdo N64 controller I reviewed just before the Analogue 3D arrived on the scene. It's a wireless pad that was technically designed to pair with the new 4K FPGA remake first and foremost, but it will also easily connect to the Switch, PC, Android devices, and even your original Nintendo 64 using a wireless adapter.
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The specific adapter I use for my Nintendo 64 happens to be a Blueretro Bluetooth dongle that costs around $10 at Aliexpress. It will actually let you sync up four pads to your console for a cheeky Golden Eye session, and having spent hours testing 8bitdo's pad with the accessory, I can confirm that it works a treat. I wasn't able to sniff out any noticeable latency, and the setup honestly made my HDMI-modded N64 feel more like a budget Analogue 3D.
Admittedly, there isn't a shortage of modern N64 gamepads out there, and $44.99 is steep for a controller with one stick. What I will say is that as someone who's spent many years using third-party Nintendo 64 controllers with Ninty's best retro console contender, emulation setups, and the Switch Online Library, it's honestly the next best thing to the real deal.
If anything comes close, I'd say it's Hyperkin's hall-effect joystick I recently used to mod my official N64 controller. It boasts similar accuracy to the 8Bitdo pad in terms of reading and sensitivity, but I reckon the Analogue 3D's accessory edges just that bit ahead. Both certainly feel nicer than Ninty's Switch Online pad, which, while serviceable, does miss the mark in terms of accuracy.
As we gear up for The Legend of Zelda's big 40th Anniversary, I imagine plenty of you will want a fitting gamepad to revisit your favorite Hyrule outing. The gray version is really just for aesthetics since it's got the same iconic blue, green, yellow, and red buttons as the N64 you grew up with, whereas the original white and black versions are primarily just to match Analogue's new 4K machine.
If you're a kid of the '90s with an affinity for transparent tech, you might be pleased to hear 8Bitdo has also made see-through versions of its N64 controller to match limited-edition systems like the upcoming Analogue 3D "Prototype" range. Those versions and the previously released "Funtastic" editions are still in stock for $44.99 despite being apparently released in "limited quantities", so you'll want to check those out too before they potentially dry up.
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