The Retro Fighters Hunter is a fierce wireless OG Xbox controller, but I'm torn on whether its too much like Microsoft's modern gamepad

I’ve got to hand it to the Retro Fighters Hunter, as it makes the difficult choice to pay homage to the OG Xbox S controller over the Duke. That inherently means trading a funky, far larger design that will reel in fans of Microsoft’s first console on novelty alone, but your hands will thank you. I’d go as far as to say that focusing on remaking the smaller sequel rather than the oddball original has helped the pad claim the OG Xbox controller throne, especially since it has few rivals out there.

As a matter of fact, the Retro Fighters Hunter is seemingly the only wireless OG Xbox controller out there that will work with Microsoft’s retro console. Yes, Hyperkin has its own remakes, but both the Duke and “DutchesS” stick with just USB. Had either pad included a 2.4GHz receiver just like the Retro Fighters contender, the officially licensed gamepads would be running in the same race. Alas, there’s no easy way to get these would-be rivals connected to the 2000s system, meaning the proverbial hunter has no prey.

The main draw with the Hunter is undoubtedly its OG Xbox compatibility, but it doubles up as a PC controller. Unlike its Retro Fighters StrikerDC sibling, you’re getting an extra USB 2.4GHz receiver in the box, which means it can also be judged as a contemporary gamepad. Whether you’d want to use this pad to tackle your modern-day backlog comes down to how much you like Microsoft’s original controller blueprint, as this accessory feels like the core vision has come full circle.

Latest Videos From

Watch full video here:

Back to Xbox basics

It’s easy to assume that taking the Xbox S controller and streamlining it further would effectively result in a 360 gamepad. Instead, the Retro Fighters Hunter pretends the sequel system doesn’t exist and builds upon the original pad premise. Amusingly, taking that alternate design path leads to something that feels like a modern-day Series X/S accessory, but looks distinctly like it belongs next to the 24-year-old console.

Some really obvious face elements help the Hunter hold onto that OG Xbox S controller DNA. The first is those black and white buttons that never made it out of the sixth generation. Both inputs are heavily used across the console’s back catalogue, so including them is a no-brainer, but they also serve as a visual queue that instantly says “that’s an old Xbox pad.”

Subtler elements, like the smaller face buttons with wider spacing, also contribute to the old-school Xbox vibe. The approach isn’t unique to the OG S pad, as after Microsoft ditched the absurd oval buttons of the Duke, it stuck with the size for the 360. If I’m going to be really pedantic, the yellow, blue, red, and green colour scheme and the layout have Sega Dreamcast ancestry, but the important thing is that Retro Fighters has taken the translucent, vibrant parts of the Xbox pad and replicated them with respectable accuracy.

Image 1 of 5

I’ve already spoiled that the shell ergonomics are more like a Series X/S controller than the OG Xbox S pad, but there are nods to the past. The Hunter sadly doesn’t carry on the Wu-Tang logo-shaped grooves, but there is a perimeter ridge that adds definition around the centre. The grips also extend out the back, similarly to the original, albeit with altered thickness and bulk since it’s using different triggers, extra shoulders, and ditches the memory card slots.

Cutting the memory card slots has a knock-on effect when it comes to the Hunter’s design. It means there’s even less bulk around the back, allowing for identical, wider triggers to the Series X/S pad and plenty of free space for your middle fingers to hang. Cutting back on the original’s plastic also contributes to a much lighter feel, which could be construed as a bad thing since in the context of an all-plastic shell.

I personally have no issues with the Hunter’s 290g weight, and it’s certainly heavier than many other retro controllers I’ve tested. In reality, it’s also pretty much the same as the modern Xbox Wireless Controller, with the difference being that AA batteries add just a smidge more heft that weighs it downwards. Effectively, if you think it feels too light or plasticy, you’ve probably not held a stock Series S/X pad in a while.

Image 1 of 2

The Hunter really does ask “what if Microsoft kept OG Xbox gamepad elements?”, but I’d argue that it mainly does so for functionality purposes. Retro Fighters tends to stick with contemporary shells when crafting back-compatible gamepads while sprinkling in some aesthetic nods and workarounds. For the most part, the approach words, although there are usually some functionality caveats that will matter to specific players.

A terrific tribute to transparent tech

Focusing purely on aesthetics beyond the colorful buttons for a moment, the Hunter’s real link to Xbox past is its choice of translucent colorway. Sure, you could go for the basic black version that will match most standard consoles out there. Or, there’s the transparent green version based on that Halo Special Edition system that tends to go for over $400 today.

Woe is me, but I sadly own the vanilla Crystal Edition rather than the Halo console, but the Hunter still feels like it’s made for the system. The slightly frosted transparency and the plastic texture are all a nice match for the OG hardware, not to mention the 2.4GHz receiver sticks to the dress code.

Back in 2002, I had a translucent Mad Catz wireless controller that theoretically should have tied in with my Xbox console. The fact that it was completely see-through is what ultimately spoiled the vibe there, so I’m glad Retro Fighters understands that attention to detail is required to nail the look. That said, the crummy third-party pad did have a memory card slot on its oversized dongle, and that brings me nicely to one of the Hunter’s minor pitfalls.

Look, Mom, no memory card

I know some purists will think the Hunter’s lack of memory card slots is a travesty. For what it’s worth, I enjoy when original elements are retained, but at the same time, I get why Retro Fighters left them back in 2001. Simply put, you don’t need it to store game data since the OG Xbox has a hard disc drive, and the accessory’s original purpose was transporting saves between systems.

Where Retro Fighters has potentially dropped the ball is with the Hunter’s receiver, as it also doesn’t feature virtual memory abilities. This is something I’ve become accustomed to by way of 8Bitdo’s Retro Receivers and Blueretro wireless adapters, as both dongle brands double up as memory cards for consoles like the N64. This would have solved any functionality gripes with the lack of memory cards, since it would let you migrate saves, negating the need for an elaborate solution like the StrikerDC’s VMU dock.

That latter Dreamcast pad pretty much has to retain VMU support for gameplay reasons, although I’d argue it’s a core feature of the system too. In contrast, the Xbox memory cards were just a last hurrah for the genre of accessory, and while it was handy if you wanted to take your save to a friend’s house, I don’t think the Hunter absolutely had to mimic functionality. Plus, if you’re that into preserving original features, you’ll probably have a wired pad to hand that will fulfil your needs.

Slick sticks for aging shooters

You probably guessed that the first game I jumped into with the Hunter in hand was Halo 2. The sequel shooter serves as an instant indicator for whether the fancy new hall-effect sticks boast the right sensitivity and calibration for console shooters, and strutting around as John Halo Master Chief feels nice and smooth.

I should be clear that the Hall-effect sticks aren’t solely responsible for the Hunter’s comparative slickness. Unless you’ve got a box-fresh original Xbox pad, a controller from the 2000s with potentiometer gimbals, and stocks that have been grinding plastic on plastic will always feel rougher. Since the sticks still feature a traditional plastic edge that rubs against the shell bowl, the Retro Fighers pad may even end up suffering from a slightly similar fate over time, but it will ultimately be saved by its magnetic innards.

The pitch is that hall-effect tech will save you from stick drift, but it also provides a more glidey feel to the stick movement itself. It’s a pretty subtle effect, one that’s presumably the result of fewer bits inside that require contact, so you might not even notice. Alas, as someone who’s been testing controllers conventional and odd for 30 years, it’s something that stands out when frantically gunning down the Covenant.

I’d boil down the sensation as feeling like you’re using a modern pad with the right button placement to play janky shooters in this instance. I love playing this era of FPS games on authentic hardware, but there’s no denying that playing at 30fps with something that feels fresh is slightly odd. I wouldn’t even say that’s a bad thing, more just something that highlights the juxtaposition of playing old games with new pads.

Naturally, I also fired up DOOM 3, and darting around Mars fending off the hordes of hell felt similar on the Hunter. Given the choice for longer playthroughs, I’d absolutely opt for Retro Hunters’ pad purely for the modern ergonomics and nicer triggers that don’t make a fire engine chorus of spring sounds when rapid firing (looking at you, Duke). At the same time, having the shoulder buttons tricked my brain into thinking I was playing the BFG version for Xbox 360, which ultimately made the black and white buttons feel redundant.

There are two wolves in me forever raging over whether to use modern or original controllers with retro consoles. They certainly ended up scrapping during this review, and it’s largely due to the Hunter feeling like an Xbox Series S/X controller clone. This stood out particularly when playing through my shooter collection, not even in a negative sense, but in a way that served as a constant reminder that I was using a pad made in the modern age.

Great across all genres

There’s far more to the Xbox than pew-pewing, and the Hunter needs to be at least competent across all genres to be worth recommending. I’m delighted to report that the pad does indeed shine across my pretty diverse collection, albeit with one initial snag highlighted by the platformer that made me beg my parents for Microsoft’s contraption.

Kudos if you guessed I’m talking about Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee, as Abe’s 3D sequel was indeed a personal system seller. The Hunter almost broke my heart upon repossessing the Mudokon, as I found that it was nearly impossible to get him to sneak. Even the gentlest press on the left stick would have him casually walk, and in a dystopian capitalist hellhole ruled by armless aristocrats that want to eat you, that’s bad juju.

Thankfully, simply using the on-board calibration feature, activated by holding the back reset button and A+B, remedied the issue. The narrow deadzone wasn’t noticeable when playing the likes of Halo 2, but this is why I play every game in my collection when testing retro controllers. I’m just happy that Abe won’t end up being the latest “New N Tasty” menu item due to weird stick sensitivity.

I’m not trying to be funny, but “Retro Fighters” doesn’t always make gamepads suited to fighting games. That’s certainly the case for the StrikerDC Dreamcast controller, which has a six-button D8 sibling with a design tailored for the genre. It’s for that reason I was initially worried the Hunter would become the prey in some of my favorite throwdowns, but the circular d-pad saves the day this time around.

In the grand scheme of things, the Hunter’s D-pad is far from perfect. It’s a copy of the widely regarded Series X/S disc that swaps the microswitches for membranes, and its convex design is slightly shallower, too. Both those elements make it feel comparatively mushy, but I was still able to Spiral Arrow my way through Marvel Vs Capcom 2 as Cammy far easier than when playing the Dreamcast version with the StrikerDC.

That is to say that the Hunter d-pad is serviceable for rolling inputs, but I prefer the slightly freer feel of the S pad. The difference isn’t a deal breaker, don’t get me wrong, but it’s clear that the focus is on 3D controls more suited to the OG Xbox era. I do think there was a little bit of room for tweaks to make this a better fighting game pad, like dialling in the d-pad and even making the black and white buttons slightly taller for throwing light punches and kicks. Still, you’ll certainly get by using this controller for the console’s fighters without encountering any unforgivable sins.

The Dead or Alive games are an OG Xbox staple, and the d-pad works well in the 3D fighter, too. I know many of you do use the thumbstick for the Team Ninja romp, so it’s perhaps not the same as when wrestling with Capcom combos. Nevertheless, the Hunter will serve you well across the trilogy, and if you’re playing Volleyball, I’m sure the controls won’t distract you from serious sports mechanics.

I’ll tail my testing thoughts off with racing games, as the OG Xbox has quite a few gems. In everything from Burnout Revenge to Project Gotham, the Hunter served as a reliable wheel with great handling. If it weren’t for the fact that I was playing on a CRT, the controller could have easily tricked me into thinking I was playing modern ports. That’s partly thanks to the uncanny Series S/X gamepad feel, which is a positive since it dodges the sensation of just playing using a modern controller.

On that note, I did put the Hunter to work as a modern PC controller, and it more or less felt the same as a modern-day Xbox pad. Upon popping in the USB wireless receiver, Steam Input will detect an Xbox 360 gamepad, meaning it won’t automatically map modern functions like the share button. The good news is you can manually set the black or white buttons to cover that, or even just use them as shoulder alternatives for fighting games.

A Hunter’s serviceable stamina

I’d feel compelled to strip the Retro Fighter’s Hunter of its alpha controller status if its battery life were subpar. It’s an unforgivable sin when there’s no way to charge the controller from the OG Xbox itself, and I’m slightly irritated that the dongle doesn’t have power output since Microsoft’s proprietary ports can output 5V.

In any case, I got around 12 hours out of the Retro Fighters Hunter before reaching for my external USB charger. That’s roughly the same runtime as every other wireless Xbox controller in my life, so I’m content with the runtime its 500mAh is providing. My testing sessions did involve playing games with lots of rumble, where possible, and messing around with the intensity settings, which may have shaved some practical time off. If you want to preserve some juice, you could use the rumble intensity macro (left stick up or down + right arrow button), but I can’t guarantee it’ll go for significantly longer.

Should you pick up the Retro Fighters Hunter?

It feels like the Retro Fighters Hunter should have more OG Xbox wireless gamepad competition. However, while it is alone on the battlefield, its excellent modern ergonomics, paired with era authentic face buttons, mean it’d still be in the running for the best OG Xbox controller crown. I’d even argue that this is one of the best gamepads by the brand out there, beating the StrikerDC on overall feel.

I am slightly torn on whether an OG wireless Xbox controller should be directly lifting elements from Microsoft’s modern pad. The triggers are nearly identical, and the sticks would be too if it weren’t for the subtleties of hall-effect tech. It’s clear that Retro Fighters wanted to avoid pigeonholing this pad by enabling it to serve as a modern-day PC accessory, hence the extra 2.4Ghz USB adapter, but had all the focus been on the accessory’s original console functionality, we’d be looking at a retro controller with a perfect score.

That doesn’t mean the Hunter isn’t my top wireless pick for the OG Xbox, it’s more that I’m wondering what could have been. Some refinements to the shape to give it an authentic edge, squeezing memory card support in somewhere, would make this fantastic controller spectacular for the sixth-gen systems specifically.

As always, my desire for a wireless controller that feels almost like an Xbox S dupe is subjective. Some of you are going to dig using the extra shoulders on the Hunter rather than the black and white buttons, and players who are used to modern-day ergonomics will have less interest in replicating the curves and angles of a pad from yesteryear. There are also some sickos who’d happily trade wireless comfort for something just as menacing in the hands as the Duke, and honestly? I respect that.

Prefer to play classic capers on the go? Swing by the best retro handhelds for portable emulators and more.