Mobile gaming is bigger than ever. We frequently talk about it here at Talk Android, and we've even listed some of the best ways to game on your smartphone and what controllers you should be using.
But there's a new entry into the controller space. The PB Tails CHOC Bluetooth controller is something that, at first glance, looks pretty wildly different from everything else on the market, with a retro aesthetic mixed with a touch of modern sleekness.
We're taking one for a review to see if it's worth the asking price.
Weird design
You can't talk about the CHOC controller without talking about its design. It's weird. Very weird.
It almost looks like a handful of modular, straight lined blocks that fit together to form a radical modernist shape, with some buttons slapped on the front.
And that's basically what it is. You still get a full suite of buttons and analog sticks, including a somewhat decent D-Pad, two sticks, ABXY face buttons in Nintendo's style, four shoulder buttons along the top, and a start/select combo on top of two function buttons for navigating system menus and taking screenshots. A turbo button finishes the list.
The bottom of the controller houses a simple LED indicator to let you know what player slot your controller is connected to, and there's a USB C charging port up top next to the sync button. You can play wired with that port, or just use it for charging depending on your preferences.
It looks neat, I think, but it's sharp edges can be a little off-putting considering the controller seems to want to be a retro controller. It's also definitely not ergonomic and comfortable, especially if you're using the analog sticks.
Retro only, please
So let's talk about actually playing with this controller.
First up, I launched Fallout 3. Not too modern, not too old, but should test out all of these buttons and sticks and layouts. Spoiler: this wasn't a great experience.
I very much prefer asymmetric analog sticks, like what Microsoft uses, but I'm not against Sony's layout. The DualShock 4 was a solid controller, and my limited experience with a DualSense has been equally pleasant. The CHOC ain't a DualShock. Those sticks are way too close together, and they're generally just not great to begin with. Aiming is tough and they're uncomfortable for anything that requires primarily resting your thumbs on a stick, like any modern shooter. I'm not even going to talk about having four shoulder buttons placed horizontally across the top of the controller.
Okay, back to a classic. Donkey Kong Country 2, a game I know extremely well, should make a solid retro test. Don't need the sticks, but you'll still need some decently quick reaction time to navigate some of the trickier jumps and waves of reptiles coming at your monkey pals. This wasn't bad, actually.
Not only did holding the controller mostly by the D-pad and face buttons move my inner thumbs off those sharp button edges, but it was overall just much more comfortable to use. The D-pad is a little squishy, but it's serviceable, and the face buttons are good. This was a pleasant experience that I could see making for an easy enhancement to your smartphone with a single light gadget.
Everything else
Everything else about the controller is actually pretty good. It's widely compatible with most devices, including the Nintendo Switch, your smartphone, a Raspberry Pi, a Windows PC, whatever. Battery life lasts forever, despite packing in two rumble motors, which is actually pretty rare for these controllers. USB-C recharging and a 2 hour charge time means you can hop back in your game pretty quickly, too.
It comes with a turbo button that's easy to use, and there's even gyro aiming if that's your thing. It even comes in cool colors! You can't fault PB Tails from cramming a ton of stuff into this controller.
But I just don't like it as a controller. It's not comfortable to hold, and anywhere from $39 and up depending on your desired configuration, with optional upgrades for a case and cable bundle or engraving, each costing $10 extra. Sure, engraving your controller is cool, and I love having carrying cases for these things, but for around this price you can snag a very good 8BitDo controller. The Pro 2, for example, is $49, and while it's not engraved it is extremely ergonomic and fantastic all around. That's hard to beat.
It looks cool, and if you're sticking primarily to retro titles or simpler games, you might be happy with the CHOC controller. For anyone that's trying to play Call of Duty on their phone, well, you should probably buy this one for the collectibility, then look elsewhere for your real choice.
PB Tails CHOC controller | $39 | PB Tails
