Tested both GameCube-styled Switch Pro Controllers I got for Christmas (pdp & PowerA). If you're wondering why two different makes is because my parents got me the PowerA one (the one I wanted) and one of my brothers got me the pdp one.
Both
- No rumble
- No amiibo reader
- Have the 6 buttons an official GameCube controller is missing (Minus, Home, Capture, ZL, left stick button, right stick button)
pdp
- Long wired cable
- Can switch the C Stick with a left stick styled stick
- Clearly designed for people with huge hands
- Plus/Minus/Capture/Home are a bit small and a little too close to each other
- Possibly the worst shoulder buttons I've ever used
- Meh D-Pad
- ABXY buttons need to be pushed deep
PowerA
- Wireless
- Requires 2 AA batteries, Will light up if in need of replacement (batteries are included in box)
- Almost identical to the official GameCube one in shape/build
- D-Pad is significantly improved compared to the official GameCube one (bigger and better designed)
- The ZL/ZR buttons (same place as GameCube's L/R) are "analog". Needs to be pressed down all the way to recognize the input
- The L/R (same as GameCube's Z) are deeper to press compared to official GC one (which I see as an improvement)
- Has gyro controls
Honestly, I would rank the PowerA controller on the same level as the Nintendo's own Pro Controller. I'm loving it that much. Easily the best third party controller I've even used, almost if Nintendo made it themselves (if it had rumble I'd call it perfect).
pdp controler is... okay. The bad shoulder buttons and the Plus/Minus/Capture/Home setup are really hurting it.
I tried the PowerA one on 4 games: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Brawlout, ARMS, & Splatoon 2
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate & Brawlout- Works as you'd expect
- ARMS- I actually loved using the official GameCube controller on this game (after remapping the controls) but the missing Switch buttons made it a teeny bit harder to use. The PowerA just makes it better now. Might use this controller from now on for this game
- Splatoon 2- This game is actually unplayable with an official GC controller due to it missing buttons. The PowerA Switch controller having the missing buttons (and the gyro controls help it) makes it playable. However, the button layout of GameCube doesn't really fit for Splatoon
So yeah, those are my thoughts.