It’s been eight years now since the release of the Nintendo Switch. Given how the Switch was (initially anyway) premised as a device with all sorts of potential for controller connectivity options, it’s a bit surprising there aren’t more options for alternate shells. Despite being late to the game, iMP has made a fairly exceptional arcade cabinet for the Switch, with a nice, colorful casing supplementing neat ergonomic features like a cartridge holder in the back and a toggle to allow the control stick to switch between d-pad, left analog stick, and right analog stick to maximize compatibility for games with non-arcade controls.
Retailing at $89.99, initially the price for this device might seem a bit steep, particularly since you need a Switch to play it with, not included. But since you only need the core Switch unit, and not any of the peripherals, hypothetically you could get an iMP arcade cabinet Switch for even less than a normal one. You just need to make it clear to the friendly employees at your local neighborhood gaming store that you only want the core unit, not the joy-cons or dock. Ah, but do make sure to ask them to use some joy-cons to bypass the Switch’s incidental set-up first.
That’s what I did, eccentric that I am. So, I was shocked and a little upset when I realized that the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro didn’t work. Initially. For what exact reason I still can’t quite figure out, even when properly put together, sometimes the Switch simply won’t recognize the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro. I suspect the issue might have something to do with the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade’s own battery needing to be charged, but according to iMP, this battery is only used to allow the controller to wake the Switch from sleep mode.
In any case, the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro works fine now. That’s just my recommendation if you find yourself in my situation- plug the unit in for awhile and see if that helps it sync up. Anyway! The real big question about this device is- how does it play? And I can confidently say that the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro handles quite excellently. I’ve never been a big fan of control sticks, probably because I grew up gaming with control pads and could never get the diagonals to work right on a stick. But the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro makes a very satisfying click in any of the eight directional positions. The buttons feel great too- lag is nonexistent, although that much might just be because the design of the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro means you have to use the wired option. Don’t forget to turn that on in settings, incidentally.
The bigger draw to this device than the quality of the controller itself, though, is how the Switch’s new, unusual shape changes how you play with it. You have to put it on some sort of surface, even if that surface is just your own chest while lying down. This restriction is a bit of a blessing in disguise. While the full Switch with joy-cons isn’t exactly heavy, it is cumbersome enough that holding it in your hands can get to be a bit tiring after extended play, especially with games that have long sequences of voice acting and cut scenes. When decked out as the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro, the screen is easier to see without needing to be manually held up.
This design isn’t too different from playing the Switch on a stand with a regular pro controller. The iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro just feels a lot more ergonomic, since when put together, it’s a single unit. No needing to worry about losing any of those pesky individual pieces. And speaking of individual pieces, the cartridge holder in the back is a great addition for any old school gamers who have been picking up loose Switch cartridges here and there without boxes.
The iMP Mini Arcade Pro doesn’t really do anything that you couldn’t already do with existing Switch peripherals. Its main selling point is simply being able to keep a quality controller, stand, and a dozen cartridges permanently attached to a core Switch unit, with the whole package being large enough you’re unlikely to lose track of it. And of course, the little cabinet just looks adorably cool- neat for guests to look at, even if the iMP Mini Arcade Pro’s design isn’t that well-suited for local multiplayer.
You must be logged in to post a comment.