Is the Switch Pro Controller a "necessity"?

[SolarInferno]

Just wondering because I just bought a Switch bundled with the Joy-Con pair, and I've noticed that the Pro Controller is being bundled with Splatoon 2, and I'm not sure whether it's a necessity for those type of games, especially because I've bought it mainly to play Monster Hunter Generations:U when it comes out. Is the Pro Controller simply a QOL extra, or from people's experience, does your experience significantly suffer if you try to play some games on the standard Switch's controller?

 

[Katelyn]

It’s deifnitely not a necessity, more of a preference. The joy con work perfectly fine for games like splatoon, especially if you use the controller attachment that’s included

 

[amazonevan19]

It's not a necessity at all. I used the joycons on the controller attachment for ages until I got a USB connected controller I mainly use now. But I still use the joycons when I play my switch on the go because the USB controller only works on a docked Switch.

The pro controller is nice and all but I can't justify the expense when the joycons and my cheaper USB controller work just fine

 

[MilkToast]

i personally love the pro controller, i feel like the joycon joining thing nintendo gives you is not comfy atleast compared to the pro controller

 

[ILikeFroakies]

It's not a necessity but it is a good a accessory you can get

 

[Loriii]

If you're going to play your Switch mostly docked or in tabletop mode, I'd say it's essential. Apart from being extremely comfortable to use, you'd save yourself the headache of having to deal with loose default joycons in the future (cause by taking/sliding them in and out of the unit whenever you play). It's nice to have an extra pro controller or another pair of joycons, whichever you like.

 

[SolarInferno]

Thanks for your answers guys, think I'll wait and see how it goes first, and maybe buy it at some point in the future if I find it difficult to get on with. I'll probably want to use it mainly in portable mode most of the time anyway, as I'm not really one for playing stuff on the big screen unless I've got friends around.

 

[TykiButterfree]

I find the joycons weird and uncomfortable to use so I bought one of the wired ones with Link on the front. The ones with pictures on them are less expensive than a pro controller, but it doesn't have a rumble feature or an amiibo reader on it. It kind of stunk in Mario Odessy because a few of the mini games rely on the rumble feature. I just switched controllers for those spots since Switch changes from tv to handheld pretty easily.

 

[Markiemania95]

I wouldn't say it's a necessity, but I definitely wouldn't have enjoyed most of the games I've played anywhere near as much without it, namely Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 2 and Sonic Mania.

 

[LaBelleFleur]

It's definitely not a necessity, but I personally prefer using the pro controller over the joy-con for the majority of games. It's more comfortable in my hands (especially for long play sessions - I find the joy-con a bit too small for long-term comfortable play), the rumble feels good, and feels more like a 'real' gaming controller, if that makes sense.

It depends too on your play style - do you mainly play with it docked, or do you play out and about? I do both, but I would never take my pro controller with me to play - I just use the joy-con for convenience and to save space in my bag.

 

[koopasta]

I'd personally say it's not. Pro Controllers can be expensive, and they're just not convenient for me. I personally use what was included with my Switch, playing it both docked and in handheld mode. I personally use the grip that was included and never had trouble. I've played Splatoon 2 just fine with it. I store my switch and accessories (minus the charger/dock) in one of Nintendo's licensed cases, and there's no way a pro controller would fit in one, if that's an issue you may have.

 

[Hellfish]

Initially I purchased a USB connected controller after hearing the joycon controller was uncomfortable. I then initially used my controller until my younger brother got a switch and said the joycon controller thing was actually really nice (although he just holds his joycons separately...), so I gave it a go and I have to say it feels really good. I could easily use either option but I use the joycons now simply because my USB controller has no vibration feedback, which I really like when playing games (for the immersion ^-^ )

So yeah I think the joycon thing is perfectly fine and one would only need to buy the controller after they've got the switch if they find the joycon holding thing uncomfortable.

 

[Rose]

Not a necessity or else they would have included it. The joy-cons are perfectly functional and the console works alone as any full-price console should. Perhaps not as full-featured and 'comfortable' as the Pro Controller, but that's kind of a luxury on top of a luxury; completely expendable, but nice if you can afford to go the extra mile (on top of the price of the Switch).

 

[SolarInferno]

It's definitely not a necessity, but I personally prefer using the pro controller over the joy-con for the majority of games. It's more comfortable in my hands (especially for long play sessions - I find the joy-con a bit too small for long-term comfortable play), the rumble feels good, and feels more like a 'real' gaming controller, if that makes sense.

It depends too on your play style - do you mainly play with it docked, or do you play out and about? I do both, but I would never take my pro controller with me to play - I just use the joy-con for convenience and to save space in my bag.

Yeah I guess since I tend to prefer to play it in hand held mode rather than docked I'm better just sticking with the joy-con controllers for now. Think I may need to invest in either a pro, or one of the wired controllers if I'm playing for longer times, because I think my hands will probably get cramp if I play for any great length of my time, as the joy-cons feel pretty narrow for my thumbs.