I always play my Switch in handheld mode. It’s just easier for me, even though it often means a power cord tether is keeping me in place. Now that I started using the CRKD Switch Nitro Deck peripheral, I can’t get over how it improved my experience and alleviated issues I had with Nintendo’s Joy-Cons.
The Nitro Deck is essentially a grip and improved controller option for the system. It adds a little weight, width, and of course the performance updates to eliminate issues that might occur with the original Joy-Cons. Setting it up is simple enough. You pop your Joy-Cons off your system, you slide it into the deck, and it’s essentially installed. As it connects via USB-C, the system is recognizing it as though it is a Pro Controller, and you set it up in the menu as such.
There is an option to remap some of the buttons. As a default, the four back buttons on the deck, two on each side below the L and R triggers, also are tied to the L, R, ZL, and ZR triggers. I found it so handy that I left them as-is. With the way my hands ended up positioned when I played and the size of the triggers here, it was more comfortable for my middle fingers to rest on those to hit ZL and ZR. But having the option to adjust those as needed helps with the comfort.
Given I’ve just been using a Nitro Deck with my Switch OLED for about two weeks now, it’s impossible to see just how well it eliminates Joy-Con drift. However, I did put it through the paces with a number of games. I went through Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, two titles that tend to require exact precision when I play and that fell victim to my past Joy-Cons’ issues. The Nitro Deck felt incredibly responsive, and I never had any issues with controls in any games. In fact, as I was playing Star Ocean The Second Story R with it, it actually felt easier to take part in my longer sessions when I’d grind characters or do lots of crafting.
Honestly, it was the weight and grip that I tended to like most about the Nitro Deck when using it. It does make the Switch OLED a little heavier. However, it’s a comfortable weight. The thumbsticks are in good positions and, while I was fine with the ones that were in place when it arrived, I appreciated that I could swap those out if I felt I needed to. The thing is that the standard Switch and Switch OLED models sometimes feel like they dig into my hands a bit when I play for extended periods of time. The degree and angle really starts to hurt my hands, especially my left and right thumbs. But while I was playing some really intensive games while using this accessory, like My Time at Sandrockand Star Ocean The Second Story, I didn’t face that issue. It was sturdy. It never moved. It felt comfortable. Plus, it didn’t feel like the battery drain due to it relying on the USB-C was too much, and I still think I was charging it at the same frequency as before.
I really appreciate what the Nitro Deck does for the Switch OLED. It really is a comfortable accessory option. It added a little extra weight and grip that I appreciated. It also felt responsive when used with a wide range of titles. It feels like it could be a really sturdy and reliable option for people who want a little heavier, thicker grip and a potential assurance that one of the Switch’s major issues is remedied.
The CRKD Switch Nitro Deck is available now.
