If you think back to 2021, you might remember how PowerA set out to light up our gaming lives with the Spectra controller. This officially licensed pad looked pretty much the same as your standard Pro Controller on the surface, but was capable of displaying an LED light during gameplay.
All in all, it was a pretty handy device, though its corded requirements kept us tethered to the TV in a way we didn’t quite like. ‘A wireless version sure would be nice’, we thought to ourselves all those years ago. ‘PowerA should really look into it.’
Well, would you believe it, the controller wizards just went and did it. Catchily named the ‘Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch with Lumectra’ (we’ll just call it ‘Lumectra’ from now on) it offers all the colorful LED customization of the Spectre, but in a wireless package. The question is, have these changes paid off?
After practicing Lumectra last week, we are pleased to say yes. Those looking for a third-party controller with a bit of pizzazz need look no further than this, albeit with the knowledge that the wireless world isn’t cheap and that not all the fancy features of the official Pro Controller are present and correct.
We’ll start with the neon elephant in the room. Lumectra lights up in a way we thought was only possible for a Christmas tree. With four different LED zones, 24 colors to choose from and three lighting modes, the controller offers literally thousands of color combinations to set up the pad however you see fit.
The ‘Zones’ are a particularly nice touch, allowing you to choose different colors in four different sections of the controller. Of course, there’s a certain amount of color ‘bleed’ between closer areas (for example, the left analog stick and the upper left corner), but compared to the Spectra’s one-color approach, the customization options here are huge.
We enjoyed fine-tuning our chosen colors to best match the primary palette of the game we were playing, although you could just as easily settle for your favorite color or change things up to suit your preferred atmosphere. If you are a fan of those boujees Phillips Hue lights that turn your living room into neon walkways Cyberpunk 2077then this is probably right up your alley.
Installing the LEDs is easy enough once you get the hang of things. After connecting the controller, you’ll need to press the dedicated LED button on the back and navigate through a series of button entries, each corresponding to a different command for the light.
With so many combinations of colors and modes, it can be very important which button does what (face buttons have a corresponding initial color, the D-pad controls light zones and brightness, triggers grouping commands, etc.). However, after studying the instructions for longer than we wanted, things started to become clearer.
It’s all a bit of fun — something that actually caused ‘oohs‘and’Ahhh‘ while we were setting it up — though, much like Spectra, we couldn’t help but wonder who actually needs a feature like this. Without sounding too much like a #ProGamer, we don’t look at our controller too much while gaming, and we bet you don’t either. It’s fun setting things up and enjoying getting the perfect green/purple combo to match your Donatello Shredder’s Revenge gameplay, but while we were playing, we forgot about the neon light emanating from our palms.
Of course, Lumectra is not only light show, and the pad offers a decent number of features besides a nice profile. The rear mappable ‘Advanced Game Buttons’ let you program your inputs on the fly to perform tricky moves more efficiently, and the full motion control capabilities are another welcome addition — even if it’s becoming a thing of the past for third-party controllers these days.
The design is comfortable to hold, and the anti-friction rings on the analog sticks help keep things under control even during moments of sweaty palms. Like many PowerA products, the Lumectra feels very similar to Nintendo’s Pro Controller in the hand. There’s a little more resistance in the buttons on the front, the triggers are a little smoother and the joysticks are positioned a little higher than the faceplate, but overall, this is the same tried-and-true design we’re all comfortable with. In fact, we might even go so far as to say that Lumectra’s wands are touchable marginal better than the Pro Controller, with a slight height advantage that makes things super smooth — although we’re very picky with our personal preferences there.
However, this isn’t a Pro Controller, and those who want the full range of fancy features found in Nintendo’s official offering won’t find them here. Similar to the Spectra, the Lumectra controllers come without rumble and NFC support, making scanning amiibo unnecessary while playing in docked position. The 20-hour battery life is also relatively short compared to the Pro Controller’s estimated 40-hour offering — although the long three-foot charging cable makes it somewhat easier. Not the most game-changing features, but at $59.99 (about $25 more than the wired version), we wondered if any extras would be added.
PowerA Lumectra Review – Verdict
The PowerA Lumectra Switch controller delivers exactly what it says on the tin (waiver. The controller does not come in a box). This is a comfortable alternative to the Pro Controller – minus a few features – that offers a fun customizable innovation in its LED options and mapped back buttons. The first, ‘headline’ feature seems a bit useless in practice, but it’s still a solid addition for those concerned with aesthetics. It’s nice to see the Switch getting a wireless option after seeing the potential of 2021’s Spectre, though the increased price makes the missing features even more pronounced. The Pro Controller is still the best way to go for dropouts.
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