As you know, Pac-Man is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. And, yes, we’re old. But still, PowerA is tooting its horn in style with some sweet new Pac-Man themed accessories. We previously reviewed the awesome Pac-Man Xbox controller and carrying case. But now we’re looking at another cool accessory, the Pac-Man Neon Arcade controller for Nintendo Switch. And it’s a doozy that fans won’t want to miss.

Like its Mario Peek-a-Boo controller before it, this peripheral benefits from some cool Lumectra effects. You can choose from different lighting modes to bring the neon-themed unit to life. This includes some rad maze effects that were missing from the Xbox controller, giving it a radiant glow.

Looks aren’t everything. But, fortunately, PowerA delivers on performance yet again. The controller feels very comfortable, particularly with the triggers. What’s more, the joysticks are durable and Hall-Effect enabled, so you won’t have to worry about weardown. And there are programmable buttons on the back as well.

Some may wonder about the $65 price tag this controller brings, since it’s right up there with Nintendo’s own Pro Controller. But for fans of Pac-Man – or peripherals with sweet glowing effects – this is well worth going waka-waka over.

The Power Is In the Pac-Man

As I stated, the big draw about this controller is its lighting effect, powered by Lumectra tech. With this, you can switch between various lighting modes. This includes a spotlight-style effect like the Mario Peek-a-Boo controller used. It highlights portions of the map in a neat little “search and destroy” effect. If you prefer, however, you can go with my favorite. That’s where the entire Pac-Man map glows in various, beautiful colors.

Like the Mario controller, this one has certain limitations while it’s charging. But no matter, you can still use it like a charm.

The general design of the controller is cool, too. There’s a nice combination of black and yellow here, and the neon designs of both the character and logo are cool. That, coming together with the lighting effects, make this a standout in a crowd of third-party knockoffs.

The controller comes with a convenient charging cable, which plugs right into the Nintendo Switch unit. It also works with the same cable used by Pro Controllers, so if you don’t feel like swapping them out, you don’t have to.

I do prefer the Xbox controller a little more in terms of nostalgic appearance. That said, however, it’s much prettier to look at during evening sessions. And it’s just the controller to use when you’re digging into Namco Museum. Not bad at all.

So How’s It Perform?

As far as how the controller holds up, it’s on the same level as the Peek-a-Boo controller. I wasn’t disappointed in the least.

The big surprise here is how the buttons feel. The triggers and shoulder buttons are actually excellent, with that perfect “mushy” effect. They’re great for first-person shooters, as well as racing games.

I’m also a fan of the programmable back buttons, which you can use for additional comfort. I particularly like setting them up for auto-fire on some of my favorite “shmups,” like the recently released Sonic Wings Reunion. It takes a little bit of practice, but you’ll soon find it to your liking.

As for the joysticks, they come with Hall Effect, which means very little weardown. They were responsive in the games I tested them with, right down to precision movement. Alas, the D-pad is a bit stiff, but that’s expected on controllers such as these.

The $65 price tag may be a bit much for some. However, nostalgists and die-hard Pac-Man fans will definitely feel the love for this one.

Connecting the Dots

Even without Rumble or the keen arcade design of the Xbox controller, the Pac-Man Neon Arcade peripheral for Nintendo Switch is a hit. The light-up effects are outstanding, and the performance is mostly up to par, save for an average D-pad. Plus the programmable buttons and easy charging capability make it a winner for arcade fans.

If you’re sticking with the original Nintendo Switch for a while longer, this controller should fit smoothly into your collection. We all know how Pac-Man likes to stand out in a crowd after all these years.

GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5)

Thanks to PowerA for sending along a sample of the controller! You can get yours here for Nintendo Switch! It works on PC/iOS as well!

Want more reviews of Nintendo controllers? Check out our take on the NYXI Hyperion 2 wireless controllers and the NYXI Warrior controller!