Thank you Turtle Beach for sending us this controller to review!

I'm going to come right out and say it: this review is largely similar to a controller I reviewed just a few months ago, the Turtle Beach Rematch for Nintendo Switch. Since that controller's release, the Nintendo Switch 2 has been released, and some new designs have come out as well. This controller is functionally identical to that previous one, as they are both Rematch controllers. If you already read that review, to save you some time: this controller is Donkey Kong themed, and I think it looks *way* better than the other model, which already looked pretty great. While glow-in-the-dark is neat, this hologram-like tilt effect is even better looking, and it has that hologram texture feel that, if you've ever played with a hologram card, you know just what I mean. It looks and feels great, but it's otherwise identical to the other Rematch I reviewed. This new box does have a 'Works with Nintendo Switch 2' sticker on it. There is no 'C' button like Switch 2 controllers are starting to include.

This newest line of controllers is the first for Nintendo Switch from Turtle Beach, and it continues to follow in the legacy of PDP's older ones. The shape and design almost perfectly matches previous PDP controllers, right down to the shape and materials used. There is nothing wrong with that; if it isn't broken, don't fix it right? Like the previous lines, this controller lacks HD Rumble and Amiibo NFC reading, but is otherwise fairly full-featured.

Though to be fair, for many Nintendo fans, the appeal of this controller is not as much the functionality (though that is important) but the beautiful art that makes up this latest Rematch. I have the pleasure of reviewing this Donkey Kong model, and it is quite an appealing design. Donkey and Diddy are running through the jungle across the face of the controller, with trees and vines everywhere. The sticks and rear are black, and the buttons are a nice green color. The sticks' bodies as well as the extra rear buttons are a bright red, matching Donkey's tie and Diddy's hat. To top it all off, there is a neat-looking holographic effect, where you tilt it to see more or less details in the scene. It's a nice touch, and it looks great. It also feels a bit different to the touch since the hologram effect requires tiny lenses to show through, and you can feel that texture when you touch it.

As a third-party controller, it does lack a few features that the first-party ones include. This controller is less expensive than Nintendo's older Switch Pro Controller, but the price difference is less here than in the past, with that difference being only $10. If you compare it against the new Switch 2 Pro Controller it's much less expensive, though it lacks the new features of that model. As mentioned before, it is missing Amiibo NFC reading, HD Rumble, and the new 'C' button for Switch 2. Amiibo support is hardly a big loss, but HD Rumble is a bigger loss in my opinion. Unfortunately, this missing feature seems to be a condition of getting Nintendo's official licensing, so there isn't anything Turtle Beach can do about that. Fortunately, motion controls are available on this Rematch controller.

This Rematch is extremely similar to the older Afterglow lines, both the six-year old model and the one from last year. Both offer largely the same feature set, like two rear buttons and motion controls. This one lacks RGB lighting, instead opting for the Donkey Kong finish. If you set them side by side, the familial resemblance is certainly there. Last year's Afterglow Wave had a few small improvements, particularly with the bumpers and triggers that this Rematch strangely undid - this model takes after the six-year-old model's bumpers and triggers almost exactly.

You see, the bumpers are close together with the triggers, and the triggers themselves are quite small. What this means is that if you have larger hands like I do, you can't easily have a finger each on both the bumper and trigger at the same time. They had largely fixed this with the Afterglow Wave last year, but this one went back to the older (worse) design.

Outside of that, most of the controller is perfectly serviceable and otherwise quite similar to previous models, in that 'if it isn't broke' kinda way. There are ridged horizontal rings around the outside of the analog stick caps, with a textured crosshatched circle in the center of the concave ring. The buttons are largely similar, being membrane and somewhat loud. The rear paddles are identical to what last year's Afterglow Wave offered, other than a different texture. The plastic used feels reasonably high-quality all around, though I wouldn't say it's premium.

There is a very slight texture on the back of the controller, making it easy to keep a solid grip. The Afterglow Wave did have a more pronounced texture, but both get the job done. This controller uses a similar texture for the rear paddle buttons. The front of the controller, with Donkey and Diddy running across it, has that hologram scratchy texture to it like I mentioned before.

This controller has been flawless in use, as I would expect from a Nintendo-licensed product. (A lot of the cheaper controllers are not licensed and may have mixed results.) While unlicensed controllers have come a long way, and we have even reviewed some that work well for us, you just never know what you're getting. Some third-party controllers work well, while others have a hard time pairing or connecting when you want them to. The quality level is going to vary greatly with unlicensed controllers, where with this Turtle Beach, it's going to be reliable every time, or you can contact technical support if you have a problem. Sometimes reliability is worth that piece of mind of a licensed product.

One notable area of improvement with this new Rematch controller is in battery life. The older models promised about 20 hours. This one goes above and beyond, up to 40 hours. That is a long time for any controller; I'm very impressed.

The Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch (and Switch 2!) is a continuation of the long legacy of PDP's popular controller line for Nintendo Switch. While I am likely to grab the Switch 2 Pro Controller for single player experiences since I really love haptic feedback, for large group games like Smash or Mario Kart, this Rematch will join our existing PDP controllers as great options when we have a large group ready for some multiplayer action. It looks and feels great in operation, especially with that attractive new Donkey Kong design. If you wish to use them on a PC you can, but you need to connect them wirelessly over Bluetooth. Regardless, while the lack of rumble is regrettable, the Turtle Beach Rematch is a perfectly fine controller, if you don't need every feature under the sun. After all, Nintendo's own Switch Lite console didn't even include HD Rumble, so many gamers simply won't miss it - and if you love the attractive artwork, then there is even more to love. Recommended if you love the look or desire the extra-long battery life.