We've reviewed plenty of Gamesir products in the last few months, and the story remains true throughout - great price, great quality, poor software. However, the Gamesir Nova, despite offering a Nintendo-focused design, has surprised me in more ways than usual, and offers a high quality controller that should put other companies to shame.
Thanks to Hall Effect sticks, a lovely looking design, and a premium feel, the Gamesir Nova respects your wallet and your hands, and while it may be focused on Nintendo players, it's easily a great option for those looking for a controller for their PC or smartphone.
The Nova isn't the only new controller that Gamesir is offering recently. The Gamesir Nova Lite, which looks remarkably similar to the Google Stadia gamepad (RIP), is slightly cheaper, but offers a standard Xinput-style design, which makes it easier to use for games on PC that prefer Xbox controller layouts.
When it comes to the Nova, the higher price makes for a sturdy design. The off-white color scheme works wonders against the purple ABXY buttons on the right hand side. It feels fairly light in the hands, but it doesn't feel cheap - not in the slightest, and it's built well with the shell sealed tightly. The controller comes with a USB-C cable, and a hard case-like shell that the controller can live in, which isn't the best of quality but a nice addition regardless.
When it's on, the Gamesir Nova offers RGB rings that sit around the analogue sticks. It's not an essential inclusion, but it looks nice and looks vaguely similar to something you'd find on the ASUS ROG Ally. However, unlike the ROG Ally, the Nova offers Hall Effect sticks, both of which feel responsive and are less prone to drift.
The Gamesir Nova can be used as a Bluetooth controller, a wired connection, or via a wireless dongle (more on that soon), but using it on my PC, I kept it as a wired peripheral. Using the Gamesir Nova on PC requires a bit of fiddling around via the Steam Controller settings, as it prefers the Xbox layout (so A is B, and vice versa). It's a bit fiddly, but worth messing around with for a few minutes for an easier experience.
All of the buttons on the Gamesir Nova feel very responsive, from face buttons, to the direction pad, and all the way up to the triggers. For first-person shooters or trigger heavy games, like my 100+ hours on Suicide Squad, the triggers require very little pressure to active. Unfortunately, much like Nintendo's Joy-Cons, the triggers don't offer much width, so I found myself slipping off them fairly easily. Interestingly, the controller also offers motion support, which is a neat addition.
Unfortunately, the only major issue is that the Nova doesn't come with the USB receiver, despite it being a big part of the marketing. Purchasing the Gamesir Nova Dongle will set you back a further £11, which is hardly a terrible price, but annoying if you thought you would be getting a dongle with your purchase.
However, my overall consensus is that the Gamesir Nova is a great purchase, with incredible value for your money. I'd suggest going for the Nova Lite if you don't want to mess around with the Steam Controller settings and don't mind a lack of RGB rings, but overall, the Nova offers high performance and great design, with hardly any problems.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!