The Crkd Nitro Deck was a salvation for the original Nintendo Switch. The $59.99 slide-in accessory brought Hall-effect bars to drift-riddled consoles; No need to open your Joy-Con for complicated repair. The Nitro Deck 2, made for both the original Switch and The larger Switch 2 continues the tradition of having better sticks than Nintendo puts on even the newer Joy-Con (although these aren’t Hall Effect or TMR). But I don’t feel it as essential and there is one thing I really can’t stand.
It’s too difficult to use the Nitro Deck 2’s ABXY face buttons without the right stick getting in the way. The stick-to-button layout is a big step down from the original Nitro Deck (and especially bad compared to the symmetrical Steam Deck-like stick layout on the video output-ready Nitro Deck Plus). I’m surprised the Crkd team thought this was an improvement. My patience with the racing based game in echo weaver It’s already proven enough, and trying to quickly make entries into Deck 2 only adds to the frustration.
Your preferences may differ, but I like to have a little breathing room between the right stick and the face buttons. Some companies choose to space them out or, in the case of the Switch 2’s Joy-Con, make the device small enough to allow my thumb to pass over it so I can press the buttons. Deck 2 makes me adjust my thumb approach angle outside of what is comfortable for me. It’s just a few millimeters away.
The slide-top design of the original was swapped for a grip design to ensure compatibility with newer and older Switch consoles. The Deck 2 has a rotating mechanism on the back that you can loosen, tighten or lock. It’s smart, although the trade-off for broader compatibility is a design that feels inherently less secure. Crkd is asking Switch 2 owners to put a lot of faith in this mechanism holding firm on their $500 consoles. My Switch 2 didn’t wobble during testing, but I’d rather not have to think about its safety when I play. I would have preferred a slide-out design for Deck 2 made expressly for the Switch 2.
It’s disappointing that Crkd’s Joy-Con replacement solution isn’t as good because I like some things better than the original. For example, the accessory has adjustable tension on both levers, so they can return to their original position faster or slower than the preset speed. Additionally, the accessory’s bulkier design makes the console more comfortable in my medium-sized hands for use in handheld mode. It also has a ton of customizable buttons: four on the back and an additional one near the triggers.
Photography by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge
