Hyperkin "Ranger" Premium Wired Gamepad for Atari 2600 / RetroN 77

This is really well built and nicely ergonomic. There is one curious issue I came upon, but it seems to be related to Atari Interactive's split from the Atari Flashback series of 2600 retroconsole. On the Flashback 8 Classic (wired option) retroconsoles, these controllers will not work. This was my original intended use for these, so initially I thought it was a defect. Testing it on the original Atari hardware, a 130XE home computer, it turns out the controllers work perfectly.

Works as expected with my new 2600. I like having the thumbstick instead of the old joystick which makes the old controllers clunky and hard to use, but they're forgiven cuz that was a long time ago and they had a lot to figure out. Something that was super appreciated is you can change the direction of the cable from coming out of the bottom of the controller (not sure why you would want that but ok) and set it to come out of the top of the controller. Keep in mind that some very specific Atari games require a different controller, so that's just something to keep in mind. Still, this one covers like 95% of them.

I literally plugged this in and doubled my score on Berzerk, to over 80,000. The panel has a great design is made from comfortable materials, making it ergonomically and aesthetically pleasing (the woodgrain is a nice touch.) The knob on the side moves smoothly and accurately, though it does feel unusual holding the controller sideways. There is also a switch which lets you flip the controller over (there are two brackets for the controller wire so you can anchor it at either "top" of the controller) and use your right-thumb for the stick if you are so inclicned. (I found out that I was still much better using my left thumb after decades of practice.) If you have an old console, you need this now!I am disappointed that there isn't a special model for the 7800+ with a second firing button. My hope is that they can broker a detail with Atari.

I like that you can flip a switch to have the joystick on left or right of control pad (flip switch and rotate controller to use as you like). Haven't been able to test paddle feature yet - don't think it works on Atari ST games (no fault of the controller).Controller is mostly comfortable, but the joystick does have some sharp angles at the top that somewhat bite into your finger as you control it. I would prefer if the joystick top could be rounded more, like the Xbox controller's joystick. The cord length is also very good. Controller input/response is fine and the button works well. Overall the controller is good quality and I'm satisfied with the product.

Tired of the original joystick? More used to Nintendo-style gamepads? Then this is for you! Suitable for both left and right-handed, the Ranger is a premium controller for your Atari that is worth buying! I use it on my Atari 2600+ and it even feels more accurate than the original one.

3 stars because it's a solid, good looking gamepad. -2 stars because they need to point out in the description that it does not work on other machines (e.g. Commodore 64). Every joystick I've ever seen that's compatible with the 2600 was compatible with C64, Atari 800XL, etc. Unfortunately I tossed the box never expecting there to be a problem so won't be returning it. They would cut down on returns if they pointed out that it works for original 2600's only.

For retro gamers, the biggest problem many will have is their paddle controllers for the Atari VCS/2600 era. Over time, they don't track as well as they should, and as one could imagine, replacement units simply don't exist. However, Hyperkin has come to the rescue with this innovative controller. It has the same general form factor of an 8-bit/16-bit era controller with a small thumbstick and single action button, but it adds an analog dial to the side. So this one controller can remain plugged in and will work with any cartridge that requires paddle controls.To make sure the right signals are being sent, a toggle switch on the controller will tell it to emulate either a joystick or a paddle controller, so be sure the controller is set properly before powering up the console. As an added bonus, another switch will allow players to flip the controller so the fire button is on the right (akin to an NES controller) or the left.I tested this on a RetroN 77 with various joystick titles and paddle games, notably Activision's "Kaboom!". The game pad works remarkably well with good response, but the dial will take some getting used to. It probably would be better if it was raised above the surfaces of the pad to allow for full 360-degree access, but the controller's flexibility should help players find a setup that works for them.

I bought this to pair with a Retron 77, so I can't speak to how it works with an original 2600. It feels very solid compared to most aftermarket controllers, and I was able to beat my all-time best score on River Raid the first time I used it, so it's very responsive and VERY comfortable compared to the mushy old Atari sticks. I've tested the paddle side with Breakout, Super Breakout, and Demons to Diamonds and they all worked perfectly. BUT... I had to change the firmware on my Retron from Stella 6 back to the Retron 77 community build in order to get it to work properly. The Stella developers are aware of this issue but have no intention of addressing it. So, if you are planning on using the Ranger with a USB dongle and an emulator, the paddle probably won't work. Some people using emulators have said they haven't had issues, but many have, so just be aware that it's a gamble if you want to use this controller with current builds of Stella.As a side note, original paddle controllers came in pairs attached to a single connector, so if you want to play multiplayer paddle games you'll need a 2 into 1 adapter and an additional Ranger.