Use a GameCube Controller to Play Super Smash Bros. on the Wii U

Dust off your old GameCube controllers, Nintendo fans.

The company on Thursday unveiled a new Wii U adapter that will let you use the vintage controller to play Super Smash Bros. when it arrives later this year. The new peripheral will let you connect up to four GameCube controllers to your Wii U, if you've got them lying around.

If you didn't hang on to your GameCube controller, don't fret. Nintendo last week announced it is partnering with third-party accessories maker PDP to develop a new GameCube-inspired controller for the Wii and Wii U, dubbed the "Wired Fight Pad." The new controller will make its debut alongside Super Smash Bros. this holiday season for $24.99.

Get excited! The #WiiU version of #SmashBros. will be playable with GameCube controllers. pic.twitter.com/nmyj9QMsuU
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) May 29, 2014

News of the device's return and remake should be exciting for those with fond memories of playing Super Smash Bros. Melee with the GameCube controller. As Forbes noted, the controller is "closely associated with the rise of competitive Super Smash Bros. Melee, which many would deem the 'golden age' of the game in the pro scene."

"The shape, the button configuration, everything lent itself to being the best way to play the series," Forbes wrote.

The news comes ahead of the Super Smash Bros. Invitational, set for June 10 at the E3 gaming conference, where 16 gamers will face test their skills.

In PCMag's 2001 review of the GameCube, we called the controller a "huge step up from the clunky devices used by the older Nintendo 64 systems."

"The control pad fits comfortably into the hand but doesn't feel as sturdy as the Xbox and PS2 controllers," our review reads.

Smash Bros. for 3DS is expected to arrive this summer, followed by the Wii U version in winter 2014, according to PCMag's sister site IGN.

If you're in the mood for a good trip down memory lane, check out PCMag's 2001 reviews of both the Nintendo GameCube and Super Smash Bros. Melee.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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