Resident Evil Revelations is finally released for 3DS this Friday along with the Circle Pad Pro add-on. While it's perfectly possible to play the game without the attachment - as anyone who's played the recent Resident Evil Revelations demo will already know - the Circle Pad Pro offers players a new control scheme with its second analogue thumbstick. So I decided to try it out to see if it's worth laying down the extra cash for the Circle Pad Pro. Here's my Circle Pad Pro review.
How does the Circle Pad Pro feel?
The first thing you notice when you get hold of the Circle Pad Pro is how sturdy it feels, and how well the 3DS fits into it. The 3DS squeezes neatly into it, with no need to attach anything or snap anything into place, and it takes a decent pull to remove it so there's no danger of your 3DS slipping out of the attachment mid-game.
One minor thing to bear in mind is that the stylus and cartridge slot are covered up once the 3DS is connected to the Circle Pad Pro, so if you want to change your game or get the stylus ready you might want to do that before you slot the 3DS in.
As well as the obvious second Circle Pad, the Pro also has two new buttons - ZL and ZR - as well as an extra R button. The R button is a duplicate button that's placed under ZR to ensure that it is comfortable to play (the L button is under the ZL anyway).
Speaking of comfort, the whole thing fits very nicely in your hands thanks to the grooves on the back of the unit. With your thumbs resting on both the Circle Pads, it's very comfortable and feels natural, even though the screen isn't bang in the middle any more.
What it like to play with?
The Circle Pad Pro won't work until you activate it in the game options. This means if you want to use the R button on the Circle Pad Pro for non-Circle Pad Pro tasks (speeding up your StreetPass encounters, for example) you won't be able to because the button won't do anything. You still have access to the 3DS's normal L and R buttons at all times though, so it's no big deal.
It's somewhat odd that Resident Evil Revelations is the game that's launching alongside the Circle Pad Pro because it's not essential to play it with the new 3DS attachment
Without it, you control your character with the Circle Pad - moving it left and right turns your character and you can strafe left and right by holding the L button.
With the Circle Pad Pro attached, left and right on the Circle Pad become your strafes and the right-hand Circle Pad is used for turning and looking up and down without aiming (the one thing you can't do without the Pro).
Everything else - aiming the gun, moving forward while aiming - can be done with the standard control system, if a little more awkwardly (to move forward while aiming you have to hold both the L and R buttons together while pushing up on the Circle Pad).
So it is a slightly smoother experience with the Circle Pad Pro, and I do like the way the game maps most of the controls to the new ZL and ZR buttons to minimise the amount of time you have to use the B, A, Y and X buttons. You now aim your weapon by holding ZL and fire with ZR, which is also used to open doors, investigate things and the like.
You'll only ever use the other buttons to use a herb (A), reload (Y) or do a quick turn (B and down on the Circle Pad).
If you're planning on buying Resident Evil Revelations and want to know whether the Circle Pad Pro is an essential purchase, the short answer is no. The nature of Resident Evil's gameplay and the tank-like "walk and turn" movement of the characters mean it's just not a game that demands that you play it with a second analogue stick to have a good time.
Should you buy the Circle Pad Pro?
Just because it isn't really necessary for Resident Evil Revelations doesn't mean I'm not recommending the Circle Pad Pro, mind you. Indeed, from what I've seen and played of other forthcoming 3DS games, some look like they'll truly benefit from the attachment. Because of the way Snake moves, Metal Gear Solid 3D, in particular, looks like it'll feel infinitely better as you'll use the Circle Pad Pro instead of the A, B, X and Y buttons to move the camera and aim.
Also, left-handed people might want to buy it to play Kid Icarus Uprising as they won't be forced to use the stylus with their right hand.
In short then, I'm happy with the Circle Pad Pro. It's a solid piece of kit and it'll open up new control possibilities for 3DS games in the future. If you specifically want Resident Evil Revelations though and are concerned about having to spend a little more for the Circle Pad Pro, I'd say it's unnecessary.
It's going to be a handy little peripheral when Metal Gear, Kid Icarus Uprising and Kingdom Hearts 3D come out, but at the moment it's simply a nice addition rather than a must-have.
Looks very comfortable. One question: Is the surface of the CPP matte? That would be a bad idea against the 3DS' glossy surface.
Okay, so I don't mind the Circle Pad Pro so far, but I'm wondering what games it'll be used for. I'd be shocked if it wasn't used for Luigi's Mansion 2, because in the original, you used two control sticks to vacuum up ghosts.
Okay, so I don't mind the Circle Pad Pro so far, but I'm wondering what games it'll be used for. I'd be shocked if it wasn't used for Luigi's Mansion 2, because in the original, you used two control sticks to vacuum up ghosts.
I totally agree, can't wait for Luigi's Mansion 2. LUIGI RULES!
One interest of mine was using it to "bulk up" the unit, as it's sometimes a little bit uncomfortably thin to hold for me otherwise. But by the sounds of it, unless the game is designed to work with it, the Circle Pad Pro is not an ideal solution.
While I think this is a good idea, I won't be getting it for two reasons:
1) I don't really like Resident Evil, so I won't be picking up the bundle, although they will probably sell it by itself if they aren't already. 2) I'm sure I suffer from some degree of OCD, and I have a blue 3DS, which means that the black and blue colours would drive me crazy (took me ages to get used to the top screen being black...)
However, if enough games support this thing (Monster Hunter, Kid Icarus and KIngdom Hearts 3D are the win ones I think) i'm sure i'll be picking one up somewhere down the line, especially if MH gets released here.
Probably won't get the game for a while, and I'm not that bothered about the CPP so I'll just wait till another game comes out that uses it...say... Monster Hunter tri G.
Only game I'd ever use this for is KINGDOM HEARTS 3D. As for a more comfortable hold? I've already got the 3DS WHEEL so why'd I need this for the same purpose?
it looks okay but I don't really like it as it seems like nintendo did this to make more money and eventually every game will use it but I neead it as I want Kid Icarus Uprising but one thing worries me as I dislike it enough already, if you attach the exta circle pad do you have to keep it on (is it possible for it to come off) as that might make it harder to fit it in my mum's handbag... plus I find it a really stupid add-on because as steve said it should have been in the original design anyway plus they are only realeasing it in black which I find annoying as I have blue one as well
And what with all these other colours it seems like a fashion disaster. But so long as you don't care what it looks like , I'm sure you can live with it.
And what with all these other colours it seems like a fashion disaster. But so long as you don't care what it looks like , I'm sure you can live with it.
The whole idea of the Circle Pad Pro really grinds my gears- It looks unattractive and clunky and it highlights the fact that Nintendo may have made a design error by not adding a second circle pad to the 3DS in the first place. It annoys me when I hear Sony and Microsoft gamers slating Nintendo and the 3DS, because Nintendo puts a lot more heart and soul into its products. But I can't help feel Nintendo have brought this upon themselves, with peripherals becomig available for the console so early into its life and this could be detriment Nintendo's performance in the handheld market when Sony release the PS Vita. I'm just a little worried for Nintendo.
Circle Pad Pro looks awesome! I may have to get one, if it's used for Kid Icarus or Luigi's Mansion 2. But of course, the real question is: Is the ZR button behind or in front of the R button?
The whole idea of the Circle Pad Pro really grinds my gears- It looks unattractive and clunky and it highlights the fact that Nintendo may have made a design error by not adding a second circle pad to the 3DS in the first place. It annoys me when I hear Sony and Microsoft gamers slating Nintendo and the 3DS, because Nintendo puts a lot more heart and soul into its products. But I can't help feel Nintendo have brought this upon themselves, with peripherals becomig available for the console so early into its life and this could be detriment Nintendo's performance in the handheld market when Sony release the PS Vita. I'm just a little worried for Nintendo.
I am of the belief that the Circle Pad Pro was requested by Capcom when Nintendo requested Monster Hunter for the 3DS. It's not Nintendo making a design fault, it's an optional extra requested by a third party and then utilised since it exists. It's no different to the Classic Controller existing for the Wii
Playing the RE:Revelations demo I am relieved to say you don't need the CPP to play it. It uses traditional RE controls anyway which I'm used to for the 15 years of the franchise. This add on is just to cater for the FPS gamers which is good but seriously I do not like the look of the CPP.
So it's only available in black? Quite disappointing considering the amount of different colours they've already released. Bit like how they still don't have the Classic Controller Pro in white, so anyone who bought the Wii on launch day can't have a matching one.
I'm still waiting for mine to arrive! But the reason I bought it was because it was a steal from Zavvi at £30 for both Revelations and the CPP. Worried about where to store it though :T
Just picked up a copy of Revelations from GAME and they wanted an EXTRA £20 on top of the game for the CPP. What a joke!! Surely it should be bundled free with a game like this? Ok i get it was necessary to make the 3DS more appealing to 3rd party developers, but I don't see why our wallets should take the hit for Nintendo's decision to not to include it in the original design. Just seems a bit cheeky.
no interest in resi though 
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