The Retro-Bit and Sega partnership has resulted in a number of excellent new controllers for original Sega Genesis and Saturn consoles. With wired and wireless options available, players have been able to play these classic systems their way. Retro-Bit further extended the usability of these controllers into modern systems with Nintendo Switch and PC, thanks to the inclusion of a USB adapter in their wireless controllers and a dedicated USB offering.

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Now the partnership between Sega and Retro-Bit bears another fruit with the release of the Retro-Bit Big 6 Sega Genesis controller! Up until now, all Genesis controller releases have been based on the smaller model 2 6-button controller. The Big 6, as its name implies, is based on the original 3-button controller that came with North American Genesis consoles, only this time it features the same 6-button layout as its smaller counterpart.

Aesthetics And Build Quality

From the authentic Sega packaging to the official Sega branding on the controller itself, Retro-Bit has gone all-in on replicating the classic 90s Sega experience! The Big 6 is again inspired by the original Sega 3-button pad, giving it a much larger shape-- ideal for players with larger hands or any that have a sense of nostalgia for the bigger shape. The only difference between the old and new controller for the wired variant is the 6-button layout, a mode button, and a 10-foot cable for connecting it to Genesis consoles. The wireless version mixes it up a bit more with a USB-C port, a pair of shoulder buttons, and a Home and Select button for using it on modern systems.

The membranes in use for the face buttons give the Big 6 ideal resistance, resulting in a satisfying, snappy feel when pressed. The D-pad has been adjusted from the original Sega models to be less finger-destroying during longer play sessions. Rigidity is preferable giving the D-pad a pleasing feel when used. Rollability is also top-notch, and it is fun to see the direction indicators on the glossy plastic! To further keep the spirit of the original 3-button pad alive, Retro-bit has kept the controller's Start button in its original position above the face buttons. The button itself is flush with the outer shell to prevent any unintentional presses. The Mode/shoulder buttons mirror this approach, with the microswitches within giving a nice click when pressed.

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The overall build quality of both versions of the Big 6 is exceptional, both taking everyday wear and tear in stride. The entire frame is sturdy and trying to apply twisting pressure showed it had no give. Repeated 30-foot drop tests also proved little issue for the pad. No matter the pressure applied to the face buttons, they never get stuck or become unusable. The D-pad likewise has continued to function well even after deliberate attempts to crack it in its housing. The console side of the wired version and the original port receiver fits snugly into the original Genesis hardware with no death grip.

Gameplay

As nice as the controller looks and feels, it is the solid performance in games that have been the most pleasing of all. On original Genesis hardware, the Big 6 has been fully compatible with every game tested. The wired version of the pad ensures that latency will be nonexistent and behave just like the original Sega pads. With the 2.4 GHz transmission on the wireless versions, latency has also been unnoticeable, coming in at well under a frame of lag. The wireless version of the Big 6 utilizes Retro-Bit’s V2 hardware, further ensuring lower latency results. As with previous Retro-Bit Sega controllers, the wireless Big 6 can be used on the Sega Saturn when paired with a compatible V2 Saturn receiver.

Diving into Sonic The Hedgehog 3 further confirmed these results as each direction movement and jump registered when given. Casual playthroughs of Streets of Rage 2 and Mega Man: The Wily Wars are likewise enjoyable without a single dropped input to be found. Because of the Big 6’s 6-button nature, there are a few games that won’t work by default, which is when the Mode button comes into play to have the pad register as a 3-button controller. On the wireless versions, a macro is used to switch to 3-button mode, and it has worked without issue. Both button profiles remain compatible with the Sega CD and 32X attachments for full library compatibility.

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Games like Super Street Fighter II and Dune: Battle for Arrakis are perfect for checking the D-pad’s overall performance. Pulling off combos with a number of characters is a breeze, and it is great that there are no misread inputs when quickly transitioning to any direction. Precise movements in a Real-Time Strategy game like Dune are key to victory, so seeing it work with such ease is a true highlight of the overall experience! One particularly interesting touch of the Big 6 D-pad is how it is easier to activate the absolute X and Y axis of movement over diagonals. This keeps misreads from being a thing in quick movement scenarios, but it doesn’t make using the diagonals on the pad difficult, thus achieving a real win-win scenario!

For the Wired version, and the original port receiver on the wireless model, compatibility extends through all original Sega Genesis models as well as a variety of clone consoles like the Analog Mega SG, or Retro-Bit’s Super Retro Trio+. Emulation-based systems like Polymega also had no trouble using the Big 6 to their fullest extent. The only compatibility issue experienced during this review process was with the Hyperkin Retron 5 not being able to detect the controllers.

With the wireless versions USB receiver, system compatibility is further extended to the Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Android, and iOS. Nintendo Switch makes excellent use of the Big 6 thanks to its high number of Sega compilations and releases, plus the inclusion of the Sega Genesis app through Nintendo Switch Online. Unfortunately, not all of these uses have the same default button schemes, but Retro-Bit has programmed a number of useful macros that will alter the button mappings into the proper format for use. Utilizing the controller’s macros further enables the Big 6 to work great with a number of single-stick or D-pad-focused games like Link’s Awakening or Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. For the utmost sacrilege, play through a number of Super Nintendo games with the Big 6 and see how much better a Sega D-pad really is!

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On PC, the Big 6 can make use of both the Xinput and Direct Input standards, giving it excellent compatibility across a variety of games from the past 30 years. Playing Dead or Alive 6 and Street Fighter 5 were a highlight with both games benefiting from the D-pad! The Big 6 is compatible with legacy operating systems like Windows 98 for a truly retro experience. Emulation is also an excellent use case for the controller for classic Sega titles! Players can expect to get between 12–20 hours of playtime per charge on the wireless Big 6, ensuring loads of game time before its next charging!

What It Could Have Done Better

While the overwhelming amount of the Big 6 experience is great, it does have one small letdown. On the wireless versions particularly, the shoulder buttons are obnoxious to use repeatedly. Depending on where they are pressed can result in a more difficult activation, with the ideal use being towards the middle and bottom of the pad. Repeated presses are also a bit awkward with the buttons not feeling like they spring back into place quickly. There has yet to be a moment where they have hindered a gameplay session but choosing a game that doesn’t rely on them is preferable overall. Thankfully, on original Genesis hardware, they are never needed!

Conclusion

For any player still utilizing original Genesis hardware or a variety of clones, the Retro-Bit Big 6 is an excellent input option to replace aging or dying pads. With wired and wireless options available, players can choose which better fits their needs. For modern players looking for a great 6-button pad to use on a number of different platforms the Big 6 further proves its capabilities. Shoulder buttons might get obnoxious in extended play sessions, but they get the job done. Regardless of the use case, latency, buttons, and D-pad all stand strong to make the next game night a good one!

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The Retro-Bit Big 6 is available now. A review sample was provided to Game Rant.

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FAQ

Q: What systems are compatible with the Retro-Bit Big 6?

The wired Retro-Bit Big 6 is compatible with Sega Genesis consoles and most clones. The wireless Big 6 is compatible with Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn (with proper V2 receiver provided separately), Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, and Mobile.

Q: Does the Retro-bit Big 6 have rumble support?

The Retro-Bit Big 6 does not include any form of rumble support.

Q: Can the Retro-Bit Big 6 be used to play Super Smash Brothers Ultimate?

The Retro-bit Big 6 can be used to play Super Smash Brothers Ultimate and any number of fighting games across its compatible systems!

Q: Can the Retro-Bit Big 6 D-pad be used as an analog stick?

With the included macros the Retro-Bit Big 6 D-pad can mimic both the left and right analog sticks.