The Wii U, Nintendo’s upcoming console release, features an innovative tablet controller. But Nintendo is also introducing its own “Pro” controller, for gamers who want more command than a tablet or Wii remote can provide.

Mashable spent time Wednesday playing Ubisoft’s ZombiU, a Wii U launch title. While the single-player mode uses the GamePad, the multiplayer allows up to four players to use Pro Controllers (or Wii Remotes and Nunchuks) against one player who is using the GamePad to unleash zombies.

When Nintendo first announced the Pro controller at this year’s E3, fans likened its resemblance to the Xbox 360 controller. In theory, the Wii U controller could be its glossy cousin. Then again, the Xbox 360 controller is probably the nicest console controller ever created. Why reinvent the wheel here?

One feature that will probably turn off a few people: The controller is covered in the same glossy plastic as the other Wii and Wii U peripherals. That makes it look cheap, and its lightness doesn’t help that. Controllers need to have a solid feel and weight; it helps to have resistance when your thumbs work on both joysticks. It needs to be a rock in the player’s hands amidst serious gaming moments.

But the shiny plastic belies a solid piece of gaming hardware. The triggers are responsive and placed correctly, so shooting zombies’ heads was easy. The pair of analog sticks are responsive when rotated and pressed, and I never felt like I was fighting against the controller to get where I needed to be, which is how it should be.

The only thing that caused me problems when playing is that the controller’s four buttons are located below the right analog stick. This might not seem like a big deal, but if looking at every other console controller, the placement is opposite.

When playing, I had to use the Y button to reload my weapon, and realized I was hunting around for where I thought it would be: above my controller. Nintendo might have a myriad of reasons for bucking tradition here, but it is a little strange. I’m not sure whether to count that against the controller or not, except that it means all the console gamers will need to retrain their brains when playing in the heat of the moment.

From a limited play of what is actually a solid mode in ZombiU, I would say the Pro Controller is worth picking up with the console if you’re planning a holiday purchase. It will be compatible with several launch titles, including Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Nintendo Land. The Pro Controller will be available for $49.99 at launch.

Do you prefer using a traditional console controller to play on the Wii? Let us know in the comments.

http://mashable.com/2012/10/19/wii-u-pro-controller/

Ah, that's more like it.

I suspect the Pro controller feels like a mixture between the Gamepad and an Xbox controller.

Gamepad will take some adjusting to, but feels perfectly fine. I also had no real trouble adjusting to the different placement of the buttons, so I can't imagine I will with this, either.

Every major report from every person who has touched that controller has stated that it feels absolutely noting like the Xbox controller.

As I've said many times. If you buy the U Pro controller expecting familiarity with the 360, then you are going to be sorely dissapointed. The analogs are the same ones they use for the nunchuk just like the Wii Classic Controller Pro. The controller is really light weight and the shoulders buttons go straight down instead of inward. Also, the back grips are positioned differently.

I will go third party if a matte finish controller from Nintendo is not released. I hate this shiny plastic. HATE it.

I must have been crazy not to pick the thing up at the gamestop expo but along with the gamepad its analogs are above the buttons. That will make these controllers feel different than either the 360 or PS3 controllers, such as the biggest diffrence between PS3 and 360 is the left analog placement. Doing so changes the muscle memory requirement to operate effectively. While playing Zombie U I had difficulty using the Y axis for looking around. I play inverted but my thumb wanted to play default. I don't it will take very long to get use to it but one thing for sure will be an increase of hate amongst gamers who don't realize this. It was really bad between Xbox and PS but has since died down a bit after information and more people starting to buy other consoles. Now that a third controller is out there it will intensify, with the Wii U getting most of the heat. I just hate it when people think the other controller is terrible and make excuses even though the real reason is this one issue of muscle memory. All controllers have flaws, but familiarity is not an excuse.

There's the key here that most people don't realize - the Pro controller uses the exact same layout as the Gamepad. People keep complaining about the layout of the Pro controller, but they fail to note that it's the exact same one as the Gamepad, which makes absolutely complete sense.

Though I do wish Nintendo would make up their minds. They go from an Xbox-like layout with the GCN to a Playstation-like layout with the Classic Controller to something completely unique with the Pro controller. I hope they stick with the Pro and Gamepad layout permanently, now.

But it doesn't have a headset jack so that means it sucks...

Bluetooth maybe? Wireless adaptor solutions?

I was being sarcastic, but yeah that's probably the most logical thing.

Glad they did brought the Pro controller it defiantly helps out the hardcore audience pick up and play the system.