Month: August 2021

PowerA’s Blood Moon Zelda Controller, the Closest Thing to an Official Zelda Pad

Hardware | Bought August 17, 2021 | $50 CAD from Walmart

PowerA Blood Moon Zelda Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch
Photo credit: Amazon listing photo

Why I Bought It

Nintendo has never actually made an official Zelda Pro Controller, which surprised me when I went looking for one. PowerA’s licensed “Blood Moon” Zelda Enhanced Wireless Controller is about as close as it gets — officially licensed, Breath of the Wild themed, and a fraction of the price of a real Pro Controller. I grabbed one at Walmart to go with my Switch setup.

Living With It

The Blood Moon art print on the front is genuinely striking, and the controller itself is comfortable for long sessions despite being a third-party product. It lacks the Pro Controller’s HD rumble and amiibo reader, and it’s wired rather than wireless despite the name on the box implying otherwise for some SKUs, but as a display piece and a backup controller it more than earns its spot.

The Good

  • Striking Blood Moon Breath of the Wild artwork
  • Comfortable grip for a budget third-party controller
  • Officially licensed, so it doesn’t feel like a knockoff

The Bad

  • No HD rumble or amiibo reader like the real Pro Controller
  • Still no actual official Nintendo Zelda controller exists, which is a shame

Final Call

Rating: 3.5/5. A solid stand-in for a controller Nintendo should have made themselves by now.

Grab One Here

LEGO’s UCS Republic Gunship, the Prequel Set I Waited Way Too Long to Get

Lego | Bought August 3, 2021 | $300 CAD from The Lego Store

LEGO UCS Republic Gunship 75309
Photo credit: LEGO.com

Why I Bought It

I’d had the UCS Republic Gunship (75309) on my wishlist since it launched, but the price kept scaring me off. A points redemption through the LEGO VIP program finally closed the gap in early August, bringing it down to something I could actually justify. At over 3,000 pieces and roughly 23 inches long, it’s easily the biggest single build I’ve tackled for this collection.

Living With It

This thing took the better part of a week of evenings to finish, and it’s worth every hour. The gunship’s iconic gull-wing design translates beautifully into brick form, the cockpit fits two minifigures with room to spare, and the side doors open to reveal a fully detailed troop bay. It’s a genuine display centerpiece — the kind of set that makes casual visitors stop and ask what it is.

The Good

  • Massive, screen-accurate silhouette that dominates any shelf
  • Fully detailed troop bay and cockpit interior
  • Genuinely satisfying multi-day build

The Bad

  • Full retail price is steep even by UCS standards
  • Needs a lot of shelf real estate — this is not a subtle display piece

Final Call

Rating: 5/5. The best Star Wars set I’ve built for this collection, full stop. Worth chasing a discount for.

Grab One Here