Games sell peripherals. You wouldn’t have a fake drum set and guitar taking up space in your closet if they didn’t. So when Nintendo decided Pokken Tournament might need a special controller, it probably wasn’t the worst idea. After all, the arcade game uses a different gamepad than most other fighters, and it makes sense to attempt to replicate the arcade experience.
The Pokken Tournament controller looks a lot like the Nintendo Wii U Pro Controller. It has no analog sticks. There are two shoulder buttons at the shoulder, a directional pad on the left, and four action buttons on the right. The ZL and ZR buttons, instead of also being on the shoulders, are on the front next to the Start and Select buttons. It looks a bit simple, but it also happens to be identical to the arcade setup.
If that Pokken Tournament controller scares you, don’t worry. You don’t have to use it to play. It also supports the GamePad, Pro Controller, and Wii Classic Controller. Think of it as another option for when the game comes to the console next year.
Source: Nintendo Life