Review on Wireless Handheld Game Console with Upgraded Packaging, Classic HD Game Console Equipped with 821 Games – Perfect Birthday and Thanksgiving Gift (Game Console) by Smriti Pearson

most importantly yes the directional controls work, they respond the same as the original controller but instead of a 3 foot cable they have a 10 foot cable . respond to button presses. Glad to have found a replacement for the original controller after trying several other third party controllers, all of which had issues of not responding to instructions or button presses. If you have doubts about using a third-party controller, give it a try.