The design of the online game controller as we’ve identified it has largely remained the identical for the final 20 years: a d-pad, two analog sticks, 4 face buttons, and 4 shoulder buttons. It persists from the primary PlayStation’s DualShock, right through to the trendy PS5’s DualSense, in addition to numerous Xbox and Nintendo controllers.
Recent years have seen an increase of “Elite” and “Pro” controllers that pledge to supply added efficiency, most frequently in aggressive video games the place protecting your thumbs on the analog sticks as typically as doable affords you an edge over your opponents. The Nacon Revolution 5 Pro controller for PS5, PS4, and PC is a comparatively new challenger on this market, and it guarantees 4 rear-positioned buttons and, maybe most alluringly, thumbsticks that may by no means drift.
As a hybrid PlayStation and PC gamepad, the Revolution 5 Pro is flanked by choices from each Sony and Microsoft. Coming in at $200, it immediately competes with Sony’s pro-level controller, the DualSense Edge (which is on the similar value level). On the PC entrance, the Xbox Elite Controller undercuts it by about $30 bucks. Neither of the Revolution 5’s first-party opponents provide the drift-free analog sticks, nonetheless (although you should buy third-party driftless analog sticks for the DualSense Edge which slot proper in).
But whereas its driftless tech makes a stable argument for its inclusion in your gaming arsenal, in my expertise, the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro is a bit too uncomfortable to make use of.
Wonderful on paper however painful within the palms
The Revolution 5 Pro boasts a ton of spectacular specs: 4 completely positioned rear buttons assignable on-device with a fast button combo and 4 completely different profiles; two swappable d-pads (a standard T-shaped one and a “satellite dish” variant frequent on Xbox controllers); three pairs of weights you’ll be able to slot into the controller to vary its heft; swappable joystick rings of two completely different thicknesses, and 6 changeable joystick heads; wi-fi assist for each PC and PlayStation (it is advisable sacrifice a USB port if you wish to use it wirelessly on PlayStation), and two levels of adjustable set off throw vary for each minimal and full depth in addition to full gyro assist for PlayStation.
What causes drift?
A contemporary gremlin of gaming tech, controller drift is the results of put on and tear or particles build up inside your common analog stick’s potentiometer tech. Almost all controllers that use potentiometers will succumb to this eventually. Like the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast controllers earlier than it, the Revolution 5 Pro options “hall effect” analog sticks, which use magnets for contactless sign communication. The outcome? There aren’t any bodily components inside rubbing up in opposition to every different, thus these thumbsticks received’t succumb to the identical put on and tear as potentiometers do.
The Revolution 5 options an asymmetrical thumbstick structure which could rub you the incorrect method if you happen to’re a PlayStation purist—I favor symmetrical layouts, however I used to be excited to do this out. Unfortunately, regardless of its fantastic listing of options, this controller and I simply by no means obtained alongside.
The Revolution 5’s ergonomic issues lie in two locations: the shoulder buttons and the curve below L2/R2 the place your center or ring finger will relaxation. On that second level, the controller appears to both wish to sit ahead in my palms, or tilt backwards, so I typically fidget with it whereas taking part in. This, I think, is what gave me a perceived lower in gameplay efficiency in shooters like Halo Infinite on PC—I used to be too distracted making an attempt to get the controller to sit down effectively in my palms. Most concerningly, lengthy periods would numb or cramp my palms in ways in which different, extra ergonomic controllers, merely don’t.
For the document, I’m a passionate lover of the normal Xbox “Duke” controller and infrequently play wide-necked, baritone-scale 8-string guitars once I’m not gaming. So hand dimension and huge objects usually are not an issue for me.
And the shoulder button form and positioning makes the Revolution 5 really feel prefer it isn’t certain if it needs to be a PlayStation or Xbox controller. When the Xbox 360 arrived in 2005, it repositioned the OG Xbox’s “black and white” buttons to the shoulders. But it did in order “bumpers,” differentiating it from the PlayStation controller in a method that encourages you to make use of the perimeters of your index fingers to actuate them. This has the advantage of letting you retain your index or “trigger” fingers on the…effectively, triggers. That makes it an amazing design for shooters.
Xbox controllers, particularly fashionable ones, have a mild concave notch within the bumpers that accommodates the higher form of the tip of your index finger, or the “distal phalanx.” PlayStation controllers, nonetheless, have extra conventionally required a forked, two-finger grip from avid gamers, although fashionable DualShock 4 and DualSense controllers have simply sufficient of a curved form on the L1/R1 which you can get away with a grip much like what you’d use on an Xbox.
The Revolution 5, nonetheless, doesn’t characteristic the concave curve of the Xbox’s bumpers nor the mild slope inwards of the DualSense. The L1/R1 buttons finish with a inflexible 90-degree angle that simply doesn’t accommodate a regular Xbox grip. But because it’s formed extra like an Xbox controller within the shoulder space, it doesn’t really feel comfy to do PlayStation’s two-finger forked grip both.
This distinction meant that in gameplay I stored swapping up my grip. This, I think, was another excuse my efficiency in Halo obtained worse: I used to be too distracted by looking for a approach to comfortably and reliably maintain this in any other case fairly feature-rich controller.
At the top of the day, nonetheless, the onboard corridor impact thumbsticks are to not be underestimated. Nowadays it looks as if controller drift turns into worse with each new technology, so plunking down a bit of money for a controller that may outlast a purchase order of two or three of them is certainly tempting
An answer for getting older consoles?
That the Revolution 5 makes use of driftless corridor impact expertise does make me think about its utility as a approach to lengthen the longevity of a PS4, which over time will see its DualShock 4s tougher to safe. The similar will be mentioned for the PS5 because it grows older. Yes, there are different ways in which controllers can develop issues and fail (my delightfully chartreuse Xbox wi-fi controller has currently seen the d-pad randomly press itself), however drift stays one of the crucial insidious and difficult-to-fix issues.
Despite the problems I had with consolation (or lack thereof), I do suppose there’s worth within the Revolution 5 Pro as a long-term, buy—although at $200, that’s nonetheless kinda steep. Sure you’ll be able to change the thumbsticks on the identically priced DualSense Edge, thus prolonging its life, however that provides to its value.
The Revolution 5 Pro impresses on paper and has a premium really feel to it—one which’s sadly distorted by some uncomfortable design decisions. There’s good cause to think about grabbing one for its added customization, 4 rear buttons, and superior thumbsticks, however it’s possible you’ll wish to maintain one earlier than shopping for to see if it’s a great match—actually.
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