Earlier this yr, PB Tails’ Steel Crush Defender TMR controller caught my eye, with its Fallout-inspired, distressed yellow stylings and glistening chrome sticks. I do not often go in for ‘relic’ results on something, however this appeared a bit particular. It felt suave and novel in a market the place neon gamer gear dominates, screaming for consideration, and ‘cheapening’ in any other case first rate gear. The Xbox face button structure, although, meant it wasn’t particularly related to Change house owners.
Quick-forward a number of months, and there is a brand new mannequin bearing Nintendo’s traditional button structure. Retailing for $79.99, that is the agency’s acquainted Crush pad however with ’50s automotive stylings – particularly, it is celebrating the seventieth anniversary of the Porsche 550 Spyder.
There is no official licensing on this tribute, however the end is gorgeous, should you’re into that type of factor. The purple gentle strip alongside the underside edge (you’ll be able to change the color – extra on that later) seems like a tail gentle, whereas the decals and particulars throughout the face, plus the silver paint job and the ‘grille’, faux-number plate, and purple strips on the rear, give the texture of a high quality piece of retro memorabilia. The burgundy trim of the D-pad and the shoulder buttons add to the stylish, retro stylings, too.
Opinion amongst Crew NL is split — you will should be a traditional automobile connoisseur or have a factor for mechanical engineering and retro design — however I like the appear and feel. It is a area of interest aesthetic and the pad will not go well with each gaming objective, however there is a luxuriousness to the end and the chrome accents that will get my motor operating. You’re feeling like you have to be enjoying with leather-based driving gloves while you’re dealing with this factor (and possibly I did).
Within the arms, gloved or in any other case, this Crush pad looks like an old-school Xbox 360 controller, however weightier, and undoubtedly glossier. The steel of the default sticks is only the start, and the slickness of the bodywork might be a dealbreaker should you essential video games that provide you with sweaty palms.
Fingerprints have been my fast concern on taking the pad from its black and white case and eradicating the little foam collars across the sticks, however surprisingly, I have not discovered them a difficulty. I assumed I might want a microfiber material after each session, but it surely’s been superb sitting on the facet over the previous couple of weeks, regardless of the mud on my TV shelf and my sticky gamer paws.
A braided USB-A to C cable is included for charging (the claimed 30-hour life feels correct, though that’ll rely in your lighting depth), plus a dongle for two.4G wi-fi connection and plastic/rubber sticks if you wish to swap out the zinc alloy pair.
And actually? In the event you’re into your on-line shooters or simply wish to be aggressive in Fortnite, you will wish to change the stick covers; channel-hopping in Blippo+ was a dream, a tense shootout in Springfield much less so. I had no difficulty racing in GRID or unleashing ninja abilities in Shinobi, however chromed steel simply does not supply sufficient grip for split-second, precision inputs.
The sticks themselves are the TMR selection, so energy environment friendly and providing commensurate efficiency and safety in opposition to drift to Corridor Impact. Clearly, it’s going to take a yr or two of use to completely take a look at their resilience, however there’s nothing to counsel they’re going to begin wandering. They really feel strong and responsive.
Altering the sticks entails eradicating the magnetic faceplate, which might be difficult if you do not have first rate nails, however gripping the entrance housing up across the shoulder buttons whereas urgent down on the sticks along with your thumbs will finally prise the quilt away. Swap out the steel ones, clip the caps into the plastic domes, pop the quilt again on, and also you’re away.
PB sells different faceplates, though it could be bizarre to purchase one in all these after which damage the aesthetic with a transparent orange cowl. Additionally value noting is that the carry case’s foam insert holds the two-part plastic sticks solely, so you will must retailer the steel ones safely someplace else.
Eradicating the chrome ones looks like sacrilege, although, such as you’ve whacked some low-cost rims on a classic Jag. It capabilities nicely, with gyro controls, some very good rumble (the growl it makes when it connects to the console feels, brilliantly, like a revving engine), and pleasingly springy analogue triggers. The D-pad felt superb for a blast by some NSO classics, and the entire controller has a premium-feeling heft to it.
Even the RGB lighting feels someway refined right here. Holding down the ‘T’ (turbo) button and transferring the left stick permits you to choose the precise color of the sunshine strip, whereas the best stick modifications the face and central Residence buttons. You’ll be able to tweak the depth of the LEDs, too, and I appreciated that it is all there and selectable through the pad itself, no exterior software program wanted. You’ll be able to’t purchase a lightbulb lately with out downloading a bloody app.
Face button lighting presets are selectable, as nicely: Tremendous Famicom-style is the default, however you have additionally received PlayStation blue with the customary hues of Sony’s shapes, or Xbox inexperienced and corresponding button colors. There’s additionally a Dreamcast-style choice – at the least I feel that is what the orange residence button and this color structure are referencing. Clearly, the Nintendo ABYX labelling stays, but it surely’s a neat nod to different platforms.
No clicky microswitches is an enormous plus, personally; all of the face buttons really feel properly responsive with out the irritating, cheap-sounding click on that makes enjoying in a quiet house irritating. Toggling the change on the highest edge modifications from ‘S’ (Change) to ‘X’ (XInput), and every part functioned precisely as you’d count on when testing with Steam utilizing the included dongle (or wired should you choose) and iOS over Bluetooth.
Whilst you get added turbo choices through the aforementioned button, you aren’t getting NFC reader for amiibo or a ‘C’ button for straightforward Change 2 GameChat entry. There is no headphone jack, both, so headset players ought to look elsewhere, and you aren’t getting any fancy again buttons, both.
One other minor quirk is that ‘-‘ and ‘+’ listed below are within the place of the Residence and Seize buttons on Nintendo’s controller, so put together for some unintentional screenshots at first. Additionally, you’ll be able to’t wake your Change 2 up with this – not a difficulty for me as I at all times flip it on through the console, however some folks actually just like the comfort of grabbing the pad down the facet of the couch and powering on.
This is not the type of pad you will depart jammed down the facet of the couch, although. For $80, there are capabilities lacking that you just may hope to have. In the event you solely get one controller for Change 2, take a look at Nintendo’s personal choice or one thing from 8Bitdo. You are actually paying for the model right here. The Crush 550 wants pairing with a high-backed, leather-studded chair and a glass of Margaux whereas having fun with a visible novel or a lightweight puzzler. It is not what you need should you’re within the midst of a nailbiting deathmatch, perspiring between frantic frags and Dorito downtime. You would not wish to rag this into the bottom with twitch shooters.
It actually relies upon what sort of gamer you’re, then. I discover this a pleasure to play with, and I will be utilizing it at any time when a recreation does not demand extra efficiency than it might handle. A traditional automobile is an ideal comparability; it is a fair-weather pad, a stupendous Sunday driver you’re taking out solely when situations permit. In the event you’re out there for one thing for the weekend and value-for-money is much less vital than sophistication, this can feel and appear nice in your showroom.
The pattern used on this overview was supplied by PB Tails.
