My first impression of the Gulikit Elves 2 Professional wasn’t notably constructive. Now, once I say ‘first impression’, I’m speaking in regards to the second I laid eyes on the factor in just a few press pictures on-line. I think that a few of you trying out the images on this evaluation is likely to be considering the identical factor. Sure, the plain throwback to the Sega Saturn is nice, however does a controller of this design actually maintain any weight within the fashionable age?
Effectively, fortunately, the reply to that query is a hearty “Sure.” When the controllers arrived and I unboxed them from their translucent instances (a pleasant contact so as to add additional safety when travelling), I instantly fell in love. The colored ‘Retro’ mannequin particularly, primarily based on the ‘Mannequin 2’ Japanese Saturn, is completely beautiful and a stunning homage to Sega’s Mega Drive successor.
The black variant is very nice, too, with the one trace of color being the blue sync button in between the 2 analogue sticks. This, once more, is a nod to the ‘Mannequin 1’ Japanese Saturn, although the jet black casing is probably extra akin to the Western design. Consider it like a mix of the 2, then. The one draw back with the black model is that mud is of course extra noticeable on darker surfaces, so it reveals up much more than the ‘Retro’ model.
Holding the controller reveals simply how well-made it’s. It’s obtained a hefty weight to it: 190g to be precise. That is lighter than the Change 2 Professional Controller and the 8BitDo Final 2C controller — each of which weigh in at 235g — however the Elves 2 Professional is rather a lot smaller than each, so the load/dimension ratio balances out properly. It doesn’t really feel low-cost, let’s put it that manner.
As for the form, sure, it’s just a little unorthodox by fashionable requirements and also you’re missing the longer grips essential to ‘hug’ it together with your palms, however the curved design feels nice. It’s simple sufficient to maneuver from the face buttons and D-pad to the 2 analogue sticks within the center due to the offset positioning, although the previous setup does really feel barely extra pure.
Certainly, you need to use this controller for nearly any sport on Change or Change 2, although to say that it’s greatest suited to retro titles or preventing video games wouldn’t be inaccurate. The form, the colors, the D-pad design: all of it feels completely suited to retro gaming. For preventing video games particularly, purists would possibly lament the dearth of the six-button setup on the Saturn’s controller, however I felt no concern when testing it out with the likes of Avenue Fighter 6 and Marvel Vs. Capcom Preventing Assortment: Arcade Classics. The D-pad particularly feels nice, however extra on that shortly.
Wanting on the analogue sticks, they utilise Corridor Impact expertise, so that you’re theoretically taking a look at a protracted lifespan for the Elves. You can too simply take away the caps for substitute if obligatory; I say ‘simply,’ however they do take a little bit of effort to take away, and this can be a good factor – you don’t need them coming off throughout common play. They’re barely smaller than your common analogue stick – possibly a fraction smaller than these discovered on the Change 2 Pleasure-Con – and the textured grip across the edge is simply begging to select up grime out of your thumbs over time, however total, they’re very nice.
The identical goes for the ‘floating’ D-pad, too. In actual fact, I’d say the sensitivity for that is fairly spot on: holding down and rocking the D-pad backward and forward yielded completely zero unintended inputs when testing it within the Change settings, and the identical may be mentioned in retro titles like Streets of Rage 2 and Contra. It really works precisely as supposed and as you’d count on. If you wish to go one step additional, you’ll be able to truly change the D-pad setup between four-directional and eight-directional, relying on the sport you’re enjoying.
The face buttons and shoulder buttons all really feel good: pleasingly ‘clicky’ with out producing an entire lot of noise. Once more, an enormous shoutout goes to the ‘Retro’ mannequin right here: the gray, inexperienced, blue, and yellow ABXY buttons look pretty, and I’ve grown actually fairly keen on the cranberry-coloured shoulder buttons and sync button. Very like the D-pad, you’ll be able to fiddle with the settings to reassign inputs – fairly good if you happen to’re not fussed about doing it on the Change itself.
In actual fact, there are a lot of various settings you’ll be able to mess around with. You may regulate vibration depth, analogue stick sensitivity, lifeless zone modes, movement intention assists, turbo mode, APG recording (which mainly allows you to file particular enter combos and repeat them at will), and extra.
That is all executed through the ‘settings’ button situated within the centre of the system (aside from APG recording, which has its personal button slightly below). Holding the button down and urgent a corresponding button modifications a particular setting. So, for instance, ‘settings’ + ‘R3’ or ‘L3’ modifications the sensitivity of the chosen analogue stick. There’s rather a lot to be taught, so it’s value studying and memorising every setting mixture listed within the guide, however it’s good that there’s no separate app to fret about.
You’ve additionally obtained gyro assist, three totally different rumble modes (together with its personal ‘HD Rumble’, which feels nice), wired assist with the included USB-C cable, and a seize button. However what’s lacking?
Effectively, there’s no ‘C’ button for GameChat, no headphone jack, no NFC assist, and no potential to wake the Change 2 from sleep mode. These are all arguably ‘good to have’ features, and to be sincere you’re by no means going to get a third-party pad that does completely every little thing. When you’re notably involved in regards to the lack of ‘wake-up’ assist, nonetheless, Gulikit has confirmed that it’s going to quickly be the primary third-party producer to supply such assist, although how and when this happens has but to be revealed.
Lastly, though the controller does flip off by itself after quarter-hour of inactivity, there’s a teeny, tiny button on the again to show it off manually. It is a good little contact that a whole lot of producers don’t actually take into account. After all, whether or not it should truly be of use to you could be very a lot dependent by yourself circumstances, however hey, it’s a superb factor to have. The pad will also be used with PC and iOS, with a three-way toggle situated simply above the off button to modify between the three modes.
All in all, although, I would say the Elves 2 Professional might be greatest fitted to retro video games and preventing video games somewhat than your go-to controller for on a regular basis use. It is an exceptionally well-made pad, and a wonderful different to Nintendo’s personal SNES and Mega Drive NSO controllers. When you’ve obtained an affection for the Sega Saturn, the ‘Retro’ variant particularly is an excellent throwback; simply do not be shocked if you happen to begin glancing all the way down to admire it once you actually needs to be protecting your eyes on the display.
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The pattern used on this evaluation was equipped by Gulikit.
