Page 3 - Subjective Performance Tests
In order to truly test a gamepad, it makes sense to play some games with it. While this is an Xbox controller, majority of my testing was with PC games. For my tests, I threw a bunch of different genres at the Turtle Beach Recon Controller. This includes a 2D platformer, racing game, first-person shooter, and an action RPG. For comparison’s sake, I played the same games with a wireless Xbox One controller.
My platform game of choice is Ori and the Blind Forest, which I have talked about in multiple reviews before, and I definitely enjoy using a controller rather than using a keyboard here. As for the Recon Controller, everything felt responsive. The buttons provided a good feel when pressed while the patterned triggers were easy to locate without needing to look at my controller. Most importantly, I did not feel any difference in any of the button or trigger presses from my regular controller, even if some sounded slightly different. The rounded D-pad was a plus, especially for diagonal movement, although this was not as often of an occurrence.
In Forza Horizon 4, I was quickly immersed in the racing world while not noticing much of a difference between the two controllers. As I have indicated previously, the acceleration and braking pedals were mapped by default to my right and left pedals, respectively, for an analog feel of acceleration and braking. As expected from a well-designed controller, there were no dead zones when activating the triggers, as the triggers immediately executed the action with slight presses. Furthermore, the vibration motors inside the Turtle Beach Recon Controller felt aggressive and provided excellent feedback with the movement and the in-game action.
As for the next two games, Overwatch and Genshin Impact, I must admit I prefer using a mouse and keyboard for these genres. I think a mouse offers better granular control as opposed to the joysticks on a controller. However, for the sake of this review, I entered in the practice range in Overwatch to test out the Pro-Aim Mode for shooting. I have to say, I was a bit impressed with the immediate reduction in motion that made sniping easier. This was similar to having a sniper mode button on a mouse to quickly dip down to a lower DPI. Once again, the buttons were laid out in reachable locations and felt comfortable to use. In Genshin Impact, I was able to hack and slash my way through some groups of enemy slimes and hilichurls. It was not exactly as natural for me to adjust to a controller, but I can say the Recon Controller held up during my short time in Genshin Impact.
As for Turtle Beach's additions, the audio experience between the two controllers was night and day because of the on-the-fly adjustments. I really appreciate the fact you can change the volume whenever while staying in game. The equalizer settings are handy to have, even if it is just for more customization. I liked the grips on the side as they made the Recon easy to hold. It also stayed cooler over time, which makes me think the micro-channels are actually working as expected.
However, the main detractor I noticed when swapping between the Turtle Beach Recon Controller and my Xbox One controller was the fact that one was tethered to my system while the other was not. While I do not play far away from my computer, I did notice the hanging cable out the back. I can see this issue being more prevalent when used with the Xbox, since some users may be sitting more than 3m away from their console. In addition, it is a bit of a hassle when storing the controller away, as I need to deal with a cable. These might be first world problems, but I hope Turtle Beach makes a wireless revision of this Recon Controller as this seems to be the one thing holding it back.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
