Tech Olive

To be honest, we weren’t expecting a whole lot from the FPSFreek attachment, even after hearing such rave reviews of KontrolFreek’s products from others in the Tech Olive staff. However, after opening the packet and putting them on, it was like a whole other experience, one that had good points as well as bad.

Putting them onto the controller, we immediately felt a difference. We consider the 360 to have the best controller design, but one problem is several of the staff’s hands are large, in some cases, extremely so. The FPSFreek attachments made the controller fit ever so more snugly in the palm. It was an enjoyable change, to say the least, and gaming hadn’t even started yet! Their appearance didn’t detract from the controller at all either, and the rubber coating on top made sure our thumbs wouldn’t slip off in the heat of battle.

However, here is where the hardcore gamers and the casual gamers will become divided. Every other round of Halo, we would rotate controllers, one controller with the FPSFreek attachment and the other with the stock thumbsticks. The general opinion was that they did in fact increase accuracy, allowing everyone to hone in on some headshots and have better control overall. However,  one problem arose whenever the fighting became a close 10 foot 1-on-1, where a properly placed melee was the difference between a win and a defeat. With your thumb so much further in the air, the distance is greater traveled to the A, B, X and Y buttons, and we found that hitting the correct button didn’t always happen on time.

Us casual gamers probably won’t notice a difference, possibly even slightly less kills thanks to the FPSFreek, but Pros and hardcore gamers, with “BumperJumper” configurations who need that deadly accurate sniper shot will most likely find them as if putting an 11 on the game’s sensitivity scale. While it’s still not as precise or lightning-fast as the PC’s mouse, it is certainly a push in the right direction for console gamers that are looking  for a little improvement in their game. Unfortunately, one of the largest and unavoidable issues with the FPSFreek is the limitations the attachments comes with. Sure, it is the perfect attachment for FPS gaming, but if you want to change the game, you’ll find yourself removing and reinstalling the attachments quite often. While the design is simple enough and lets you remove or place them easily, it does bring some worries for the thumbsticks’ stock rubber coating, which could possibly become damaged from constant removal and placement of the FPSFreek.

The Good: The FPSFreek raised the players thumbs, making the controller fit more easily in your hand. With the extended height, you could more accurately position the control pads in just the right position.

The Bad: The height however, also pushed your thumbs further from other controls, which could present a timing problem. And, if you want to switch game genres, you’ll have to remove them.

Overall Score: 6