When it comes to controller customisation, one of the first names that comes to mind is SCUF, which, over the years, has offered a combination of player choice and quality that few can match.
Typically, most gamers want to pick up a customised SCUF controller for competitive shooters such as Call of Duty, Fortnite or Halo.
However, restricting yourself to a specific genre would do you a disservice because SCUF controllers can be beneficial to a variety of gameplay styles, regardless of whether you’re a competitive gamer or not.
I reviewed the SCUF Reflex Pro FPS in 2023; however, the SCUF Reflex Pro I’m here to tell you about today removes the DualSense vibration, adaptive triggers, and haptic feedback. This may seem like an odd design choice, but I’ll explain why it can be a good thing.
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Imagine this. You’re lining up a one-shot sniper kill from across the map, about to pull the trigger and then, nearby, there’s an explosion, and your DualSense rumbles and slightly offsets your once sure-to-be perfect shot.
It’s those subtle distractions that result in many pro gamers, especially when it concerns shooters, deciding to remove all vibration and feedback modules. Sure, you can deactivate controller feedback in the console settings, but there’s another major plus for having them removed.
The SCUF Reflex Pro FPS, which has all the standard feedback modules of the DualSense controller, is understandably heavier than the SCUF Reflex Pro. When weighed on my digital scales, the SCUF Reflex Pro FPS came in at 288 grams, whereas the SCUF Reflex Pro proves 36 grams lighter at 252 grams.
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That may seem like a small amount, but it does have some benefits. For example, when partaking in extended gameplay sessions, there's less strain on your hands. The lighter weight can also result in less fatigue, compared to using a heavier controller in the long run. It’s also less draining on the built-in battery.
Of course, the caveat of having the lighter controller is that it will be at the expense of not having haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, two fantastic features of the DualSense. Feeling the pull of a bow and arrow in The Last of Us Part I or the excellent feedback in games such as Astro Bot with the SCUF Reflex Pro FPS adds an extra layer of immersion in single-player games.
This is why I’d recommend the SCUF Reflex Pro FPS as a luxury controller for the more casual gamer in single-player games, and the SCUF Reflex Pro for those who are more into competitive multiplayer games. It also costs an additional £9.99 to have feedback modules removed, so that’s worth keeping in mind.
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It’s also worth pointing out that SCUF controllers now come with the optional Hall Effect anti-drift sticks. Unfortunately, stick drift is a common issue with controllers, regardless of the platform, and can be encountered after gaming over a prolonged period of time.
In a nutshell, stick drift will do exactly as its name suggests. The analogue aim may drift in any direction, which can severely hinder accuracy. In some extreme cases, the analogue stick may drift even when the player isn't touching it.
While Hall Effect anti-drift sticks won't 100% remove the possibility of drift, they will drastically reduce the chances, thus meaning that you'll get a lot more life from your controller. What's more, the rotation of the analogues feels more precise than controllers without the Hall Effect.
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To have the Hall Effect anti-drift stick modules fitted into the left and right analogues of the SCUF controllers costs an additional £19.99, but it’s an investment that should be strongly considered.
The HexGaming Phantom controller is fantastic for anti-stick drift, which allows you to recalibrate the modules so that you can realign them using the tools provided and its online software. However, the small tools aren't the easiest to get to grips with, and it can feel inconvenient having to recalibrate the modules, but I digress.
In the palm of your hand, the SCUF Reflex Pro is just as comfortable as the DualSense controller; after all, it’s a modified version of that. The rubber grips on the handles not only feel nice, but they also drastically reduce slip, even when gaming on a hot summer’s day with sweaty palms.
The top four shoulder buttons have an instant, mouse-click function, so rather than having to press the L2 and R2 triggers all the way to aim down a scope and shoot in an FPS, those actions are performed instantly.
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Then you have the four programmable paddles on the back of the controller, which naturally align with your fingertips. The controller can store up to four customised profiles to switch on the fly, which allows you to issue any command on any of the four paddles.
In the box, along with the controller, you also get four swappable analogue sticks that vary in height, a charge cable, as well as a hard case, so that you can safely take the controller with you on your travels.
SCUF once again provides the best controller that I have used to date. At its core, the SCUF Reflex Pro is as good as the Reflex Pro FPS, but with the optional features removed, as strange as it may initially seem, it might just be the accessory to improve your game. However, full disclosure, as good as the SCUF Reflex Pro is, it won't perform a miracle.
A review sample was provided by Corsair. The controller is also compatible with PC.
Topics: Tech, PlayStation, PlayStation 5, PC, Reviews