You know, I’ve had a PlayStation 5 since shortly after launch, but I hardly play it. Yes, I know, there are plenty of amazing exclusives, and the DualSense offers some incredible haptics… but I can’t get behind the controller. I have medium-sized hands, but the DualSense feels cumbersome for long gaming sessions, paired with a mediocre battery life that seems to bite the dust during the worst possible time. I’m not an Xbox fanboy, but I’ll always prefer offset sticks to symmetrical ones, so I had to jump at the opportunity to try these two controllers out.
However, both of these options come in quite a bit more expensive than their first-party counterparts, ranging in price from $179.99 up to a whopping $249.99, but I figured the deed must be done. I made my way to my local Best Buy and purchased both controllers. However, only one of them will stay here with me. Let’s find out if the PDP Victrix Pro BFG can overthrow the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro, or if the Wolverine will pull out the victory overall.
The Pros And Cons Of Third-Party Controllers
After being burned myself in the past by the somewhat shady quality of previous contenders, I wanted to ensure I knew what I was getting myself into before I dropped nearly $500 to compare these two controllers. They’re expensive for a variety of reasons, and some of the features present in your standard DualSense will not be present here.
While we cover the overall build quality below, there are a few things that you may be wondering about before you run out to the store and get one of these for your own. Both controllers are lacking vibration and require a dongle to operate wirelessly, but they also do offer wired play for those sticking close to their console.
However, for those hoping to up their game, a variety of gameplay enhancements are present here, including programmable back buttons and the ability to swap your thumbstick to your preferred type. No need to get your hands on some KontrolFreeks if you’re picking one of these bad boys up.
There is also seamless PC play built into both of these devices. However, some PC games may register the controller as an Xbox 360 Joypad, so you’ll need to change some settings if you’re hoping to see your familiar PlayStation icons. Just plug your dongle into a spare USB port, and you’ll be ready to play.
Thankfully, the quality of third-party controllers has improved drastically since the days of the PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox, so you won’t need to worry about these controllers being the awful ones your friend gives you when you want to get into some Timesplitters action. They’re both premium in their own sense and offer an extensive list of improvements over some First Party options.
Related: PlayStation Quietly Removes Its Best Perk for PS5 Owners
Build Quality – Coughing Baby Versus Atomic Bomb
Starting with the Wolverine V2, I was immediately struck by how big this controller was. Compared to the Xbox and PlayStation controllers, this is a hefty boy. What I wasn’t expecting, however, is how light it is. It feels like you’re holding nothing in your hands due to the lack of vibration motors built into the controller itself. While some players may love the fact that it feels like you’re holding a block of Aerogel, I wasn’t a personal fan of this.
However, when in your hands, the Wolverine V2 feels great. Featuring mouse-click buttons, you’ll always know when you’ve hit the proper inputs. 2-Step Trigger Locks can help you adjust your shoulder buttons to your preferred, with a short pull that works great for FPS and TPS games, and a full pull that is excellent for analog control in racing games.
Everything on this controller clicks in some way, shape, or form. Using Microswitches instead of your standard membranes, Razer touts that it requires 35% less pushdown to activate a button press compared to “other competitive brands” on the market, and I can say it does feel different to use these particular buttons. There are also four programmable back buttons, whose function you can change in the Razer Controller app on your smartphone.
Overall, for the asking price of $249.99, it doesn’t feel as premium as its price tag is demanding overall. Sure, the Microswitches feel and sound great, but when your controller almost feels like a toy rather than an expensive piece of tech, maybe the aesthetics should be a secondary factor rather than the driving force.
The Victrix Pro BFG, on the other hand, is heavy and hefty. Comparable in weight to the Xbox Elite V2, this is the polar opposite of the Wolverine V2 Pro, and I’m a big fan of this. While I’m not one to spike a controller after a vicious defeat in a game, I think the Victrix would cause more damage to my floor than I would to the controller.
Just like the previous contender, the Victrix also has a 2-Step trigger lock, 4 programmable back buttons, and swappable analog sticks. However, it does have a particular party trick, as the PDP Victrix is a modular device, meaning that you can use the included tools to swap out the joystick layout to a symmetrical style or swap in the included fight-pad accessory to take it to your friends in fighting games. By swapping out the full right side of your controller, you can turn the Victrix into a palm-sized arcade stick, giving you the upper hand in fighting games and beat em’ ups.
Beyond the modular nature of the controller, the form and function are almost identical between the two. You won’t have the marvelous Micro-Switches here, except for in the fight pad, but everything feels crisp and clean. While I enjoy the form factor of this particular pad, I do enjoy the Microswitches on the V2 versus the membrane buttons here. The joysticks on this pad do feel a bit more tight and responsive, whereas the Wolverine feels a bit loose in comparison.
Overall, for $179.99, the PDP Victrix takes home the win on the overall build quality since the controller feels great in the hands, has a great sense of weight to it, and overall feels like the more premium over the Razer offers.
Winner: PDP Victrix BFG Pro
The Best Bang For Your Buck: Price Doesn’t Always Mean It’s Nice
Out of the box, you would expect that the $249.99 controller would come with more than its cheap counterpart, but you may be surprised by the fact that the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro only comes with a few accessories, including:
- 10-Foot Charging Cable
- Dongle (Wireless Play)
- 2 extra Thumbsticks (Short Domed, Tall Concave)
- Standard Thumbsticks
- Nice Foam (Non-Removable)
You would hope for the price that you’re paying; you would at least get a nice carrying case or something to complement your new piece of tech, but in this particular instance, what you see is what you get.
On the other side of the coin, however, the PDP Victrix BFG Pro (costing $179.99) comes with a smattering of great accessories for your gaming pleasure, including:
- 10-Foot Charging Cable
- Dongle (Wireless Play)
- Two extra D-Pads
- Two extra Thumbsticks (Short Dome, Tall Concave)
- Standard Thumbsticks
- Fight Pad accessory
- 2 extra gates for thumbstick (8 Way Gates)
- Screwdriver to remove modules
- Carrying Case
So, for $70 less, you get almost double the accessories, which are all relatively high quality. Adding the carrying case seals the deal for me on this half, but once I break out the fight pad and put it to good use in games like Tekken, I can see the octagonal gates being an excellent addition to my arsenal.
Winner: PDP Victrix BFG Pro
Related: How to Clean Your PS5 to Prevent Overheating
Final Thoughts On Razer Wolverine V2 Pro
I really wanted to love the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro. I had heard countless bad things about it, but I can happily say it isn’t the worst controller I’ve used by a long shot. However, in this particular conversation, it’s the worst of the two offerings. While I adored the Microswitch buttons, the overall package felt lacking, and the Razer Controller App support left a lot to be desired. If you’re already deeply embedded into the Razer family, you may love this controller, but other players can find better value with other devices.
Razer Wolverine V2 Pro
PROS:
● Fantastic Buttons with Microswitches
● Seemless PC Connectivity
● Chroma Lights are nice
CONS:
● Far too expensive for what it offers
● Build quality leaves much to be desired
● Razer Controller App is barebones
Reviewed on PlayStation 5/PC. Purchased at Best Buy for purpose of review.
Final Thoughts On PDP Victrix Pro BFG
I will say the PDP Victrix Pro BFG surprised me overall. I’ve been burned by PDP accessories in the past, and I was expecting to think that this particular controller was not going to be my style. However, I am happy to say that this controller has earned its spot as my new go-to controller for PlayStation 5 and PC gaming, thanks to the variety of accessories that come alongside it and its focus on providing an excellent user experience. If you’re in the market for a new “Pro” controller, consider this one before anything else.
PDP Victrix PRO BFG
PROS:
● Modular design is great
● Quick and responsive buttons/joysticks
● Feels great in hands
CONS:
● Need to use PC program to change buttons
● No Swappable Profiles
Reviewed on PlayStation 5/PC. Purchased at Best Buy for purpose of review.
Overall, if you’re looking for a great controller that you can seamlessly swap between PC and PS5, I would strongly recommend looking in the direction of the PDP Victrix Pro BFG. While I enjoyed my playtime with the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro, the lack of customization and the higher price tag are the main reasons it’s heading back to the Best Buy headquarters at this point.
No matter which option you choose, you’re in for a great new accessory, but for $70 less, you get so much more. Hopefully, as the PlayStation 5 matures through its lifespan, more affordable options will come out since both of these cost a pretty penny. Still, if you’re like me and want to utilize your console more, the Victrix has emerged victorious. Be sure to check out our PlayStation 5 section below to find out more interesting information about the newest Sony console.
Published: Jul 25, 2023 04:45 pm