Nacon Asymmetric Wireless Controller – Hardware Review
Nacon has been gaining some brand awareness during the last few years with the release of their Revolution Pro Controller series, which recently released the third model, slowly improving on their previous models. Nonetheless, Nacon also makes more affordable hardware for PC and PS4. This time we have the Asymmetric Wireless Controller, which has nearly the same price as a normal PS4 controller. Is it worth the investment? Or should you stick with your normal PS4 hardware? Well, we were somewhat undecided.
Design
Like the Revolution Pro version, Nacon’s controller looks like a mix of the original PlayStation 4 controller and that of Microsoft’s Xbox. You’ll have the same stick layout as that of the Xbox controller, but it will still have the button layout of that of Sony’s controller, including the touchpad in the middle. The right stick has the logo embedded into it, which is certainly a nice touch. Other than that, the controller doesn’t have any extra whistles and bells, safe for a very simplistic LED light to show that the controller is either on or still looking for the dongle when activated.
Comfort
The comfort factor of the controller is actually quite high. You’ll be treated to a meatier controller than the original PS4 hardware, and the placement of the triggers is a lot more pleasant. The overall shape and weight is also nice. The layout is nearly identical to that of the original controller, safe for the left stick and the D-Pad, which are placed like on an Xbox controller.
Nacon’s controller feels a lot cheaper than their Revolution controllers, as you’ll have to make do with a big hunk of plastic. However, the plastic is easy to clean, and it feels like thick and sturdy plastic. Overall, the controller feels like a cheaper version of the Pro series, but we’re not sure that there’s 60 Euros worth of material invested in this piece of hardware.
Overview
The device is a plug and play device, at least if you connect the dongle to your PlayStation 4. You’ll be ready to go in a matter of seconds, and to charge the controller you’ll use the same type of cable (Micro USB) as the original controller. A small annoyance is that, even though this controller is a so-called officially licensed product, you’ll still need the gigantic dongle at all times, and even with the dongle connected, you won’t be able to turn on your PlayStation 4 console with the controller. The latter might not be a big issue, and it might actually cause you to step an extra few feet, it’s a bit of an inconvenience. You’ll also have to keep an eye on the battery life yourself as the PlayStation 4 will not show you the amount of battery life left for your controller. The LED on Nacon’s controller will start blinking when it’s running out of power.
Overall the controller feels quite sturdy. The buttons have a proper click and there’s a lot of resistance on the L2 and R2 buttons. For some it might actually be a bit too much resistance, as you’ll have to apply a lot of pressure, especially during racing games. Nonetheless, the placement of the triggers is quite nice and they feel better than those of the original PlayStation 4 controller. The Asymmetric Wireless Controller’s sticks do feel a bit flimsy, as they won’t resist as much as the normal sticks on a PS4 controller. They don’t really have a dead zone and they work properly, so it’s just a matter of personal taste. Last but not least, the controller has a normal D-Pad, which is certainly a great asset when playing old school platformers or fighting games.
Unlike the Pro models, this device doesn’t come with any extra options, which is understandable, especially when looking at the price tag of this device. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not saying this model is cheap, on the contrary even. This device will set you back pretty much the same amount as an official Sony controller. In the end it’s a matter of personal taste, and if you like the Xbox layout more, then it might be something you want to consider investing in.
Conclusion
Nacon’s Asymmetric Wireless Controller is a fairly decent controller that offers comfort, decent triggers and a fairly sturdy design. You’ll have to make do with somewhat flimsy sticks and no option to turn on your console with the controller. Overall the controller is certainly nice, especially for those who prefer the Xbox controller layout, better triggers and a normal D-Pad. Sadly, the controller comes at the price of an official PS4 controller, which might be a bit too steep of a price for something that is a third party device, and doesn’t offer the options of the Pro models.
Nacon Asymmetric Wireless Controller - Hardware Review,
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