In an effort to achieve success, a controller wants three issues: consolation, operate, and comfort. There is a cause why the Duke–the notoriously giant controller that accompanied the unique Xbox in 2001–was finally changed with a smaller design, sturdy because it was. The Duke was heavy and big, with buttons unfold out slightly too far throughout the interface.
Scuf’s latest controller, the Valor Pro Wired Controller for Xbox and PC, nails all three of those parts. Its mild weight and clean entrance faceplate makes it simple to hold and maintain with out irritation. The design of the bumpers and triggers on the highest of the controller make it quite simple to alternate between, whereas the 4 rear paddles supply additional management in tight conditions. A few different further features–like constructed-in audio controls–add further comfort. It is not reinventing the wheel, however the Valor Pro is a superb selection for Xbox and PC gamers alike, offered you may reside with a wire hooked up to no matter you are enjoying on.
Proper out of the field, the Valor Pro felt nice in my fingers, that are bigger than most. The placement of the buttons and sticks appear to fit proper into the positions my fingers need them to be. It is surprisingly mild within the fingers too, to the purpose the place it appears like a toy reasonably than a professional controller. That’s to not say it feels low-cost, although, because the sticks, buttons, and d-pad really feel sturdy to the contact. The clean faceplate creates a decent grip, and the nonslip grips work as marketed, irrespective of how sweaty the palms get–and I, an individual with fairly sweaty fingers, would know.
The sticks on the Valor Pro are particularly snug due to a ridged material-like border on the surface rim. There isn’t any exhausting edge to annoy the thumb; as a substitute, that material serves as a pleasant cushion after I’m blasting folks in Fortnite or Name of Responsibility. The sticks ought to final some time too, because the Valor Pro incorporates Corridor Impact anti-drift measures to maintain them exact longer. There was no drift to talk of throughout this review–which, if there have been, can be an enormous subject for a model-new controller–and hopefully it’s going to keep that means for some time. In the meantime, the d-pad’s contoured form suits the thumb properly, and the place different controller d-pads typically really feel flimsy, this one has some weight to it with each contact.
The 4 again paddles on the controller are probably the most spectacular factor on it, as every one avoids a standard pitfall I’ve skilled with again buttons for a while: They resist unintended button presses. I’ve routinely pressed a button on the again of a controller at inopportune occasions, often in quiet moments the place stealth is vital, and it instantly turns my technique into mush. These paddles really feel extra like entrance face buttons than any I’ve used earlier than, and that feeling has resulted in zero unintended activations throughout this overview interval.
The Valor Pro additionally presents controller profiles, the place you may alternate between three totally different button designations for the again buttons. One is particular for shooters, and places the change-weapon and reload buttons within the again; one other is for sports activities video games and assigns the A and B buttons again there, which helps with, for instance, simple capturing and passing in NBA 2K. The third profile is for racing video games, turning every again button into a distinct course, and whereas I wasn’t fairly as enamored with that profile, the expertise wasn’t so dangerous that it killed the comfort of the opposite two.
If none of these profiles match for you, the Valor Pro’s customized remapping function helps you to set every profile to the buttons you employ probably the most within the video games you play probably the most. Remapping is straightforward; every profile is ready to a distinct shade, and for those who maintain within the profile button on the again till the coloured LED blinks, you may then assign paddles to buttons nonetheless you want. Controller customization is more and more turning into the usual, and the Valor Pro’s model will get the job accomplished.
When you plug a headset into your Valor Pro, you’ll have additional management over the audio due to the controller’s constructed-in quantity knobs. The left knob on the underside of the controller handles in-recreation audio, whereas the knob to its proper focuses on chat quantity, and each could be pressed all the way down to mute the corresponding audio. Having these controls onboard the controller is tremendous handy, to not point out the knobs are, like the remainder of the buttons on the Valor Pro, positioned in a cushty spot in your fingers to achieve.
Regardless of its execution, the Valor Pro does not present a lot in the way in which of new options. At $99, it sits within the “price range professional” controller tier with choices just like the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Match Version and Turtle Seashore Stealth Pivot–or, at about two-thirds the value, the 8BitDo Final. These supply comparable options to what the Valor Pro is doing right here. Nonetheless, Scuf has accomplished an ideal job designing this controller to really feel like the highest of the road reasonably than the inexpensive choice.
There’s additionally the matter of that pesky wire. Wired controllers are advantageous in case your gaming setup permits for it, however wi-fi controllers are additionally fashionable for a reason–and one thing just like the Turtle Seashore Stealth Extremely, Razer Wolverine V3 Pro or Xbox Elite 2 presents these choices on a wi-fi controller for the same worth. It is true that latency is lowered with a wired controller, and Scuf’s deal with precision requires a low-latency resolution, which one thing like a wire offers.
Once more, folks with shut-quarters gaming setups will not be frightened about this, but when your Xbox is throughout the room out of your sofa, the Valor Pro being shackled to the system possible will not work for you–even with the ten-foot USB-C twine included with the controller; a wi-fi controller works higher than a possible tripping hazard.
Total, I’m more than happy with the Scuf Valor Pro. It is one of the vital snug controllers I’ve ever used, with buttons positioned so naturally that it is as if the controller was made for my fingers particularly. The again paddles are totally customizable and immune to frantic unintended pushes, the graceful grip retains the controller in my hand irrespective of how wild a gameplay session will get, and the constructed-in audio controls give me easy accessibility to each recreation sound and chat audio. A wi-fi model would have been nice, however even with the wire, the Scuf Valor Pro is a incredible choice in your subsequent Xbox or PC controller.
The Scuf Valor Pro Wired Controller is offered now for $99 at choose retailers and at scufgaming.com.