ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless Controller Review - Continuing the High-end Trend
Ever since Xbox brought the Elite controller to market, there has been a bit of a race to build the ultimate in premium controllers. For the longest time, Microsoft’s release reigned supreme, but in the last 12 months or so, some new entries in the category have stolen the spotlight. Controllers from Razer and Turtle Beach have both surpassed the Elite 2 in various ways. Now, after a bit of a miss with their first attempt, ROG are back with the Raikiri II, which also jumps ahead of the Elite and stands out as an excellent choice in an increasingly competitive market.
First things first, the basics. The Raikiri II, at first glance, keeps the traditional look of an Xbox controller. Asymmetric sticks, X,Y,A,B buttons are there, and the triggers and bumpers are in the usual spot. There is nothing radical about the design. But there are a few additions that are worth noting. Firstly, there are two extra buttons that are specifically for those who want to use the controller with an Xbox or ROG Ally system. These buttons allow access to the system settings, game libraries and other associated settings. The weird thing is, though, these buttons do nothing on the Xbox or a standard PC. You can’t even remap them to something useful. Perhaps in the future, when the Xbox Full Screen Experience comes to PCs, they will offer something, but at the moment, they are two very specific buttons for a very specific crowd, and without a broader use, they do feel like they cramp things up, just a little bit.
The Raikiri II also features the rear inputs that the Elite originally introduced, but instead of removable paddles, they are simply buttons. The good thing is that they are in a much better position, at least for my personal taste, and as a result, I found them much more useful and much easier to ignore if I didn’t really need them. In fact, apart from the ever-so-slightly cramped front buttons (which could have more to do with my giant mitts than anything else), I would say, in the hand, the Raikiri is probably the most comfortable controller I have used. The textured back helps grip, the placement of the sticks and aforementioned rear buttons means the controller sits comfortably in hand without any awkwardness, and the sticks, buttons and d-pads are appropriately tactile, giving good feedback on use. There is no denying that the team behind the Raikiri have really done their homework on both ergonomics and usability.
Connectivity with the Raikiri is a dream. You can connect with Bluetooth, USB-C or the vastly superior than Bluetooth 2.4 GHz dongle. The dongle is the clear choice here, reducing any input lag to almost nothing while still giving the freedom of a wireless connection. In fact, on PC, the Raikiri has a 1000Hz polling rate, meaning latency is almost non-existent. I have to say, it was noticeable. Using the controller with high-paced games such as Doom Eternal or Devil May Cry V, I found everything just that bit snappier, more reactive and going back to a standard controller made everything noticeably less responsive. It is impressive tech, and if you need those extra milliseconds, there is no doubt you should be looking this way.
Another genre that would absolutely benefit from this low latency is the fighting game genre, but here is where I feel the Raikiri is a little bit behind the game. The d-pad just isn’t the best for hodukens or dragon punches. It just isn’t the smooth experience I am looking for when going toe-to-toe with Ryu, Scorpion or Terry Bogard. It did handle 3D fighters much better, though, games like Tekken and its more directional tapping move set felt more suited to the type of D-pad that the Raikiri sports. I understand this is a very small problem in the scheme of things, and those who are serious about their fighters probably have a fightstick of some variety anyway, but it is something to consider if you are planning on a bit of biffo gaming.
One of my favourite things about the Raikiri is its “wake-up.” I just need to move the sticks, and the controller is on and ready to go. No need to turn it on, no need to reconnect to the PC, just pick up and go. No other controller I have used has been ready to go as quickly. It is all a part of the very intelligent power-saving settings the controller uses. These systems promise 50 hours+ on a full charge when you turn off things like lights and rumble, but for a more normal use scenario, I found about 20 to 25 hours seemed to be the playtime when all the bells and whistles are turned on. Pretty bloody respectable in my eyes, and charging seemed to take no time at all, so even if the battery runs out, you aren’t out of the game for long.
The final thing I wanted to talk about is the customisation software, which isn’t really software at all; it’s a web app. This means that there are no downloads, no extra things chewing up memory on Windows, and no additional startup processes. If some customisation is required, simply go to a website. Bloody brilliant. Here you can tweak, customise, switch between profiles, and even play with vibration strength. I cannot say enough for this approach, a simple to use, powerful web app that doesn’t need to be installed is a blessing in this day and age of poorly designed, memory-hogging, installed apps.
Now we get to the nasty bit. The price. Look, there is no way to sugarcoat this: the Raikiri II is undoubtedly expensive. Rocking in at around $350, a price that would make even the keenest gamer blush. It is a commitment that takes some serious bank or disregard for paying bills and eating. This is about $100 more than the Elite 2 and the same price as the equally excellent Razer Wolverine. Look, money is such a personal thing. For me, the money (especially if you can grab it on a sale) is worth it. The premium controller experience is something I have come to appreciate, so I am happy to fork out this sort of money, but at the same time, I am in the privileged position to do so, and the controller isn’t so amazing that gamers are missing out by not having one.
The ROG Raikiri II is, without any shade of doubt, a fantastic controller. The weird inclusion of Ally-focused buttons and a d-pad that isn’t quite the best for fighters are the only downsides to an otherwise excellent bit of gear. Ultra-low-latency gaming, well-designed, comfortable, responsive, intelligently powered, and it comes with a best-case web app for customisation. It really is the complete package for gaming, especially on a PC. That package comes with a price, though, and it is a price that might be too much to swallow. If you can justify the dollars, though, know that you are getting one of the best controllers on the market, and I am sure you will be satisfied with your purchase.
