PDP Riffmaster Guitar Controller review

Introducing the PDP Riffmaster wi-fi guitar! A groundbreaking launch after nearly a decade, enabling you to unleash your interior rock star in Fortnite Competition, Rock Band 4, and Clone Hero. Formally licensed by Xbox, it’s your key to rocking out with unparalleled freedom and magnificence. If you need a controller that makes you are feeling like a musician, that is the one. It enhances the taking part in expertise and appears the half.

If you happen to’re a fan of rhythm video games, then this is without doubt one of the finest PC controllers you’ll discover. It does for musical video games what PC steering wheels do for driving video games – including a complete new stage of realism and immersion. That is actually the primary guitar controller of the trendy age.

Specs

Riffmaster Guitar Controller specs:

Design

The Riffmaster Guitar controller appears to be like identical to an actual guitar! Particularly, it appears to be like like a Fender Stratocaster. Its smooth, minimalistic design is obtainable in a single colour, black. Sure, it has buttons on the entrance which an actual guitar doesn’t however the structure is clear and uncluttered. The shiny plastic end, though fashionable, will be vulnerable to scratches and marks, which can be a priority for many who choose their gear in pristine situation. Light-weight but sturdy, the Riffmaster feels strong in your palms however the primary factor setting it other than precise guitars is its notably smaller measurement.

It suits comfortably inside your palms and accommodates each left and right-handed guitarists. The fret buttons are simple to press. The buttons on the prime of the neck are thicker than those towards the bottom, that is to ease play when doing solos. The concept is that you’ve much less distance to journey to your subsequent button. The strum bar feels spongey as a result of it makes use of magnets as an alternative of a bodily swap– which Guitar Hero controllers use. In concept, this implies the product will last more resulting from fewer shifting elements. By way of really feel it’s actually as much as private choice, however I believe it feels nice and loved utilizing it.

The product is available in a flat pack however is extremely simple to assemble – merely click on the elements collectively. As soon as assembled, the controller folds up effortlessly. A sliding swap releases the neck from the bottom, permitting you to fold it down and take away the headstock. This design allows compact and secure storage, though, given its fashionable look, you may choose to go away it out on show.

Options

Within the field, you’ll discover the Riffmaster, a dongle, and a guitar strap. So sure, the Riffmaster is wi-fi and requires a dongle to function. Whereas it is perhaps a minor inconvenience to plug within the dongle every time, it’s an easy plug-and-play setup that requires minimal effort. I do want that it had Bluetooth compatibility although. You may fear about dropping the dongle, however happily, it’s cleverly hid beneath the faceplate, so it ought to be secure as long as you set it again after use.

What units this guitar aside is that it has a patent pending built-in analog stick– which solely works with Fortnight Competition (to this point), however remains to be a pleasant element. Moreover, the guitar includes a tilt perform for activating “overdrive” in Rock Band, permitting you to attain greater rating multipliers – I’m certain many older readers could have fond recollections of doing this with the older Guitar Hero video games, again within the day.

The Riffmaster includes a 3.5mm audio jack, permitting you to plug in headphones and maintain your gameplay quiet (the strum bar can also be very quiet). Sadly, it can’t hook up with wi-fi gaming headsets. The D-pad contains built-in audio controls, enabling you to regulate the amount on the fly.

With a built-in rechargeable battery, the Riffmaster affords phenomenal battery life, offering as much as 36 hours on a single cost. It boasts a 30-foot low-latency wi-fi connection… I’m not sure why you’d need to play that far-off, however you may.

Efficiency

Whereas I lack rhythm, I nonetheless discover these video games extremely enjoyable, and I fared higher on the Riffmaster guitar than I often do with a typical controller. (My different half, alternatively, is an absolute machine—By means of the Hearth and Flames, anybody?) Utilizing the Riffmaster considerably enhanced my taking part in expertise and deepened my immersion.

Without any consideration-hander, I discovered the Riffmaster functioned completely. My companion is left-handed and he discovered it labored flawlessly for him too. In spite of everything, it’s only a case of flipping it round to match your wants. The versatile design ensures that the strum bar features no matter which hand you employ. The one minor draw back for left-handed gamers is that the machine heads are on the other facet, however in actuality, that is merely a matter of aesthetics and doesn’t have an effect on performance by any means.

My companion discovered the strum bar to be a bit too delicate, registering notes with even the slightest motion. This proved difficult for him, particularly since he’s a loyal Guitar Hero participant accustomed to clicking the strum bar right down to hit a be aware. It wasn’t such a problem for me although – so, it is dependent upon how a lot expertise you’ve got with historic controllers of this sort.

In keeping with the Clone Hero Wiki, the sport has a couple of bugs, however upon my trial and testing, I solely encountered a minor situation with a non-functional whammy bar, which wasn’t a major concern. Furthermore, the Riffmaster labored seamlessly with Rock Band 4 and Fortnite Competition. Nothing noteworthy to report right here – I used to be simply riffing!

Value

At $129.99, the Riffmaster could seem expensive for a distinct segment product. Comparatively, an everyday wi-fi Xbox controller is available in round $59.99, providing versatility throughout a variety of video games, together with rhythm-based ones. Nevertheless, for avid rhythm recreation lovers nostalgic for the Guitar Hero period, the Riffmaster is a must have. Its compatibility with video games like Rock Band or Clone Hero provides authenticity and considerably enhances playability. If you happen to’re obsessed with rhythm video games, the funding within the Riffmaster is properly value it for the immersive expertise it affords.

If the Riffmaster guitar controller isn’t for you

Verdict

The Riffmaster Guitar controller delivers a smooth and genuine guitar-like expertise. Meeting is simple, and the controller’s foldable design ensures simple storage, making it sensible. It has distinctive options, together with a built-in analog stick and tilt perform. The Riffmaster’s general efficiency is spectacular, with wonderful battery life. It performs properly throughout numerous video games, including a layer of immersion and delight that customary controllers can’t match.

Whereas priced at $129.99, which is steep for a distinct segment product, the Riffmaster is a worthwhile funding for rhythm recreation lovers who lengthy for the Guitar Hero period. Its mixture of performance, design, and enhanced gameplay makes it a must have for devoted gamers in search of to raise their gaming classes.