What’s the Hyperkin Xbox One Duke Controller?
These of us sufficiently old to recollect the launch of the unique Xbox, approach again in 2001 (2002 exterior the US) will most probably have just a few issues burned into our reminiscences – Halo: Fight Advanced, Mission Gotham Racing and the completely huge controller that got here with the already-massive console.
The pad – later nicknamed the ‘Duke’ – would finally get replaced with the smaller ‘Xbox S’ controller after suggestions in regards to the measurement and luxury the controller supplied. Merely put, this was a controller not designed for smaller palms, and it generally resulted in uncomfortable and even impossible-to-reach buttons for some individuals.
But the Duke controller had its deserves. It was following within the footsteps of the cumbersome Sega Dreamcast controller and Microsoft was decided to set the Xbox controller other than the PlayStation’s DualShock. The Duke was positively a controller you both obtained alongside wonderful with or completely hated, however for a lot of it turned a bit of nostalgia that reminded them of these early days, enjoying by the unique Halo with pals. Some individuals, to at the present time, will let you know that the Duke was the perfect and most comfy controller they’ve used.
All of this discuss of the Duke and nostalgia finally resulted in Hyperkin – an organization finest identified for producing the Retron, a retro video games emulator field – pitching a novel thought to Microsoft to convey again the Duke as an formally licensed third-party controller for the Xbox One and Home windows 10 PCs. So right here in 2018, we now have not one however two model new variations of the Xbox Duke controller to take pleasure in.
Associated: Finest Gaming Keyboard
Hyperkin Xbox One Duke Controller – Design and construct
Hyperkin’s duplicate of the unique Duke controller is spot-on. It’s an extremely correct recreation of the unique controller, bulk and all. In the event you’ve had any expertise with the unique Xbox pad, all that nostalgia will come dashing again the minute you get your palms on this new model.
True to the unique, the Hyperkin Duke options two thumbsticks, a d-pad, begin and again buttons (right here, renamed to the Xbox One’s ‘view’ and ‘menu’ buttons) and a set of ‘face’ buttons – the standard X, Y, B, and A together with the unique Xbox’s unique ‘black’ and ‘white’ buttons. Similar to the unique, all of those buttons are barely slanted to the left, making them narrower than what you may need come to count on from the Xbox 360 or Xbox One controller layouts.
One of many solely new issues to be discovered on this controller is a set of bumper buttons on the prime. In a contemporary context, these bumpers operate because the LB and RB switches, whereas additionally mirroring the Black and White face buttons.
In essence, which means in the event you determined to make use of the Hyperkin Duke similar to the unique Xbox pad, you’ll be able to limit your self to utilizing solely the face buttons (black and white included) and the triggers, whereas the newly-added bumpers will really feel much more pure to these not looking for a nostalgia repair. As well as, a headphone jack may be discovered on the backside.
For higher or worse, the unique Xbox controller’s d-pad can also be replicated faithfully right here. This, by most requirements, was by no means an excellent d-pad, although, and whereas I can see the necessity for it to return on this in any other case good recreation of the unique Duke, it’s one of many solely unwelcome issues to see returning.
Associated: Finest Gaming Headset
Probably the most unlucky issues in regards to the Hyperkin Duke is the shortage of wi-fi performance. The controller comes with a removable USB cable, which is required to ensure that it for use on both Xbox One or PC. That is, reportedly, as a consequence of a licensing clause with Microsoft meaning solely official first-party pads may be wi-fi for Xbox One.
Then there’s the centre of the controller, which comes outfitted with a round AMOLED display instead of the unique model’s large Xbox brand. This show is definitely a functioning button that, when pressed, will play a brief video of the unique Xbox’s startup display.
It’s a neat little trick to convey you again to the great ol’ days of enjoying the unique system, although it appears a little bit wasted in apply. I discovered myself questioning what different features the little display might have been used for along with nostalgia.
Hyperkin’s rebooted Duke is out there in two color schemes – the unique black that launched with the Xbox all these years in the past and a translucent inexperienced variant that launched alongside a equally translucent inexperienced Xbox some years later. Each pads are impressively correct replicas however there’s positively one thing extra eye-catching in regards to the vaguely Halo-influenced inexperienced mannequin.
Associated: Finest Gaming Mice
Hyperkin Xbox One Duke Controller – Efficiency
The Hyperkin Duke is a surprisingly stable and fun-to-use controller. The construct high quality is superb, the entire pad feels sturdy and I can attest to it with the ability to survive a few falls from a desk onto the ground and not using a scratch. This can be a pad that feels sturdy and vital once you maintain it.
In the event you’ve been utilizing fashionable gaming controllers, notably Xbox 360 or Xbox One pads, for some time, and have grown accustomed to the format, your muscle reminiscence will betray you the primary few instances you check out the Duke. The small, raised bumpers and the slanted face buttons really feel ever-so-slightly alien now, and whereas enjoying by Darkish Souls Remastered utilizing this controller, I discovered myself unintentionally hitting multiple button at a time in a frantic second.
After getting used to the Duke’s button format, although, I’ve discovered this to be a really pleasing pad to make use of, notably for PC gaming. The controller is recognised by Home windows 10 as an XINPUT system, so the overwhelming majority of video games accessible on Steam or GOG will immediately realize it and set the button layouts appropriately.
It’s an actual disgrace that this controller couldn’t be made as a wi-fi one, and whilst you’ll get a 9-foot micro USB cable within the field, which needs to be lengthy sufficient to suit into most gaming set-ups, it’s nonetheless a disgrace to not see a very wi-fi mannequin accessible.
Associated: Finest Xbox One Video games
Why purchase the Hyperkin Xbox One Duke Controller?
The Hyperkin Duke, by design, isn’t a controller for everybody. It’s a near-perfect duplicate of the unique Xbox’s launch controller and, as such, is a welcome return for some. In the event you’re somebody that appears again fondly on the outsized controller that got here with the console all these years in the past, you need to completely decide up this controller. It’s a devoted recreation of the unique Duke and packs in some pretty new options on prime. You’re not going to be getting something mindblowing, however the Hyperkin Duke is one thing very distinctive available on the market proper now.
That mentioned, in the event you don’t have already got that in-built nostalgia, it’s a little bit tougher to advocate. I’ve discovered my time with this controller to be very pleasing after an preliminary awkward interval, however that is, at its core, a wired controller with an RRP of £69.99 / $70. As a lot as I’ve loved the Hyperkin Duke, that price-point is a giant ask for a third-party controller, not to mention a wired one. In the event you don’t already look again on the unique Duke with rose-tinted glasses,you is likely to be higher off choosing up an official wi-fi Xbox One controller for much less cash.
Verdict
Hyperkin has achieved a genuinely nice job of recreating a basic and considerably underappreciated controller from yesteryear. There’s sufficient modernisation to make it an important controller to make use of for Xbox One and PC gaming, although the shortage of wi-fi and the excessive price are enormous drawbacks. Nonetheless, when you’ve got a selected fondness for the unique Xbox controller, this can be a must-have.