While the usual DualShock 4 that comes with each PlayStation 4 system is a stable possibility for many gamers, Sony lacks a customizable gamepad for its extra devoted gamers. Scuf Gaming, an organization that focuses on professional gaming equipment, acknowledged this and created the Scuf Vantage, a extremely customizable controller designed to enhance your efficiency, consolation, and playtime.
Its worth — $170 for the wired mannequin and $200 for the wi-fi Bluetooth – actually displays this, and its customization choices are great, however the Scuf Vantage additionally has some points that shouldn’t include the worth.
An on the spot enchancment
After taking the Scuf Vantage out of the field and eradicating a couple of stickers, it was able to be paired with a PlayStation 4. The wi-fi mannequin contains a toggle swap on the underside that lets you swap from Bluetooth to wired on the fly, and the 10 ft micro-USB cable is lengthy sufficient to accommodate most gaming setups.
The wi-fi Scuf Vantage controller feels sturdy, and is barely heavier than the DualShock 4, whereas the wired mannequin weighs about the identical. There’s additionally a handy possibility to scale back the burden on each controllers by eradicating the rumble motors inside.
Before customizing something, the Scuf Vantage already looks like an enchancment over the DualShock 4. The analog sticks are organized asymmetrically and have a concave design with out the rubber grip that’s susceptible to put on on Sony’s mannequin. The Vantage sports activities a extra conventional directional pad and general, has a structure just like Microsoft’s Xbox controller. We seen a definite click on with a little bit of resistance when utilizing the bumpers (R1 and L1) on the Vantage that exposed these had been mechanical buttons. We really most well-liked Sony’s Dualshock 4 bumpers over these and sadly, you may’t swap them out for one thing else.
A Competitive Edge
Outside of a PS4 controller’s ordinary buttons, the Scuf Vantage contains 4 paddles on the again that may be programmed to carry out some other controller operate with only a flick of a swap and two button presses. The paddles are perfect for remapping face buttons so your thumbs by no means have to go away the analog sticks, although we discovered the internal paddles a bit arduous to achieve.
Don’t like the colour your controller got here with? Just pop the magnetic faceplate off and change it with a special one.
A “Sax” button is positioned on both aspect on the controller, offering much more customized button remapping. These really got here in useful essentially the most throughout our time with the Vantage, as they saved us from to maneuver our thumb to the directional pad throughout intense moments. During a mission in Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor — Martyr, for example, we had been in a position to maintain our fingers on the sticks and swap weapons on the identical time.
If you favor a extra conventional setup, then that’s additionally an possibility with the Scuf Vantage. The paddles and Sax buttons can all be eliminated however with a possible setback. While the Sax buttons pop off with none issues, eradicating the paddles reveals a small opening the place you may see the wires of the controller. This implies that filth or particles can get inside and doubtlessly trigger injury when you select to go away the paddles off. This is probably not a threat value taking particularly with a controller that has such a excessive price ticket.
Make it yours
The Scuf Vantage takes customization a step additional. Don’t like the colour your controller got here with? Just pop the magnetic faceplate off and change it with a special one. After you take away the faceplate, you too can come out each analog sticks and swap them with quite a lot of totally different configurations and dimensions. Some of those substitute components are included and others can be found in an additional equipment package. The directional pad will also be changed with a circle pad, and the set off covers pop off in case you wish to add longer ones of their place.
Gabe Gurwin/Digital TendenciesIn our expertise, we discovered that the Vantage as-is works simply advantageous, however its many choices cater to all playstyles. The small switches on the underside of every set off can flip into hair-triggers, excellent for first-person shooters, although they’re incompatible with some video games. If the triggers are too tight or free on your liking, you may alter them with an included key, as properly.
Just a few missteps
A few points we encountered made us a bit skeptical of the $200 price ticket on the wi-fi Scuf Vantage. The first drawback being the restricted entry to it’s audio. There’s a touchbar positioned beneath the PlayStation button enables you to simply alter your headset and controller quantity, nevertheless it solely works when the controller is utilizing a wired USB connection. In reality, you may’t even use the headset or controller audio when Bluetooth is enabled.
The high-performance Scuf Vantage will simply outlast your main DualShock 4 controller.
The subsequent problem is expounded to charging the controller. While the Scuf Vantage’s battery life far exceeds the Dualshock 4’s, we did encounter one very weird drawback when charging it. Scuf Gaming recommends solely utilizing the PlayStation 4 to cost the Vantage, however after connecting the 2 and placing the system into relaxation mode, the controller turned the console again on after about 10 minutes.
With no choice to maintain the PS4 asleep, the one different is to cost the controller whilst you’re enjoying. We had been advised this was the results of the controller switching between Bluetooth and USB to provoke the charging course of, nevertheless it didn’t make the difficulty any much less annoying, particularly after listening to that it’s supposed to do this.
What is maybe essentially the most regarding problem, nonetheless, is that we bumped into points with the left analog stick drifting to the left after just some months of use. Removing the stick itself didn’t tackle the issue, nor did eradicating and adjusting the anti-friction rings. Scuf recommends updating the firmware if this drawback happens with its controllers, however the truth that it began after just some months doesn’t bode properly for longevity.
Warranty info
The Scuf Vantage is backed by a 180-day restricted guarantee that begins on the date of buy.
Our Take
The Scuf Vantage is a wonderful gamepad that anybody with some further money to spend ought to positively take into account, however you want to concentrate on its potential points. At a minimal of $170, it’s not the best choice for informal gamers, however these in want of one thing past the cookie-cutter DualShock 4 ought to nonetheless take into account it.
Is there a greater different?
There are different “pro” type controllers in the marketplace, however the Scuf’s customization choices are critically spectacular.
How lengthy will it final?
The Scuf Vantage is a high-performance controller that may simply outlast your main DualShock 4, when you don’t run into analog points.
Should you purchase it?
Yes, in case you are in want of additional customization choices above all else.