Razer is known for making high-quality gaming gear, but how good is the Razer Raiju Ultimate PS4 controller? If you're pondering that question, you've come to the right place.
If you've played with the same knackered DualShock controller for a few years too many, you may well be considering the purchase of a new PS4 controller. The Razer Raiju Ultimate PS4 controller is definitely one that will stand out when you search through the web in search of a new controller.
But is it any good? Well, let's find out! Stealth Optional put this fancy PS4 controller through its paces to bring you this Razer Raiju Ultimate PS4 controller review...
Design - Score 85
Rather than simply aping Sony's DualShock design, they've come up with something different. The Raiju is eyecatching in its own right, and it will surely look snazzy on your shelf or gripped in your sweaty mitts.
And speaking of sweaty mitts, the Raiju feels like it's made from high-quality materials, and it never feels slippery - no matter how intense your FIFA or Warzone session gets.
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Performance - Score 70
Actually using the Razer Raiju Ultimate controller is a mixed-bag experience. The buttons feel great, with a nice click to them, but there are a few lingering issues that stopped this from becoming our go-to controller for serious sessions on the PS4. It's worth quickly mentioning that the Raiju has a fully-functioning PS button which, after you've paired the controller to the console, can be used to switch your hardware on and off - a lot of non-Sony PS4 controllers can't do that! The main thing that makes an impression is the heft, though. You definitely feel like more of a pro gamer when you're holding something this meaty, as opposed to the tired old DualShock, and the buttons normally respond with the lightning-fast responsiveness that you would expect. The joysticks deserve a special mention, too. Whether you're aiming an axe-throw in God Of War or skinning defenders in FIFA 20, the left and right sticks here are incredibly responsive most of the time. It almost feels like you've got a wider range of movement than usual, or perhaps you just have more control of it.
The extra buttons on the back are something that you don't get with the DualShock. Sometimes these are really handy, but when you're not actually trying to use them, it is quite easy to accidentally bump these when you don't want to. This isn't a major flaw, but it is a bit annoying if you're playing FIFA, when an accidental nudge of a back button could mean you make a pass when you didn't want to. This can definitely become frustrating. It's also worth mentioning that, once or twice in the many hours that we spent with this controller, we did come up against a stick-drift problem. At times like this, the character on the screen didn't seem to correspond with our instructions, which is never what you want from a controller. This was a rare error and it never lasted for long, but it did make us want to swap back onto the DualShock at times. It may not look as cool, but the DualShock is arguably more reliable than the Raiju, and that discrepancy could make a huge difference in a competitive environment. We had fun with this controller, but we couldn't fully rely on it.
Price - Score 60
The Razer Raiju Ultimate PS4 controller would currently set you back £199 on Amazon or the official Razer website. That is, let's be honest, a lot of money for any controller. But is it worth it? Well, there's no denying that this is a nice-looking controller that really feels great in your hands, and it has some impressive extra features to boot. You can remap the buttons and adjust the sensitivity to your heart's content.
Our Score
Pros
- Looks great and is awesome to hold
- When everything is working, the level of control and precision is brilliant
- Impressive extra features
- It can turn on the PS4
Cons
- Rare instances of stick drift
- Back buttons easy to hit by accident
- Sometimes feels TOO big
- Price is huge