Precision is everything in the world of a first-person shooter. PC gamers have been using the mouse for years, and many would call it the perfect tool for playing these titles. Console gamers have it a little bit tougher, but we’ve all made due with analog sticks on controllers. The new controllers for the next-gen are more comfortable and fit the fingers better. Still, analog sticks don’t offer the level of precision that a mouse can offer. This is where KontrolFreek comes in with the FPSFreek analog attachments.
The FPSFreek comes in two different flavors. The white version is called the Phantom and the grey version is called the Snipr. The distinct differences between the two is the design in the middle of the analog stick. The Phantom version has a skull mask engraved in the middle while the Snipr version employs a crosshair. The Phantom allows the player to insert their fingers into the grooves of the analog, while the Snipr version sticks out like a stuck button.
Both of the sticks have three small prongs that are used to latch onto the analog of your PS4 or Xbox One controller. It is rather easy to snap the FPSFreek onto your favorite controller and start playing your favorite shooter. The first thing users will notice is the extension of the analog sticks, and heightened position of their hands. It adds just under an inch to the analog sticks, and the lack of room will immediately feel strange at first. It is possible that it may take a full hour or two to get used to the height adjustment. However, the heightened position does allow for the thumbs to move with greater accuracy.
The Phantom feels more natural when aiming and moving. The analog properly hooks to the tip of the thumb and allows for a smoother flow of the thumb. It’s only problem lies in the skull face at the center of the stick, it begins to erode after only 10 hours of play. This gives the top of the stick a crumb like inside and eventually it starts to cause your fingers to slip off. The Snipr is flat, round, and lacks a sticky surface to offer your thumbs some form of grip. You’ll need to press your fingers down a little harder to keep them from flying off the front.
Beyond those small flaws with the design, the controller works well in gameplay sessions. I’m not going to say that I became a sniper master in Battlefield 4 after equipping the FPSfreek, but I can say that may range of motion and aiming lock-on increased by 15 – 20 percent. That may not sound like a large amount of change, but in an FPS it makes a hell of a lot of a difference. I was able to turn my sensitivity up to 60% and crack shot enemies without the camera swaying everywhere. The difference was noticeable but it never seemed like something that changed the face of FPS gaming to me.
The possibility that this was never a game changer came in the form of one really specific problem – The thumbstick add-ons would fall off of the analog sticks during gameplay. It’s strange that every 15 to 20 minutes, the thumbsticks would fly off the front of the stick and allow me to catch a well-placed bullet to the head. It would have been nice if the controller had a way to latch onto the bottom stick and keep it steady, but instead it flops off and can often leave a grooved in impression on the top of YOUR controllers analog stick. It’s stated that these additions are approved for tournaments, but I don’t think I would ever use something professionally that could fall off at any moment.
I can vouch for the increased precision of the FPSFreek Phantom and Snipr, it does make it a lot easier to aim accurately in First-Person Shooters. The downsides comes in the form of the wear and tear of the Phantom, and the thumbstick constantly slipping off of the analog stick. Both the Phantom and the Snipr cost $20, but the Phantom practically becomes useless in under 15 hours of usage. Geek Citadel gives the FPSFreek Phantom 2 stars out of 5, and the FPSFreek Snipr 3 stars out of 5. If you absolutely must get one of these, the SNIPR is probably your best bet.
*These accessories were provided to us by KontrolFreek
