[TECH UNBOXING AND REVIEW] RAZER RAIJU GAMING CONTROLLER - PS4

The Razer Raiju eSports Gaming Controller, the best gaming controller for the Playstation 4, is finally here in the Philippines. Or is it?

 

Before I start with the unboxing and the review, I want to state out a few things. I am a competitive console FPS (First Person Shooter) player and the captain of Reflex1ty Gaming, a Philippine Call of Duty (COD) eSports team. I have logged hundreds of hours in COD Multiplayer (MP) across most versions and across a number of platforms, namely PS4, XB1, PS3 and Xbox 360. I have also played COD MP in a number of LAN (Local Area Network) and Online tournaments. With regards to peripherals, I have been using a Scuf Controller and an Strikepack FPS Dominator for years and months, respectively. Finally, I am not sponsored by any of company thus my opinions in this review will be unbiased. 

In short, I know what I’m talking about and I am confident I can give a reliable opinion and review of Razer’s new controller for the PS4. 

 

The Razer Raiju is a new gaming controller made for FPS players. All its key features are designed with that mindset. So, if you are a competitive fighting game or a competitive racing game player, this controller is definitely not for you. Thus, this review will be centered around the idea that the user will only be using this controller for shooter games. 

 

 

Upon opening the box and underneath a gimmicky Razer certificate, you’ll see the hard case. It looks good and is sturdy enough to protect your new gaming controller. It’s nice that Razer decided to included this with the Raiju as some companies such as Scuf sells these cases separately. 

 

The Razer Raiju is a wired controller unlike the standard Dual Shock 4 (wireless). By using a wired connection, this controller will have no noticeable input lag or delay which is very important in “twitch” shooters like Call of Duty. Also, due to the sheer number of controllers operating in local tournaments, there will be some bluetooth (wireless) interferences between them which can cause malfunctions and these will be avoided by the Raiju’s wired set-up. Unfortunately, due to this design direction, the user will be unable to turn his/her PS4 using the Razer Raiju.

The included cord is a braided USB - micro USB cable. 

 

When you first look at this controller, you’ll say to yourself: “Is this a PS4 or XB1 controller?”. 

 

There is an included screwdriver to be used if you’ll want to remove the back triggers. 

 

The analog sticks are located symmetrically (unlike the XB1 controller) and have relatively the same height as the standard Dual Shock 4. There is an included “blue” analog stick cover which helps with the grip. I have been using Kontrol Freeks, mostly CQC height, on all my controllers. Honestly, it took a while to adjust but I now actually prefer this set-up. For those who still prefers the Kontrol Freeks, I am sad to say that they are not compatible. Some reports that the PS3/XB360 versions can fit the uncovered sticks but can potentially have damaging effects in the long run. Other gaming controllers such as the XB1 Elite controller offer interchangeable analog sticks with different heights. This is not the case with the Razer Raiju. Finally, the analog stick resistance is also a little bit softer than the Dual Shock 4 but still harder than the XB1 controller. 

Below the sticks are the extra controls which include the remapping, profile, mute, volume control buttons. 

The directional buttons is hard to press (compared to the standard controller) and needs getting used to. Good thing it is seldom used in FPS games. 

 

The usual face buttons (X, O, △, □) has been modified and are mechanical. They are now likened to mouse button clicks and are very sensitive. 

The main reason for buying this kind of controller is the back triggers. These will allow the player to jump or crouch without removing his thumb from the analog stick. Back in the early days of FPS competitive gaming, the only way players can do this was by holding the controller in a weird form called “the claw” wherein the right index finder is situated in a way that it is pushing the face buttons (X,O) and the right middle finger is the one pulling the trigger (R1/R2). This is very not anatomical and may lead to unhealthy changes if used chronically. So, companies started making custom controllers with buttons at the back and this was popularized by Scuf. 

Unfortunately, even though Scuf may have popularized this controller design, it doesn’t mean they have the best controller. I have encountered, through my own personal experience and through reports from my teammates, a number of issues concerning the said controller. Most complaints though centered on the fact that in less than a months use, the paddle’s “clickyness” was already gone thereby hindering its response. For a controller costing at least 7,000 PHP, I was quite pissed with what happened. It does have a 90 day warranty. But since the controller is hand-made and modified in the US, you have to ship it there to have them fixed which will entail you cost from both the shipping fee and our local customs fees. Thus, you’ll have to resort to manually fixing it yourself. 

The Raiju’s back triggers are mechanical and feels like mouse when pressed. It is soft to click and is very responsive. The trigger form needs getting used to especially if you are coming from a Scuf controller. However, it just took me a few games before I have adjusted with this new style. Also, you can configure these triggers to any standard button function with the press of the built-in remapping button, a function that will set you back a couple of bucks if you want a similar feature in your Scuf controller. Lastly, you can even take them off using the special screw driver included in the carrying case. 

 

Aside from the 2 back triggers, there is also 2 additional shoulder buttons. They feel the same as the triggers. However, I do feel that they are wrongly positioned since they are hard to reach. I rarely use them during my testing. 

 

Normally controllers’ triggers are deep to give you precision during racing games (image a car’s throttle). However, in shooter games, this configuration will lead to slower fire rate (semi-auto weapons) since the player needs to fully press the trigger all the way down before anything happens and he/she has to wait for the trigger to raise back to default before pressing it again. Ultimately, he/she'll be in a disadvantage in most gun fights. 

Thanks to these excellent features: trigger stoppers and hair triggers, the user will be shooting first and have the edge. 

 

I would like to compare the Razer Raiju with my XB1 controller. Aside from the touch pad and the analog stick configuration, both controllers are very similar. 

 

Both the XB1 controller and the Razer Raiju offer wide shoulder buttons/triggers. I would have preferred a PS4 style shoulder buttons since I think the PS4 controller offers a better overall feel compared to the XB1 controller. 

 

Comparing the Razer Raiju with my PS4 Scuf controller. There is nothing similar between the two products aside from the fact that they offer buttons at the back and have some kind of grip. I personally like the Raiju's better. It is like a built-in Squid Grip.

 

The controller on the left is a standard Dual Shock 4 controller with an attached Strikeforce FPS Dominator. This is an accessory wherein you can attached on any standard PS4 controller and it will give you 2 extra paddles like the Scuf and Raiju. I have been using the Dominator for 3 months already and I have yet to encounter any major issue.

Overall, the Razer Raiju is currently my favorite gaming controller. It has all the things I need to win my multiplayer games. I would definitely use this over my FPS Dominator and Scuf controller. I just hope the controller especially the triggers will overcome the test of time. 

NOTE: I have tested the controller across different games including Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Call of Duty: Ghost, Battlefield 1, Titanfall 2, Rainbow Six: Siege, The Division, Overwatch.

PROS:

• Good analog stick grip, location, height and resistance 
• Responsive, remappable, and removable back triggers
• Trigger stoppers and hair trigger functions
• Wired configuration for lagless gaming
• Free hard carrying case

CONS:

• XB1 style controller body and shoulder buttons
• Inability to turn on the PS4 using the controller
• Incompatible with Kontrol Freek and inability to adjust analog stick height
• Hard to press directional buttons
• Expensive price (compared to standard controller)