Scrapped Controller Review

 Couldn't get the camera footage that I wanted to make this review look as good as I wanted. Figure I could at least share the script I had for it. -Tuna

This is a Standard, Playstation 4 controller. Also called a DS4. It has every button you need to play a Playstation game in a familiar layout that has been used for over two decades. This, is the C40 TR, the new, Officially Licensed, controller from Astro Gaming that promises to be the ultimate “Pro” controller. So, what makes this controller so special? Let’s find out.

Right off the bat, I want to say that this is not a sponsored content. I’m reviewing this as someone who purchased this out of pocket. I’ve been a fan of Astro for almost a decade, having used a couple different iterations of their A40 headset for almost a decade. I’ll be as unbiased as I can be, but I thought I’d be as transparent as possible. 

First thing you’ll notice is the packaging on this thing. Astro does an amazing job with making you feel like you’ve bought a premium product right from the first time you touch the box. The box has a satin feel to it and the box has a heft to it. 

Lifting off the outer casing, you see a two part design. Astro branding on the top and sides as well as a blueprint of the controller itself. The package is rigid, with almost no flex at all. I do wonder how much money goes into packaging for these products themselves.

Inside the box we have a nice ballistic nylon carrying case and what I assume are some standard instructions and warranty information. If this case is made of the same stuff as their backpacks, then it’ll hold up to daily wear for years. I doubt you’ll be using the case that much, but it’s nice to have. 

Inside we have the controller itself. Wow, this is very heavy. This feels twice the weight of a DS4. We also have a tool to remove the faceplate to get to the replaceable modules, note you can also put this into the asymmetrical layout (like an XBox) if you want, some extra thumbstick caps and a USB dongle for wireless use. There’s a couple spots for extra parts that don’t come included. I’m disappointed that the circle D-Pad doesn’t come with the controller, especially at this price.. There’s a pocket up top for the cord that feels… very solid. This should last a long time. It may need a while to straighten out but this cord will be good.

Back to the controller. As I said, this thing is heavy. It also feels a little bigger in the hand. All the usual buttons are here as well as some extra features on the back that we’ll get to in a moment. There’s a satin rubber texture all around. I wonder how that will feel for people who sweat a lot. There’s some nice lettering that I hope won’t come off with use.

The knobby thumb sticks are concave but are swappable for convex. They feel tight, but it is a new controller. The Directional pad feels metal and is very clicky. DS4 D-Pads are pretty mushy, but this feels responsive. See if you can hear it. The face buttons feel tactile as well, but that could just be because they’re new. The profile seems a bit taller than normal.

Flipping it over, we have the triggers.. Which seem a bit tighter. I believe these are Omron switches in the top row. The 2s seem stiff, but again, this is a new controller. All the non replaceable buttons like these are rated for a million clicks, according to Astro. We can also see a profile switch for on the fly settings management and a wired/wireless toggle. There’s a deep socket for the power cord which I like very much. The reason I started looking for a new controller in the first place was my DS4 wouldn’t charge because of a loose USB connection. This should keep it in place to prevent damage.

On the underside we have the most interesting additions. Two additional buttons that can be mapped to any other button on the controller, as well as two sliding toggles to prevent the triggers from compressing all the way. All these red toggles appear to be anodized aluminum. There may be some discoloration in the future, but they are metal. Finally, a small button in the center which is used to remap the underbuttons on the fly.

That’s all the basics, let’s take it back to the rig and test it out.

So, after having played with this I notice a few flaws. There is no wireless connectivity to the Playstation 4 without the dongle, so if you were hoping to run it wireless on both a PC and PS4, you’re going to have to do a bit of moving around. I also notice that the controller’s triggers press ever so slightly into the body when fully decompressed. I wonder if no one noticed this or if my unit is slightly misaligned because I can see that there will be a crease in the plastic after continuous use. This can be prevented by locking the triggers, but don’t expect to use this for racing games.

The controller is wider than the original DS4. Just enough that muscle memory may have you confused for a bit. I noticed my hands were cramping for the first few hours until I got a little more accustomed to the size. If you have exceptionally small hands, you may find this controller borderline unusable. 

Now, I’m not a competitive shooter player on console anymore. I once mained Ana to Masters in the early seasons of Overwatch on the PS4, but I have long since moved to PC for that. I adopted a Claw Grip to help with jumping while maintaining control of both sticks. Attempting to claw grip on this controller is a significant change, again, if you have small hands this will most likely not be the controller for you. However; that’s what these buttons on the back are suppose to be for. I’ll say that they are easily accessible whether you use your middle or your ring fingers to actuate them. 

In games like Monster Hunter, where I still use a controller even on PC, I find that, while the buttons are nice, I honestly need to use more buttons than the controller has to offer. With Triangle, Circle and X being commonly used buttons and Square still being needed, I still find myself using my old Claw Grip just to get by. This renders the back buttons nearly useless except in one major instance. 

When I use ranged weapons, like Light Bow Gun, I like to use a combination of Mouse and Controller. I can bind the left under button to dodge and have free aim movement as well as omnidirectional dodging. A bit specific, but very nice. 

The other game that I use a controller for are rhythm games. Project Diva is my game of choice for this. The buttons are snappy and give a solid tactile feedback which I feel may have improved my timing a bit. Not only do I have the sound cue from the game, but I have a distinct tick from the controller to let me know that I’m in rhythm. Think of it like Mechanical Keys for your Controller. 

In both games, I didn’t notice any difference between wired and wireless latency. Astro claims 5ms response on both modes and I’d believe it. I imagine that the PS4 is capped at 5ms which keeps everyone equal. I’m not sure if PC has the same limitation, but the latency still feels nice between both modes.

Here’s a quick look at the software provided by Astro for the controller. I’m a bit disappointed that you can’t change the controller’s programming wirelessly. I hope that’s a feature that can be made in an update. You do get significantly better management of the macros through this software as well as fine tuning the stick and trigger performance. 

Onto the cost. This controller costs $200 dollars. That’s a lot of money for any piece of equipment, especially a controller. The C40 TR is competing against the Wireless Scuf Vantage at this point, a controller with significantly more macro control and in some regards, more customization. There’s potentially a longer life span in this controller with the replaceable modules and you get the option to have the symmetrical layout, but you have to decide if that’s worth 4 less macro buttons. My final concern is for that kind of money… What if this thing isn’t compatible with the PS5? There’s a good chance that this thing will be a paper weight for anyone who upgrades in the coming years. A small chance, I hope, but a chance nonetheless. 

So, who the hell is this for? If you’re someone with big hands, who needs macros on a controller that has a symmetrical layout and feels price is no object? This controller may be for you. For everyone else? There are other options to consider. If I had to give this a score, it would be a 7/10: It passes, but I think that there are some significant improvements to be made. While I do feel like this is a solid piece of hardware that will last me some time; I am deeply concerned about the structure of these triggers as there already seems to be a small, permanent crease from the short time using it. I would suggest in a future iteration to remove this lip entirely or extend it out farther. I also hope that they will consider adding customizable faceplates for a bit more flare and customization, something that the competition has done better. I think that this is great first attempt, but with the crowd being ahead of the game for so long, they’re going to need to step it up for the next run.