Do we actually want colour-changing controllers on this planet? Most likely not.
Do we wish them? Hell yeah.
The NACON Professional Compact controller for Xbox might not be our go-to gaming pad, particularly not for lengthy drawn-out classes, however it’s not a nasty choice to have, notably as it’s effectively suited to those that want a smaller controller of their arms. See, because the ‘Compact’ title suggests, this can be a smaller-than-the-norm Xbox controller.
So what of the Professional Compact Colorlight then? Effectively, that brings a ton of color (or colour, relying in your international location) to the celebration. And that’s one thing we will at all times get on board with.
It’s been some time since we now have been hands-on with a full color altering controller expertise, as a substitute having to make do with the likes of the PDP Afterglow Wave for our lighting joys. We’d not essentially name it as vital function both, normally proud of an ordinary Xbox controller in hand. However that’s to not say that the NACON Professional Compact Colorlight controller isn’t of curiosity.
What we now have right here within the Colorlight is your on a regular basis NACON Professional Compact controller, with out garments. Absolutely bare, this clear, see-through pad places all the things on show, the interior workings entrance and centre, showcasing rumble motors, circuitry and all the things else that makes a controller tick. At the very least it does till it’s switched on, after which it lights up the evening sky like nothing else.
You’ll know whether or not you will get on with the NACON Professional Compact as an on a regular basis driver or not by looking at an ordinary wi-fi Xbox controller and contemplating what it might be like if it was some 15% smaller. That’s the Professional Compact in a nutshell, taking part in as much as those that are in search of one thing only a tad smaller to place of their arms.
Grabbing maintain and feeling the effectively contoured grips ought to imply you’ll be nice with what’s on supply, as just about all the things you’ll take into account an Xbox button necessity is in place. Thumbsticks really feel good to the contact, barely concaved as ought to at all times be the case. Face buttons appear a tad bigger than the norm, except it’s the diminutive measurement of the controller which has performed with our eyes, while D-Pad, bumpers and triggers (good triggers btw!) are all current.
You’ll additionally discover the quadruple arrange of the Xbox Nexus button, the Menu, View and Share buttons all current on the entrance of the controller too. But it’s right here the place slight points come up and very like we occurred throughout in our full overview of the usual Professional Compact, we’re at a loss to know the placement placements of those. We’ll let NACON off on the decrease than regular, centre-situated Nexus button as that’s nice, and the Share button sits just under that too, however the Menu and View are far too spaced aside for our liking, a lot too close to to the face buttons and the left thumbstick than we like. It’s clearly one thing that you simply finally get used to, however sticking these nearer collectively can be a desire.
In all, it’s a nifty little controller, full with 3.5mm audio jack and Dolby Atmos help to imply that it has been one that’s completely nice for us over quick time period classes, but not able to persevering with our play into the wee hours; that small measurement finally getting the higher of our wants.
However then we get onto the principle occasion – these color altering capabilities.
The Colorlight accommodates six in-built LEDs, positioned properly by way of the whole lot of the physique of the controller, permitting the person to customize some twenty-five totally different color choices. These LEDs shine brilliant by way of the see-through outer casing of the controller, vibing when the time sees match.
Organising the controller lights couldn’t be simpler both, with a few choices located on the again of the controller – a button and a change. A mix of those will allow you to arrange these lights to your personal want, with them pulsing, sitting stable or biking individually like a Christmas tree. We’ve been notably taken by the cycle facet, particularly as this brings collectively all the colors as one, wanting nice at evening.
However in the event you do want to set this up on extra stable color grounds, there are inexperienced, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue and white colourings in-house, straight out of the field. But this permits for rather more customisation too, all delivered by way of the free NACON Professional Compact App from the Xbox Retailer. It’s this which ensures you may go deep into just about each mild, amending it to go well with. It’s right here the place a complete host of additional color hues come to the fore, as you alter any of the twenty-five color variations, backlighting depth and extra. The method by way of the App is very easy too.
That very same App can be utilized to amend the Professional Compact Colorlight some extra, operating traditional and customisable efficiency response curves for the thumbsticks, set off settings and button mappings. It’s nothing that we haven’t seen beforehand from a bunch of third celebration producers, however it all works effectively right here and is tremendous straightforward to know. Whether or not you’ll really feel the necessity to implement a FPS or Infiltration setting to your proper thumbstick although is one other matter. For us, we’re principally proud of the default button maps.
Now, you could fear about how all these fancy lights and customisation alternatives will have an effect on battery life, however you may put your thoughts comfy because the NACON Professional Compact Colorlight is a totally wired controller. In reality, the cable that ends with a USB-A for console or PC connectivity is completely connected right here and so worries about energy or the like will hardly come into play. In fact, whether or not you may deal with a wired Xbox controller on the every day is a private desire, however it’s good that this one is braided AND of an honest size; some three metres in size in actual fact.
Should you’ve discovered love with smaller controllers beforehand, and reckon you want some color altering cheer in your life, then you definitely’ll not go mistaken with the NACON Professional Compact Colorlight Controller for Xbox. However these content material with normal sized pads needs to be conscious, the diminutive measurement that this embraces can convey some long run tears.
Big thanks exit to NACON for offering us with the Professional Compact Colorlight Controller for Xbox for overview. Seize one for your self from NACON direct for €54.90.
