Following an online presentation at the beginning of last month, I introduced you to the products of the Victrix Gambit range: a controller reputed to be the fastest on the market and a wireless headset. Soon after, I received both at home, and have since spent October testing both in various configurations, so now is the time to give my verdict! Be careful, if you hate purple, go your way!
Winning Gambit - Manette
When unpacking, the controller immediately gives a good impression, with its cover marked with the Victrix logo, and all its accessories well protected in their plastic gangues. I have fun spreading everything out to see the possibilities, and so I end up with the body of a controller, a long USB cable, a white hard shell, a purple soft shell, four joysticks, two directional pads, and two kinds of rings. A puzzle game then begins, a little less easy to assemble than I thought, not to mention that everything doesn't necessarily go anywhere. Above all, I'm afraid of breaking everything and shooting the wrong way! In fact, I don't think it breaks as easily as that, the materials seem robust, you just have to be careful to store everything properly in the cover and, for example, not to lose a joystick under the wheel of your sound armchair. I'm still not convinced that it's made to be disassembled and reassembled endlessly, rather to offer its user customization adapted to its end use, so that the player can stay in this configuration for several weeks or even months, without be blocked if he were to change the game or the way of playing.
In terms of my feelings, it is difficult to gauge responsiveness, insofar as the latency time gained is played here on the scale of the millisecond and that I do not play at a high level. I exchanged the parts, the feeling remains good, regardless of the choices, even if I of course have very personal preferences for some, which led me to very quickly stay on one configuration. In particular, I love the silicone shell, all purple, very pleasant to the touch which, I think, also improves the grip. It had also been sold to me as silent. For that, yes, it is true that it attenuates the noise of the two joysticks, but it only attenuates the noise of the buttons and the triggers which remain well audible.
The PC application is very complete, with a lot of options. I admit that I didn't use half of it, I mainly installed it to activate the Dobly Atmos, and I left the rest in its factory configuration.
The only fault I would find with the controller is its wire. Not its color (I told you, purple takes precedence), not that it stands out (it is very firmly anchored in its location) or that it is too short (quite the contrary, it measures several meters ). No, I know I'm asking a lot and it would probably be impossible to ensure latency under these conditions. But even if it means making the controller ultra-customizable, it strikes me the idea of imagining a removable part at the back, which would make it possible to interchange a cable connector with a battery, in order to favor freedom in the face of performance when the situation permits.
But let's get back to reality, because this controller already does a lot! For €99,99, without doubt one of the best controllers I've had the chance to test in a while, and it would have become my favorite controller, replacing the Xbox Elite if it were wireless. Without hesitation, if you are heading towards the competition, if only in a semi-professional capacity, I think that the Victrix Gambit would be a major asset up your sleeve that should not be overlooked.
- Amazon - Controller - 99,99€
Winning Gambit - Casque
In its box, the helmet knows how to be discreet. It must be said that its colors are dark, black for the most part, enhanced with a few touches of purple: on the topstitching of the cushion of the ears, on the inner veil of the loudspeakers, in the arch of the head and in the microphone wire. I like it, very much, it gives a professional and distinguished look.
The materials are of excellent quality. I have used it almost daily for a month, its falls on the tiles have not caused any signs of wear (we will thank the cat for its assiduous participation in the durability tests). Once on my head, my ears are in their place, with a space large enough to accommodate them entirely. For the cushions on the head, I only start to feel the effects after an hour (which for me is a feat, I tend to support the weight of the helmets very badly, often making me prefer headphones more light).
The headset knows how to adapt to mobile use, being wireless by default, with a USB adapter to plug into the computer or console. It recharges with a long USB cable, which allows it to be converted into a wired headset. And as the range would not be complete without it, a second cable with a jack plug is provided, on which is mounted a remote control for volume management and microphone control. Even if it is practical, this remote control is not essential, the microphone being deactivated automatically by raising it (action which is accompanied by a "beep" indicator) and, behind the right ear, a large wheel gives control volume. By the way, the advantage of having the controller and the headphones is that I stored the cables of the headphones in the cover of the controller, practical!
On this product, my main criticism relates to the lack of software itself. Although titled "Victrix Control Hub", the controller application is dedicated to it. To enjoy Dolby Atmos sound on the headset, you must download a third-party application and do not forget to launch it to enjoy it. Of course, as it is not directly linked to Victrix, this application does not offer anything else, no possibility to see the level of charge or to check if the firmware is up to date. I hope that in the near future, Victrix will develop their software suite to offer something integrated to take advantage of the full potential of all their products from one place.
But, as such, the helmet really does not have to be ashamed of its competitors, in this level of mid-range which it aims. It's a shame that it's something so exterior that comes a little taint its daily use. Finally, this does not prevent me from continuing to use it because, even if I keep my headphones close at hand day to day, as soon as I want to better immerse myself in the sound of a game or enjoy a moment of musical relaxation, it is the Victrix that I use!
- Headset - Xbox Version - €129,99
- Helmet - PlayStation Version - €129,99
