If you’re going to give a premium price for your game controller, you’ll want to make sure it has premium performance. We’ve seen that with a few offerings on the market, but only a few elite ones manage to earn their keep priced at $200.
Among them is HexGaming’s Phantom controller, which is currently going through a run on Kickstarter. Upon its introduction, it sets out to change the game – literally! – with various options. These include a “DRIFIX module” that lets you fix any potential stick drift, buttons on the back that you can map however you see fit, triggers that you can adjust, and swappable thumbsticks, ranging from long to short.
While priced at $189.99, we’re happy to report that the Phantom definitely earns its keep. There are a couple of minor things I would fix with the final release, but, overall, HexGaming’s peripheral offers quite a bit to serious gamers. Not to mention the various designs will guarantee it’s no one-trick pony, like PlayStation’s Edge.
Let’s Talk Build
First off, the controller has a build similar to Sony’s traditional DualSense controller. Obviously there are some differences here, but the general structure is about the same. There are, however, notable differences.
The thumbsticks are removable, with different ones included in the package. Again, they are long and short, and some are a little bit bigger if you have somewhat enlarged hands. (That’s apparently a thing.) They handle very easily tho. We had no problem with precision aiming with games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Earth Defense Force 5. It also lights up and has a speaker like a DualSense, so you don’t miss any special features.
There are also buttons on the back that you can customize however you see fit. They’re comfortable and not too quickly. You can remap them, so if you want more firing and/or jumping functionality, you can get it. And you don’t need to mess with adjusting them, either.
The digital triggers are excellent, and respond to your actions very nicely. You can also adjust how much you press them inward with built-in switches on the back, which are fairly easy to adjust.
But the big thing here? The “DRIFIX module”. It’s on the top of the controller and accessible with a tool that’s included with the controller. With this, you can make adjustments if you feel like your analog sticks are drifting a little bit, without getting too complicated. There’s an included “quick” guide that tells you more about it, but it’s great without needing to send your controller in to, say, Sony or Nintendo to fix. Don’t be surprised if something like this becomes more of a common feature on controllers.
Aside from that, the rear grips make the Phantom quite comfortable, and while the face buttons are blank (probably a Sony request), they work very well, too. The D-pad is also noteworthy, as it can handle fighting games and retro titles with ease.
Overall, I was quite pleased with how well this controller handles, no matter what type of game you’re into. I think my only complaint is that it doesn’t include a USB-C cable, which is standard with most of these types. But you can get one with the deluxe edition of the controller, along with a carrying case.
It Looks the Part, Too
Now let’s get to the appearance of the controller.
Again, it has a frame similar to a DualShock pad, though there are some slight differences. The Phantom logo is in place of the regular Sony one; and you can easily access different profiles, which you can preset with different types of gameplay, with a quick snap. As I mentioned before, you can replace the analog stick tops with barely any problems, if you feel like a “long” or “short” game, depending on length.
The different color controller types are very cool. There’s different ones, including a retro-style grey one and even a funky blue one. We opted for the solid white design, and it’s excellent. It has a sleek style that won’t wear off in your hands. And, again, it’s comfortable to hold, without any slip-ups taking place during more heated sessions.
The back of the controller looks nice too. It has colored buttons easy to distinguish and other features fairly easy to see. It’s a typical black color, but no matter – it makes it a cinch to see what is where.
Only one minor complaint – the touchpad. For this, there’s Phantom print that says “Customize your delivery” on the front of it. I suppose HexGaming wanted to toot its own here. It’s not bad, but this could’ve easily been a sticker to remove. Maybe that’ll be the case with its final design.
Ah, but it’s a meager issue. The controller still looks top-notch, matching every bit of performance that goes along with it.
I Put a Spell On You
You’ll need to accept the large price tag and the blatant advertising printed on the touchpad (again, this may change with the final design). If so, the HexGaming Phantom is nothing short of exquisite controller design. It performs admirably, and has plenty of features to take advantage of. Also, the “DRIFIX module” is a game changer when it comes to fine-tuning things. It also works great with your existing USB-C cable, though you can get one through the Kickstarter if you prefer.
Hopefully we’ll see more design types down the road (like the ones on their website). But for a Kickstarter project, this controller holds a great deal of promise. It’s definitely worth the high dollar value, especially for stick drift adjustment alone. That makes this a Phantom well worth tracking down.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4.5 (out of 5)
Thanks to HexGaming for sending a sample of the controller! You can visit the official website to take a look at how to order your own!
