Fortnite Festival Edition NEO S Controller Review

Fanatics had been handled to a hip new option to play Fortnite in 2023 with the discharge of Fortnite Competition, a rhythm recreation advanced by way of Harmonix and stylized similarly to the studio’s vintage titles Guitar Hero and Rock Band. To be had throughout all platforms on which the fight royale may also be performed, later updates added improve for guitar controllers, although many nonetheless make the most of usual controllers or keyboards to rock out. In November 2024, alternatively, CRKD launched the NEO S, a psychedelic controller that comes paired with 5 buttons that correspond to the 5 tracks within the Fortnite rhythm recreation, giving enthusiasts a brand new option to get their groove on.

In spite of spending abundant time with the NEO S, the enjoy is hard to boil down. Longtime rhythm recreation gamers would possibly to find it easy to select up Fortnite Competition’s red peripheral, yet this isn’t a sure bet, because the software calls for reasonably just a little of observe, even for essentially the most hardcore amongst us. Boasting a shockingly lengthy battery existence, gamers may have a number of time to acclimate themselves to the controller, and people who arrange to conquer its preliminary hurdles would possibly need to pat themselves at the again for remapping their brains. After a few dozen hours with the software, muscle reminiscence started to take over, although there’s a finding out curve.

Upload a Sprint of Nostalgia to Your Fortnite Competition Revel in with the NEO S Controller

The Fortnite Competition Version NEO S is the rest yet delicate. Dubbed the ‘Red Wave,’ the {hardware} includes a boxy design, psychedelic wave theme, and neon crimson accents, and used to be right away putting proper out of the field, seeming like a shoo-in for any gaming peripheral collector’s shelf. It’s additionally extremely light-weight, one thing I used to be sure would assist with the abundant observe had to make my subsequent jam consultation in Fortnite Competition price attending. In the beginning, it nearly gave the impression too gentle, bordering on flimsy–but given how a lot time I’ve now spent mashing its buttons and frets, it’s obviously now not going to shatter any time quickly.

Whilst the NEO S impresses in some ways, it additionally baffles in others. Even if it’s branded with Fortnite Competition and obviously made for Epic Video games’ magnum opus, it makes some extraordinary possible choices for a rhythm game-focused controller. Whilst taking part in for brief bursts feels completely advantageous, seeking to observe for over an hour proved to be an actual exercise, as discovering a comfy place borders on unimaginable. Sure buttons are reasonably a long way aside, making fast button presses tricky, although sure buttons are programmable, mitigating this factor in some instances. In spite of their sturdiness, the triggers really feel a tad susceptible, with their loss of resistance in particular noticeable after coming from a DualSense controller.

Particular tools are made harder through the use of the controller, and the ones taking part in being on vocals would possibly not have the most efficient enjoy. Then again, taking part in drums or bass in professional mode is an absolute blast after acclimating to the controller’s distinctive form and really feel. The ones well-versed in rhythm recreation peripherals would possibly to find the problem of lead or bass in professional mode definitely worth the effort, although it’s onerous to counsel the tension it will put to your wrists. Moreover, gamers can simply take away the removable 5 frets from this particular version NEO S controller to play different PC and Nintendo Transfer video games whilst additionally getting their unfashionable repair.

The NEO S Controller is Extremely-Responsive, yet No longer At all times the Easiest Selection

Out of the field, the NEO S simply connects to PC by means of a USB-C cable connection or a Bluetooth connection for PC or cell units, and gamers at the Nintendo Transfer merely wish to dangle the CRKD button whilst at the controller attach display. The software’s battery existence is spectacular, lasting slightly over seven hours right through my time with it, and the use of the accompanying CRKD app to remap controls is fast and simple. The NEO S Fortnite Competition Version comes with 3 modes: Simple, Medium, and Arduous. It additionally comes provided with a surroundings for Skilled and Professional modes, with the latter being designed for guitar controllers.

When first making an attempt to get used to the 5-fret attachment in particular manufactured for this NEO S controller variant, I bumped into a couple of snags. Whilst the buttons themselves really feel nice and harken again to the times of Guitar Hero: On Excursion for the Nintendo DS, the tiny areas between them make taking part in quite a lot of songs a significant exercise for the wrist. Mastering slower songs didn’t take an excessive amount of time, and taking part in tracks with abundant hammer-ons and pull-offs felt extraordinarily enjoyable. Moreover, the use of the NEO S to play Clone Hero is de facto improbable, as including devoted worry keys into the combination makes the gaming enjoy a lot more streamlined.

For informal players who need a new option to revel in rhythm video games with out breaking the financial institution, the NEO S is a cast selection. Whilst the preferred Riffmaster guitar controller is available in at a whopping $130, the Fortnite Competition Version NEO S is lower than part the associated fee, at $60. The ones short of a singular option to play Fortnite Competition extra casually will most likely have a blast seeking to grasp this extraordinary little piece of {hardware}, yet those that take the rhythm recreation style extra severely would possibly fare higher with a typical guitar controller. Whilst my arms are reasonably small, I’d additionally advise in opposition to the NEO S in case you have larger digits.