While the standard controller that comes with your console is fine enough, the PDP Victrix Pro BFG controller for the PS5 aims to give you a boost in performance. As a direct competitor to PlayStation's own DualSense Edge, which a is a pricey investment, the Victrix comes in at a cheaper price. But is it as good?
Our DualSense Edge review of the first-party premium controller praised the controller for its suite of options, but it's an expensive commitment, something which PDP obviously sees as an opportunity to compete against. I've used both controllers, and I can happily tell you that the PDP is the better investment, even if it does come with a few caveats that I hope are fixed in a later version.
Starting with the design, the Victrix's stylish black-and-purple aesthetic is certainly nice, and more premium looking than the DualSense Edge's copy-paste shell of the normal DualSense. It's one of the lightest controllers I've wielded, despite the potential found on the face of the device. The front side of the handles offer a slightly raised pad with a different texture, helping you grip it during lengthy gaming sessions.
Like PlayStation's premium offering, the Victrix comes with a little case to store your beloved controller, with a Victrix logo residing on the front, sitting boldly central. Opening it up reveals the remaining accessories; your choice of a braided purple USB to USB-C cable or wireless dongle, a fight pad module that switches the right stick and face buttons for a more optimal fighting game experience, and a handy screwdriver to replace the modules.
The modules on the left and right hand can be swapped around as much as you'd like thanks to the handy screwdriver, so you can customise your controller to your liking. Personally, I keep it simple by keeping the Victrix as it arrived, but the option to swap out and mess with it to your liking is very much appreciated, and could be make-or-break for some potential buyers.
On the back, there are four paddle buttons that are remappable thanks to the PDP Control Hub app, as well as two small switches that control the trigger locks. For example, if you wanted a small trigger to quickly fire in FPS games, then you can pull it to the side, adjust accordingly, and then let go, and the locks will stay in place.
Unfortunately the back buttons and the switches is where I need to knock some points down from the Victrix. The amount of times I've accidentally disabled the trigger locks or pressed a back paddle button is unfathomable, causing a fair few curse words in the midst of a gunfight as well as causing me to throw a grenade prematurely. I certainly prefer the DualSense Edge's three-tiered trigger lock and physical paddles, even if the lock is less customisable that the Victrix.
In fact, I found myself rarely using the middle settings for the trigger locks, opting for the full trigger or just a hairline. Options are certainly great, but when they're not used, I would've rather just had the two options alone. Fortunately, the controller overall is one of the best I've held, feeling easy to hold and use thanks to its light weight and comfortable approach. It's certainly nicer to hold than the hefty DualSense Edge for long sessions of gaming.
All of the buttons on the device feel very tactile. They're nice to press with some great feedback and they're very punchy. Especially the face buttons, which are raised much like the Xbox Series X controller instead of being flat like the DualSense line of peripherals. Even the Start and Create buttons are improved, being larger and textured for easier pressing. The controller feels very responsive, and a complete delight to use.
There's also various options when it comes to connectivity. The included dongle lets you wirelessly connect the Victrix with either a PC, PS5, or PS4, with the option to flip a switch on the top of the controller depending on your platform. I mainly used it with a PC, but the Victrix worked extremely well with the PS5 too.
Fortunately, PDP promises up to 20 hours of battery life with the Victrix, which I'll have to agree with from my testing. I didn't have any issues with playing for hours on end with the controller dying half-way through like the DualSense Edge, while the lengthy three-metre cable gives you no reason to stop playing if it does die.
There's an abundance of controllers to choose from, with third-party ones becoming a lot better than they used to be, and the Victrix is truly proof of that. While it has some minor issues like some awkward buttons that take getting used to, the overall experience is one that I'd recommend, especially over the expensive DualSense Edge. Hopefully, a second iteration of the Victrix can truly perfect this incredible controller.
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