KontrolFreek is all about tweaking your gameplay and giving you an edge whether you play online of offline. A newcomer on the block, their initial products offer an alternative to the traditional controller configurations. Each product is geared toward delivering the most leverage and control. The FPSFreek and SpeedFreek are aptly named. Are these add-ons a revolution in gameplay or is it more of a gimmick?

The FPSFreek and SpeedFreek are both well made controller add-ons. They both offer some flexibility, but not too much.  Designed with comfort in mind, they should not cramp your gameplay. They feature a plastic ring that surrounds the top of your DualShock 3′s analog sticks. A lip snaps them into place on the bottom of the analog stick tips.

Application to the analog sticks proved to be a bit cumbersome. The force that was required to apply the attachment felt excessive. Even after many applications over the course of gaming, every new attempt to apply felt as hard as the previous. On the positive side, once they were on, they didn’t slip off very easily.

The FPSFreek add-on basically extends the height and throw distance of the analog sticks. This offers more room for movement and/or camera rotation, which may be uncomfortable for seasoned shooters, but beneficial to the newcomer. The leverage offers allows you the ability to fine tune your shots and movements.

Technically, it’s not require to use both of them, so you can mix and match to see what works best. The one thing worth noting is if both are attached, it makes it more difficult to put both sticks in the “cross-eyed” format, where both sticks point to each other. In my experience, the add-on is best used with just the right analog for looking.  After becoming acclimated, I was able to fine tune my shots and obtain better accuracy.

For the driver/gamer, the SpeedFreek adds a bit more fluidity to your controls. Attached to the ring are small “wings’ that are rounded up in order to place your thumbs into. This allows for more fluid movements and works especially well for some of the newer franchises using the right analog for acceleration.

After some adjustments through several gameplay sessions, I was able to find a comfortable position to lie my thumbs in the controller. Once applied, it is fairly easy to “spin” the SpeedFreek to adjust for your personal needs. I found myself changing configurations, sometimes only using one attachment in stead of both, which I often felt was advantageous depending on the individual games’ controls. Driving games that use the shoulder or face buttons for acceleration will have no need for a secondary SpeedFreek attachment.

Personally, I felt the use of the SpeedFreek for steering was slightly cumbersome, but a newcomer who oversteers may find this to be a great way to keep thumbs where they should be. This attachment was a perfect fit for Midnight Club: Los Angeles, which uses the right analog exclusively for acceleration. I found that turning the controller so the wings lined up at 6 and 12 o’clock allowed for the best acceleration control with Midnight Club:Los Angeles. I am a huge fan of the motorcycle, and this attachment allowed for great control with the bike.

These accessories are reasonably priced. Like most other controllers and add-ons, they may not be the answer in every situation, but they won’t cost an arm and a leg like other hardcore controllers do. It all boils down to personal taste, and KontrolFreek has a great deal of loyal fans. The FPSFreek and SpeedFreek are available for $9.99 individually or a combo pack for $17.99.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score Well constructed and comfortable A little tough to get on, but stays on Adds some options for hardcore and newcomers alike

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© Aries-410 for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2009. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us