Third party game controllers were usually saved for when your friends or family came round for a gaming session. But lately we’ve been seeing some pretty good offerings from said third parties. Like the VX4 Wireless Playstation 4 Controller.
The Gioteck VX4 is slightly smaller than the official Dual Shock 4 controllers you know and have got used to. Its also been moulded into a slightly sharper angle which I love. It gives me a chance to get both my first and middle fingers onto the shoulder pads, and rest my third and fourth into the rear groove on the handles.
Button placement is pretty much the same compared to a standard Dual Shock 4 too, so there’s no getting used to custom buttons here. However, reach is slightly different. A Dual Shock 4 controller usually sees me use the tips of my thumbs for the analogue sticks, but here with the VX4, I can comfortably rest the face of my thumbs on the top of the sticks. I feel a lot more in control. Of course as I said before, this can be subjective.
The whole thing feels very lightweight. A lot lighter than a Dual Shock 4 controller and it still feels pretty tough in my hands. Buttons have a slight tactile slick to them, especially R1 and L1, and the triggers almost bottom out, so you can get some real precision in the likes of racing games for example. It still registers a fire or aim down sights in first person shooters without having to press the trigger all the way down too.
The worst thing I think about a controller like this, is the fact that it’s still using a microUSB port to charge it. I would have loved to have seen USB Type-C used here, like on the Nacon Revolution. But I suppose it means you can still use the USB controllers that come with your PS4 in the first place, and don’t need a second USB cable to charge the controller if you’ve already got Dual Shock 4s in the house.
Whatmore, the VX4 can also work with PCs as well, so if you’re a PC gamer, and want to retain the use of a controller, you can use a familiar feeling pad. Although I’d recommend sticking to a mouse and keyboard if you’re playing some Call of Duty or Fortnite.
I’ve seen the Gioteck VX4 wireless controller priced for around £20 – 25 onlinne, which is half the cost of a new Dual Shock 4 controller. So if you’re in the market for a second pad, or are needing to replace your burned out Dual Shock, then I’d definitely recommend picking up one of these if you’re on a tight budget. For more information, head over to the Gioteck VX4 website.
