Razer Hydra

MARCHANDS	€
Amazon marketplace	86.50
Amazon.co.uk	107.90




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Caractéristiques
Dimensions (W x H x D)	N.C.
Weight (g)	N.C.
Buttons	8
Triggers	4
Connection	USB
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Drivers Needed?	Yes
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Thibault Munier-Richard
Translator: Jack Sims
Test date: September 9, 2011

More responsive but less space

In contrast to the Wiimote or the Playstation Move, the Hydra hasn't been designed for fast movements.

Moreover, you don't require as much space to play in. The two controllers are linked to the base station with just 2 metres of wire. PC gamers will therefore have to stay within close proximity of the base.

A Wiimote for PC? It has already been five years since Nintendo revolutionised the way we play video games. After Sony and its Playstation Move, it's over to Razer to target the market for motion controllers, this time with a product for PC gamers.

A wired controller to give extra responsiveness

In contrast to the Wiimote (infrared) and Playstation Move (Ps Eye with camera), the Razer Hydra is a wired solution that is linked to a base station with a magnetic field using Sixense technology. This improves the responsiveness of the Hydra and gives more precision than on these other wireless solutions. The electromagnetic field used for motion detection accurately captures your gestures.

To fully enjoy the technology without any loss of signal, the gamer must stay facing the base station and its black ball with green LEDs. If you move off this axis, it affects your movements on screen, so you're recommended to sit down facing the base station.

If you're looking for buttons, you won't be disappointed!

Each of the controllers has four numbered buttons (1 to 4) with two triggers, a joystick and a start button and it sits comfortably in any hand, small or big. The Razer Hydra doesn't look like any other motion detection controller we've seen and has a nicer design and finish than the Wiimote cube or the imposing Playstation Move. You'll almost forget the light, anti-tangle wires.

It is however very difficult to differentiate the right controller from the left at first, which is a bit frustrating as you have to calibrate them (left and then right) at the beginning of each game or when you plug in. The tip is to look at the triggers at the back of the controller labelled LB/RB and LT/RT... or to stick a sticker on one of the controllers so you can differentiate them more easily. Unfortunately the Hydra has no vibrate feature even though this is something you find on the vast majority of gamepads on the market.

Ideal for slow FPS titles

Razer has chosen well in supplying Portal 2 with the Hydra. It's perfectly suited to this Valve game. The same doesn't go for First Person Shooters that require more reactivity however, especially if you need to turn around quickly like in Call of Duty Black Ops. The Hydra may be more precise, but it is also less dynamic than a keyboard/mouse combination on which response times are slightly faster (the delay between the movement/action of your hand and its reproduction on screen takes a few milliseconds more). It's a shame that optimum configuration isn't automatic on games such as Left4Dead - simply moving the controller (too sensitive by default) can change the weapon you're using during online confrontations, so you'll have to alter the settings on the Hydra to get the sensitivity levels right.

This Razer controller hasn't however been designed solely for FPS titles. Quite the contrary. 125 PC games are compatible with the Hydra and many, such as Assassin's Creed are a real pleasure to play with this alternative to standard gamepads. All the compatible games can be viewed after you install the drivers.

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Razer Hydra

Pluses

Very responsive motion detection controller

Nice finish

Compatible with 125 games

A unique PC controller

Portal 2 supplied on limited edition

Minuses

You have to remain facing the base station

The controller has to be calibrated each time you use it

No vibration

At last, PC gamers have their own motion controller! This gamepad from Razer gives an interesting gaming experience though its reach is limited. The Hydra will work well with FPS titles where the action doesn't move too fast, or with action-adventure games.