You won't find a better control scheme for PlayStation 4

Jan 18, 2019 14:21 GMT  ·  By

The Panthera Evo is a fighting stick from Razer that fulfills a single purpose, and that is to offer the best possible control scheme for fighting games.

Weirdly enough, control schemes with old-school sticks are making a comeback. At first, I wasn't sure why, but once I tested one, I immediately changed my mind. The difference from a regular controller is so significant that it's difficult to put into words.

If I were to say that it's twice as good as a controller, you can't do anything with that statement because it's not quantifiable. I can only guide you and maybe convince you to try one, and you will immediately look with resentment at your current controller.

Now, don't get me wrong, controllers are still good, in their own way, and they still should be the top choice for many genres, but fighting games and a few others are improved with a fighting stick.

The only comparison that comes to mind is between mouse and keyboard and a controller. It's a fact that any game that requires precise targeting will be much better played with a mouse and keyboard. It's one of the main reasons why we don't usually get crossplay between PCs and consoles.

For the same reason, playing with a fighting stick against someone with a controller doesn't seem fair. It's just like the mouse and keyboard on consoles argument.

Design and ergonomics

We can still remember that friend that kept playing FIFA on a keyboard because that's how he learned and he still thinks it's a superior way of controlling players. Hell, I still play racing games with a keyboard because I "feel" that it gives me more control over the car's movement.

The only difference between the keyboard guy and me is that I know  I might be wrong, and I'm sure that the player with the racing wheel is going to defeat both myself and anyone else with a controller. Some things are better with the right control scheme.

Razer Panthera Evo
Razer Panthera Evo
Razer Panthera Evo
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And this takes me to arcade sticks or fighting sticks, whatever you want to call them. We had them back in the old days when all the serious gaming was done in the arcades. But the gaming moved into the house, and the control scheme had to change.

The problem is that they changed for the wrong reason, not because we found something better, but because we made a compromise with something smaller. The arcade stick is still the best possible way to play fighting games, and that never changed.

Razer figured it out a while back, and they started to make this kind of hardware for mass-market. And they are getting increasingly good at it. The Razer Panthera Evo for PlayStation 4 is proof of that, but they are also making some compromises of their own.

From a design standpoint, the Razer Panthera Evo is very straightforward. The company didn't want to reinvent the wheel; they tried to bring back players to familiar surroundings.

It's a flat surface with a stick and eight main buttons. Everything else that you find on the PS4 controller is present as well, with a couple of buttons used to lock some of the functions and to switch the stick to a D-Pad.

It's a good design if you're holding it in your lap, or if you're playing with it on a table. It's also the reason why I mentioned ergonomics. At first, I thought that it could be a little difficult to hold it, or maybe the hands won't rest properly, but none of those problems showed up.

Functionality

The Razer Panthera Evo is extremely easy to use, and the PlayStation 4 console recognizes it immediately. By default, the stick is set to D-Pad, so you need to switch it to joystick mode to easily navigate through the menus.

It's plug and play, as you would expect. The stick itself is made by a company named Sanwa, which have been doing this type of hardware to many, many years. They are known for creating incredibly durable sticks.

The buttons are Razer made, and they are arranged in something called the Vewlix pattern. Vewlix is an entire style of arcade cabinets, and they have been around for a long time as well. The slightly curved layout of the buttons is their telltale.

Razer Panthera Evo
Razer Panthera Evo
Razer Panthera Evo
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I can't say for sure if that particular arrangement is better than others, but I can tell you that it's certainly better than having everything in two straight rows.

Razer is also done with detachable cables, like the one they have in   Razer Atrox Arcade Stick for Xbox One. Now, the cable comes out of a little compartment in the back, and it's not going to detach if someone trips on it.

On the other hand, Razer still allows users to detach the front plate and change the stick and the artwork, which is a nice touch and ensure that people can have a unique look on their Panther Evo.


The Good

The buttons and the stick are extremely responsive and precise, and they have to be because the Panthera Evo is being used in professional settings and matches. Players will immediately notice an improvement when switching to this arcade stick.

Also, the Panther Evo some with a 3.5 mm jack for a headset, although that was kind of required since player really need a headphone jack.

The ability to lock some of the buttons is something that shouldn't be ignored, and it comes in handy if you're a player that might push the wrong thing from time to time.

And let's not forget the fact that the Panthera Evo can be used for a host of other games as well. In fact, imagine anything with a stick from the old arcades, and it's a safe bet that it's better with the Evo.

The Bad

The only problem I found with the arcade stick comes from a comparison with another product from Razer named the Atrox Arcade Stick for Xbox One. We reviewed that one and I have to say that one is a little bit better, at least in a way.

The buttons and the stick itself are pretty similar, but the version for the Xbox One had a detachable cover, on a hinge, that would give users easy access to the insides. With a little bit of knowledge, people could switch the wires for the buttons and made some serious modifications.

Panthera Evo doesn't open, at least not easily. It's still possible to get inside and make those changes, but there are a lot of screws you need to remove before getting to that part. What I'm trying to say is that it's a lot less moddable.

Conclusion

Hands down, the Panthera Evo for PlayStation 4 is much better than the regular controller at pretty much anything involving fighting and shooting. Granted, you're not going to be playing FIFA or other stuff, but some fighting games are much better suited for this type of control.

Now, you have to know that it's not going to be cheap. The Panthera Evo is going to set you back about $200, but if you want to be better at Tekken, Street Fighter, or any other similar game, it's a small price to pay for a considerable advantage.

Photo Gallery (11 Images)

Razer Panthera Evo
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