Backbone One PlayStation Edition Controller Review – Almost There – TouchArcade

Over the previous few years, the Spine One has been the controller I see beneficial essentially the most for iPhone. Jared has been praising it so much as effectively after I ask about devoted grip controllers. Whereas I’ve been utilizing my PS5 and Xbox controllers lately, iOS 16 made me revisit all the pieces and in addition check out the brand new(ish) Spine One PlayStation Version to match with the Razer Kishi V2.

Whereas the Spine One has been obtainable for some time, I particularly wished to cowl the Spine One PlayStation Version to see if it truly does extra than simply visually try to slot in with the PS5 ecosystem, and the way the controller feels in comparison with the Razer Kishi V2 and whether or not it’s value investing into in any respect versus simply getting a clip and a PS5 or Xbox controller.

Proper from the beginning, the Spine One PlayStation Version’s in-hand really feel was spectacular. The form of it feels completely tuned for me, and it felt nice proper from the beginning. The one disappointment out of the field is that for a controller that’s meant to match PlayStation {hardware}, the Spine One PlayStation Version has uneven stick placements when PlayStation controllers all the time have symmetric sticks.

In terms of utilizing the Spine One PlayStation Version with video games, I like the way it feels and the way video games play. I had no points with the controller in any controller-supported video games or Apple Arcade releases. It simply works and feels nearly as good as a very good conventional console controller albeit one with smaller buttons and sticks.

The shoulder buttons and triggers additionally really feel good (albeit not as good because the Kishi V2’s buttons), however there’s one downside right here. You don’t get the precise PS5 DualSense adaptive triggers right here. That is one other space that makes the Spine One PlayStation Version simply really feel like a reskinned Spine One, moderately than a controller designed to be the most effective at providing a contemporary PlayStation controller expertise on the go.

One factor I’ve discovered whereas utilizing the Spine One PlayStation Version controller with my iPhone is that the Spine app (Free) elevates the expertise fairly a bit, however it isn’t mandatory. There’s one massive problem with this, the subscription service. While you get a Spine One or a Spine One PlayStation Version controller, it contains 1 yr of the Spine+ membership which incorporates entry to the app, and extra.

I don’t assume locking options included with the {hardware} behind a subscription is sweet, however this isn’t my choice to make. I additionally am not a fan of the seize button not taking screenshots in any respect except you arrange the app whereas the Razer Kishi V2 works superb with none app on the 5 iPhones I examined independently. Simply understand that you possibly can’t use this wired on different units, entry the app, live-stream to Twitch, and extra options detailed here except you pay up.

With that massive caveat concerning the subscription out of the best way, the app itself seems and feels nice. The video games have correct banners moderately than app icons and it feels prefer it has been designed to be greater than only a launcher. You could have entry to different options like events and messaging.

As somebody who prefers utilizing the DualSense controller even when taking part in controller-supported video games on PC and iPad, the Spine One PlayStation Version is near providing the identical expertise, however I feel a possible second model particularly designed for PlayStation once more could be significantly better.

Proper now, my largest points with the Spine One PlayStation Version are to do with the subscription and in addition the truth that you possibly can’t use it with a case. In the event you don’t care concerning the latter and are content material with utilizing this as an MFi controller solely and never get the entire Spine expertise, these points is not going to have an effect on you, and you’ll get an excellent controller to make use of along with your iPhone.

Amazon Hyperlink: Backbone One PlayStation Edition

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