I've used a device like this for over a decade now for MMOs. First, the Belkin N52, then when Belkin got bought out, the Razer Tartarus and/or Orbweaver (which are basically the same thing, just with different numbers of buttons, maybe a scroll wheel, and of course, RGB lights, because gamers). Once you're used to it, you'll never go back to plain keyboard&mouse or controller.
Same here. N52te, then the Razer ones, then the glorious Logitech G13 - probably the best of the lot, which Logitech stopped making after it got popular. The Hori stuff is pretty good. I have the 1st gen one and I've had to take it apart to clean some of the switches, notably that one stuck to the side of the joystick. Thankfully it comes apart relatively easily. I've ordered the new one as well. As you noted, paired with a 12-button MMO mouse, I only ever use the keyboard for chat.
The warning is mostly due to the materials. Something in there would have some form of carcinogens… thing is… as someone who works with a manufacturer in California, we’re all just done with it. COFFEE BEANS had a warning at some point because the roasting process used some chemicals (later retracted)… it gets really old fast…
Right... You just become 'alarm blind' because it's everywhere so you start completely ignoring it. It's a good thought gone quite wrong I think. Thank you for sharing some context! 💜
@@gamer_debbie This. Prop 65 warning is a joke cause 98% of items in California have this warning on it. The requirements for a product to be labeled with it are so ludicrous, it has lost all meaning. There are currently around 900 chemicals on the official OEHHA list. Here is the list, notice how aluminum is on that list (so anything that has aluminum in it has to have the label). oehha.ca.gov/chemicals The requirement is as follows: More than 1(even if it is 1.01) extra case of cancer in 100,000 people over a 70 year lifetime. To break this down more, this means that the product would have to have a chance to cause an extra case of cancer when that chemical is exposed to an individual at expected levels every single day for 70 years for it to be deemed worthy of being on the prop 65 list. If this isn't absurd, i don't know what is. Prop 65 *started* out with good intentions as a safe drinking water law, but now it has morphed into the biggest joke in California.
Too right. We're all convinced that some Californian politicians family member owned a company or were a majority shareholder in one that made a profit from these checks.
I got a G13 and still use it for FFXIV and several other games all the time. With the LCD screen with profiles and no software needed for the internal saved profiles changing settings on the fly is a breeze. My sisters got this for me long ago and it rocks still today!
From everything I've read from people posting so far, you're a lucky one! Sounds like the G13 was, and is still, the pinnacle today (for those lucky enough to still have one!)
I hope you assign WASD on joystick, not on keys like many G13 users did back in the days :D BTW did you replace joystick already or its still original one?
The reproductive harm is because plastics have chemicles that are transdermally absorbed which impact your hormones by either mimicing them or preventing their utilization. If some thing is made in the US it wont provide that warning, but if its made in other countries they are legally obligated to alert you of the dangers. It really depends on the type of plastic and it also depends on any gasses they use to kill bacteria and growth before items are shipped to prevent any huymiddity/moister from making the box soggy So the box is able to get wet and dry without developing growths that may make its way into components. as well as the plastic film that covers a lot of carbboard boxes which has chemicles in it that can and will impact your hormones
Thanks for sharing! It caused me to look it up a bit more, and it looks like some of this research is new - like within the last year new. It's definitely something to keep an eye on for sure. 💜
I believe that movement beinv a barrier to switching from Controller to MnK comes from misunderstanding the proper movemnt with MnK. Most people rely almost completely on wasd, but real mastery comes from using right click to control your camera during movement. This drastically improves movement by making it so you only ever need to use a&d for actual movement and shift your camera around to manioukate your direction. It may seem really convoluted, but with some practice, movement with MnK surpasses controller movement by leagues. My number one recomendation to my friends when they switched over was to practice controling the camera not with wasd but with right click.
You're absolutely right! 💜I was very tongue-and-cheek about this in the video, but that is how it's done. Unfortunately, with severe wrist issues in my right hand, holding down a mouse button for any duration causes painful numbness - which I understand is a personal problem which will hopefully be resolved soon.
I’m a controller player for FFXIV but back when I played WoW long ago I used the Belkin (similar to this) and a Razer Naga. If I still had my Naga I would probably be looking into getting one of these as it is my preferred MMO control style. Thankfully XIV has great controller support. Good video!
I might need to look into this. I tired using an XBOX controller in FFXIV and it was a disaster. I followed multiple tutorials and suggestions; but, I'd either end up starting something out of range or targeting a fellow player. I've uninstalled and reinstalled FFXIV so many times to try to get a controller to work that my controller now sits in the bottom desk drawer. I've even deleted the FFXIV folder from My Games so many times that my SSD was like "Dude!!! Give it up!!" So... Looks like I'll be a mouse and keyboard player fr now on.
It took me watching a ton of videos on it to get used to the PS controller. Definitely had a hard time targeting at first, it took several system settings changes and months to get used to it, but now it feels like second nature. It was a steep curve for sure.
There are a couple downsides with the controller, and definitely one of them is targeting. It is better in more casual content, without doubt. That being said, whatever you start with, be it keyboard/mouse or controller, it will always be more difficult to switch than to stay the same. Any change like that will essentially force you to re-learn the game to get back to the skill level you're used to.
It is absolutely worth looking into the other options available. A controller will always win for lounging and casual play, but sometimes if I'm doing some serious gaming, I want something a bit more. 💜
I already use Razer's gaming keypad. What makes this controller particularly good, despite its button layout, maybe, is the joystick on the right. Don't use it for movement or cam control. Instead you should map it to toggle alt, ctrl, and/or shift. Doing that makes these better to use than a gamepad. The gameplay is very fluid. Every ability becomes instantaneously available to use. More should try it. Other games can benefit from these too. Even Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization can be played with it. Keep in mind that it must be paired with a 12 key button on the side kind of a MMO mouse for the best effect. That's what makes it possible to control up to 36 (more than enough for every job there is) abilities, 3 full 12 slot hotbars. If you ever needed, you could bind another for a staggering 48. You could stick emotes on that last hotbar.
I have almost the same setup!! It's perfect!!! My Razer keypad and the Razer Naga hyperspeed. With the 12buttons on the side the side scroll clicks and the 2 additional top left of the mouse. So many buttons to do so much with!!!
Wish I'd seen this suggestion when I first got my Razer. I'm not sure I can go back to movement not being on the joystick but I can definitely see the benefit of your idea.
You can bind jump and ctrl to your mouse side buttons, should use the joystick purely for movement instead. You use your right thumb to jump on controller anyways.
The package being ripped open by customs IS actually the fault of HORI. The name that would appear on the shipping slip would cause them to open it to look for weapons. I really wish peripheral manufacturers would stop naming control's with words like "Tactical" and "Assault" and "Utrakill EXTREME!". -edit, As far as the "reproductive harm" thing. California has some very stupid laws that basically makes everything including AIR cause cancer and requires all company's that MIGHT ship things there to include those warnings... thus making any warning for things that might actually cause cancer meaningless.
I never thought it might have been because of those words... But then I'm a blissfully ignorant/innocent Canadian when it comes to stuff like that! Thank you so much for sharing! 💜 And I'm absolutely gob-smacked about the information I've been getting about these warnings! What a waste of time for everyone involved in making and printing them.
I got the Razer Orbweaver (Similar concept, but easier to obtain) with the same intent to move to KB/M for XIV, and it just didn't stick. The big issue is that controller support is some of the best I've ever had in a game, so it's hard to move over. However, I absolutely adore the thing for FPS and the myriad of roguelikes I play now. I'm happy to hear you've had a good experience with it.
Thank you for sharing! I appreciate hearing your thoughts on it! 💜 I will likely still use controller for console, and on days where I'm just doing something mindless and repetitive because nothing beats controller for being able to play while lounging in a variety of positions.
I was considering expanding my control options despite being used to MMO mouse quite a bit (with modifiers and proper keybinds you can easily have 36 keys on one hand!) and this review is nice and informative without being too wordy. Good job!
I for several years played 14 with an mmo mouse and a logitech G13 wich is similar to this and loved it. The middle three fingers on the left hand using the G13 handled WASD for movement, and misc skills, while the pinky handled ctrl and shift for modifers to switch hotbars. The thumb was on the stick for camera, and also on the nearby alt key for an aditional key modifier. Theother hand on the mouse handled aiming and executing attacks. The only reason I moved away from that set (and eventually moved to controller) was that my G13 broke, and they dont make them anymore. I tried the naga version, but it didn't have the same feel to it and it didn't quite suit my playstyle. When 14 announced this, it was interesting, but I wasn't sure if I should try it incase it turned out to be another useless piece of tech like the naga did for me. Now that I've gotten use to controller, I'm not even sure I would want to go back to a keypad.
Thank you for sharing! 💜I have read other comments saying that the G13 was amazing! I wish I had known about it back then. I'll definitely defend the controller, as that's what I've been using for the last 10 years with no problems, but as someone who's doing content creation - having easier access to my keyboard during battle is really convenient for sending quick emergency messages. When I'm sitting on the couch on my console though, playing for fun... controller every time.
I bought my PZ31a back in 2008 just to not use 3 fingers for WASD in games. Its such a waste of fingers which can be designated to some other actions. Offcourse i don't play FF and i understand that in some games movement may be not as crucial part of fights, so occasional use of those fingers for movement may be ok. But in any other games where you have to constantly move (like shooters, action games like Horizon Zero Dawn or so) using 3(!) fingers for movement is way worse than using 1 (thumb) and using the rest for all other actions.
Just off the bat as a long time MKB gamer, WASD aren't for movement in MMos unless you want to be a keyboard turner. The mouse is for movement, freeing your entire left hand for keybinds. Only one I use is S to stop my auto run or whatever. And that's just a habit left over from WoW tbh. Strafe keys I use a ton, but a lot of FF14 players don't seem to use these much, and again a leftover habit from years of raiding in WoW. The other thing is that if you want to play basically any other MMo you need to learn KBM. Personally I think it's incredibly superior because of the versatility and ease of typing. I get why people like controller, but I'd go out of my mind hitting a million buttons switching menus and being unable to type stuff to people. But again, I'm a PC gamer. I own some consoles but never play them. I bought a PS4 solely for Bloodborne lol.
lol All good points! 💜I spent over a decade as strictly a PC gamer (EverQuest, WoW, FFXI, AION, DoD, etc) before my wrists turned to prickly jelly and I fried one too many video cards. Then I went primarily to console for a time. I had no problem playing MKB with those games, but because I started FFXIV on controller with PS3 back in 2013, it was very hard to switch 2 years ago when I moved to PC for streaming. I suppose I was being glib in the video and my history with gaming wasn't really the feature of the video so I didn't go into it. So I don't blame you for correcting me.
I did the same thing a couple years ago. Had just learned m&k for destiny 2 and guild wars. Started playing FF14 and needed something to help with rotations. I bought the Razr version of that device and it’s been awesome ever since. That one also appears more user friendly and easier to macro given what you showed of the Hori device. I think it may also have more buttons.
I use a ergonomic split mechanical keyboard, which in essence gives the same thing on the left part, and the most difficult part with FFXIV was indeed to redo the action bars layout for each class. But I also ended up enjoying the "half-keyboard" way more.
For carpal tunnel I actually love my Azeron Cyborg. Extremely customizable and way more comfortable than most other options I've tried. It is quite expensive and requires way more setup but once it's ready it's absolutely amazing. I do recommend getting the restrictor ring and stand for extra comfort.
Thank you so much for the suggestion! 💜Mine is at the point now where my right hand is almost always numb, regardless of what I'm doing, and it won't be long until I need surgery.
To my understanding, the biggest aspect between Key/Mouse vs Pad debate is Aiming vs Movement. Having analog, thread the needle movement with precision mouse aiming is the best of both worlds. I must have this.
Absolutely! Mine is still on my desk, even though I haven't used it in a bit because my right (mouse) wrist is giving me too many problems. But as soon as I can get treatment for the carpal tunnel, I'm definitely going right back to this!
Well that's really awesome I wasn't really sure who the controller was for perse but seeing it in action has at least shown me its ease and comfort. Good review :)
I bought this after watching this video and a few others about it. I never switched from controller because I loved being able to move and do rotations with ease. I am a raider, cleared all ultimates, so primarily that is what I'm looking to make it work for. Rotations are easier than controller on this I believe, and while I still gotta get used to the button placement of stuff that doesnt get used as often, I can see already that this will probably be something I dont go back on in the future. Highly recommended already, but know the transition period into being proficient with it won't come easy. Be ready to put in work to get good at it and it'll pay off
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I'm glad it's working out for you! I still love mine and don't intend on going back... Though it's going to take a long time to relearn jumping puzzles. 😵
I have the original gray one and use it in tandem with a g502 mouse. I also used to be on controller only since I started in Heavensward on ps3. I'm glad they made a new version. In my experience, this has probably been the best device to use for me personally. I can't use a normal keyboard effectively because the rows are slanted and my hands are to small to reach far keys. I made all the hotbars line up to the pad with combos going left to right. I use normal for single target, shift for aoe, and ctrl for role actions / bufffs. Then I use the button by the analog to change the keys to Num input so I can open misc stuff like inventory, duty finder, etc. It's super intuitive to use. Pretty easy to set keybinds. My only gripe with the product is that I wish the would have angled the analog stick back and right slightly so it has a better match to the curvature of your hand. I hope they release another version in the future with mechanical keys and a swappable joystick to replace or use the new fancy magnetic ones.
As someone who owned the first iteration of the hori tactical commander f14, it is really great to have, but I do have some issues with it. It's mostly wear and the lack of adjustment for the analog stick for bigger hands. It wasn't uncomfortable at the max setting, but I was putting my thumb in an uncomfortable position using it. After only a half year to full year, the analog stick would still have deadzone issues, regardless of how high I made the deadzone. Also, somehow I managed to only make the k&m mode accessible and I could no longer use it on ps4. I do think some of these were my own fault, but please consider it before buying. It works really well, but the durability of the parts and accessibility leaves much to be desired. If it just worked forever I would be happy with it and I would recommend it to everyone.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with it for others! 💜As this is my first experience with the brand, I can't offer any advice on longevity myself!
Ooo interesting! Ty for this video! I’ve always kinda wanted to get a device like this but never really knew which ones met my needs/were quality, I think I might try to save up for this!
I received mine recently, and was disappointed that the extendable arm that holds the analogue stick seems to have quite a lot of wobble in it, but then I designed and 3D printed a shim that clips in from the bottom to hold it steady and it's happily replaced my Razer Tartarus!
That's unfortunate that you had that experience, but I'm glad you were able to come up with a good resolution for it!💜 Because my fingers are so short, I didn't have to extend mine at all, so I haven't noticed if there is any movement in it.
I’ve been using Razer’s Orbweaver/Tartarus for over a decade probably. Love it! Devices like this make gaming on a device designed for word processing (keyboard) seem even more silly than it already is. Most people don’t even realize the battle they are fighting with the slanted columns of keys on keyboards, which is better FOR TYPING WORDS, but worse for gaming, when compared to the straight rows of buttons on these devices.
Exactly this!! 💜 Do you know how far away the 9 key is from the 1 key on a keyboard?? Because it's meant to be used with 2 hands. But, when gaming you have a mouse in one hand. And the num pad, with all the numbers together, is on the same side that most people control a mouse with. And that is not helpful at all.
I love this type of control myself and use a Razer Tartarus V2 exclusively. This Hori looks not usable to me because there is no easy button to configure for alt or ctrl keypress while keeping fingers on central buttons (see the easy button at thumb position of the Razer).
Ah, I see what you mean! Thank you for sharing! 💜Instead of using the Alt/Ctrl buttons on the Hori, I have just programmed them to my mouse buttons, but if it were set up differently perhaps I wouldn't have needed to.
I switched from a Logitech G13 to a Steam Controller 7 years ago. I do everything with a Steam Controller now (except for typing). I loved my G13 and G600 combo though. Prior to the G13 I was exclusively a Dualshock / Xbox Controller user. These gameboards really make the transition to keyboard and mouse smooth. The only thing I wish for a future gameboard to do is have mouse functionality built in, have swappable joysticks (for right handed use), and compatibility to use two boards (one for each hand) or a mouse with a built-in analog stick. XIV's analog camera controls are smoother than using a mouse, but targeting with a mouse is superior. It had always been my dream to have a dual gameboard setup or at least an MMO mouse with an analog stick, extra points for bluetooth, never could find a wireless MMO mouse. I still yearn for the dual gameboard because having to switch between a board or a controller to keyboard for typing is still a pain in the ass. Currently the Steam controller, (and the Steam Deck) fulfill all my input needs, but typing is still cumbersome. That dual gameboard setup, or a competent speech to text solution, is my holy grail. Typed this out on a Steam Deck OLED.
Thank you so much for providing your experiences! 💜I definitely can see why you'd love to have a 2 gamepad setup, after having been using one now. The utility is amazing. And I'm delighted that you were able to reply to this video on your Steam Deck. I have a ROG Ally that I'm in the process of making a video review on, after testing it several times on the benchmark... And I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the Steam Deck being a viable option for Dawntrail!
@@gamer_debbie Tough to say. I haven't ran the benchmark on my Steam Deck yet. Input wise it's my favorite device, but it's a bit lacking in power compared to other handhelds. From what I've gathered the minimum specs are increasing for Dawntrail. I might just purchase a stronger computer and just stream to my Deck if the new requirements are a bit too much for the Deck to handle natively.
Good luck! 💜 Though if you're not interested in the analog movement, definitely look at swapping it out for another function. There are a lot of ways to customize it to suit exactly what you're looking for.
So... Do you just... ignore it? It seems kinda important, and yet at the same time, if I'm not licking the controller or sticking it somewhere it shouldn't go, it shouldn't hurt me... right? >.>
@@gamer_debbie The rule makes churches post the sign in their buildings because they use cleaning products that can cause cancer if ingested (Well, also poisioning and death). You just ignore it.
Nice review!- I bought this as well, I've been using these type of pads since the early 2000s I was raised a console gamer so WASD/keyboard controls never was good for me so I jumped on these many years ago. Started with the Belkin N50 then the N52 onward to Logitechs G13 and then Razers Orbweaver then Tatarus. My Tatarus at the first of the year started dying on me with a common fault the optical switch on the d pads forward/w assigned button started dying. I saw this was on the horizon and definitely wanted to give it a shot as I have had long term bad experiences with Razer products dying sooner than later. My Orbweaver prior to the Tatarus literally was falling apart on me after just a year. Well I've been using this Hori tactical since it released a few weeks back. My thoughts is its very simplistic and very basic, and has few bells or whistles, the software feels like its from the early 2000s, very janky (like I have to change the language to English every single time I open the software) but it gets the job done, have not had any issues in game. Really I think its best put that this Hori.. it comes across to be as a very decent $80 controller being overpriced at $140. Its Final Fantasy branded but its a bit of a farse the only real connection is the FF14 brand just stamped on it and the software has a sprout icon for the "tutorial" open button. Thats it nothing else. At this price point they should have included an in game minion or something to go with the purchase. But that is beside the point. This is a solid offering but just priced too high. The real test for this controller will be its longevity, will it last longer than Razer's offerings and not break down? Razers controllers, their presentation is top notch. The Tartarus, it feels premium the software has all the bells and whistles, RGB, mechanical keys or optical (depending on version) feels fantastic to the touch. The padded wrist rest of the Tart is amazing. So a high price point, while painful, makes sense. So going from that to this there is some disappointment, membrane keys, non padded just a gripped wrist rest, overly bright white only backlighting. I must give Hori props for the game pad esq analog stick. I do like that over Razers. I hope this works well and gets me by. While i dream of a day when Logitech decides to come back and make a sequel to the G13. It was king.
Oh wow - thank you so much for sharing your opinion on this! 💜 I haven't used a hybrid controller like this before, so I had nothing to compare it to, so I'm grateful for your experience. I think it's a good place for me to start, with the possibility of moving into one with a bit more customization/whistles later on when I really know what it is I want, and how I want to customize the game further. I can see now how, once you take the time and effort to fully customize your game experience to something that works best for you, that the game can be played so much more smoothly!
This reminds me of those old Intellivision controllers where they were like NEEDS MOAR BUTTONS but they didn’t have any good ideas so they just put a giant grid of buttons on it.
OMG! You're right!! 💜 The first video games I ever played were on the Coleco-Vision ... and there's more than a passing resemblance. Maybe this goes deeper than I thought! Are you a mental-health professional by any chance?? I feel like I've been read. lol
This looks interesting, i usually play with keyboard but when i do place with controller, im reminded that its more comfortable, also your voice is like asmr.
The warning is required in California to be on anything that has a remote trace of anything that's been remotely linked to cancer, essentially. So it's basically on everything. :)
Scolded?? That's not fair - but I'm glad that they essentially legitimized this type of control for the game because it does make life so much easier! 💜
I have the same experience with using the controller vs PC (maybe 3 hours too). I'm currently prepping to use the Hori TAC on my PlayStation 5 so I've adopted the mouse and keyboard setup to the PlayStation5. I know you play on PC, but I'm hunching this won't workout as the mouse doesn't move smoothly within FFXIV using PlayStation 5. Question: Do you still use your Keyboard or do you convert it all to the Hori TAC + Mouse?
Sorry I'm so late getting to this comment! I still use my keyboard for typing because it's way easier - though they have tried to integrate typing onto the HORI nothing can beat the ease of using a keyboard.
Thanks for reviewing this Debbie! I still have one question... can you tilt that analogue stick to the side at all? I know it's adjustable, but from the pics I've seen it just looks like it slides out, not tilts. I dunno, to me it looks like being straight up like that would be uncomfortable for my thumb.
You're so welcome! 💜And of course. The analog stick does only stick straight up, but I've just been resting the side of my thumb on it, tilted slightly downward. As it's pretty easy to move, it hasn't proven an issue so far, but for sure it isn't how I would move the stick on a controller.
I am thinking about using this as a replacement for my logitech g13 It is a very similar piece of tech, but it is not available anymore, because logitech doesn't make them anymore. Thanks for trying it out and showing the ups and downs. Even so the g13 has quite a few more options, this might be a valid replacement, if I desperately need one.
Hey I have a some of wrist pain if using WASD and have been playing MMOs on the keyboard since right before the launch of WoW and have been using a very, very old method of strafing in these games that it has been outdated for quite a while. Basically I use the mouse side buttons to strafe left and right and I bind WASD to whatever binding I want, this does have its downsides as using your thumb for the mouse will make it a little difficult to use the other side buttons for anything else than strafing(and I use it for going backwards), I introduced my gf to XIV back in ARR and she had little trouble getting into it with the control method and preferred it out of the two. Give that a shot, though it won't work well at all with clicking abilities but that's something to be avoided in general.
Thanks for the tips! 💜 I can try to give that a go! I've played keyboard/mouse with other MMOs like WoW, but I think that's what caused the majority of the problems I now have with my wrists. lol But I've never tried rebinding WASD. I'm working on trying to eliminate clicking abilities as I get familiar with using the HORI/G600 for them. But sometimes I still panic and press. But I think that will fix itself with time.
The analog stick is definitely what sold me because of that controller feel, and it's about the same price as the Tartarus (at least here). Plus, it's my first piece of FFXIV branded gear.
Visually I feel like it would have me go back to controller, as it's been such a comfort for me. But one thing I will admit that controller lacks is what the mouse allows me to do! I am very curious about this now though, it may be what I'm looking for!🤔
Yes! 💜As someone who has only *just* started using keyboard/mouse, I am surprised at all the things I can just click on with a mouse. The controller has you either tab through on-screen elements to select them, or use the trackpad which is really annoying. There are definitely pros to using a mouse, and something like this allows you to keep a bit of the controller feel as well.
This looks like it could be a nice upgrade to my Razer Tartarus that’s starting to show its age. I’ve used it for years and couldn’t go back. I’ve heard some negative points for this compared to competitors but the seem to be minor. The full analogue stick looks nice but it tend to switch between the stick on the Tartarus and mouse anyway so it suits me fine.
After several days I'm beginning to think that I can't go back either! It's a good thing that there's a bit of a niche for this type of accessory, though from all the comments I've read, people certainly have their go-tos! 💜
I've wanted something that lets me have that immersive control experience moving my character while still having KB button inputs. Does this analog actually work as analog controllers like a controller? Cause I bought a setup similar that I ended up returning because the analog was actually just 8 buttons.
OMG, I'm so sorry I'm late with the reply - I've been in poor health. Yes, the analog stick moves exactly like a controller, so you can control camera with the mouse and movement with the Hori. The analog stick is straight up and not slanted, so people have commented that it sits weird on their thumb - but I've put a cheap plastic grip on it like I have for my other controllers and it works quite well!
I'm glad you like it! I have been thinking about getting one but haven't seen anyone review it. The reproductive warning label is probably some legalese that since the product hasn't been approved in Canada they have to put it there as CYA, California does a lot of the same. Question about switching between it and M&K though, you can still type on your keyboard in chat while using it, right?
Absolutely you can type while you use it! I have my keyboard on a pull out tray and my mouse/TAC above it on the desk - so it's super convenient to pull out the keyboard a bit and type when needed. Thank you! 💜
Honestly, I haven't seen any other reviews - I just made a video from my own experiences this far. I'm a controller player who hasn't used any other sort of gaming device so I have nothing to compare it to, so I couldn't be overly critical in comparing it to similar devices.
@@gamer_debbie Okay cool! I'm a M&K player, controller feels awkward to me but sometimes with all of the keys on the hotbar that my fingers can't reach M&K can be a struggle, so I think I want to try this out.
I'm using Razer's Tartarus(original,pro,v2) for mmos. Their software is the worst in industry but ergonomics is great and they never get out of stock and support is decent so you can always have a way to get replacement.
Thanks for sharing! 💜 A lot of people are using it, so you're in fine company. Eventually down the line I might give it a try to be able to compare between the two - but for right now with DT on the way, I'm in a panic preparing as it is. lol
Ive used a razer naga since 2009 and and a belkin n52 since 2004/ razer tarturus v2 pro (now). Since those came out I have religiously preached thag format for pc gaming, when a controller isnt suitable. Its comfortable, fast, and makes MMO easy to play. Ive looked at pada like Horiz but aside Razer only Azeron is potentially more ergonomic. problem is if i have one razer product i may as well have both.
i have the 1 by One Single handed mechanical keyboard. since like 2016 it has more buttons fully programmable. f1-f5 for party members, 1-6 plus a tilda i set to "=" which is where my throw or dive is (or sprint with alt) and my wasd etc are on there. and it was only 69.99$. plus only need a keyboard for typing (all gameplay is the single handed board and mouse) I like the looks of this and i appreciate they are making the effort. but i cant take that leap for such a loss of functionality. no harp, im glad to have seen a video on it for sure, and the video was well done, audio on point etc. the product itself seems like too little for too much. i just found the newer version of the one i use now mechanical for 39.99 on amazon.
I love the idea, tof the product, and if they up'd their game id be nonplussed by the price increase but i have 11 key hb access to all 4 assigned (#, alt, shift, cntrl) and movement all on one hand.
That's completely fair - thank you so much for sharing! 💜I didn't know about the wide variety of options before I discovered this one! They aren't talked a lot about, but are so helpful for people who need something a bit hybrid to help them play. I'll have to look up the one you use to recommend to people who can't afford the price of the HORI.
@gamer_debbie it looks like "1byOne" was bought by red dragon but the newer model is sick. It's "RedDragon K585 diti One-handed rgb mechanical keyboard." I'm actually ordering one now because they added a whole row of buttons 😱 so I'll let you know how it goes
I tried this and couldn't stand it. I love the concept but I felt absolutely ham-strung by the position of the joystick. It forces my thumb into this awkward position where in order to be able to manipulate it successfully, I had to use the side of my thumb and the control just wasn't there as a result. Not to mention my thumb kept slipping off because the side is not as "grippy" as the pad. I then tried the Razer Naga and while it has fewer buttons and the joystick is some sort of d-pad hybrid thing that may not be a real analog stick, it's worked out great because it's pointed off the side in a direction that matches natural hand ergonomics far better instead of straight up making it infinitely more usable.
I'm glad the Razer Naga worked better for you! 💜At the end of the day, everyone is built differently and things like body position, hand size, and dexterity go a long way in deciding what would work best. I haven't tried other gamepads, so maybe in the future this will have to be updated as I become more experienced with all the different options out there. I appreciate you sharing your experience!
I tried this out years ago on the first run and i found the stick angle to be really uncomfortable. I think the azeron controller and mouse would be a far better option if you want sticks.
I am very familiar with that fence. 💜 If you do decide to make a switch, just remember to be patient with yourself -as relearning hundreds (thousands) of hours of muscle memory takes time!
i have the hori keypad, i have also played with both mmo mouse and also ps4 controller. my thoughts, hori keypad was nice where it felt like with 4 htbars i can mimic hori keypad buttons and the 2 other hotbars would be a mouse button "shift modifier", mmo mouse was nice because i set up with 12 buttons i set up 3 hotbars and i had shift and alt as modifiers, and controller i use just hotbar one and double tap plus one center (r2 and l2 together) half hotbar i.m.o., the only issue withkeypad sometimes i have technical glitch where my character look like they are electrucutd and runs in place, and controller both myslef and my fc leader who uses a ps5 controller have this issue where like sometimes it stops and i have to ether connect the wire to it even tho its charged r i have to unplug it. like whatever u preference all the are viable i used all for raiding savage and extremes and leveled all jobs (mentor here tho im not a great mentor skill wise) i would say that like im still trying to get usto controller soft targeting as a healer especially Ast to play cards on dps, alot of the skill issue im having is figuring out how others basically quickly target players. if this game had the option of having multiple focus targets i would be happy. (like 4 focus targets would be great). ninja shukuchi on controller u have to prepsition ur camera to quickly do shukuchi. but like doing blue mage openers and other openers is nice too. i put my aoe skills on double tap and my main rotation is left hand face buttons. mouse with shukuchi is like god tier. if u use focus target macro like blm with someone to aetherial movement to pve/pvp its pretty amazing too. it takes ike a month to learn something so dont be afraid to give whatever a shot as long as u actually use a training dummy. i have other tips too you can ask me. price wise......hori is bit expensive. controller can be cheaper and mmo mouse
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with this! I really appreciate another person's point of view on this. And you're absolutely right about it taking some time to get to learn any new setup. Muscle memory is key and you have no idea how much of what you do is automatic until you make a big change. 💜
As a dedicated keyboard and mouse player, I'm hugely disinclined to pay huge sums of money for non-standard equipment when keyboards and mice are relatively cheap. Well, the five button mouse is cheap. The backlit keyboard, not so much, but still cheaper than this thing. And I have a stadnard X-Box controller for any games that need them.
Completely fair. You'd have to be in a very particular circumstance to find the analog stick worth the extra $, and I can see why a lot of people just aren't there.
I use something like this too called Logitech G13. I mostly play games on controller but I thought XIV would be too weird on a controller and I can't stand WASD movement but I have the G13 that I actually bought before even knowing about XIV by coincidence. I'm sure controllers in XIV are fine since there are tons of you using it but I honestly haven't looked at how it works and have no idea how it works, I've just been using this for my whole playtime.
i started of with just the controler, then i developed a love for using the controler in my leeft hand and a mouse in my right hand. it was so great. but at somepoint i switch to full keyboard and mouse then getting a mmo mouse wow. though havent tried mmo mouse and controler, could be great. i have looked at the TAC before, so tempting but the price ouch.
Yeah, not going to lie, but it is a bit expensive - but these comments have been a treasure trove of people offering the names of other similar products with a lower price point. But so far, after several days, I'm still enjoying it and have been using it exclusively.
Sounds interesting, I have CRPS, and I am down to one fully functional hand and some movement on the other. I have used an Orbweaver in other games but could never figure out how to get it going on FF14. Looks interesting, but way out of my budget at $204 AUD starting price.
After making this video I have received a comments from people who use similar products I never knew existed! Though many are around the same price, some are significantly less expensive. If something like this might help, I can now suggest checking out Amazon to see if there's anything that looks like it might work. My father was a one-handed gamer, with no feeling/very little movement in the other, so I wish these options existed back when he was alive! 💜
I got the razer tatarus v2 and its the only way ill play an MMO from now on. The configuration is quite different but similar to this one so i think making a switch to it might be clunky. I would have preferred if you had a hand cam showing you using it though for a more visual comparison
Thank you for sharing! 💜And yes, you're absolutely right about the hand cam! This was my first attempt at a review video, so I'm going to have to find a way to make that work in the future to improve the quality.
Myself been around computers since Commodore 64 was released and been a gamer since then. After all these decades my ring finger on my right hand the last digit has a slight permanent bend to it. Does it effect my ability to play games you might be wondering short answer is "No". I'm a gamer at heart and will continue to be one unless my hands flat out stops me OR my eye sight. lol Myself I'm a Keyboard & Mouse type of gamer but will use controller if it's better for a certain game like Diablo 4 type of games OR driving games.
Thanks for sharing!! 💜 My first console was a CollecoVision, and we definitely had a Commodore 64! I completely understand. The way we play might change, but never the fact that we play.
Thank you for a great review of this devise, really interested on this and was looking for info, with your recommendation I think I am going to get one and give it a go. Peace
Im thinking about getting it, mainly because switching targets is definitely one of the weaknesses of controllers and im too scared of playing healer because of it.
My muscle movements are pretty set in my ways when it comes to my combos, especially since I've exclusively been playing as paladin for the embarrassing amount of hours I've played this game but it seems like it's somewhat worth a try.
Just keep in mind that muscle memory is huge, and with any change it's going to take a lot of practice before you become completely comfortable again.💜 But it is nice having a choice of buttons that you can keybind things to! And being able to click on screen elements without having to cycle through them with the trackpad is really nice!
I got it but haven't used it much unfortunately. I remembered the reason I never played with mouse and keyboard was because for some reason simply using a mouse for more than 15 minutes causes strain to my right hand. Gonna get it checked out by a doctor soon
My brother has this and he still doesn’t know how to clear UwU lol. I’m a controller player myself and I like how it feels because I’m a huge Fighting Gamer. I originally was console but I switch to pc when I do Savage and Ultimates. Either way my controller never let me down and I don’t plan to change it :)
Thank you so much for sharing! 💜 I'll definitely still use my controllers when I'm on console (or REALLY lazy!) but this is a good thing to have when trying harder content where I'm sitting at my desk and paying a lot of attention. I'll never say a bad thing about controllers though!
@@gamer_debbie I think their point was more when it comes to harder content the controller was better as their brother couldn't clear what is considered to be the easiest of the ultimates using the hori gamepad. This doesn't necessarily mean the gamepad is bad could mean his brother is just a bad player lol but I see where they are coming from. I'm a controller player too and have cleared all the hardest content in the game barring criterion and I never felt like I needed a keyboard. Not to mention the gameplay footage is a bit hard to sus out because well the your gameplay isn't really good (apologies) so it's hard to tell if this improved your performance in game or lessened it. Maybe you could've shown how you played via controller. For instance I play on an Xbox controller but I also have the game on Steam Deck, while the button layouts are similar due to the design of the Steam Deck it does offer some difficulties due to habits I play on an Xbox controller. So while at large I can play on the Steam Deck I know to some extent playing on Steam Deck can effect my performance. But overall XIV controller performance is pretty good I'm not sure where this whole keyboard supremacy comes from when both play styles are completely viable, the product seems more aimed towards mouse+keyboard players then controller players if I am being honest, I mean MMO mouse exist for ease of play on M+K and this just seems like an extension of that, which is fine if you want to play M+K this might be a good way to do it but for controller players I'd imagine we'd just stick to controller.
Don't get me started on Canada shipping, I've ordered from SQUEX store before but those damn taxes make me think like 5 times before doing so now, if you don't live in the US these prices hike up a lot, same goes for people who live in Mexico and below. Sad since there's a couple things I really want.
Yeah, I hear that! Sometimes for online stores, shipping DOUBLES the cost, or is even more expensive than the actual order itself! There are so many times I find something I kinda want, get to checkout, and change my mind. I just can't justify it.
@@gamer_debbie Simple enough. The Azeron is like the hori except instead of 21 keys, it has 29 and they are positioned almost like a glove for extreme easy of access. You can also do funky coloring and lettering on it to make it uniquely your Azeron.
I like mine but like any new device you've never used it takes time to get used to. Honestly want a mouse with a joystick on it to use with this but almost non-existent, tried the RoG Chakram but the directions on the joystick were unprogrammable.
Yeah, you're absolutely right! 💜 When I've tried keyboard before, I was never able to feel comfortable doing the same content I did today. Now, how much of that is the layout of the device and how much of that is the additional familiarity I've gotten with the game since I've started content creating, is a bit hard to tell. But either way I was surprised with how quickly I was able to get to 'okay' with it. It will definitely take a couple weeks to get completely comfortable for sure. And it sounds like there's an area of opportunity for you to create a niche device!
Thanks so much! 💜 And my father always used to say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". As long as what you're doing works best for you, there's no reason to get fancy (or expensive) with experimentation!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! 💜 So far, I have too! Sometimes it's up to 4-5 hours and I haven't experienced any discomfort (with that hand)... My next mission, however, is to find a good ergonomic gaming mouse that fits my right hand. lol
@@gamer_debbie I use the Corsair Scimitar - but I know there are better ones out there. If you find one that is standing on business, please let us know!
In California you have to put a prop 35 warning about reproductive harm on EVERYTHING that causes cancer.... which is everything. HOW DOES THIS FIT SMALLER HANDS????????? I haven't had a lot of luck with the Razer Tartarus line as it's waaay too huge for my hand. [I guess I have Linus sized hands]
I have VERY small hands myself! 💜To be completely honest, even this is a little big for me. With my thumb resting comfortably on the analog stick, I do have to arch my hand a bit to hit all the buttons. And the wrist-rest is not set up to properly rest my wrist while actively playing. However, I've now used it for 16 hours (Four 4 hour sessions) and I haven't experienced any discomfort - so the stretching I'm doing is not hurting me. Which, as you may well know, is pretty much as good as it gets for someone with our bitty digits.
With the number of people who are starting to lose their Orbweavers and G13s that they swear by, I'm sure something new has to come out and take over the market soon! Hopefully it can hold out until then! 💜
I been honestly thinking about using something like that or maybe using the asus rog charkarm keyboard because I also been wanting to move to kbm but I just can't get over the movement of wasd on keyboard just feels so so slow for me personally and I've used controller for basically my entire life
It’s super hard to go back once you have spent a lot with along movement ngl I got the same exactly one in the video and it works pretty good haven’t gotten an chance to try it out in actual content but yea along movement is so so good 💜
I use PS5 version on PC since april 2023. Its a replacement of two PZ31a bought in 2008 and 2011 (i mod them now for easier joystick replacement) which initially i used for Lineage2 and WoW. Mine looks different and has joystic mounted vertically (seriously, i don't know who in Hori got this silly idea to make it horizontal in your version, it should be at least 45deg!). Also i don't use default app, its too limiting, i bought reWASD software to make my bindings. MUCH more powerfull (its even has its own actions wheel!), even than Xpadder i used before with PZ31a's but way less intuitive (thats why i made custom gui in python to make my game profiles for it). Anyway, the device is great so far. Not perfect but far better than my PZ31a's. Since 2008 almost don't use keyboard for gaming (only for some rare single actions) - shooters, crpgs, h'n's games - those controllers are great! TIP: try out angled position, like placing your device not directly on the desk but on some slope (so your thumb is higher than your pinky). It really make a difference in comfort. Hand laying flat on the desk its not natural position for it! (google ergo mice) Happy gaming!
Personally I don't really see the point. It's more expensive than most KEYBOARDS, and you'd be better served with just an MMO gaming mouse for keybinds, or a controller if you have dexterity issues or carpal tunnel. I've never deemed smooth analog movement important for MMOs like this, but to each their own.
Also, I highly recommend setting up your keybinds so that you have *all* of your buttons bound. Clicking hotbar buttons is slow and draws your attention away from the action.
What can I say? I love running in very precise and small circles. 🙊 But seriously, finding a keyboard where I can comfortably reach all necessary keys isn't easy - and the numpad is on the same side of a keyboard as a right handed mouse? Which means I have to choose? But this way I can have, essentially, a num pad on the left and a mouse on the right. And you are absolutely correct about binding keys! 💜All video footage was taken from the first 3 hours of me using it, so there was some learning going on. lol
@gamer_debbie You could achieve the same result by just binding your hotbars to keys near WASD like many do, or getting a mouse with a 12-button grid and using key modifiers like shift and ctrl (which is what I do). To the point where it becomes difficult to justify the price point for something like this, as the alternatives cost either nothing or half the price or less. It's neat, don't get me wrong, but I just fail to see the point.
Oh, Absolutely! 💜I wish there was too, for accessibility. It's sad that decisions like that are based on cost/demand instead of pleasing the customers who need it.
I got the HORI Tactical Assault Commander F14 (Final Fantasy XIV Black Edition) this week and when i started to go into settings companion app the analog stick does not work anymore ingame only when i put the button beneath the Gamepad on K (Keyboard) instead of A (Analog) Does anyone know the fix to this ? or is this how it supposed to work as its Keyboard for PC and Analog for the PS4/PS5 game ? Can someone please help its the first time using a gamepad myself.
There are two settings to look at - first, there is a switch on the back of the gamepad to toggle analog v keyboard. The second is a similar toggle in the app... I believe it is in the top right of the screen. If both of those say analog, go into the joystick control in the app and make sure that is set to right analog. I can assure you it does work on PC, so keep trying! 💜
I was wondering that myself! I'd probably just try to plug and play and see if anything popped up when I tried to use it. I'll give it a try this weekend and see what happens!
A controller definitely has it's advantages. 💜 Even though I use the HORI at my desk while streaming, I'm still a controller player in the evenings on my console!
And the usual Japanese shenanigans of "Our game is actually a worldwide phenomenon? Is it? Meh let us sells this for limited amounts so it'll be funni for other who lives outside of Japan who actually want it"
😢 There's a very good reason why, though I've been playing the game for 10 years, this is my FIRST piece of FFXIV merch. I just haven't been able to justify a purchase at all until now (as weak as my justification was)!
...Wait a minute... How are you playing FFXIV on a stream deck?? 😯I have one, but I can't imagine using it to play the game with. The button presses are not exactly... reliable? Sometimes I have to press a button multiple times just to get a sound effect to go off.
@@navygirlav2012 ...I'm going to have to see if I can find footage now of someone doing that, because dang. I never would have imagined it. Thank you so much for sharing! 💜
The cord is really quite long! I have it going around my desk and under a bunch of cables so I don't *really* want to pull it out right now to check, but it's around 4'. It can easily be positioned anywhere on my desk. I hope this helps! 💜
I feel like it would be a struggle for me because I’ve never been good at blindly hitting keys. I never learned how to type without looking at my hands, they always find a way to move off of the key I need and I can’t figure out by blind feel where they are supposed to be. So I play on controller because when the buttons are all different and in a diamond pattern, I never have to look to know what buttons I’m hitting. All the keys being in rows like that even on this cool little device might just end up with the same problem for me. But god do I wish it wasn’t so, it looks so nice to be able to just click and quickly target like that 😂
I can see why a controller would be easier for you in that case! 💜Though the 14 key has a sunken divot in it so you can find it with your finger, and the 1-5 buttons are curved, those are the only different keys, out of 21, so yeah it might be the same issue. I have been told in another comment that Amazon has similar products in the $40 range, so maybe if you ever wanted to give it a try you could start with something more affordable.
I've used a device like this for over a decade now for MMOs. First, the Belkin N52, then when Belkin got bought out, the Razer Tartarus and/or Orbweaver (which are basically the same thing, just with different numbers of buttons, maybe a scroll wheel, and of course, RGB lights, because gamers). Once you're used to it, you'll never go back to plain keyboard&mouse or controller.
Because gamer. XD I'm definitely a believer now!
Eh, I loved my Nostromo N52, but gave it up when I got a Naga.
Still using my belkin N52te and it's still performing x)
Same I went through those 2 also. Before getting my single handed mechanical it was "1 by One" now is made by Red Dragon
Same here. N52te, then the Razer ones, then the glorious Logitech G13 - probably the best of the lot, which Logitech stopped making after it got popular. The Hori stuff is pretty good. I have the 1st gen one and I've had to take it apart to clean some of the switches, notably that one stuck to the side of the joystick. Thankfully it comes apart relatively easily. I've ordered the new one as well. As you noted, paired with a 12-button MMO mouse, I only ever use the keyboard for chat.
The warning is mostly due to the materials. Something in there would have some form of carcinogens… thing is… as someone who works with a manufacturer in California, we’re all just done with it. COFFEE BEANS had a warning at some point because the roasting process used some chemicals (later retracted)… it gets really old fast…
Right... You just become 'alarm blind' because it's everywhere so you start completely ignoring it. It's a good thought gone quite wrong I think. Thank you for sharing some context! 💜
@@gamer_debbie This. Prop 65 warning is a joke cause 98% of items in California have this warning on it. The requirements for a product to be labeled with it are so ludicrous, it has lost all meaning. There are currently around 900 chemicals on the official OEHHA list. Here is the list, notice how aluminum is on that list (so anything that has aluminum in it has to have the label). oehha.ca.gov/chemicals
The requirement is as follows: More than 1(even if it is 1.01) extra case of cancer in 100,000 people over a 70 year lifetime. To break this down more, this means that the product would have to have a chance to cause an extra case of cancer when that chemical is exposed to an individual at expected levels every single day for 70 years for it to be deemed worthy of being on the prop 65 list. If this isn't absurd, i don't know what is. Prop 65 *started* out with good intentions as a safe drinking water law, but now it has morphed into the biggest joke in California.
Too right. We're all convinced that some Californian politicians family member owned a company or were a majority shareholder in one that made a profit from these checks.
@@TheQman69 Yup! Californian insanity. It can safely be disregarded.
I've been using this since the original one came out a few years ago. It's been great, and it's like the ONLY key pad with a REAL analog stick.
Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing! 💜
I got a G13 and still use it for FFXIV and several other games all the time. With the LCD screen with profiles and no software needed for the internal saved profiles changing settings on the fly is a breeze. My sisters got this for me long ago and it rocks still today!
From everything I've read from people posting so far, you're a lucky one! Sounds like the G13 was, and is still, the pinnacle today (for those lucky enough to still have one!)
Still using my G13 too specifically for MMO's, has never let me down and wish the game board style had more support.
Discontinuing the G13 is probably one of the greatest tragedies in gaming peripherals
I hope you assign WASD on joystick, not on keys like many G13 users did back in the days :D BTW did you replace joystick already or its still original one?
@@domantlen6231 assigned to the stick and it still works like day one
The reproductive harm is because plastics have chemicles that are transdermally absorbed which impact your hormones by either mimicing them or preventing their utilization. If some thing is made in the US it wont provide that warning, but if its made in other countries they are legally obligated to alert you of the dangers. It really depends on the type of plastic and it also depends on any gasses they use to kill bacteria and growth before items are shipped to prevent any huymiddity/moister from making the box soggy So the box is able to get wet and dry without developing growths that may make its way into components. as well as the plastic film that covers a lot of carbboard boxes which has chemicles in it that can and will impact your hormones
Thanks for sharing! It caused me to look it up a bit more, and it looks like some of this research is new - like within the last year new. It's definitely something to keep an eye on for sure. 💜
I believe that movement beinv a barrier to switching from Controller to MnK comes from misunderstanding the proper movemnt with MnK. Most people rely almost completely on wasd, but real mastery comes from using right click to control your camera during movement. This drastically improves movement by making it so you only ever need to use a&d for actual movement and shift your camera around to manioukate your direction. It may seem really convoluted, but with some practice, movement with MnK surpasses controller movement by leagues. My number one recomendation to my friends when they switched over was to practice controling the camera not with wasd but with right click.
You're absolutely right! 💜I was very tongue-and-cheek about this in the video, but that is how it's done. Unfortunately, with severe wrist issues in my right hand, holding down a mouse button for any duration causes painful numbness - which I understand is a personal problem which will hopefully be resolved soon.
I’m a controller player for FFXIV but back when I played WoW long ago I used the Belkin (similar to this) and a Razer Naga. If I still had my Naga I would probably be looking into getting one of these as it is my preferred MMO control style. Thankfully XIV has great controller support.
Good video!
Thank you! 💜And thanks for sharing! You definitely can't go wrong with a controller for 14, and I'll never say anything against it.
I might need to look into this. I tired using an XBOX controller in FFXIV and it was a disaster. I followed multiple tutorials and suggestions; but, I'd either end up starting something out of range or targeting a fellow player. I've uninstalled and reinstalled FFXIV so many times to try to get a controller to work that my controller now sits in the bottom desk drawer. I've even deleted the FFXIV folder from My Games so many times that my SSD was like "Dude!!! Give it up!!" So... Looks like I'll be a mouse and keyboard player fr now on.
It took me watching a ton of videos on it to get used to the PS controller. Definitely had a hard time targeting at first, it took several system settings changes and months to get used to it, but now it feels like second nature. It was a steep curve for sure.
I'm all opposite. I can't deal with M&K lol
There are a couple downsides with the controller, and definitely one of them is targeting. It is better in more casual content, without doubt. That being said, whatever you start with, be it keyboard/mouse or controller, it will always be more difficult to switch than to stay the same. Any change like that will essentially force you to re-learn the game to get back to the skill level you're used to.
@@gamer_debbie You can target using the D-Pad so easily
@@gamer_debbie except on Alliance players lol
I am also a gamer whose primary proficiency is in controller use so its great to learn there are assist tech options for keyboard/mouse play!
It is absolutely worth looking into the other options available. A controller will always win for lounging and casual play, but sometimes if I'm doing some serious gaming, I want something a bit more. 💜
I already use Razer's gaming keypad. What makes this controller particularly good, despite its button layout, maybe, is the joystick on the right. Don't use it for movement or cam control. Instead you should map it to toggle alt, ctrl, and/or shift. Doing that makes these better to use than a gamepad. The gameplay is very fluid. Every ability becomes instantaneously available to use. More should try it. Other games can benefit from these too. Even Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization can be played with it. Keep in mind that it must be paired with a 12 key button on the side kind of a MMO mouse for the best effect. That's what makes it possible to control up to 36 (more than enough for every job there is) abilities, 3 full 12 slot hotbars. If you ever needed, you could bind another for a staggering 48. You could stick emotes on that last hotbar.
It sounds like you have spent a lot of time curating the perfect set-up! That's awesome! 💜Thank you for sharing some tips!
I have almost the same setup!! It's perfect!!! My Razer keypad and the Razer Naga hyperspeed. With the 12buttons on the side the side scroll clicks and the 2 additional top left of the mouse. So many buttons to do so much with!!!
Wish I'd seen this suggestion when I first got my Razer. I'm not sure I can go back to movement not being on the joystick but I can definitely see the benefit of your idea.
You can bind jump and ctrl to your mouse side buttons, should use the joystick purely for movement instead. You use your right thumb to jump on controller anyways.
The package being ripped open by customs IS actually the fault of HORI. The name that would appear on the shipping slip would cause them to open it to look for weapons. I really wish peripheral manufacturers would stop naming control's with words like "Tactical" and "Assault" and "Utrakill EXTREME!". -edit, As far as the "reproductive harm" thing. California has some very stupid laws that basically makes everything including AIR cause cancer and requires all company's that MIGHT ship things there to include those warnings... thus making any warning for things that might actually cause cancer meaningless.
I never thought it might have been because of those words... But then I'm a blissfully ignorant/innocent Canadian when it comes to stuff like that! Thank you so much for sharing! 💜 And I'm absolutely gob-smacked about the information I've been getting about these warnings! What a waste of time for everyone involved in making and printing them.
I got the Razer Orbweaver (Similar concept, but easier to obtain) with the same intent to move to KB/M for XIV, and it just didn't stick. The big issue is that controller support is some of the best I've ever had in a game, so it's hard to move over. However, I absolutely adore the thing for FPS and the myriad of roguelikes I play now. I'm happy to hear you've had a good experience with it.
I have the tartarus v2 and i miss the v1 version
Thank you for sharing! I appreciate hearing your thoughts on it! 💜 I will likely still use controller for console, and on days where I'm just doing something mindless and repetitive because nothing beats controller for being able to play while lounging in a variety of positions.
I was considering expanding my control options despite being used to MMO mouse quite a bit (with modifiers and proper keybinds you can easily have 36 keys on one hand!) and this review is nice and informative without being too wordy. Good job!
Thank you so much! 💜I hope you find something that works great for you for Dawntrail!
I for several years played 14 with an mmo mouse and a logitech G13 wich is similar to this and loved it. The middle three fingers on the left hand using the G13 handled WASD for movement, and misc skills, while the pinky handled ctrl and shift for modifers to switch hotbars. The thumb was on the stick for camera, and also on the nearby alt key for an aditional key modifier. Theother hand on the mouse handled aiming and executing attacks.
The only reason I moved away from that set (and eventually moved to controller) was that my G13 broke, and they dont make them anymore. I tried the naga version, but it didn't have the same feel to it and it didn't quite suit my playstyle. When 14 announced this, it was interesting, but I wasn't sure if I should try it incase it turned out to be another useless piece of tech like the naga did for me.
Now that I've gotten use to controller, I'm not even sure I would want to go back to a keypad.
Thank you for sharing! 💜I have read other comments saying that the G13 was amazing! I wish I had known about it back then. I'll definitely defend the controller, as that's what I've been using for the last 10 years with no problems, but as someone who's doing content creation - having easier access to my keyboard during battle is really convenient for sending quick emergency messages. When I'm sitting on the couch on my console though, playing for fun... controller every time.
I bought my PZ31a back in 2008 just to not use 3 fingers for WASD in games. Its such a waste of fingers which can be designated to some other actions. Offcourse i don't play FF and i understand that in some games movement may be not as crucial part of fights, so occasional use of those fingers for movement may be ok. But in any other games where you have to constantly move (like shooters, action games like Horizon Zero Dawn or so) using 3(!) fingers for movement is way worse than using 1 (thumb) and using the rest for all other actions.
Just off the bat as a long time MKB gamer, WASD aren't for movement in MMos unless you want to be a keyboard turner. The mouse is for movement, freeing your entire left hand for keybinds. Only one I use is S to stop my auto run or whatever. And that's just a habit left over from WoW tbh. Strafe keys I use a ton, but a lot of FF14 players don't seem to use these much, and again a leftover habit from years of raiding in WoW. The other thing is that if you want to play basically any other MMo you need to learn KBM. Personally I think it's incredibly superior because of the versatility and ease of typing. I get why people like controller, but I'd go out of my mind hitting a million buttons switching menus and being unable to type stuff to people. But again, I'm a PC gamer. I own some consoles but never play them. I bought a PS4 solely for Bloodborne lol.
lol All good points! 💜I spent over a decade as strictly a PC gamer (EverQuest, WoW, FFXI, AION, DoD, etc) before my wrists turned to prickly jelly and I fried one too many video cards. Then I went primarily to console for a time. I had no problem playing MKB with those games, but because I started FFXIV on controller with PS3 back in 2013, it was very hard to switch 2 years ago when I moved to PC for streaming. I suppose I was being glib in the video and my history with gaming wasn't really the feature of the video so I didn't go into it. So I don't blame you for correcting me.
I did the same thing a couple years ago. Had just learned m&k for destiny 2 and guild wars. Started playing FF14 and needed something to help with rotations. I bought the Razr version of that device and it’s been awesome ever since. That one also appears more user friendly and easier to macro given what you showed of the Hori device. I think it may also have more buttons.
Awesome! These types of devices aren't talked about nearly as much as they should be, for how useful they are to some gamers!
I use a ergonomic split mechanical keyboard, which in essence gives the same thing on the left part, and the most difficult part with FFXIV was indeed to redo the action bars layout for each class.
But I also ended up enjoying the "half-keyboard" way more.
Yeah, redoing the hotbars for every class is a bit of a pain, but I'm finding the more I do it, the easier it gets and the better they become. 💜
For carpal tunnel I actually love my Azeron Cyborg. Extremely customizable and way more comfortable than most other options I've tried. It is quite expensive and requires way more setup but once it's ready it's absolutely amazing. I do recommend getting the restrictor ring and stand for extra comfort.
Thank you so much for the suggestion! 💜Mine is at the point now where my right hand is almost always numb, regardless of what I'm doing, and it won't be long until I need surgery.
To my understanding, the biggest aspect between Key/Mouse vs Pad debate is Aiming vs Movement. Having analog, thread the needle movement with precision mouse aiming is the best of both worlds.
I must have this.
Absolutely! Mine is still on my desk, even though I haven't used it in a bit because my right (mouse) wrist is giving me too many problems. But as soon as I can get treatment for the carpal tunnel, I'm definitely going right back to this!
Well that's really awesome I wasn't really sure who the controller was for perse but seeing it in action has at least shown me its ease and comfort. Good review :)
Thank you so much! 💜
I bought this after watching this video and a few others about it. I never switched from controller because I loved being able to move and do rotations with ease. I am a raider, cleared all ultimates, so primarily that is what I'm looking to make it work for. Rotations are easier than controller on this I believe, and while I still gotta get used to the button placement of stuff that doesnt get used as often, I can see already that this will probably be something I dont go back on in the future. Highly recommended already, but know the transition period into being proficient with it won't come easy. Be ready to put in work to get good at it and it'll pay off
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I'm glad it's working out for you! I still love mine and don't intend on going back... Though it's going to take a long time to relearn jumping puzzles. 😵
I have the original gray one and use it in tandem with a g502 mouse. I also used to be on controller only since I started in Heavensward on ps3. I'm glad they made a new version. In my experience, this has probably been the best device to use for me personally. I can't use a normal keyboard effectively because the rows are slanted and my hands are to small to reach far keys. I made all the hotbars line up to the pad with combos going left to right. I use normal for single target, shift for aoe, and ctrl for role actions / bufffs. Then I use the button by the analog to change the keys to Num input so I can open misc stuff like inventory, duty finder, etc. It's super intuitive to use. Pretty easy to set keybinds. My only gripe with the product is that I wish the would have angled the analog stick back and right slightly so it has a better match to the curvature of your hand. I hope they release another version in the future with mechanical keys and a swappable joystick to replace or use the new fancy magnetic ones.
Thank you so much for sharing! 💜I'd definitely be interested in seeing those upgrades in the future too!
As someone who owned the first iteration of the hori tactical commander f14, it is really great to have, but I do have some issues with it. It's mostly wear and the lack of adjustment for the analog stick for bigger hands. It wasn't uncomfortable at the max setting, but I was putting my thumb in an uncomfortable position using it. After only a half year to full year, the analog stick would still have deadzone issues, regardless of how high I made the deadzone. Also, somehow I managed to only make the k&m mode accessible and I could no longer use it on ps4. I do think some of these were my own fault, but please consider it before buying. It works really well, but the durability of the parts and accessibility leaves much to be desired. If it just worked forever I would be happy with it and I would recommend it to everyone.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with it for others! 💜As this is my first experience with the brand, I can't offer any advice on longevity myself!
Ooo interesting! Ty for this video! I’ve always kinda wanted to get a device like this but never really knew which ones met my needs/were quality, I think I might try to save up for this!
You're so welcome! 💜 I'm still using it today and am not really tempted to go back to controller. The more I use it, the easier it gets.
@@gamer_debbie ooo glad to hear!
A big worry for me is that it'd be too hard to use and feel awkward (coming from nearly exclusively M&K)
I received mine recently, and was disappointed that the extendable arm that holds the analogue stick seems to have quite a lot of wobble in it, but then I designed and 3D printed a shim that clips in from the bottom to hold it steady and it's happily replaced my Razer Tartarus!
That's unfortunate that you had that experience, but I'm glad you were able to come up with a good resolution for it!💜 Because my fingers are so short, I didn't have to extend mine at all, so I haven't noticed if there is any movement in it.
I’ve been using Razer’s Orbweaver/Tartarus for over a decade probably. Love it! Devices like this make gaming on a device designed for word processing (keyboard) seem even more silly than it already is. Most people don’t even realize the battle they are fighting with the slanted columns of keys on keyboards, which is better FOR TYPING WORDS, but worse for gaming, when compared to the straight rows of buttons on these devices.
Exactly this!! 💜 Do you know how far away the 9 key is from the 1 key on a keyboard?? Because it's meant to be used with 2 hands. But, when gaming you have a mouse in one hand. And the num pad, with all the numbers together, is on the same side that most people control a mouse with. And that is not helpful at all.
I love this type of control myself and use a Razer Tartarus V2 exclusively. This Hori looks not usable to me because there is no easy button to configure for alt or ctrl keypress while keeping fingers on central buttons (see the easy button at thumb position of the Razer).
I use shift/alt/ctrl on mouse side buttons. Ie razer naga or any programable mouse with 3+ thumb buttons.
Ah, I see what you mean! Thank you for sharing! 💜Instead of using the Alt/Ctrl buttons on the Hori, I have just programmed them to my mouse buttons, but if it were set up differently perhaps I wouldn't have needed to.
I switched from a Logitech G13 to a Steam Controller 7 years ago. I do everything with a Steam Controller now (except for typing). I loved my G13 and G600 combo though. Prior to the G13 I was exclusively a Dualshock / Xbox Controller user. These gameboards really make the transition to keyboard and mouse smooth. The only thing I wish for a future gameboard to do is have mouse functionality built in, have swappable joysticks (for right handed use), and compatibility to use two boards (one for each hand) or a mouse with a built-in analog stick.
XIV's analog camera controls are smoother than using a mouse, but targeting with a mouse is superior. It had always been my dream to have a dual gameboard setup or at least an MMO mouse with an analog stick, extra points for bluetooth, never could find a wireless MMO mouse. I still yearn for the dual gameboard because having to switch between a board or a controller to keyboard for typing is still a pain in the ass.
Currently the Steam controller, (and the Steam Deck) fulfill all my input needs, but typing is still cumbersome. That dual gameboard setup, or a competent speech to text solution, is my holy grail.
Typed this out on a Steam Deck OLED.
Thank you so much for providing your experiences! 💜I definitely can see why you'd love to have a 2 gamepad setup, after having been using one now. The utility is amazing. And I'm delighted that you were able to reply to this video on your Steam Deck. I have a ROG Ally that I'm in the process of making a video review on, after testing it several times on the benchmark... And I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the Steam Deck being a viable option for Dawntrail!
@@gamer_debbie Tough to say. I haven't ran the benchmark on my Steam Deck yet. Input wise it's my favorite device, but it's a bit lacking in power compared to other handhelds. From what I've gathered the minimum specs are increasing for Dawntrail. I might just purchase a stronger computer and just stream to my Deck if the new requirements are a bit too much for the Deck to handle natively.
@@Rhomagus Fantastic! Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I think DT might be pushing the boundaries of most portable systems, tbh.
I sooo want to be able to learn this. Ill try one. I have played KB&m for 24 years, tried controllers a few times, unsuccessfully.
Good luck! 💜 Though if you're not interested in the analog movement, definitely look at swapping it out for another function. There are a lot of ways to customize it to suit exactly what you're looking for.
the "reproductive harm" thing is a dumb law we passed in California that requires that statement on basically anything sold in California.
So... Do you just... ignore it? It seems kinda important, and yet at the same time, if I'm not licking the controller or sticking it somewhere it shouldn't go, it shouldn't hurt me... right? >.>
@@gamer_debbie The rule makes churches post the sign in their buildings because they use cleaning products that can cause cancer if ingested (Well, also poisioning and death).
You just ignore it.
@@gamer_debbie And also, I've been using the Hori gamepad for well over a year now. It's fantastic. Glad you like yours :)
@@Theferrell Fantastic! Good to know you've stuck with it all this time! I hope to get as much use out of mine! 💜
@@gamer_debbie basically don't do anything that would give you a Darwin award and you'll be fine
Nice review!- I bought this as well, I've been using these type of pads since the early 2000s I was raised a console gamer so WASD/keyboard controls never was good for me so I jumped on these many years ago. Started with the Belkin N50 then the N52 onward to Logitechs G13 and then Razers Orbweaver then Tatarus. My Tatarus at the first of the year started dying on me with a common fault the optical switch on the d pads forward/w assigned button started dying. I saw this was on the horizon and definitely wanted to give it a shot as I have had long term bad experiences with Razer products dying sooner than later. My Orbweaver prior to the Tatarus literally was falling apart on me after just a year. Well I've been using this Hori tactical since it released a few weeks back. My thoughts is its very simplistic and very basic, and has few bells or whistles, the software feels like its from the early 2000s, very janky (like I have to change the language to English every single time I open the software) but it gets the job done, have not had any issues in game. Really I think its best put that this Hori.. it comes across to be as a very decent $80 controller being overpriced at $140. Its Final Fantasy branded but its a bit of a farse the only real connection is the FF14 brand just stamped on it and the software has a sprout icon for the "tutorial" open button. Thats it nothing else. At this price point they should have included an in game minion or something to go with the purchase. But that is beside the point. This is a solid offering but just priced too high. The real test for this controller will be its longevity, will it last longer than Razer's offerings and not break down? Razers controllers, their presentation is top notch. The Tartarus, it feels premium the software has all the bells and whistles, RGB, mechanical keys or optical (depending on version) feels fantastic to the touch. The padded wrist rest of the Tart is amazing. So a high price point, while painful, makes sense. So going from that to this there is some disappointment, membrane keys, non padded just a gripped wrist rest, overly bright white only backlighting. I must give Hori props for the game pad esq analog stick. I do like that over Razers. I hope this works well and gets me by. While i dream of a day when Logitech decides to come back and make a sequel to the G13. It was king.
Oh wow - thank you so much for sharing your opinion on this! 💜 I haven't used a hybrid controller like this before, so I had nothing to compare it to, so I'm grateful for your experience. I think it's a good place for me to start, with the possibility of moving into one with a bit more customization/whistles later on when I really know what it is I want, and how I want to customize the game further. I can see now how, once you take the time and effort to fully customize your game experience to something that works best for you, that the game can be played so much more smoothly!
This reminds me of those old Intellivision controllers where they were like NEEDS MOAR BUTTONS but they didn’t have any good ideas so they just put a giant grid of buttons on it.
OMG! You're right!! 💜 The first video games I ever played were on the Coleco-Vision ... and there's more than a passing resemblance. Maybe this goes deeper than I thought! Are you a mental-health professional by any chance?? I feel like I've been read. lol
This looks interesting, i usually play with keyboard but when i do place with controller, im reminded that its more comfortable,
also your voice is like asmr.
Thank you so much! 💜 I've played keyboard and mouse with other MMOs but nothing beats analog movement for sure.
The warning is required in California to be on anything that has a remote trace of anything that's been remotely linked to cancer, essentially. So it's basically on everything. :)
That is frightening on so many levels. 💜
@@gamer_debbie It's less helpful than anything - one of the drawbacks of unclear/too vague of regulations. :/
Hey You convinced me to get this one as a PS5 player also very intereseted to finnaly find something interesting for playing this marvelous game.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it! 💜
I've played with a Orbweaver for the longest time and got scolded for it, when SE released the HORI Tactical Assault Commander I was so happy ;u;
Scolded?? That's not fair - but I'm glad that they essentially legitimized this type of control for the game because it does make life so much easier! 💜
I have the same experience with using the controller vs PC (maybe 3 hours too). I'm currently prepping to use the Hori TAC on my PlayStation 5 so I've adopted the mouse and keyboard setup to the PlayStation5. I know you play on PC, but I'm hunching this won't workout as the mouse doesn't move smoothly within FFXIV using PlayStation 5.
Question: Do you still use your Keyboard or do you convert it all to the Hori TAC + Mouse?
Sorry I'm so late getting to this comment! I still use my keyboard for typing because it's way easier - though they have tried to integrate typing onto the HORI nothing can beat the ease of using a keyboard.
@@gamer_debbie So you have at least 3 devices connected? Hori TAC, Keyboard, and Mouse?
@@I2aScAII Yep, on my computer at least. I don't think I'll be able to do the same to my PS5, as I've lost a USB port to a short. T_T
Thanks for reviewing this Debbie! I still have one question... can you tilt that analogue stick to the side at all? I know it's adjustable, but from the pics I've seen it just looks like it slides out, not tilts. I dunno, to me it looks like being straight up like that would be uncomfortable for my thumb.
You're so welcome! 💜And of course. The analog stick does only stick straight up, but I've just been resting the side of my thumb on it, tilted slightly downward. As it's pretty easy to move, it hasn't proven an issue so far, but for sure it isn't how I would move the stick on a controller.
I've been using the original keypad for a few years now. I was concerned about the same thing, but it's actually pretty comfortable
@@Nutrafin-3D Thanks for sharing your experience with it!
I am thinking about using this as a replacement for my logitech g13
It is a very similar piece of tech, but it is not available anymore, because logitech doesn't make them anymore.
Thanks for trying it out and showing the ups and downs.
Even so the g13 has quite a few more options, this might be a valid replacement, if I desperately need one.
Apparently from all I've heard the G13 is GOAT. But this seems like a reliable replacement, if a bit more expensive than other options.
Hey I have a some of wrist pain if using WASD and have been playing MMOs on the keyboard since right before the launch of WoW and have been using a very, very old method of strafing in these games that it has been outdated for quite a while.
Basically I use the mouse side buttons to strafe left and right and I bind WASD to whatever binding I want, this does have its downsides as using your thumb for the mouse will make it a little difficult to use the other side buttons for anything else than strafing(and I use it for going backwards), I introduced my gf to XIV back in ARR and she had little trouble getting into it with the control method and preferred it out of the two. Give that a shot, though it won't work well at all with clicking abilities but that's something to be avoided in general.
Thanks for the tips! 💜 I can try to give that a go! I've played keyboard/mouse with other MMOs like WoW, but I think that's what caused the majority of the problems I now have with my wrists. lol But I've never tried rebinding WASD. I'm working on trying to eliminate clicking abilities as I get familiar with using the HORI/G600 for them. But sometimes I still panic and press. But I think that will fix itself with time.
Looks nice. After playing with controller for a bit, I can see the potential value of an analogue joystick instead of the joystick the Tartarus has.
I only use the tartarus joystick as 4 extra keybinds
The analog stick is definitely what sold me because of that controller feel, and it's about the same price as the Tartarus (at least here). Plus, it's my first piece of FFXIV branded gear.
Visually I feel like it would have me go back to controller, as it's been such a comfort for me.
But one thing I will admit that controller lacks is what the mouse allows me to do!
I am very curious about this now though, it may be what I'm looking for!🤔
Yes! 💜As someone who has only *just* started using keyboard/mouse, I am surprised at all the things I can just click on with a mouse. The controller has you either tab through on-screen elements to select them, or use the trackpad which is really annoying. There are definitely pros to using a mouse, and something like this allows you to keep a bit of the controller feel as well.
This looks like it could be a nice upgrade to my Razer Tartarus that’s starting to show its age. I’ve used it for years and couldn’t go back. I’ve heard some negative points for this compared to competitors but the seem to be minor.
The full analogue stick looks nice but it tend to switch between the stick on the Tartarus and mouse anyway so it suits me fine.
After several days I'm beginning to think that I can't go back either! It's a good thing that there's a bit of a niche for this type of accessory, though from all the comments I've read, people certainly have their go-tos! 💜
Been using Razer Tartarus V2 since Shadowbringers came out. Life changing.
Awesome! I definitely I wish I knew about these things last expansion. But the next best time was now. 💜
I've wanted something that lets me have that immersive control experience moving my character while still having KB button inputs. Does this analog actually work as analog controllers like a controller? Cause I bought a setup similar that I ended up returning because the analog was actually just 8 buttons.
OMG, I'm so sorry I'm late with the reply - I've been in poor health. Yes, the analog stick moves exactly like a controller, so you can control camera with the mouse and movement with the Hori. The analog stick is straight up and not slanted, so people have commented that it sits weird on their thumb - but I've put a cheap plastic grip on it like I have for my other controllers and it works quite well!
I've always played with a controller and a keyboard but this looks like a cool keyboard substitute
I'm honestly really enjoying it! It will take a bit of time to get the muscle memory back, but the convenience is worth it!
I'm glad you like it! I have been thinking about getting one but haven't seen anyone review it. The reproductive warning label is probably some legalese that since the product hasn't been approved in Canada they have to put it there as CYA, California does a lot of the same. Question about switching between it and M&K though, you can still type on your keyboard in chat while using it, right?
Reviews of this are not so good
Absolutely you can type while you use it! I have my keyboard on a pull out tray and my mouse/TAC above it on the desk - so it's super convenient to pull out the keyboard a bit and type when needed. Thank you! 💜
Honestly, I haven't seen any other reviews - I just made a video from my own experiences this far. I'm a controller player who hasn't used any other sort of gaming device so I have nothing to compare it to, so I couldn't be overly critical in comparing it to similar devices.
@@gamer_debbie Okay cool! I'm a M&K player, controller feels awkward to me but sometimes with all of the keys on the hotbar that my fingers can't reach M&K can be a struggle, so I think I want to try this out.
@@neon9152 If you do, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! 💜
I'm using Razer's Tartarus(original,pro,v2) for mmos.
Their software is the worst in industry but ergonomics is great and they never get out of stock and support is decent so you can always have a way to get replacement.
Thanks for sharing! 💜 A lot of people are using it, so you're in fine company. Eventually down the line I might give it a try to be able to compare between the two - but for right now with DT on the way, I'm in a panic preparing as it is. lol
Ive used a razer naga since 2009 and and a belkin n52 since 2004/ razer tarturus v2 pro (now). Since those came out I have religiously preached thag format for pc gaming, when a controller isnt suitable. Its comfortable, fast, and makes MMO easy to play. Ive looked at pada like Horiz but aside Razer only Azeron is potentially more ergonomic. problem is if i have one razer product i may as well have both.
Sounds like you were on top of this long before I ever found out they existed! It's definitely better than just a keyboard/mouse! 💜
i have the 1 by One Single handed mechanical keyboard. since like 2016 it has more buttons fully programmable. f1-f5 for party members, 1-6 plus a tilda i set to "=" which is where my throw or dive is (or sprint with alt) and my wasd etc are on there. and it was only 69.99$. plus only need a keyboard for typing (all gameplay is the single handed board and mouse) I like the looks of this and i appreciate they are making the effort. but i cant take that leap for such a loss of functionality.
no harp, im glad to have seen a video on it for sure, and the video was well done, audio on point etc. the product itself seems like too little for too much.
i just found the newer version of the one i use now mechanical for 39.99 on amazon.
I love the idea, tof the product, and if they up'd their game id be nonplussed by the price increase but i have 11 key hb access to all 4 assigned (#, alt, shift, cntrl) and movement all on one hand.
That's completely fair - thank you so much for sharing! 💜I didn't know about the wide variety of options before I discovered this one! They aren't talked a lot about, but are so helpful for people who need something a bit hybrid to help them play. I'll have to look up the one you use to recommend to people who can't afford the price of the HORI.
@gamer_debbie it looks like "1byOne" was bought by red dragon but the newer model is sick. It's "RedDragon K585 diti One-handed rgb mechanical keyboard."
I'm actually ordering one now because they added a whole row of buttons 😱 so I'll let you know how it goes
Ive been using the reazer naga mice and the razer tratas keypad since 2019
This is the best combination to play ff14
You've been holding onto a very powerful secret all this time! I wish I had known about this sooner! 💜
I tried this and couldn't stand it. I love the concept but I felt absolutely ham-strung by the position of the joystick. It forces my thumb into this awkward position where in order to be able to manipulate it successfully, I had to use the side of my thumb and the control just wasn't there as a result. Not to mention my thumb kept slipping off because the side is not as "grippy" as the pad.
I then tried the Razer Naga and while it has fewer buttons and the joystick is some sort of d-pad hybrid thing that may not be a real analog stick, it's worked out great because it's pointed off the side in a direction that matches natural hand ergonomics far better instead of straight up making it infinitely more usable.
I'm glad the Razer Naga worked better for you! 💜At the end of the day, everyone is built differently and things like body position, hand size, and dexterity go a long way in deciding what would work best. I haven't tried other gamepads, so maybe in the future this will have to be updated as I become more experienced with all the different options out there. I appreciate you sharing your experience!
Do you have handcam videos where you do a dungeon or something similar?
Unfortunately I don't - This was my first attempt at a review video - but I'll definitely get one set up for any videos/follow-ups I do in the future!
I tried this out years ago on the first run and i found the stick angle to be really uncomfortable.
I think the azeron controller and mouse would be a far better option if you want sticks.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with it! 💜 I'm going to have to look that one up!
On the fence about it
On one hand I love the controller
On the otherhand, going KMB makes a lot of things much faster/easier….
I am very familiar with that fence. 💜 If you do decide to make a switch, just remember to be patient with yourself -as relearning hundreds (thousands) of hours of muscle memory takes time!
i have the hori keypad, i have also played with both mmo mouse and also ps4 controller.
my thoughts, hori keypad was nice where it felt like with 4 htbars i can mimic hori keypad buttons and the 2 other hotbars would be a mouse button "shift modifier",
mmo mouse was nice because i set up with 12 buttons i set up 3 hotbars and i had shift and alt as modifiers,
and controller i use just hotbar one and double tap plus one center (r2 and l2 together) half hotbar
i.m.o., the only issue withkeypad sometimes i have technical glitch where my character look like they are electrucutd and runs in place,
and controller both myslef and my fc leader who uses a ps5 controller have this issue where like sometimes it stops and i have to ether connect the wire to it even tho its charged r i have to unplug it.
like whatever u preference all the are viable i used all for raiding savage and extremes and leveled all jobs (mentor here tho im not a great mentor skill wise)
i would say that like im still trying to get usto controller soft targeting as a healer especially Ast to play cards on dps, alot of the skill issue im having is figuring out how others basically quickly target players. if this game had the option of having multiple focus targets i would be happy. (like 4 focus targets would be great). ninja shukuchi on controller u have to prepsition ur camera to quickly do shukuchi. but like doing blue mage openers and other openers is nice too. i put my aoe skills on double tap and my main rotation is left hand face buttons.
mouse with shukuchi is like god tier.
if u use focus target macro like blm with someone to aetherial movement to pve/pvp its pretty amazing too.
it takes ike a month to learn something so dont be afraid to give whatever a shot as long as u actually use a training dummy. i have other tips too you can ask me.
price wise......hori is bit expensive. controller can be cheaper and mmo mouse
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with this! I really appreciate another person's point of view on this. And you're absolutely right about it taking some time to get to learn any new setup. Muscle memory is key and you have no idea how much of what you do is automatic until you make a big change. 💜
As a dedicated keyboard and mouse player, I'm hugely disinclined to pay huge sums of money for non-standard equipment when keyboards and mice are relatively cheap.
Well, the five button mouse is cheap. The backlit keyboard, not so much, but still cheaper than this thing.
And I have a stadnard X-Box controller for any games that need them.
Completely fair. You'd have to be in a very particular circumstance to find the analog stick worth the extra $, and I can see why a lot of people just aren't there.
I use something like this too called Logitech G13. I mostly play games on controller but I thought XIV would be too weird on a controller and I can't stand WASD movement but I have the G13 that I actually bought before even knowing about XIV by coincidence. I'm sure controllers in XIV are fine since there are tons of you using it but I honestly haven't looked at how it works and have no idea how it works, I've just been using this for my whole playtime.
And honestly from what other people have commented, the G13 is a really good choice! I can see why you haven't been tempted to use anything else. 💜
Does this even solve the wasd problem? Does FFXIV support analog movement outside of controller mode?
Yep! The analog stick on this does indeed control movement in Keyboard/Mouse mode.
i started of with just the controler, then i developed a love for using the controler in my leeft hand and a mouse in my right hand. it was so great. but at somepoint i switch to full keyboard and mouse then getting a mmo mouse wow. though havent tried mmo mouse and controler, could be great. i have looked at the TAC before, so tempting but the price ouch.
Yeah, not going to lie, but it is a bit expensive - but these comments have been a treasure trove of people offering the names of other similar products with a lower price point. But so far, after several days, I'm still enjoying it and have been using it exclusively.
Sounds interesting, I have CRPS, and I am down to one fully functional hand and some movement on the other. I have used an Orbweaver in other games but could never figure out how to get it going on FF14. Looks interesting, but way out of my budget at $204 AUD starting price.
After making this video I have received a comments from people who use similar products I never knew existed! Though many are around the same price, some are significantly less expensive. If something like this might help, I can now suggest checking out Amazon to see if there's anything that looks like it might work. My father was a one-handed gamer, with no feeling/very little movement in the other, so I wish these options existed back when he was alive! 💜
I got the razer tatarus v2 and its the only way ill play an MMO from now on. The configuration is quite different but similar to this one so i think making a switch to it might be clunky.
I would have preferred if you had a hand cam showing you using it though for a more visual comparison
Thank you for sharing! 💜And yes, you're absolutely right about the hand cam! This was my first attempt at a review video, so I'm going to have to find a way to make that work in the future to improve the quality.
Myself been around computers since Commodore 64 was released and been a gamer since then.
After all these decades my ring finger on my right hand the last digit has a slight permanent bend to it.
Does it effect my ability to play games you might be wondering short answer is "No". I'm a gamer at heart and will continue to be one unless my hands flat out stops me OR my eye sight. lol
Myself I'm a Keyboard & Mouse type of gamer but will use controller if it's better for a certain game like Diablo 4 type of games OR driving games.
Thanks for sharing!! 💜 My first console was a CollecoVision, and we definitely had a Commodore 64! I completely understand. The way we play might change, but never the fact that we play.
Thank you for a great review of this devise, really interested on this and was looking for info, with your recommendation I think I am going to get one and give it a go. Peace
Thank you! 💜 I hope that it works just as well for you as it does for me! Definitely no regrets.
Im thinking about getting it, mainly because switching targets is definitely one of the weaknesses of controllers and im too scared of playing healer because of it.
My muscle movements are pretty set in my ways when it comes to my combos, especially since I've exclusively been playing as paladin for the embarrassing amount of hours I've played this game but it seems like it's somewhat worth a try.
Just keep in mind that muscle memory is huge, and with any change it's going to take a lot of practice before you become completely comfortable again.💜 But it is nice having a choice of buttons that you can keybind things to! And being able to click on screen elements without having to cycle through them with the trackpad is really nice!
@@gamer_debbie i just hope any party i join will be patient haha
@@Coolio_Ash The majority of people will be, and if you're worried, put up a PF looking for patient people to help you learn!
I got it but haven't used it much unfortunately. I remembered the reason I never played with mouse and keyboard was because for some reason simply using a mouse for more than 15 minutes causes strain to my right hand. Gonna get it checked out by a doctor soon
My brother has this and he still doesn’t know how to clear UwU lol. I’m a controller player myself and I like how it feels because I’m a huge Fighting Gamer. I originally was console but I switch to pc when I do Savage and Ultimates. Either way my controller never let me down and I don’t plan to change it :)
Thank you so much for sharing! 💜 I'll definitely still use my controllers when I'm on console (or REALLY lazy!) but this is a good thing to have when trying harder content where I'm sitting at my desk and paying a lot of attention. I'll never say a bad thing about controllers though!
@@gamer_debbie
I think their point was more when it comes to harder content the controller was better as their brother couldn't clear what is considered to be the easiest of the ultimates using the hori gamepad. This doesn't necessarily mean the gamepad is bad could mean his brother is just a bad player lol but I see where they are coming from. I'm a controller player too and have cleared all the hardest content in the game barring criterion and I never felt like I needed a keyboard.
Not to mention the gameplay footage is a bit hard to sus out because well the your gameplay isn't really good (apologies) so it's hard to tell if this improved your performance in game or lessened it. Maybe you could've shown how you played via controller. For instance I play on an Xbox controller but I also have the game on Steam Deck, while the button layouts are similar due to the design of the Steam Deck it does offer some difficulties due to habits I play on an Xbox controller. So while at large I can play on the Steam Deck I know to some extent playing on Steam Deck can effect my performance.
But overall XIV controller performance is pretty good I'm not sure where this whole keyboard supremacy comes from when both play styles are completely viable, the product seems more aimed towards mouse+keyboard players then controller players if I am being honest, I mean MMO mouse exist for ease of play on M+K and this just seems like an extension of that, which is fine if you want to play M+K this might be a good way to do it but for controller players I'd imagine we'd just stick to controller.
Don't get me started on Canada shipping, I've ordered from SQUEX store before but those damn taxes make me think like 5 times before doing so now, if you don't live in the US these prices hike up a lot, same goes for people who live in Mexico and below. Sad since there's a couple things I really want.
Yeah, I hear that! Sometimes for online stores, shipping DOUBLES the cost, or is even more expensive than the actual order itself! There are so many times I find something I kinda want, get to checkout, and change my mind. I just can't justify it.
As a Azeron user: "Look what they need to achieve a fraction of our power"
Welp, this sounds like another internet rabbit-hole to dive down. lol I must know your secrets!! 🙊💜
@@gamer_debbie Simple enough. The Azeron is like the hori except instead of 21 keys, it has 29 and they are positioned almost like a glove for extreme easy of access. You can also do funky coloring and lettering on it to make it uniquely your Azeron.
I always want one of this for left-handed!
Oh, it's your lucky day then! 💜
I'd consider getting one if it wasn't already far more expensive than my keyboard was.
That's completely fair. 💜It is a rather large purchase.
I like mine but like any new device you've never used it takes time to get used to. Honestly want a mouse with a joystick on it to use with this but almost non-existent, tried the RoG Chakram but the directions on the joystick were unprogrammable.
Yeah, you're absolutely right! 💜 When I've tried keyboard before, I was never able to feel comfortable doing the same content I did today. Now, how much of that is the layout of the device and how much of that is the additional familiarity I've gotten with the game since I've started content creating, is a bit hard to tell. But either way I was surprised with how quickly I was able to get to 'okay' with it. It will definitely take a couple weeks to get completely comfortable for sure. And it sounds like there's an area of opportunity for you to create a niche device!
Can this be used on other MMOs?
Absolutely, though it's default set up to have FFXIV hotkeys, you can change profiles.
After having used a Naga Trinity I Think I'll stick to controller, was an interesting video though.
Thanks so much! 💜 And my father always used to say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". As long as what you're doing works best for you, there's no reason to get fancy (or expensive) with experimentation!
I might have to pick it up since its more like the original tartarus the new version just doesn't feel the same
I'm sorry about that! But I hope that if you do, you enjoy it as much as I do. 💜
I have this... and just sayin I use it EVERY DAY! It is the most useful gaming device ever made!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! 💜 So far, I have too! Sometimes it's up to 4-5 hours and I haven't experienced any discomfort (with that hand)... My next mission, however, is to find a good ergonomic gaming mouse that fits my right hand. lol
@@gamer_debbie I use the Corsair Scimitar - but I know there are better ones out there. If you find one that is standing on business, please let us know!
EB status? Do you like miera?
Honestly, we're looking at moving out of Canada in the next 5 years. >.> I can stream from anywhere with decent internet.
is the analog stick pressable? so i can bind it to the jump button
Yes, yes it is.
In California you have to put a prop 35 warning about reproductive harm on EVERYTHING that causes cancer.... which is everything. HOW DOES THIS FIT SMALLER HANDS????????? I haven't had a lot of luck with the Razer Tartarus line as it's waaay too huge for my hand. [I guess I have Linus sized hands]
I have VERY small hands myself! 💜To be completely honest, even this is a little big for me. With my thumb resting comfortably on the analog stick, I do have to arch my hand a bit to hit all the buttons. And the wrist-rest is not set up to properly rest my wrist while actively playing. However, I've now used it for 16 hours (Four 4 hour sessions) and I haven't experienced any discomfort - so the stretching I'm doing is not hurting me. Which, as you may well know, is pretty much as good as it gets for someone with our bitty digits.
I use a Razer Orbweaver, and i cannot play without it and I'm sad Razer no longer makes it. I'm scared for when it eventually fails.
With the number of people who are starting to lose their Orbweavers and G13s that they swear by, I'm sure something new has to come out and take over the market soon! Hopefully it can hold out until then! 💜
I been honestly thinking about using something like that or maybe using the asus rog charkarm keyboard because I also been wanting to move to kbm but I just can't get over the movement of wasd on keyboard just feels so so slow for me personally and I've used controller for basically my entire life
Once you've spent any length of time with analog movement, it's very difficult to go back to keyed movement. I 100% agree! 💜
It’s super hard to go back once you have spent a lot with along movement ngl I got the same exactly one in the video and it works pretty good haven’t gotten an chance to try it out in actual content but yea along movement is so so good 💜
@@colinhouweling8615 I'm glad to hear!
@@gamer_debbie yay
I use PS5 version on PC since april 2023. Its a replacement of two PZ31a bought in 2008 and 2011 (i mod them now for easier joystick replacement) which initially i used for Lineage2 and WoW. Mine looks different and has joystic mounted vertically (seriously, i don't know who in Hori got this silly idea to make it horizontal in your version, it should be at least 45deg!). Also i don't use default app, its too limiting, i bought reWASD software to make my bindings. MUCH more powerfull (its even has its own actions wheel!), even than Xpadder i used before with PZ31a's but way less intuitive (thats why i made custom gui in python to make my game profiles for it). Anyway, the device is great so far. Not perfect but far better than my PZ31a's. Since 2008 almost don't use keyboard for gaming (only for some rare single actions) - shooters, crpgs, h'n's games - those controllers are great! TIP: try out angled position, like placing your device not directly on the desk but on some slope (so your thumb is higher than your pinky). It really make a difference in comfort. Hand laying flat on the desk its not natural position for it! (google ergo mice) Happy gaming!
i started using a azeron keypad 2 years ago and I love it haha
Because someone else mentioned it, I had to look it up and all I can say is.... whhhhaaaaa? I'm so intrigued!
Personally I don't really see the point. It's more expensive than most KEYBOARDS, and you'd be better served with just an MMO gaming mouse for keybinds, or a controller if you have dexterity issues or carpal tunnel.
I've never deemed smooth analog movement important for MMOs like this, but to each their own.
Also, I highly recommend setting up your keybinds so that you have *all* of your buttons bound. Clicking hotbar buttons is slow and draws your attention away from the action.
What can I say? I love running in very precise and small circles. 🙊 But seriously, finding a keyboard where I can comfortably reach all necessary keys isn't easy - and the numpad is on the same side of a keyboard as a right handed mouse? Which means I have to choose? But this way I can have, essentially, a num pad on the left and a mouse on the right. And you are absolutely correct about binding keys! 💜All video footage was taken from the first 3 hours of me using it, so there was some learning going on. lol
@gamer_debbie You could achieve the same result by just binding your hotbars to keys near WASD like many do, or getting a mouse with a 12-button grid and using key modifiers like shift and ctrl (which is what I do).
To the point where it becomes difficult to justify the price point for something like this, as the alternatives cost either nothing or half the price or less.
It's neat, don't get me wrong, but I just fail to see the point.
I use the Razer Tatarus V2. still 2 yrs after with the corsair scimitar. I wanna get a razer naga so that i can combine so many macros for the game
Imagine what you could do with so many macros! 🙊
@@gamer_debbie ikr? Just the thought is amazing
I need a left handed version of this. Woulda bought one from the get go if there were onex(
Oh, Absolutely! 💜I wish there was too, for accessibility. It's sad that decisions like that are based on cost/demand instead of pleasing the customers who need it.
I got the HORI Tactical Assault Commander F14 (Final Fantasy XIV Black Edition) this week and when i started to go into settings companion app the analog stick does not work anymore ingame only when i put the button beneath the Gamepad on K (Keyboard) instead of A (Analog) Does anyone know the fix to this ? or is this how it supposed to work as its Keyboard for PC and Analog for the PS4/PS5 game ? Can someone please help its the first time using a gamepad myself.
There are two settings to look at - first, there is a switch on the back of the gamepad to toggle analog v keyboard. The second is a similar toggle in the app... I believe it is in the top right of the screen. If both of those say analog, go into the joystick control in the app and make sure that is set to right analog. I can assure you it does work on PC, so keep trying! 💜
Thanks it did work in the end but i had to reinstall it and it works properly now
@@ChaosWitchQueelag Good to hear! 💜
So this says it works with ps5? How would you configure it for ps5?
I was wondering that myself! I'd probably just try to plug and play and see if anything popped up when I tried to use it. I'll give it a try this weekend and see what happens!
Seems weird, the whole point of controller is that I can lean back and hold it comfily
A controller definitely has it's advantages. 💜 Even though I use the HORI at my desk while streaming, I'm still a controller player in the evenings on my console!
I still don't understand what it does. Would've been nice seeing you actually use it with your hands.
Thank you so much for the feedback! 💜This was my first time making a video like this, and next time I'll know to include some play footage too!
@@gamer_debbiei wasn't meant to be mean it was a really nice video and nice to see you passionate was use giving feedback 😊.
@@stealthzi7465 I honestly appreciate it, thank you! I want to get better at what I do! 💜
And the usual Japanese shenanigans of
"Our game is actually a worldwide phenomenon? Is it? Meh let us sells this for limited amounts so it'll be funni for other who lives outside of Japan who actually want it"
😢 There's a very good reason why, though I've been playing the game for 10 years, this is my FIRST piece of FFXIV merch. I just haven't been able to justify a purchase at all until now (as weak as my justification was)!
i got this and returned it. it just doesnt feel good to use imo, coming off of using a g13 for 10 years. ironically i switched TO controller now.
Completely fair! From what I've now heard from other people, G13 was amazing. I'm sorry I missed out on it.
Neat controller! But too expensive, I just remapped my confirm key to F on my keyboard and use and MMO mouse.
That's awesome if it works for you! Thanks for sharing!💜
Now you've got me thinking how it would feel to use one of these Hori things AND an MMO mouse...!
Glad you like it but its way too primitive for me. I got a stream deck that will display my skills lit up on each tab.
...Wait a minute... How are you playing FFXIV on a stream deck?? 😯I have one, but I can't imagine using it to play the game with. The button presses are not exactly... reliable? Sometimes I have to press a button multiple times just to get a sound effect to go off.
@@gamer_debbie i have the stream deck 2 and its the huge one with 32 buttons. Never had a problem with it. I'm gonna try it in SWTOR today.
@@gamer_debbie you can use it in any game that has keybinds btw.
@@navygirlav2012 ...I'm going to have to see if I can find footage now of someone doing that, because dang. I never would have imagined it. Thank you so much for sharing! 💜
@@gamer_debbie i actually heard about it from someone who plays ffxiv on console and he said it made his rotation easier to remember.
How long is the cord on this?
The cord is really quite long! I have it going around my desk and under a bunch of cables so I don't *really* want to pull it out right now to check, but it's around 4'. It can easily be positioned anywhere on my desk. I hope this helps! 💜
I would try this out if it wasn't exclusively left-hand... I'd want to use that thing AND my mouse ffs
That's a really good point. I'm honestly surprised they couldn't offer it for both hands.
Sad that there is no xbox version of this device, looks interesting
I thought anything that works on a PC would work on an XBOX? But maybe I'm wrong, I've always been a PS person myself.
does it support mac?
Unfortunately it doesn't look like it supports Mac at this time. Information on the product can be found here: stores.horiusa.com/HPC-047U
Hello, Gamer.
Hello! I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to reply! 💜
I feel like it would be a struggle for me because I’ve never been good at blindly hitting keys. I never learned how to type without looking at my hands, they always find a way to move off of the key I need and I can’t figure out by blind feel where they are supposed to be. So I play on controller because when the buttons are all different and in a diamond pattern, I never have to look to know what buttons I’m hitting. All the keys being in rows like that even on this cool little device might just end up with the same problem for me. But god do I wish it wasn’t so, it looks so nice to be able to just click and quickly target like that 😂
I can see why a controller would be easier for you in that case! 💜Though the 14 key has a sunken divot in it so you can find it with your finger, and the 1-5 buttons are curved, those are the only different keys, out of 21, so yeah it might be the same issue. I have been told in another comment that Amazon has similar products in the $40 range, so maybe if you ever wanted to give it a try you could start with something more affordable.
Can I play Warzone too?
I don't see why not? I've never tried it, but if it has keybind support you should be able to! 💜