PDP Riffmaster: One-minute evaluate
The PDP Riffmaster seems to shake up a peripheral market that’s lengthy been dormant. In actual fact, we haven’t actually seen a devoted guitar controller in practically the last decade since Rock Band 4’s launch and its pack-in peripheral. Within the years since this, discovering a guitar controller to be used with Harmonix’s rhythm recreation or comparable titles has confirmed to be an costly and albeit exhausting endeavor looking out the second-hand market.
The Riffmaster places an finish to that. Producer PDP has made a comparatively reasonably priced guitar controller that, at launch, is suitable with each Rock Band 4 and Fortnite Pageant. This makes the Riffmaster the one official peripheral on the town should you’ve been eager to play the Fortnite facet recreation with one thing extra becoming than a conventional gamepad.
What’s extra, PDP nearly nails its first try with this controller. If you happen to’ve bought a hankering for some Rock Band 4, then it’ll be one of many finest Xbox controllers for you. The Riffmaster is responsive, options all of the buttons you’d count on as a way to play these video games comfortably (and extra, as you will note), and has some sensible design selections that enhance its comfort issue. Sadly, the construct high quality right here falls behind even what we anticipated throughout these halcyon Rock Band/Guitar Hero days, thus making its price ticket a bit robust to abdomen.
PDP Riffmaster: Value and availability
- $129.99 / £129.99
- Obtainable from PDP’s web site, although is at present bought out (April 2024)
- Extra inventory is because of arrive in June
The PDP Riffmaster retails for $129.99 / £129.99 and could be purchased from PDP’s personal web site. Within the US, it can be bought from retailers like Amazon, Finest Purchase, and GameStop. UK buyers, in the meantime, might want to depend on Sport.
Sadly, at time of publication, the PDP Riffmaster is at present out of inventory throughout all main retailers and PDP’s web site. It is because inventory has largely gone to of us who pre-ordered the controller earlier than launch. Nonetheless, PDP has instructed TechRadar Gaming that inventory might be extra available round June of this 12 months.
PDP Riffmaster: Specs
| Value | $129.99 / £129.99 |
| Dimensions | 21.38 in x 10.51 in x 3.23 in (543mm x 267mm x 82mm) |
| Compatibility | Xbox Sequence X, Xbox Sequence S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC |
| Buttons | Analog stick, d-pad, operate buttons, two units of fret face buttons, whammy bar, strum bar |
| Connectivity | Wi-fi (2.4GHz dongle), wired (Kind-C) |
PDP Riffmaster: Design and options
The PDP Riffmaster is available in two configurations: one for PlayStation (PS5 and PS4), and one for Xbox (Xbox Sequence X|S and Xbox One) consoles, so just be sure you’re buying the suitable mannequin in your platform earlier than leaping in. Each are an identical in design other than some brand-relevant buttons and, fortunately, each fashions are additionally guitar-shaped PC controllers too, music to the ears of these not on the principle two consoles.
The guitar itself has a collapsible fretboard, deviating from the removable fashions of previous. This can be a sensible design change, making it significantly simpler to retailer and providing nice portability. Packed within the field with the guitar controller, you get a USB dongle for wi-fi connectivity, a USB-C charging cable (additionally usable for wired play), and crucially, an adjustable strap for the peripheral itself.
The strap is of excellent high quality and rests on the shoulder comfortably. It’s blissfully easy to regulate its size to fit your preferences, too. Nonetheless, the Riffmaster itself falls quick within the construct high quality division. The chassis or physique is product of light-weight plastic, giving it a considerably flimsy really feel. The shiny end additionally makes the gadget a fingerprint magnet. In equity, its total lightness is one thing of a boon for longer classes and it’s by no means taxing on the shoulders whereas standing.
When it comes to the Riffmaster’s controls, there’s a useful analog stick on the highest rear of the neck, in addition to a d-pad, Dwelling, and sharing buttons on the guitar’s pickguard. Moreover, the buttons on the fretboard (that are used to play notes in-game) can be used for menu navigation. Total, the buttons do really feel of first rate high quality too which works some strategy to offset the disappointing physique.
Rounding out the characteristic set is the whammy bar which is responsive in-game, however does really feel barely unfastened. It’s additionally a bit too near the strum bar and sometimes finally ends up getting in the best way throughout play. The strum bar is definitely the weakest side of the product, sadly. It’s lacking the clickiness of older Guitar Hero and Rock Band peripherals. This does imply it’s a lot quieter, nevertheless it feels quite unfastened and mushy when pressed.
One final thing I’m not particularly impressed by is the Riffmaster’s aesthetic. Whereas it definitely seems the half as a guitar, the plain all-black look is a bit bland. Some non-obligatory faceplates or pickguards wouldn’t go amiss sooner or later if PDP needs to assist the peripheral in the long run.
PDP Riffmaster: Efficiency
On the entire, the PDP Riffmaster performs brilliantly. The gadget’s responsiveness is pin-sharp, even when used wirelessly. You may relaxation assured that irrespective of your problem choice or the depth of any given music, the Riffmaster gained’t allow you to down.
I additionally love the addition of 5 non-obligatory buttons on the backside finish of the fretboard, close to the physique. You don’t want to make use of these, however they’re there should you fancy a little bit of showboating when taking part in by way of a nail-biting guitar solo. This can be a very nice contact that I really feel lends the Riffmaster some much-needed character.
One other space the place the Riffmaster excels is in its battery life. You’ll get round 36 hours on a full cost, which is fairly distinctive and places it in the identical ballpark because the Xbox Wi-fi Controller. It fees fairly swiftly too; it takes only a handful of hours to cost again as much as full.
The one actual sticking level for this controller that could be a potential deal breaker is the aforementioned unsatisfying strum bar. It does operate completely properly, however the lack of mechanical register means it’s possible you’ll miss the odd be aware throughout significantly fast-paced shreds because it’s in situations like this that it’s not all the time straightforward to discern whether or not the Riffmaster has registered your enter or not. This lack of suggestions, consequently, might make it tougher so that you can get a full 100% combo on tougher tracks.
Ought to I purchase the PDP Riffmaster?
PDP’s first try at a bespoke, wi-fi guitar controller for Rock Band 4 and comparable video games is definitely an admirable one. Whereas the producer has nailed responsiveness and included spectacular options like a foldable design and very good battery life, its bland aesthetic and listless strum bar means there’s loads of room for enchancment.
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
How we examined the PDP Riffmaster
PDP offered TechRadar Gaming with the Xbox model of the Riffmaster for testing. Over a interval of two weeks, I used it to play with Rock Band 4 and its a whole lot of songs. I endeavored to check songs of all difficulties, genres, and intensities to get a really feel for the controller, its responsiveness, and ease of use throughout lengthy classes.
