We Reviewed the Victrix Pro KO Leverless Fight Stick

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Competitive gaming isn’t confined to just esports competitions; it’s been a part of local arcades for decades, offering some of the most intense PVP experiences. Home gaming is also popular with fighting games, but it’s only fight sticks that deliver an authentic gaming experience. Recently, leversless fight sticks have become top choices for mastering games like Street Fighter and Tekken. The Turtle Beach Victrix Pro KO, for instance, uses buttons instead of a joystick for more accurate attacks.

Just as a Hitbox controller reduces reaction times by milliseconds, so does the Victrix Pro KO leverless fight stick. Its slim pad makes customizing its button layout and switches a breeze. It’s compatible with Xbox and PlayStation consoles, featuring Cherry MX Speed Silver switches. In my testing, I found that the leverless design is just one of many benefits offered by this high-performance fighting controller.

Design

In comparison to the Razer Kitsune leverless fight stick, the Victrix Pro KO stands out for its sleek design, as it is slightly thicker at 0.80 inches compared to the Kitsune’s 0.75 inches. However, the additional height of the Pro KO is utilized effectively with a more prominent ergonomic wrist rest.

Compared to its Razer counterpart, the Victrix Pro KO boasts a heavier build at approximately 2.7 pounds, which is an entire extra pound compared to the Kitsune. Despite this added weight, it remains portable for tournament use thanks to a detachable USB-C cord that stretches nearly ten feet long and a handy carrying sleeve. A slide switch located beneath the fight stick conveniently opens the protective cover of the cord, granting easy access when needed.

Fans of Hitbox controllers will recognize the layout of the Victrix Pro KO’s 12 buttons. But Turtle Beach has added four customizable slots for rearranging button positions or adding extra ones. The PS version sports a PS button and touchpad located in the top left corner. Adjacent to these controls are switches for modifying the RGB lighting and brightness. Gamers can also control their headset volume, while the Function key allows for input remapping or switching SOCD cleaning modes. Although the L3 and R3 buttons are on the opposite side, all standard PlayStation controller functions remain intact.

Instead of having RGB effects that resemble a Kitsune’s edges, the Victrix Pro KO emphasizes crucial buttons with illumination, making it easier to locate inputs in dark conditions. Regrettably, the control row above them remains unlit, and the icons on the small black buttons are challenging to understand without examining them from an angle. However, you can customize lighting patterns or adjust colors using the Victrix Control Hub app to your liking.

The construction of the Victrix Pro keyboard is top-notch, allowing avid gamers to use its swift Cherry MX Silver keys with confidence.

Customization

The Victrix Pro KO isn’t the initial leverless arcade stick that fosters customization, but it certainly makes modifications like adding or removing buttons, as well as switching components, remarkably straightforward. By employing four sliders on the underside of the controller, users can effortlessly detach the aluminum top cover. Inside, you’ll find switch pullers and separate compartments for additional switches. The clear light rings, button caps, and switches are all removable and can be replaced without hassle. Different gaming styles aren’t uniform, and alternative socket locations enable players to adjust their button configurations according to preference.

If owners feel that the silver Cherry MX switches lack sufficient tactility, they have the option of replacing them with alternative three-pin or five-pin switch types instead.

In my experience, while personalizing the Victrix Pro KO, be mindful of the delicate metal connectors on the switches to avoid potential damage.

Using the Victrix Control Hub application on Windows, gamers can reassign controls for their fight stick. However, it was quite a journey to get the software to acknowledge the Pro KO device. After consulting a help guide and making adjustments to the Windows registry (which isn’t an official recommended solution), I haven’t experienced any problems with the app since then.

Players might find it beneficial to remap the block command in the game Mortal Kombat, and these adjustments will be reflected in PlayStation editions. On the flip side, numerous PC games continue to display Xbox button symbols, which can make adapting to a joystick-less pad more challenging. However, easy modifications can be found for well-known titles. Devoted PC gamers, though, might prefer the Xbox version of the Victrix Pro KO controller instead.

Performance and Usage

I’ve come across the Victrix Pro KO before, but it’s not your typical fight stick. Instead of joysticks, it uses directional buttons similar to arrow keys on keyboards. I’ve used a Hitbox controller in the past, and after a few weeks, I found myself making quick and accurate moves. Unfortunately, my muscle memory from that experience faded away, so I had to re-educate my brain for the Pro KO. The tutorials and practice modes in games like Tekken 8 and Mortal Kombat 1 helped me adapt more quickly.

Besides mastering where buttons are located, it’s essential to discover a comfortable hand placement as well. If your fingers aren’t near the commands, the benefits of a leverless design become irrelevant. On the Pro KO’s surface, the buttons are placed quite high up, meaning gamers need to keep the pad more towards their torsos for easy access.

Despite its unassuming design, the Pro KO’s buttons are strategically raised to prevent accidental clicks. The use of quick-response silver Cherry MX switches ensures that speed isn’t compromised. However, the slick keycaps might lead to slippage due to sweat accumulation.

With a slider on the fight stick’s side edge, seamless switching between PS5/PS4 and PC systems happens instantly. Additional perks like an audio port with integrated cable management cater to users of wired PlayStation headsets. The 10-foot USB-C cable usually suffices for various situations, but players with large TVs might require extension cables.

A single incorrect move in the direction of left, right, up, or down can lead to catastrophe for professional esports players. With the Victrix Pro KO, moves and combinations in Street Fighter 6 become slightly more dependable. Notably, more manufacturers are joining the bandwagon for the leverless revolution. However, enthusiasts of classic fighting games might find themselves missing the traditional joysticks found on old-school arcade cabinets.

Conclusion

The Victrix Pro KO streamlines switching to a leverless combat stick, ensuring a smooth experience for users. With its highly adjustable design, gamers can easily tailor the layout that suits them best. The cross-platform button remapping feature makes stringing combos in any game feel seamless. Additionally, the compatibility with three and five-pin switches sets this fight stick apart from competitors such as the Razer Kitsune.

For most gamers, making adjustments might not be necessary as the default Cherry MX Speed Silver switches are quite satisfactory. It could have been enticing to incorporate low-profile keys to align with the fight pad’s sleek design. However, the Victrix Pro KO’s controls are tall enough to identify easily without triggering unintentional inputs.

The Victrix pad boasts only a handful of disadvantages, although it’s worth pointing out a few. It’s hoped that Turtle Beach has addressed these issues through updates, but setting up the Victrix Control Hub took some time. Additionally, the small and dimly lit buttons on the control bar can somewhat limit their excellent functionality.

It would be wiser to opt for Victrix’s controller over writing it off, as there are numerous compelling reasons to do so. For gamers yearning for simple customization options, the Victrix Pro KO has emerged as the leader in leverless fight sticks.

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2025-01-13 16:06