I love this Turtle Beach PS5 controller, but this one thing is holding it back from perfection

When I first started using the Turtle Beach Victrix BFG Pro Reloaded last week, I instantly fell in love with it, and I gushed about it in my first impressions article. Since then, I have put the controller through its paces and published my full Victrix BFG Pro Reloaded review. TL;DR — it’s now become a permanent part of my gaming ecosystem.

What is it about the Victrix BFG Pro Reloaded that I love so much? Well, it’s highly customizable thanks to 11 interchangeable parts and the included screwdriver that makes swapping components a walk in the park. It’s got Hall Effect triggers and thumbsticks that let me fine-tune my movements with precision. It’s extremely comfortable for long periods and it feels robust, like it can stand the test of time. It’s amazing, really.

But you’ll notice that I gave the controller 4.5 out of a possible 5 stars. Why would I knock off half a point if I think the gamepad is just so great? There’s one thing the first-party DualSense and DualSense Edge have that the Victrix BFG Pro Reloaded doesn’t, and it’s something that will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with restrictions on third-party gamepads.

Why the DualSense is still my primary controller

There’s a very simple reason as to why the DualSense is still my primary controller, especially for playing RPGs, and that’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers which make games far more immersive. This is something that’s missing from the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded.

When I published my first impressions of the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded, it didn’t take long for Digitpatrox readers to criticize the controller for its lack of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Thing is, haptics and adaptive triggers are proprietary technology that Sony has patented for its DualSense and DualSense Edge controllers, so it isn’t uncommon for third-party gamepads to skip these.

For instance, the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro doesn’t feature these, and the same goes for the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded. It’s not its fault — it’s no one’s fault, really — and I feel like we’re missing the point of the controller. Yes, these things would have been great to have, but Turtle Beach’s offering is so much more than that.

Would I still buy it? Why not!

I’m in a very privileged position where I don’t usually need to buy tech, and Turtle Beach kindly sent me a Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded review unit. But if I saw this controller on a shelf in a random shop, picked it up and looked at the specs, would I buy it with my own money? Heck yes I would!

You see, despite the omission of adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is a formidable controller when all you want is peak performance and pure power. While it isn’t for immersive gaming sessions (so I wouldn’t necessarily play an RPG like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on it), it’s downright outstanding for fighting games and even first-person shooters.

As I mentioned up top, the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded comes with 11 interchangeable parts, and one of them is a fightpad module. It’s easy to install as all you need to do is unscrew the bolts with the included screwdriver and pop it in, and it makes button mashing a breeze. The controller’s Kailh microswitches are extremely responsive and inputs are registered instantaneously.

Hall Effect reigns supreme

And of course, the importance of Hall Effect sensors in the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded’s thumbsticks and triggers can’t be overstated. I feel like the more I use a controller or keyboard with magnetic sensors, the more I appreciate the technology.

While not always essential for a game like Baldur’s Gate 3, I have thoroughly enjoyed using Hall Effect sticks in first-person titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hitman. Being able to fine-tune my movements with pinpoint precision has helped me execute headshots from very far away.

I also love the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded’s five-stop triggers which you can turn into short clicky presses (or long ones) to suit your playstyle. Sometimes tapping feels better than pressing, especially to shoot multiple enemies in quick succession in Hitman without feeling fatigued.

To conclude, my first impressions of the Victrix BFG Pro Reloaded were solid and I still feel the same (if not better) now that I’ve put it through its paces. While I initially thought it would be my primary controller, the lack of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers has stopped that from happening.

But it has become part of my setup as my second controller for when I want extreme precision in first-person titles or need a fightpad module for button mashing in a game like Mortal Kombat 11.

So yes, I’m retaining my DualSense and it’s reserved for RPGs, and the Victrix Pro BFG is here for when I need unadulterated performance — perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

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