These buttons feel incredibly responsive, and it allows for faster actuation which can give you a competitive edge
Razer Wolverine v2 on Amazon
I’ve been on the lookout for a new controller recently, as my trusty Xbox One controller started having some drift on the left thumb stick. While I really like the Xbox Series X controller, the pesky double input issue incentivised me to look beyond the widely used Xbox and DualShock controllers. What drew me to the Razer Wolverine v2 was the mecha-tactile switches on the action buttons and D-Pad. These feel vastly different from an Xbox or DualShock controller, and they almost feel like mouse switches. A sound test will better demonstrate this.
These buttons feel incredibly responsive, and it allows for faster actuation. This could potentially give you a competitive edge in some games. Unfortunately there is a bit of pre-travel, and it was quite pronounced on X which made the button feel mushy.
The Wolverine v2 was released in 2020 and is an update of the Tournament Edition from 2017. There are a few other options in the Wolverine series, namely the Chroma and Ultimate versions. These controllers are mainly differentiated in terms of features, for example the v2 Chroma and Ultimate have paddles on the back. For my use case, extra features aren’t super important, as I will mainly be using this for Rocket League and maybe the odd game of Forza or Need for Speed. But talking about features, even the v2 version has plenty of it, mostly notably the extra customisable buttons. In comparison to the Xbox One controller, the Wolverine v2 features two extra front-facing buttons, used for sharing and volume control. Then there are two additional top buttons, namely M1 and M2. All of these extra buttons are remappable via the software. On the back there are a pair of trigger stop switches, which will substantially reduce the travel on the triggers, something that can be useful in a first person shooter. One of the most surprising features, or lack of features, is no wireless connectivity, not only on the v2 but the entire Wolverine series. This is a curious decision by Razer, although we will probably see their HyperSpeed protocol on future iterations. The cable is also non-detachable, which again is a curious design choice. Then we have the expected 3.5mm audio jack at the bottom of the controller, and as mentioned you can do volume control with the extra front-facing button.
The Wolverine v2 has a very similar design to the Xbox controllers, so it felt familiar right off the bat. If you’re looking for the Dualshock design, have a look at Razer’s Raiju series. In terms of ergonomics, the handles have more of a backward slant, which gives it a nice full feel in the palm. I did find the positioning of the Options and Menu buttons very strange, and it felt awkward using these. But overall a very comfortable controller, and I experienced no cramps or fatigue during longer gaming sessions. The handles have a rubberised coating with a green accent separating them from the main chassis. Generally I’m not a big fan of rubber grips on peripherals, but these actually felt pretty good. Definitely better than the slippery Xbox One Controller. If I had to choose, I would probably prefer the (non-rubberised) textured handles of the Xbox Series controller, mainly for durability reasons. Hopefully the rubber doesn’t wear off too fast. The bumpers and triggers have a smooth and glossy finish, so they did end up feel a tad slippery. I definitely prefer the textured triggers on the Xbox Series X controller.
The Wolverine v2 is intended for Xbox and PC. I had no connection issues on Windows 11, and the controller connected immediately with plug and play. You can download the software on the Microsoft Store, which is called Razer Controller Setup For Xbox. The software allows you to remap the extra buttons, then there is also a sensitivity clutch, which will temporarily increase of decrease the sensitivity of the analog sticks while holding the designated button. This is similar to the Sniper DPI clutch on some of Razer’s mice.
As much as I like the Wolverine v2, it just didn’t feel right when playing Rocket League. My movement felt slightly off and I didn’t have that sense of control I have with an Xbox controller. This could be down to the fact that I have been using an Xbox controller for years. I think this controller will work great for FPS or combat type games.
There are a couple of caveats with the Wolverine v2, such as the lack of wireless and non-detachable cable, but these minor issues are overshadowed by the exceptional quality. The ergonomics are on point and the buttons feel super responsive. If you’re looking for a competitive edge, the Wolverine v2 has you covered.
headtr1p 