Some time ago I got a chance to try out the first thumb grips put out by Kontrol Freek. I was a little put off by them, and wasn’t too sure they would be worth the time to even test. I simply didn’t think that adding an extra ¼ inch or so to my Xbox 360’s thumbsticks would do anything for gameplay. A couple years later, I have Kontrol Freek thumb adapters on all the controllers in my house.
When I found out that KF was releasing a new set of grips, I had to check them out. They were nice enough to send me their FPSFreek CQC Signature Series grips as well as their FPSFreak Havoc grips. They also sent me a sticker, which I stuck on the back of my laptop to make me look cooler in public. Just kidding. I don’t go out into public.
The new grips arrived in Kontrol Freek’s own custom bubble envelope with their logo printed on it. Inside were the CQC Signature Series and the Havoc sets. As well as a card that was hand-written by the PR folks at KF. Short and sweet, and ended with the words “Much love, Kontrol Freek”. Okay, a little weird, but that’s fine. As long as they don’t start sending me Valentine’s cards. Here’s a little info on these before we get started:
CQC Info
Whether you’re a run n’ gunner, dog tag collector or shotgun-wielding super commando, FPS Freek CQC (Close Quarters Combat) Signature Series is the right tool for the job.
FPS Freek CQC Signature Series newly formulated rubber compound and unique concave/convex thumb surface provide unsurpassed comfort and control. The slightly extended height added by CQC creates a seamless “in-between” feel for those who prefer less adjustment or have smaller hands. The CQC is also perfect for that often neglected left analog stick that could benefit from more grip without sacrificing quickness.
FPS Freek CQC Signature Series is a perfectly matched complement to other FPS Freeks. Try mixing and matching FPS Freeks to find that perfect combination of deadly accuracy.
Works great in games like:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
- Modern Warfare 3
- Battlefield 3
- Halo 4
- Gears of War 3
- Grand Theft Auto V
FPS Freek CQC Signature Series is designed to fit both the PS3 controller and Xbox 360 controller but will also fit many third-party versions.
HAVOC Info
FPS Freek Havoc was developed for the competitive Call of Duty player who demands the ultimate in precision and control match after match.
FPS Freek Havoc’s advanced rubber compound and laser-etched concave thumb surface provide excellent grip and control. The extended height added by Havoc puts you in total command of the battlefield and makes aiming and pop-shotting much easier during intense multiplayer battles. Havoc is perfect for your right or left thumbstick and is optimized for medium to long-range armaments like the SIG556, MSMC and SVU-AS.
Works great in games like:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
- Modern Warfare 3
- Battlefield 3
- Halo 4
- Borderlands 2
- Medal of Honor Warfighter
FPS Freek Havoc is designed to fit both the PS3 controller and Xbox 360 controller but will also fit many third-party versions.
The grips come in their own individual packaging, a small rectangular plastic box that opens easily. The one thing I noticed right off the bat was that these new grips didn’t have the six “claws” that the previous models had on the bottom to hold onto the Xbox’s thumb sticks. The new ones had only three claws on each one. The old ones were a complete pain to get back off of my thumbsticks, and when they did they took off a good deal of flesh from the pads. I have deep grooves on my thumbsticks now. Hopefully fewer claws means less damage.
I decided to test out the CQC first, and installed them on my controller. They go on fairly easily and feel very stable once installed. I wiggled them around a bit and gave them a little tug to make sure they were on there good. Very secure, I had no fear of losing one mid-combat. I fired up Gears of War 3 and got to killing some Locust scum. I saw a definitive improvement in my accuracy when aiming, and it certainly felt like I had more control over my movements. Having the extra height, though it seems minimal, adds a mountain of control to the gaming experience.
The convex surface and surface with lots of rubber grip is really where the CQC stands out for me. I am an “edge of the thumb” gamer. When I move, I roll my thumb and use the edge of my thumb rather than my whole digit to move the thumbstick. This had led to my finger slipping on more than one occasion, causing me to miss a shot or even stop right in the line of fire. With the CQC I can game my way and not have to worry about slippage.
Now it was time to remove the CQC and test the Havoc. Just as I had hoped, it was easy and didn’t screw up my thumbsticks. I got a fingernail under one of the claws and it came off easily. You have no idea how happy that made me. Screwing up my new controller would have cost Kontrol Freek some serious points in this review.
I popped on the Havocs and, taking the advice of the guys at Kontrol Freek, tried them out on Halo 4. The added height is a definite plus. It may not seem like much to someone who has never used them before, but it’s pretty much the same as putting an extension on a tool that won’t do the job by itself. You have more room, can put less pressure on it to do the same job, and can be very accurate with every action you take. I noticed a huge improvement in my accuracy when it came to killing alien scum.
The pads are concave, which isn’t great for side-thumbers like myself, but I still didn’t slip once. The rubber grips are excellent and don’t want to let go. It’s like spider silk, baby. So I played for quite a while before realizing that I needed to finish this review. I didn’t take them off, though. I left them on there. And I put the CQC on my spare controller, which has deep grooves from the FPS Classics that I removed before.
So what can I say about these thumbstick add-ons? They work. They do the job and they take no prisoners when it comes to control and accuracy in gaming. I would recommend them to anyone looking to improve their kill score or even those just wanting to play arcade games with more accuracy. They work, plain and simple. And I give them “two thumbs up”!
Crap. That was a bad joke.