Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma Review

The current model of Xbox controller is undoubtedly one of the best peripherals on the market today. It may not have the haptic feedback bells and whistles that make Sony’s DualSense controller feel like a next-gen input device, but when you’ve got superb ergonomics that gets the job done, adaptive triggers don’t feel like a necessary game-changer. On the other side of the market though, there are pro controllers which promise a more feature-rich experience with premium materials and extra inputs.

Microsoft has its own Elite series of controllers, but Razer has also long had a presence here and continues to do so with its latest iteration of the Wolverine controller.

This controller iterates on the 2020 original, adding several customizable triggers to the rear, making the load lighter, and throwing Razer’s trademark RGB lighting into the design. In hand, there’s no denying that it feels great, possibly better than the standard Xbox controller and definitely better than the admittedly uncomfortable smooth textures of the Forza Horizon 5 and Xbox 20th anniversary controllers that I picked up recently.

Weight is distributed evenly throughout the controller, the handle textures have a wonderful grip to them that won’t sand your palm prints off, and the “mecha-tactile” buttons have a wonderful amount of spring to them. I’ve been enamoured with these face buttons since I got the controller for review, and while I can’t quantify speed and travel distance without opening this controller up and giving the local distributor a headache, I can say that the travel distance between button and input definitely feels noticeable.

How much of a difference this makes in competition remains to be seen, but in an arena where victory is measured in micro-seconds, I can see it making an impact with this enhanced and firm decrease in actuation. That, and they just feel absolutely brilliant to press. Squishy-squishy clicky-clicky.

The analog thumbsticks feel equally impressive, boasting smooth travel distances as you swivel them around and near-instant return-to-center speed when you release them. That snap is another feather in the Wolverine’s cap, as is the magnetic attachment system for the caps that allow for quick and easy swapping out of them for concave versions. The choice is yours of course, and if you’re looking for added sensitivity and accuracy in shooter games, a concave thumbstick can allegedly provide a more precise experience. I can’t prove it, but it’s nice to have the option.

As for the D-pad, it’s a big plus. I’m so sorry. Seriously though, the circle design chosen by Microsoft for the current controller is easily one of the most responsive on the market, and this take on it by Razer is even more sensitive, something that fighting game fans will definitely appreciate when they’re throwing out quarter-circle special attacks. My only real gripe with the Wolverine V2 is the placement of the start and select buttons, which are diagonally placed at the very top of the controller and feel somewhat…alien. Razer says that this is a more natural location for these buttons, but I’m not buying it.

Finally, it’s the rear of the controller that’ll make a few heads turn. Razer has placed six additional multi-function buttons, which you can customize to perform certain actions. How useful those extra buttons are is entirely up to what use you find for them, and on PC when I was playing Batman: Arkham Knight, I did some fine-tuning with software to use those inputs for multi-button combo finishers. It worked a treat! Beyond that example, the trigger buttons are also geared towards competitive play as they can be locked into an uber-sensitive input mode that turns them into hair-triggers. You can toggle this added sensitivity that cuts button travel distance by around 50%, in case it starts to interfere with your gameplay.

All of this helps create a controller which feels great to hold, is reassuringly hefty, and has some of the best buttons I’ve ever launched finger-punches at in several gameplay sessions. So what’s the catch?

The caveat with the Razer Wolverine V2 is that it’s a wired controller, connecting to your console or PC with a very generous length of braided cable that’s around three meters long. That’s more than enough for any average living room space or desktop PC, and the benefit of a tethered connection is that there’s next to zero latency with your inputs. Admittedly that’s a difference that can only be seen and felt in the highest levels of competition, a factor that is measured in the smallest increments of time.

It’s also worth noting that if you plan to use this on PC, you’ll want to spend some time setting up Razer’s custom software, as well as some third-party programs to get the most out of the added buttons and triggers you’ll be able to use. Again, the usefulness of the Razer Wolverine V2 is entirely dependent on the user. Even for the bare minimum application, it still feels unbelievably satisfying to handle on a tactile level.

Plus it has that RGB lighting which looks so delightful. It wouldn’t be Razer without a rainbow of lights traveling around the controller!