I’ve been fighting a losing battle with PS4 controllers. I don’t believe that I mistreat them, and I don’t get the type of rage that other gamers talk about, which often results in them throwing their controllers against the wall. Sure, occasionally I accidentally drop my controller, but that’s something that everyone goes through. Unfortunately however, I seem to go through more controllers than games, even though I don’t belong to a highly competitive eSports team or play anywhere near as much as some of the pros. However, with the launch of the SCUF Infinity 4PS, the tide has turned and I am back on top of my battle against controllers.
I have to admit, I am a huge fan of Scuf controllers. I appreciate and support everything that the company stands for. They are a company that are specifically tailored to suit the needs of the competitive gamers first and foremost, but also appeal to the gadget lovers who would happily spend quite a lot of money investing in a controller that makes them look completely badass. Whichever bracket you fall under, rest assured that the Scuf 4PS Infinity is the best controller that Scuf has introduced for the PlayStation brand to date.
All of the features being introduced to the 4PS Infinity are designed primarily for you to get the most out of your controller. They still deliver the fastest reaction times that you can possibly get in a controller, and the newly introduced adjustable trigger stop mechanisms on the 4PS will allow you to customize the controller for a variety of games. A year ago, I didn’t really think that Scuf had much further to go with its hardware, and with the introduction of the Xbox Elite controller (although a PS4 equivalent doesn’t exist from Sony), I thought that Scuf was in a lot of trouble. I’m happy to admit that I was completely wrong, and the Infinity 4PS is the perfect example of exactly why Scuf remains ahead of the game.
Owning a Scuf controller is not just about having an advantage over your opponents. It’s about styling the actual pad to mirror your personality. I recently visited the Scuf website to check out the embedded wizard to help you create your own controller, and surprisingly it has become even easier than last year! The website takes you through each aspect of the controller and allows you to decide whether you want to introduce a specific component to the controller (i.e. taking out or keeping the rumbles in, adding an enhanced disc version of the D-pad) and then letting you choose the various options should you want to include them, such as colours, lengths of sticks etc. The entire experience results in you having created your perfect controller in no more than 5 minutes. The price point for one of the most expensive controllers that has all of the features within it is actually close to £200, which some gamers may feel is a little too steep!
It’s also worth noting that if you choose the Scuf thumbsticks, they come in a different, more durable material than the standard PS4 ones. You can also have the rear of the controller coated in a highly comfortable, military grade grip that is supposed to prevent your palms from sweating so much. I can’t really say if this works as well as a normal grip, however I certainly cannot fault the design and the texture, which feels great when holding the Infinity 4PS.
Of course, the main selling point of any Scuf is the rear paddles. This is what sets a Scuf controller apart from all other manufacturers. Unless a standard PS4 controller, Scufs come with two paddles on the rear, which can each be mapped to one of the face buttons. The added value of the Infinity 4PS is that you can actually remap the paddles to different buttons! Of course, in the eSports world, the paddles are the difference makers. The slightly lessened reaction times, whilst giving gamers full control of the thumbsticks at all times, is what sets the best gamers apart from the rest. It’s very unlikely that you’ll see a pro gamer not using one of these, and if you have ever wondered in a public room how someone is able to react so quickly, chances are that they may be using a Scuf! Does this work in principle? Absolutely. If anything, it will certainly make you feel more confident, which can only enhance your game. Unfortunately, Scuf cannot provide a controller with four paddles at the back unlike the Xbox One pads, however this is due to a limitation in the PS4 controller where there simply isn’t enough space. In all honesty, we only need two paddles anyways.
The paddles are particularly useful in games such as CoD: Advanced Warfare, where jumping has become more common and frequent. In fact, shooting games in general seem to be evolving in ways that only benefit Scuf controllers, since maps are almost just as much about verticality as they are about the horizontal landscape. Having a paddle dedicated to the jump button will allow you to constantly aim whilst jumping. For an aspiring skilled gamer, this is a must-needed advantage.
The newly introduced adjustable trigger stop mechanism on the Infinity 4PS is also crucial. These allow users to adjust how far the triggers (R2 and L2) go down. You can adjust them so that they only go down fractionally, which allows you to tap the trigger much quicker. It’s perfect for semi-automatic rifles as you can fire more quickly. The adjustable nature (which is very easily done through a key-like mechanism that comes with the controller) means that you can very efficiently adjust the length of the trigger stop, or even deactivate it completely. The Infinity 4PS also comes with a set of extended triggers (I believe Scuf calls them fangs), which stick out a long way and are supposed to enhance comfort when pressing or tapping the triggers. The fangs are grooved to let your index finger sit more comfortably in them, to let you press the triggers with greater ease. It’s definitely a welcome addition, but one that isn’t an absolute selling point.
However, is it really worth paying approximately £150 for an Infinity 4PS just for the paddles and trigger stops? Those who live by Scuf controllers will die by them. You simply cannot expect to win online firefights against a skilled player using a Scuf, if you’re not using a one yourself. However, there are added benefits to the Infinity 4PS that I personally don’t think Scuf promote enough, and perhaps should. Firstly, the Infinity 4PS is the first PS4 controller by Scuf that allows you to swap the thumbsticks. Whilst this feature is promoted, it seems to be primarily marketed to show off the benefits from an eSports perspective. With swappable thumbsticks, within 30 seconds you can take a short concaved right stick and swap it with a long one, if you decide to play a FPS. Similarly you can swap thumbsticks on the left side too, using the same locking key that removes the locking ring and lets you pull out the existing stick without fear of breaking your controller.
This is a hugely beneficial feature, as gamers no longer need to feel the pressure of owning multiple controllers with different thumbstick layouts. However, for me personally, this feature is why I have won my war against PS4 controllers, but for a completely different reason. Whilst I am a huge fan of the PS4 controller and even previous Scuf PRO pads, unfortunately their thumbsticks are not durable. After a couple of months of use, my thumbsticks very quickly start deteriorating. The rubber begins to peel off and they become practically unusable. I have had countless battles with Sony’s support service and sometimes that have been willing to repair the controllers. I have also had numerous support tickets with Scuf and their service (which by the way is probably the best that I have ever experienced). Whilst I have managed to get my controllers repaired, the entire process of having to get them repaired every two or three months became extremely exhausting. I know that there are videos online that teach you how to swap sticks by opening up the controller, but I’m not that guy. There are no words to describe how much Scuf has made my life easier by giving me the freedom to change my thumbsticks whenever they wear out. I timed how long it would take to swap one thumbstick, and it was literally 20 seconds!
I guess this review is more of a personal thank you to Scuf, for listening to its community and continuing to enhance its controllers to make my life easier. Previously, the Scuf 4PS was pretty much targeted solely for the eSports community. However with the additional customization options and the ability to swap thumbsticks, I now believe that the Infinity 4PS is a controller that isn’t just made for the hardcore competitive gamer, but in fact any keen gamer who wants to preserve the longevity of his/her pad. This feature alone makes the controller worth its price tag, and with the additional eSports-oriented features, I now feel ready for the influx of competitive games releasing later on this year. My war against PS4 controllers is officially over.