Peripheral Review: SplitFish Frag FX

Available: PS3, Xbox 360

Controller Type: PC-style Mouse

From: SplitFish


Years ago, we FPS fans had only one destination: the PC. Doom early on, Half-Life during the renaissance, and though it has the status of being more of a cult classic, the original Aliens vs. Predator game (and having not played the latest incarnation as well as hearing that it was terrible, I have to say that game was awesome). This was clearly during the early days of the current millennium, but when I got that fantastic Dell PC in 1998, I had never been around much first person greatness and found out quickly that the idea of pointing and aiming a weapon with a mouse and moving with WASD was not only super intuitive but just plain fun.

After a short while, the FPS scene crept onto the Playstation in the form of Medal of Honor. It took me quite some time to love this form of FPS, by form I mean the fact that the d-pad was not even close to a mouse and keyboard both in terms of analog functionality and available keys, but I became pretty good at headshotting Nazis all the same. As the Playstation became the biggest thing since sliced bread and sales blew up, they pulled a cue from the N64 and released the DualShock controller, obviously featuring dual analog sticks, completely enhancing the way games were played, significantly so for the console-FPS fans through the world. But they still didn’t have it “right.”

The PS2 saw an enhanced analog paddle, tweaking the sensitivity and reducing the stiffness a bit of the sticks in question. Other than this there wasn’t a huge change, mind you, as the original DualShock controllers worked interchangeably from the second generation. They featured the same input port and were, for lack of more difference, the same. PS3’s controller made significant jumps in many areas, such as weight, more trigger-like shoulder buttons, better pressure sensitivity, and the best analog movement to date. I’m a PS fanboy, but I’ve had plenty of time with the Xbox 360 pad, and though it’s a great gamepad, the PS3’s is just tops. As anyone who uses the Kontrol Freak FPS Sticks will tell you (or those who agree with my review of said peripheral), the addition really makes them top notch for FPS play. However, it still just isn’t the old mouse-and-keyboard combination. Whether it’s the ability to move at ridiculously tiny increments to extremely quick movements or the keyboards thousands of keys yielding so many functions in a game that there are keys left over (with the exception of games like Rainbow Six that used each key for SOMETHING), the paddle has always lagged behind it’s PC cousin in terms of versatility, again, specifically in the realm of the first person shooter.

Then came SplitFish and the Frag FX. The FX is a peripheral for the PS3 that utilizes a mouse on a mouse pad and a Wii-Nunchuk-like secondary controller for movement. As with the PC, the mouse is used for everything a mouse would be used for. The face buttons normally found on the controller are also where your thumb rests on the FX, allowing for quick access to reloading, crouching, etc. An added mouse-clicker is in the middle of the two mouse buttons also which can be used as the R3 button in order to spring, aim in Rainbow Six Vegas, and so on.

The left-handed peripheral is used as the left analog stick mainly, thus used for movement. It also features three trigger buttons for L1, L2, and “F,” the frag button. The frag button allows for pressure-sensitive slowing of the mouse for when you need to quickly (or subtly, should you choose) switch from aiming from the hip to extreme precision. Although the mentioned FPS Sticks from Kontrol Freak do a great job of this, there is no way to adjust the sensitivity on the fly as with the frag button. There is also a dial on the side of the left-handed extension of the peripheral in question that allows for even more control over the sensitivity of the entire controller. Add in the fact you can change the X/Y sensitivity of most games through the menus, and you have a great array of diversity in movement.

The peripheral is certainly a fantastic idea, but there are two things that really stand out in my mind. First, since it’s been ten to 15 years since I PC-gamed, I have really lost my touch. Without a keyboard, the unit also suffers. However I cannot comment on using a keyboard in conjunction with the mouse, because I never tried. Maybe that would cure that problem, though. The second small grievance is the “mouse pad” that comes with the controller: it is way too slippery. They should have added some suction cups or even some of that rubber/silicone that you put on the dashboard of your car that holds your cell phone in place simply with friction. The pad is also at an angle to accommodate the holder for the left-handed part of the controller, but I feel they could have compensated for this in a different manner and kept it flat. The only option for a flatter-form of play is to put it on your lap, but that’s just downright awkward. I’ll add in a third complaint, too: I have not really used the controller enough to prove its meddle, again to hark back to the Freak Sticks wherein I used them for a few hours before I felt very comfortable.

All in all, this is a great little toy for any FPS fan. I’m still a die hard gamepad guy, but I feel given enough time (and dying enough times, which keeps it frustrating) it would become great. Until they come out with a legitimate keyboard and mouse that plugs in just like it would in a computer, this will certainly do; especially to those who have just made the jump to consoles.

Usability: As mentioned, the sloping mouse pad makes for a bit of terrible awkwardness. Also, again as stated, the lack of any kind of friction from the pad to the surface on which you play makes for some sliding around. I would have also liked the pad to be bigger, although in fairness that would have made the whole thing pretty large and bulky. Another downside is that even on a flat table it doesn’t work that well. It DOES work pretty well, but the laser could have been a bit more potent. All this negative aside, it’s all you can get if you’re into the combo. And to reiterate (a fourth time—sorry), given some time I bet this thing rocks like crazy.

Controls: Just as you’d expect—it’s like the old keyboard and mouse combo on the PC, making for some excellent FPS play. The buttons are mapped perfectly, and the ability to tweak sensitivity with the Frag button on the fly and the dial makes just about any sensitivity a reality and thus is made to suit everyone.

Total: 89, B+