It’s a wild time to be an original Xbox fan. Beyond the recent influx of backward compatibility Xbox One updates for old games, the 2001 console’s notorious hulking Duke controller is returning to store shelves almost 20 years after first being introduced. I’ve luckily gotten the chance to spend decent time with Hyperkin’s shiny new hardware remaster this week, and though it won’t do much to win over steadfast detractors, longtime fans and curious newcomers have a lot to get excited about.
For the most part, Hyperkin’s revamped controller is the same chunky monstrosity you remember wrestling with back in 2001, minus a few key changes. The overall bulk feels largely the same, maybe with a slight tweak in regard to general form factor for comfortability (it’s way too close to say for sure). Analog sticks, including the left concave and the right convex, are practically identical to the old ones, though they feel a little simpler to use. Same can be said of the back triggers, which appear to have had their resistance slightly modified so that they’re easier to press. Even the weight is really similar to the original Duke. Nice and solid.
So what has changed? For starters, there’s now a 3.5 MM headset jack so you can chat via Xbox Live. ‘Back’ and ‘Start’ buttons have morphed into the ‘Menu’ and ‘Change View’ buttons. The plastic texture on the controller body, while still somewhat matte, is a tad smoother and less noticeable. The Microsoft logo is gone, as are the vestigial memory card slots atop the gamepad, seeing as we don’t, you know, use memory cards anymore. The hardwired breakaway Xbox cord is now a detachable micro-USB cable, and Hyperkin has added tiny left and right bumpers to account for Xbox One game control schemes. Then there’s perhaps the coolest and most significant change: When pressed, the giant Xbox jewel in the middle of the peripheral plays the original Xbox console start-up animation via a built-in LCD screen.
Let’s get the bad out of the way first, shall we? My biggest complaint actually has to do with the face buttons, which retain the same slanted, almost teardrop shapes as the old gamepad. Now, while I have always liked the bulk of the Duke, I’ve never particularly liked these buttons. Their orientation makes almost every press an exercise in guess-timation, especially when coming from other modern controllers that sport the now-expected plus-shaped setup. Obviously this is a personal preference, but I would have almost rather the new Duke reorient its face buttons to reflect modern control schemes. On that note, I also don’t care for the new bumpers; they feel mushy and their placement makes them difficult to use. Moving on, even though the rumble motors are nice and strong, there isn’t any vibration in the back triggers, which is an omission that might just amount to them being proprietary Microsoft tech. Same goes for the lack of any kind of wireless option; it’s wired or nothing with the new Duke.
Now for the good. Pressing the big jewel, which serves as the new ‘Home’ button on Xbox One, is endlessly satisfying. I know the Xbox start-up animation is just a gimmick, but it pays homage to a time when the original Xbox was going to have screens embedded in its controllers, and I love everything about that history. Additionally, the black and white buttons mirror RB and LB, so it’s nice to have them as extra input options. Overall, I just like how significant this peripheral still feels in 2018. When you’re holding it, it’s basically screaming THIS IS A VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER, and there’s something strangely charming about that. Also, I kind of like that it’s wired, so I don’t need to mess with batteries or charging.
Should you buy a Duke? Well, that depends. If you hold a nostalgic place in your heart (and $70—yikes) for this behemoth and have the big palms to grapple with its sheer size, I say go for it. Having said that, this controller was never—and will never be—for everyone. If you’ve got small hands, you should probably keep walking, nothing to see here. That said, even if you have zero sentimental attachment to the Duke, I’d recommend at least trying it out for yourself somehow, as you still might prefer it over the traditional Xbox One gamepad, especially if you’ve got larger hands.
It’s a very different, very retro, slightly antiquated, kind of gimmicky throwback device. But it’s one that still works incredibly well, and Hyperkin (along with a list of special helpers, like Seamus Blackley and Denise Chaudhari, that the company thanks inside the box) has done a great job at resurrecting this controversial fan favorite. Sure, some of the love might be rose-tinted and even tongue-in-cheek, but to me, this controller legitimately feels great. It’s chunky, made with way too much plastic and can sometimes make it feel like you’re playing games with a hunk of driftwood. But I love its ‘Made in America’ audacity and will be keeping it in my gaming rotation moving forward, especially for first-person shooters and racers.
MSRP: $69.99
Where to buy: GameStop, Microsoft Store
Disclaimer: Hyperkin provided review product for coverage purposes.
