I’ve never really understood the mass appeal of RGB lighting in gaming accessories. If I’m wearing a headset that lights up, I can’t see it and appreciate it. If I’m using a controller with a dazzling display, at worst it’s going to distract me and at best I’m going to ignore it completely. It always struck me as something for the streamers, but even then I can’t recall ever watching anyone play a game and being awestruck by their light show. I say this going into my review of the Gamesir Cyclone 2 because its such a prominent feature, and on I think comes at a bit of a cost.
The Cyclone 2 is available in two colours, black or phantom white, and if you go for the former you’re missing out. The sleek pale body of the latter is lovely, aping the contours of an Xbox controller but cast in almost translucent white plastic. It really makes the RGB lighting pop in a weirdly satisfying way, but this feature has the negative side effect of making the Cyclone 2 seem cheaper than it is. It’s something I find budget models do a lot, where dazzling with an unnecessary RGB display can deflect the eye from a multitude of sins.
It’s not helped by a few other issues with the Cyclone 2, such as the buttons and triggers feeling just a little “soft”. There’s no satisfying finger-feel, which is a weird sentence to write but you know what I mean. Which is a shame, as the weight of the controller and the feel of the thumbsticks do much more to realign that balance. Hall Effect triggers are a major plus to help prevent stick drift altogether, but the Cyclone 2 also boasts TMR , or Tunneling Magnetoresistance, which sadly has little to do with the X-Men and more to do with the controller consuming less power per user input, resulting in less overall strain on the device and more precise control. It seems more prudent to me to push features like this when selling a controller, rather than audacious shocks of red and gold on an otherwise crystal white veneer.
Because the Cyclone 2 is a decent gamepad despite a few issues. The battery life is very solid, and it comes with a variety of connection options. There’s a USB-C cable (which is oddly short for its purpose), true Bluetooth connectivity, and a dongle should you need it. It won’t work with the PS5 or either of the Xbox Series consoles, which is frustrating. You can plug the cable into the latter two and it will function, but that’s kind of missing the point of a wireless controller. This is a pretty big problem when so many are moving away from the previous gen completely now and even the Series S is so affordable. As a PC controller though, it’s fine.
I’ve been using Gamesir’s Tarantula Pro on PC for months and, honestly, there’s little the Cyclone 2 can really do to compete with that controller on an even playing field, especially considering the shortcomings of the Cyclone 2. Sure it has a reassuring heft, the back buttons are situated so that you won’t accidentally catch them all the time, and it does look pretty if RGB is your thing, but for a little shy of £60, there are better options out there. You can buy a model with its own charging stand, which mine has, and it doesn’t cost a lot more, but it’s not something that feels essential.
Ultimately the Gamesir Cyclone 2 is an okay choice if you’re primarily playing on a PC, but if you’re a console user you’d be better served by a number of options that Gamesir themselves provide. And if you’re not a big fan of RGB lighting, you might be better off looking elsewhere anyway.