Hyperkin “Duke” Wired Controller

Though I reach for a mouse and keyboard more often than not (particularly for competitive games), some evenings are just better spent leaning back with a controller in hand. That’s typically how I enjoy indie games and third-person RPGs. This year, the “Duke,” a reimagining of the original Xbox gamepad—yeah, the big one—has filled that role while also giving me a bit of what I missed out on in the early 2000s. It also makes my hands feel small; I’ll take every victory I can get.

My first exposure to an Xbox was at a friend’s house with the original Duke and Halo: Combat Evolved. I instantly fell in love. The controller felt distinctly premium and I loved the demanding presence that came with its enormous size. It even made Halo feel that much more epic. Sadly, I got an Xbox after the consoles started shipping with the smaller, and inferior, “S” controller, and was never able to source a Duke. Thanks to Hyperkin, I finally have one.

While it’s a bit of a bummer that the Duke isn’t wireless—thanks, proprietary Microsoft wireless bullshit)—and the “bumpers” Hyperkin added feel like an afterthought, I’m typically using this on PC, where wireless is hardly a concern, and mostly for indie games in which I often don’t need all the buttons of a modern controller.

Also, having the black-and-white buttons back really makes a case for controllers to return to six face buttons.

Claire Jackson, Staff Writer

How about you? What gaming gear did you fall in love with this year? Let us know in the comments!