PDP Riffmaster Guitar Controller review

Introducing the PDP Riffmaster wireless guitar! A groundbreaking release after almost a decade, enabling you to unleash your inner rock star in Fortnite Festival, Rock Band 4, and Clone Hero. Officially licensed by Xbox, it’s your key to rocking out with unparalleled freedom and style. If you want a controller that makes you feel like a musician, this is the one. It enhances the playing experience and looks the part.

If you’re a fan of rhythm games, then this is one of the best PC controllers you’ll find. It does for musical games what PC steering wheels do for driving games – adding a whole new level of realism and immersion. This is really the first guitar controller of the modern age.

Specs

Riffmaster Guitar Controller specs:

Design

The Riffmaster Guitar controller looks just like a real guitar! Specifically, it looks like a Fender Stratocaster. Its sleek, minimalistic design is available in a single color, black. Yes, it has buttons on the front which a real guitar does not but the layout is clean and uncluttered. The shiny plastic finish, although stylish, can be prone to scratches and marks, which may be a concern for those who prefer their gear in pristine condition. Lightweight yet sturdy, the Riffmaster feels solid in your hands but the main thing setting it apart from actual guitars is its notably smaller size.

It fits comfortably within your hands and accommodates both left and right-handed guitarists. The fret buttons are easy to press. The buttons at the top of the neck are thicker than the ones toward the base, this is to ease play when doing solos. The idea is that you have less distance to travel to your next button. The strum bar feels spongey because it uses magnets instead of a physical switch– which Guitar Hero controllers use. In theory, this means the product will last longer due to fewer moving parts. In terms of feel it’s really up to personal preference, but I think it feels great and enjoyed using it.

The product comes in a flat pack but is incredibly easy to assemble – simply click the parts together. Once assembled, the controller folds up effortlessly. A sliding switch releases the neck from the base, allowing you to fold it down and remove the headstock. This design enables compact and safe storage, although, given its stylish appearance, you might prefer to leave it out on display.

Features

In the box, you’ll find the Riffmaster, a dongle, and a guitar strap. So yes, the Riffmaster is wireless and requires a dongle to operate. While it might be a minor inconvenience to plug in the dongle each time, it’s a straightforward plug-and-play setup that requires minimal effort. I do wish that it had Bluetooth compatibility though. You might worry about losing the dongle, but fortunately, it’s cleverly concealed beneath the faceplate, so it should be safe so long as you put it back after use.

What sets this guitar apart is that it has a patent pending built-in analog stick– which only works with Fortnight Festival (so far), but is still a nice detail. Additionally, the guitar features a tilt function for activating “overdrive” in Rock Band, allowing you to achieve higher score multipliers – I’m sure many older readers will have fond memories of doing this with the older Guitar Hero games, back in the day.

The Riffmaster features a 3.5mm audio jack, allowing you to plug in headphones and keep your gameplay quiet (the strum bar is also very quiet). Unfortunately, it cannot connect to wireless gaming headsets. The D-pad includes built-in audio controls, enabling you to adjust the volume on the fly.

With a built-in rechargeable battery, the Riffmaster offers phenomenal battery life, providing up to 36 hours on a single charge. It boasts a 30-foot low-latency wireless connection… I’m unsure why you’d want to play that far away, but you can.

Performance

While I lack rhythm, I still find these games incredibly fun, and I fared better on the Riffmaster guitar than I usually do with a standard controller. (My other half, on the other hand, is an absolute machine—Through the Fire and Flames, anyone?) Using the Riffmaster significantly enhanced my playing experience and deepened my immersion.

As a right-hander, I found the Riffmaster functioned perfectly. My partner is left-handed and he found it worked flawlessly for him too. After all, it is just a case of flipping it around to match your needs. The versatile design ensures that the strum bar functions regardless of which hand you use. The only minor downside for left-handed players is that the machine heads are on the opposite side, but in reality, this is merely a matter of aesthetics and doesn’t affect functionality whatsoever.

My partner found the strum bar to be a bit too sensitive, registering notes with even the slightest movement. This proved challenging for him, especially since he’s a devoted Guitar Hero player accustomed to clicking the strum bar down to hit a note. It wasn’t such an issue for me though – so, it depends on how much experience you have with historic controllers of this type.

According to the Clone Hero Wiki, the game has a few bugs, but upon my trial and testing, I only encountered a minor issue with a non-functional whammy bar, which wasn’t a significant concern. Moreover, the Riffmaster worked seamlessly with Rock Band 4 and Fortnite Festival. Nothing noteworthy to report here – I was just riffing!

Price

At $129.99, the Riffmaster may seem pricey for a niche product. Comparatively, a regular wireless Xbox controller comes in around $59.99, offering versatility across a wide range of games, including rhythm-based ones. However, for avid rhythm game enthusiasts nostalgic for the Guitar Hero era, the Riffmaster is a must-have. Its compatibility with games like Rock Band or Clone Hero adds authenticity and significantly enhances playability. If you’re passionate about rhythm games, the investment in the Riffmaster is well worth it for the immersive experience it offers.

If the Riffmaster guitar controller isn’t for you

Verdict

The Riffmaster Guitar controller delivers a sleek and authentic guitar-like experience. Assembly is straightforward, and the controller’s foldable design ensures easy storage, making it practical. It has unique features, including a built-in analog stick and tilt function. The Riffmaster’s overall performance is impressive, with excellent battery life. It performs well across various games, adding a layer of immersion and enjoyment that standard controllers cannot match.

While priced at $129.99, which is steep for a niche product, the Riffmaster is a worthwhile investment for rhythm game enthusiasts who long for the Guitar Hero era. Its combination of functionality, design, and enhanced gameplay makes it a must-have for dedicated players seeking to elevate their gaming sessions.