SCUF Reflex Is The Perfect Holiday Gift For Gamers

Getting the right controller for your gaming experience can be a deceivingly tricky endeavor. The best options are often designed for specific playstyles or game types, limiting them in other regards. Too often, they can suffer from the same hang-ups that cause problems for the standard controllers, with a plastic grip and battery that leave much to be desired. The standard PS5 DualSense controller is fine but unimpressive in the long run.

That’s where things like the SCUF Reflex come into play. Now officially the controller of titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, the customizable controller is specifically designed with the player in mind. Aware that most players want to tailor-make their gaming experience to their liking, the SCUF Reflex (as well as other variants like the SCUF Reflex Pro and the SCUF Reflex FPS) gives gamers plenty of options. Here’s what makes an SCUF Reflex different from standard controllers, and why a couple of dozen hours with the controller convinced me that it’s the best bang for my gaming buck.

Custom Is Key

The SCUF Reflex is a terrific controller, especially for players looking to streamline and customize their experience. The pro-level quality of the design gives it a lightness but distinct weight that other controllers lack. The handles themselves are softer than the typical plastic model, and the addition of extra buttons allows for more direct gameplay without putting a burden on the player to contort their hands in the middle of a game to achieve the desired effect.

One of the best elements of the controller is the back pedal design, which adds a number of buttons to the back and sides of the controller. These extra options streamline control layouts, making it ideal for games where multiple items are necessary, or fighting games where specific button inputs are the key to delivering devastating combos and slick counters. The controllers come with the ability to preset controller re-maps, which allow players to simply swap from one layout to another depending on their intended experience.

The controller has wireless connectivity, interchangeable thumbsticks, onboard profiles, and rear paddles, with many elements that can be tweaked and modified before and after purchase. The purpose is to make your controller feel like your controller. The controllers can be tweaked to accommodate players who have adjusted to elements like stick drift or want to trade out the buttons, and come with plenty of additional elements that can be adjusted once the player has their hands on them.

Is The SCUF Controller Worth It?

After getting my hands on a controller for myself and testing it out on a number of games, I can speak to just how smooth and effective the SCUF is for gaming. The extra button options take a second to adjust to, but they quickly add layers to a seamless gameplay experience. Whether that be exploring ruins in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle or lining up headshots in Battlefield 6, the SCUF Reflex quickly proved itself to be a reliable and effective controller.

Even outside the actual gameplay, the softer grip and stronger batter made for a consistently effective gameplay experience. Whereas the standard PS5 controller quickly runs out of battery whenever I play for more than a few hours consistently, I’ve only had to charge the SCUF controller once in the dozens of hours I’ve put into playing with the controller. The gameplay feels tight and responsive in everything from single-player experiences to intense multiplayer face-offs.

I’ve seen people online debating the merits of going all in on a SCUF controller, arguing that there isn’t enough of an advantage over the comparable Dualshock PS5 controllers to make it worth replacing your standard layout. However, I’ve had better luck with the SCUF Reflex than I’ve had with my other controllers for the PlayStation 5, which can suffer from short battery lives and weaker connections. The fine-tuning of the standard PS5 DualShock design gives it a certain edge over the standard controller, and all the custom options help make the controller feel like a unique device instead of part of an assembly line.

The standard PS5 controller is good, but the SCUF Reflex is a refinement of that design in almost every way. Even going through the act of mapping controls or replacing the control joystick to find the right layout was simple and rewarding. If you have a gamer in your life who is looking for a new controller — or you just want an excuse to get one of the best broadly available controllers I’ve seen — the SCUF Reflex is well worth the price. With the holidays upon us and a plethora of new games available to play, now is the perfect time to invest in a controller you’ll be using for a while.

ComicBook.com was provided a SCUF Reflex PS5 controller for the purposes of this review.