The market direction of bright-colored, trendy controllers persists with the release of PB Tails’ Crush Controller. Surprisingly enough, the controller is based on cars like the Porsche 550 Spyder. This is a first for sure, and it was somewhat cool to see such outspoken subculture influence in the spotlight.
Anyway, the PB Tails Crush Controller retails for $64.99 and has universal support for PC, Switch, iOS, and Android, but not PlayStation or Xbox.
Style / Feel / Build / Hardware / Features
The PB Tails Crush Controller has an eye-catching front face plate that contrasts with the matte, smooth white backing. The level of sweaty palm syndrome will determine one’s grip on the handles. I found the contrast between the front and back plate pleasing to hold, but some might find less friction on this material as there is no direct rubber or textured surface on this controller.
The front face plate (in this case, I went with the color Ruby, with the optional button layout for Nintendo Switch) can be removed by magnets by sticking your fingernail between the frame’s cuts. It seemed like it would break the first go around, but I quickly got used to the detachment process and found it easy to swap out colors. A firm hold, but not too strong where it is impossible to remove, and not too weak where it easily falls off.
In general, I would say the significant face buttons on the PB Tails Crush Controller are sub-par, granted the price of the controller, but it goes to show you where cost trade-offs can be found on universal third-party devices. The buttons resemble Switch or Nintendo button design and feel, with a touch of Xbox influence, rather than the other way around. The D-Pad is rigid and “clicky,” providing a subtle low-frequency sound upon each press.
In addition, the +, -, T, and screenshot buttons on the PB Tails Crush Controller all feel very insecure and paperthin, which I thought was an area for visual and tactile improvement. Although still thin, the RGB main button plays off the logo’s design more strongly, as it has a glossy and thicker feel.
Although the thumbsticks share a worthy rubber texture, their use case seems rather heavy, and they seem hard to aim accurately for hyper-competitive play. These sticks do feature a magnetic hall effect for better longevity, but the weight and center of gravity seem to present themselves with less dexterity than other controllers.
Interestingly enough, the joysticks on the PB Tails Crush Controller are removable and replaceable, along with the front colored plate. Still, the brand doesn’t provide you with any spare parts or means on their website (as far as I can find) to buy extra or different sticks (PB Tails did inform us that spare parts are on the way soon). However, they host a stellar selection of extra color plates, and I think PB Tails shows its connection to the consumer well here.
I also seem to have a gripe with more buttons on this controller, referring to the main right and left triggers that feature the hall effect. They seem very spongy and hard to press finely with control. I want to say that this is very subjective as I have seen others use this controller, and they do not share my opinion on the triggers, but they do not sit right with me. The triggers can also use a bit more throw or compression distance, as I find the click height a bit shorter than what is favorable.
The bumpers on the PB Tails Crush Controller resemble a bit more notably an Xbox 360-style click with size and feel more closely related to PlayStation dual sense.
The pairing button and Xbox-Nintendo Switch toggle buttons seem very small, resembling more like reset buttons, but they save space as intended based on the size of the PB Crush and the placement of said buttons.
For my life, I could not figure out how to manually turn off this controller, but PB Tails has let me know that all you need to do is tap the pairing button. The user manual is a bit confusing and disorganized, and the complex nature of universal hardware didn’t help, so something as simple as powering it down was a nuisance to my user experience. The Crush Controller has a built-in sleep timer, though, after sitting idle for about 5 minutes.
The pun is fully intended, but the RGB is probably the brightest feature of the Crush Controller. Yes, it is better than 360-degree haptic feedback or hall effect; the lighting customization and color placement go a long way. The brand logo pops, the strip light is a nice touch, and the best part is the individualized lights on the main buttonpad.
The PB Tails Crush Controller steps it up again, as it already has presets built in to match Xbox or switch colors to make the universal nature of this controller come to life, and the RGB lights have a nice color saturation to luminance ratio.
You can also alter the lumens of the onboard lights with settings of low, medium, and high brightness. The high setting does not disappoint, shining powerfully with vibrant tones.
If the default RGB colors on the PB Tails Crush Controller do not match your vibe, you can easily use 360-degree color wheel mapping by holding down the T button and using either joystick to select your preferred hue seamlessly. Remembering how to operate my ever-growing arsenal of universal products is annoying. However, besides memory, the usability of the invisible color wheel selection process using the joysticks is fantastic and should be utilized more. Nobody wants to stop what they are doing to go into a software window to change RGB settings, and the Crush Controller keeps you playing. This is not an original feature of PB Tails, but I think it hits hard, being how nicely laid out the lighting is.
Suppose you were highly particular about RGB customization down to every button. In that case, an addition of software control would come in handy, but for now, there are no means of changing the colors of individual buttons. For example, you cannot change the logo button apart from the right-side pad buttons unless you use a default color scheme.
Also, another feature you cannot customize on the PB Tails Crush Controller is the responsive RGB lighting found in the strip when the left and right triggers are pressed. The RGB light strip strobes subtly upon the press, but not subtle enough that it doesn’t annoy me in my peripheral vision. The flashing light is cool, in theory, but it would be nice to have a way to turn off the strobe.
Performance / Hands-on-use / User Experience / Analysis / Etc.
When I first used the PB Tails Crush Controller, everything was butterflies and bright colors. I played games with a smile, connected the controller to various platforms, enjoyed the RGB features, and more. It was then that I discovered an annoying flaw, yet a fixable one.
I was playing Halo Infinite, a game in which “look acceleration” is applied when drafting your right joystick entirely to one side. I realized that looking to my left was dramatically slower than looking to my right. After digging through the game settings, I noticed that it was not like I had changed any settings; the game was seemingly unfixable.
Turning to the PB Tails Crush Controller, I realized that after taking off the Ruby red mag case, I could normalize the look controls. The colored faceplate was blocking the joystick from moving entirely to the left.
(As of 5-6-24) Please advise; after consideration from the company and performing a calibration, the problem discussed about the right joystick and front faceplate issue is resolved.
This problem is meaningless in games like Super Smash Brothers, as the right joystick doesn’t function as a way to look around. The same goes for non-shooters like Forza Motorsport, where I thought the controller performed wonderfully.
I have a few more points to mention about the PB Tails Crush Controller. It has a battery life of about 10 hours, which will change depending on Bluetooth use and the RGB brightness chosen. The charge time is approximately 1-2 hours.
When it comes to wireless performance, Bluetooth, as usual, has a bit of latency. It doesn’t matter how good Bluetooth 5 is; there is always undoubted latency when connecting on the blue side. In contrast, wireless polling seemed to respond much more favorably when using native 2.4ghz on the Nintendo Switch or the Xbox, basically removing all placebo input lag.
Conclusion:
The PB Tails Crush Controller steps boldly into the hardware market with top-tier aesthetics, bright lights, and smooth style. Everything about this product wants to be liked, as it is meticulously crafted to please buyers for any use case, game, or experience. The RGB is seemingly the best I have ever seen on a controller, and the look and feel are completely unique.
If you would like to read more of our tech reviews, you can find them here.
PB Tails Crush Controller
The PB Tails Crush Controller enters the gaming market with a distinctive design inspired by automotive aesthetics and offers extensive customization options including interchangeable joysticks and faceplates. It boasts universal compatibility with multiple gaming systems and innovative features like customizable RGB lighting. Key issues include a faceplate that restricts joystick movement unless otherwise calibrated, and subpar button quality that undermine its performance.
The Good
- Versatile Compatibility: The PB Tails Crush Controller offers universal support for various platforms including PC, Switch, iOS, and Android, enhancing its appeal for users with multiple gaming systems.
- Innovative Design: Inspired by cars like the Porsche 550 Spyder, the controller features an eye-catching aesthetic with a customizable front faceplate, adding a unique flair that distinguishes it from standard controllers.
- Enhanced Customization: With removable joysticks and a variety of color plates available, gamers can personalize their controller to suit their style and preferences, enhancing the user experience.
The Bad
- Limited PlayStation Support: The lack of compatibility with PlayStation consoles can be a deal-breaker for users who own these devices.
- Subpar Button Quality: The main buttons and D-pad feel cheap and less responsive, which could detract from the gaming experience, especially in fast-paced or competitive games.
- Inconsistent Trigger Mechanics: The triggers are described as spongy and lack satisfactory feedback, which might affect gameplay in scenarios that require precise control.
- Complex User Interface: Some users may find the controller's interface, such as the power functions and RGB customization, unintuitive and cumbersome to use, potentially leading to a frustrating experience.
