Having recently reviewed the SCUF Infinity 4PS Pro controller, we’ve got the bug. After spent countless hours with Sony’s very own DualShock 4 we’re on a mission to find out if there’s anything better out there, and next up is a custom PlayStation 4 controller by The Controller People.
This London-based company is different to most third-party PS4 controller manufacturers. While other companies offer a range of controllers across different platforms, The Controller People focus solely on PlayStation, and work with the DualShock 4 to modify it with the aim to provide familiar comfort and the option to pimp it out in various colours, while elevating the controller’s features to improve your game.
First up, it’s important to note that the ordering system for buying a new pad from The Controller People requires some big decisions. With a wide range of colours and customization options, you can pick and choose the features you want, making it as cheap or expensive as you can afford to get a controller that suits your playstyle and looks the part.
The beauty of this controller is it requires zero adjustment to your grip. Out of the box, it looks and feels like your standard DualShock 4 pad, albeit in the colours that you’ve ordered and with any additional features that you requested. Among the options available, including colors that range from gold to baby pink, are:
- Chrome PS4 controllers
- Clear PS4 controllers
- Polished PS4 controllers
- Matte PS4 controllers
You can build your own PS4 controller through a simple ordering system, changing the colour of practically everything on the controller, including d-pad, analog sticks and buttons. So you can get as wild and creative as you like, while being reassured that the build quality of a DS4 will still be there right out of the box.
Above and beyond that, there’s the ability to add trigger caps, clicksticks, magnetised Spring Stop Triggers ‘S.S.T’ and change your analog sticks (which you can set to three different heights). This is really where the custom built PS4 controller from The Controller People shines.
On the back of your newly-styled DS4, sitting either side of where you currently find the strip of plastic that shows the barcode, model number etc of your controller, are two clicksticks. These paddles sit directly behind your analog sticks on the opposite side of the the controller, and are essentially new buttons that can be remapped to anything you desire, giving you more flexible access to your most important inputs.
These small triggers stick out and your middle fingers rest comfortably on top of them. With a slight press, they trigger your mapped input and make a rather pleasant clicking sound in the process. It’s surprising how handy these clicksticks become. In Rocket League, for example, we mapped the jump button to the left clickstick. In Rocket League it can feel a little clumsy as you’re boosting your way around the pitch with ‘O’ and then having to adjust your finger slightly to jump with ‘X’, but with the clickstick it’s become far more intuitive as your finger is constantly resting over that clickstick and requires little resistance to press it.
Having been so accustomed to using the standard face buttons of a DS4, it takes a bit of getting used to switching things up to use the clicksticks alongside your standard buttons, but once things ‘click’ it has seemed to give us a slight edge in certain games. For example, in Call of Duty: Black Ops III, we’ve used the feature for the melee attack. It becomes instinctive to press down with your middle finger as soon as an enemy appears right in front of your face.
Opt for the S.S.T trigger stops, which are specifically aimed at helping you to fire faster in shooters by preventing your trigger from being fully depressed, and you can instantly feel the difference. Trigger stops are used by professional gamers, and it’s easy to see why. The resistance needed to pull off a shot quickly is minimal, allowing you to be faster to the trigger than an opponent that isn’t using them. Of course, it doesn’t make you a better player, but for those who are already good at shooters you’ll see a noticeable difference.
Finally, if you opt for the trigger caps, they essentially make your triggers longer. So, you simply clip on two plastic extension pieces to your L2 and R2 buttons. Having been so used to the standard L2 and R2 buttons, we found using these a little awkward. They’re responsive enough, but they require a small grip adjustment because your index finger now needs to readjust its positioning. It’s clear that the advantage of using trigger caps really depends on the size of your hands and fingers. For us, they put more strain on our index finger, but for others they may provide a more relaxing and comfortable position.
Overall, the custom built PS4 controller by The Controller People competes well with some of the more expensive controllers on the market with a starting price of £58.50 right through to a tournament-ready controller priced at £110. Utilising the exact mechanics and form factor of the official DualShock 4 it immediately feels comfortable to hold, and the ability to deck it out in your own style is immensely appealing. The clicksticks offer a reliable and intuitive alternative to two of your face buttons, and the trigger stops do exactly what they’re supposed to do – allowing you to fire off shots more rapidly. It pretty much delivers everything you’d want from a quality PS4 controller.