It’s time I redeem myself - JunkFood SWORL

Quick Overview

The reviewer, who previously felt humiliated after a Tekken loss, redeems himself by showcasing the JunkFood SWORL leverless controller, noting its unique combination of joystick and keypad inputs, excellent build quality, hot-swappable switches, and tool-less artwork swapping, ultimately concluding that the design feels great for fighting games but that the thumb domes are not ideal for precise inputs in shooters like Cyberpunk 2077.

Key Points: The video features the JunkFood SWORL leverless controller, which combines WASD-style directional keys and analog thumb domes with an arcade button layout. The reviewer previously experienced a humiliating 'PERFECT' loss in Tekken against JoeCrush, which was acknowledged by Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada. The SWORL is described as the 'ultimate fusion of fight stick precision, keyboard versatility, and gamepad comfort,' featuring hot-swappable MX switches and tool-less artwork swapping via a magnetic top plate. The controller includes a 6-foot braided USB-C to A cable and comes with a protective carrying case. The reviewer found the analog thumb domes (used for movement) to be surprisingly good for fighting games but notes they lack the precision needed for shooters like Cyberpunk 2077, where he prefers a traditional D-pad or joystick. The basic SWORL costs $175, and the multi-console version is $225. The reviewer ultimately wins a round of Tekken using the SWORL, securing his redemption after the earlier loss.

Context: The video opens with the presenter referencing a previous public humiliation during a Tekken tournament where he lost via a 'PERFECT' K.O., an event even noticed by Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada. This sets the stage for the presenter's return from retirement to review the JunkFood SWORL, a unique leverless controller that blends elements of fight sticks, keypads (WASD-style), and analog thumb domes, aiming to offer the best of both worlds for fighting game players.

Detailed Analysis

The presenter introduces the JunkFood SWORL, a leverless controller that merges aspects of fight sticks, keypads (WASD layout for movement), and analog thumb domes for directional input. This device is intended to offer high precision and versatility across multiple platforms (PS5, Xbox, PC, Switch compatibility is implied via the multi-console version). The unboxing reveals the controller in a protective case, a 6-foot braided USB-C to A cable, propaganda stickers, and a welcome card with a QR code for the configurator web app. The controller's top plate is magnetically attached for tool-less artwork swapping, a feature the presenter praises. The directional input uses four key switches arranged like a D-pad, while the analog movement is handled by two thumb domes located below. The presenter notes that while the keys use mechanical switches (possibly MX Browns, though he is unsure) and the thumb domes offer a good feel for fighting games (like Street Fighter), he found the domes less precise for FPS games like Cyberpunk 2077 compared to a traditional D-pad or joystick. The SWORL Basic model is priced at $175, and the multi-console version is $225. The presentation concludes with the presenter playing Tekken 8, successfully winning a match against a Platinum-ranked player using the SWORL, achieving his self-proclaimed redemption.