NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version: One-minute assessment
The NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version is a brand-new variant of CRKD’s Neo S controller. Functionally, the controller is the very same because the common one, however this particular variant comes bundled with a 5-fret attachment designed for Fortnite Competition and different rhythm video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band.
The fret attachment slots into the underside of the controller through the headphone jack, and from there it’s good to go. The apparent comparability is that of the Guitar Hero: On Tour sequence of video games, which featured an identical attachment for the Nintendo DS. Nevertheless, the problems that plagued that launch over a decade and a half in the past nonetheless persist right here.
The fret buttons are small with little or no spacing compared to an everyday guitar controller, and holding the controller within the guitar kind can develop into fairly uncomfortable – particularly with greater arms. I’ve examined the NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret for 3 months or so now and located it tough to play for over a few hours.
The largest difficulty is that there’s no good approach to strum in guitar-led rhythm video games. The default choice is to faucet the RB button, which is ineffective when it’s important to strum in fast succession; in the meantime, mapping it to the stick works barely higher, nevertheless it’s nonetheless no substitute. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a approach to play rhythm video games casually, then it’s greater than serviceable. However anybody trying to significantly delve into the style is best off on the lookout for a extra appropriate controller just like the PDP Riffmaster.
The controller options an Xbox structure and has Bluetooth connectivity, making it nice for the PC. Nevertheless, it doesn’t hook up with Xbox consoles (though that is promised in a future replace). It does hook up with the Nintendo Switch – nevertheless it’s awkward to play because of the buttons being swapped round from the same old Nintendo structure.
NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version: Worth and availability
- Record value: $59.99 / £59.99 / AU$119.95
- Out there within the US through the CRKD web site
- Out there within the UK through Argos and Amazon
The NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version launched again in November 2024 and prices $59.99 / £59.99 / AU$119.95 – making it $10 / £10 / AU$20 dearer than the common NEO S controller. Nevertheless, it’s at the moment the one approach to get the five-fret attachment for the controller. It’s appropriate with Nintendo Change, PC, good TVs, and cell units in the mean time, with Xbox help promised to reach later down the road.
NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version: Specs
| Worth | $59.99 / £59.99 / AU$119.95 |
| Dimensions | With out attachment: 5.9 x 2.75 x 0.78 in / 15 x 7 x 2 cmWith attachment: 5.9 x 3.5 x 0.78 in / 15 x 8.8 / 2 cm |
| Connection kind | Wired (Kind-C), wi-fi (Bluetooth) |
| Compatibility | Nintendo Change, PC, iOS, Android, Sensible TV |
| Software program | CRKD App (iOS, Android) |
NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version: Design and options
- Guitar attachment designed for rhythm gaming
- Bespoke Fortnite Competition design impressed by the sport
- Programmable again buttons and fret buttons
One of many Neo S controller’s principal gimmicks is the litany of customized designs accessible, resembling one impressed by the Nintendo Famicom colour scheme, 90’s-style translucent variants, and collabs with the likes of Rocket League and Hellboy.
The Fortnite Competition version is a purple variant with a wavy design that options completely different shades of purple, whereas the d-pad, shoulder, and again buttons are vibrant pink. In the meantime, the again of the controller is a stable purple shell. It’s a lovely-looking controller till you discover the gaudy Fortnite Competition brand slap-bang within the center. A extra delicate Fortnite design or emblem would’ve been preferable.
This design isn’t prolonged to the guitar attachment, which can also be only a stable purple – though the lighter pink does seem on the fringe of every button. When the attachment isn’t on the controller, it does really feel a bit flimsy, just like the plastic might snap very simply.
This doesn’t assist when getting it onto the controller can really feel fairly fiddly. It is advisable pop it on at an angle earlier than pushing the highest into the ridges, however lining the underside up generally is a bit cumbersome. This attachment comes with a Velcro strap, which you pop in between the controller and guitar, making it simpler to carry like a regular guitar neck.
The Guitar attachment options 5 buttons to emulate the traditional Guitar Hero formulation; these buttons are robotically mapped to the buttons used for every lane in Fortnite Competition.
The controller comes with three modes: one for Straightforward, Medium, and Laborious modes in-game, one other for Professional, and one other for Professional mode (which is the one designed for guitar controllers). You may swap by way of all three of those modes by holding down all 5 frets, with the LED on the attachment altering colour to signify one other mode. You can even rebind these buttons for use in common video games, though the place of them could not make this essentially the most optimum.
Sadly, I discovered the NEO S Fortnite Competition Version fairly uncomfortable to carry after lengthy classes – extra so than the discomfort of an everyday guitar controller. Nevertheless, it’s way more comfy in wi-fi mode, because the USB-C port on the high of the controller will get in the way in which in any other case.
NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version: Efficiency
- Stable battery life
- Straightforward to arrange
- Customized button mapping requires utilizing a cell app
The NEO S works straight out of the field with a USB-C cable connection to PC, or by holding the CRKD button and left on the d-pad to allow Bluetooth connection for PC or cell. For the Nintendo Change, it’s so simple as holding the CRKD button whereas on the controller join display. The NEO S Fortnite Competition Version’s battery life lasted round eight hours from my testing. I didn’t discover a lot distinction in battery drain when utilizing the guitar attachment.
The controller is totally remappable; nonetheless, for those who’re trying to remap the buttons, you’ll want to take action within the CRKD app. This extends to the Guitar attachment too, which could be mapped to any button on the controller and works even exterior of Fortnite Competition. Nevertheless, there’s no approach to truly choose and enter a tune in Fortnite Competition with out utilizing the common controller.
The default mapping for the strum bar is the bumper buttons, which is okay for informal play, however the points develop into obvious when you’re confronted with fast-moving songs like Metallica’s Battery. Whereas a strum bar would help you alternate instructions for quicker moments, tapping one button makes this tiresome, or near-impossible in some circumstances. You may remap the management stick with work as a strum bar, which looks like the perfect answer, nonetheless, I couldn’t get this to work in Fortnite, nevertheless it does work in fan video games like Clone Hero.
CRKD was based by former RedOctane workers – who created the unique Guitar Hero controllers – that means that these buttons really feel according to the unique sequence (particularly the DS Guitar Grip). Nevertheless, if you wish to play this type of music sport significantly, I’d suggest investing in a correct guitar controller.
Ought to I purchase the NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version?
Purchase it if…
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Nonetheless not bought on the CKRD NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version? Right here’s the way it compares to the opposite Guitar Controller available on the market and a extra common pad for reference.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version | PDP Riffmaster | GameSir Nova |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worth | $59.99 / £59.99 / AU$119.95 | $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$199.95 | $34.99 / £39.99 |
| Dimensions | With out attachment: 5.9 x 2.75 x 0.78 in / 15 x 7 x 2 cmWith attachment: 5.9 x 3.5 x 0.78 in / 15 x 8.8 / 2 cm | 21.38 x 10.51 x 3.23 in / 54.30 x 26.69 x 8.20 cm | 6.26 x 5.98 x 2.56 in / 15.9 x 15.18 x 6.50 cm |
| Connection kind | Wi-fi (Bluetooth), wired (Kind-C) | Wi-fi (2.4GHz dongle), wired (Kind-C) | Wi-fi (2.4GHz and Bluetooth), wired (Kind-C) |
| Compatibility | Nintendo Change, PC, Steam Deck, iOS, Android, Sensible TV | Xbox Collection X, Xbox Collection S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC | Nintendo Change, PC, Steam Deck, Android, iOS |
| Software program | CRKD App | PDP Management Hub | N/A |
How I examined the NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version
- Examined for round 15-20 hours
- Used it to play Fortnite Competition and Clone Hero on PC
- Used it as an everyday controller on Nintendo Change
I’ve been utilizing the NEO S Purple Wave 5-Fret Fortnite Competition Version on PC and Nintendo Change since mid-December 2024 (so just below two months). Throughout this time I’ve performed a bunch of Fortnite Competition, however my real love affair has been with Clone Hero. I examined the controller in quite a lot of completely different musical conditions: acoustic tunes that depend on strumming patterns with a number of notes, thrash tunes that require a ton of fast-paced strumming, and songs with wailing guitar solos (sure, I did play Free Fowl).
In my expertise, it labored greatest in slower songs and songs with numerous hammer-ons and pull-offs as a result of my difficulty with the strum bar. The spotlight of this expertise was taking part in a customized chart of the total Flood album by They May Be Giants, which featured numerous piano (amongst different devices) charted to Guitar Hero’s clear notes, which didn’t require me to strum.
First reviewed February 2025