Fans were treated to a hip new way to play Fortnite in 2023 with the release of Fortnite Festival, a rhythm game developed by Harmonix and stylized in a similar way to the studio’s classic titles Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Available across all platforms on which the battle royale can be played, later updates added support for guitar controllers, though many still utilize standard controllers or keyboards to rock out. In November 2024, however, CRKD released the NEO S, a psychedelic controller that comes paired with five buttons that correspond to the five tracks in the Fortnite rhythm game, giving fans a new way to get their groove on.
Despite spending ample time with the NEO S, the experience is tough to boil down. Longtime rhythm game players may find it simple to pick up Fortnite Festival’s purple peripheral, but this isn’t a certainty, as the device requires quite a bit of practice, even for the most hardcore among us. Boasting an incredibly long battery life, players will have plenty of time to acclimate themselves to the controller, and those who manage to overcome its initial hurdles may want to pat themselves on the back for remapping their brains. After about a dozen hours with the device, muscle memory began to take over, though there is a learning curve.
Add a Dash of Nostalgia to Your Fortnite Festival Experience with the NEO S Controller
The Fortnite Festival Edition NEO S is anything but subtle. Dubbed the ‘Purple Wave,’ the hardware features a boxy design, psychedelic wave theme, and neon pink accents, and was instantly striking right out of the box, seeming like a shoo-in for any gaming peripheral collector’s shelf. It’s also incredibly lightweight, something I was certain would help with the ample practice needed to make my next jam session in Fortnite Festival worth attending. At first, it almost seemed too light, bordering on flimsy--but given how much time I’ve now spent mashing its buttons and frets, it’s clearly not going to shatter any time soon.
While the NEO S impresses in many ways, it also baffles in others. Although it’s branded with Fortnite Festival and clearly made for Epic Games’ magnum opus, it makes some odd choices for a rhythm game-focused controller. While playing for short bursts feels perfectly fine, trying to practice for over an hour proved to be a real workout, as finding a comfortable position borders on impossible. Certain buttons are quite far apart, making rapid button presses tough, though certain buttons are programmable, mitigating this issue in some cases. Despite their durability, the triggers feel a tad weak, with their lack of resistance particularly noticeable after coming from a DualSense controller.
Specific instruments are made more difficult by utilizing the controller, and those enjoying being on vocals may not have the best experience. However, playing drums or bass in pro mode is an absolute blast after acclimating to the controller’s unique shape and feel. Those well-versed in rhythm game peripherals may find the challenge of lead or bass in expert mode worth the effort, though it’s hard to recommend the strain it would put on your wrists. Additionally, players can easily remove the detachable five frets from this special edition NEO S controller to play other PC and Nintendo Switch games while also getting their retro fix.
0 Comments