Razer’s long been making gaming peripherals for the hardcore gamer, and they’re getting pretty damn good at it. Their products might be on the steep side price-wise (especially when compared to other brands) but when you look at what you’re getting, the price of admission is worth it. It’s no surprise then that when it comes to ultra competitive play; you’ll see most of the equipment that gamers use is going to be branded with that unique Razer icon. The updated Razer Lachesis mouse and Ironclad mousemat might seem a bit excessive to some, but for gamers who want to win, they’re essential tools.
Razer Lachesis
The Lachesis mouse that Razer sent for review is actually an update – the original Lachesis debuted back in 2007, and even back then it got a lot of positive reviews. The updated Lachesis features a 5600dpi Razer Precision 3.5G Laser sensor that allows for more precise movements for players. The Lachesis is an ambidextrous mouse, and is fully customizable.
The overall shape of the Lachesis is sleek and streamlined. I initially had reservations about my ability to use it because of its shape, and my mouse gripping style. I’m more of a claw gripper you see, and the Lachesis’ low profile initially made me wary of being able to hold it properly. Surprisingly it was pretty comfortable to use, and I managed to adjust to it pretty quickly. The scroll wheel has a nice rubber coating over it and gave nice, tactile feedback whenever I used it.
Like most of Razer’s other mice, the Lachesis has seven buttons (two on each side, two near the scroll wheel and the scroll wheel itself) that users can customize through the Lachesis configurator software. Everything from the mouse sensitivity to button macros and even the lighting of the mouse can be changed and configured to your personal preference.
Using the mouse was an extremely positive experience, as the 3.5G laser sensor helped it to track really well. There’s certainly a marked improvement over the previous mouse I used. My character’s movements in games, especially in the heated servers of Battlefield Bad Company 2 became much smoother and more precise, and allowed me to pull off better shots which translated into better rounds for me and my team.
Probably the only issue I had with the Lachesis is its ambidextrous nature – it’s designed for both lefties and righties, and while that’s great for Razer as it gives the product a universal appeal, certain compromises had to be made when it came to the design. As a result my grip wasn’t as comfortable when compared to a mouse that’s designed for right handed gamers. Of course, this is a personal preference issue, and your mileage may vary. The Lachesis retails for Php 4,399.
Razer Ironclad
Most people don’t get the need for mousemats. Some casual gamers have pointed out that mats are an unnecessary expense, and that any surface, as long as your mouse will track along it, is good enough. But on a competitive level, good enough isn’t good enough. The Razer Ironclad, like Razer’s other products, is designed to give gamers every conceivable advantage they can get, and in this case, it’s the mouse surface. You see mice that use laser sensors like the Lachesis, perform better on rigid, uniform surfaces like the Ironclad’s sandblasted aluminum body than soft, cloth mats.
The overall surface area of the Ironclad is pretty big, and gives you about 320x270mm surface area to play with.
It’s pretty heavy, and along with its equally impressive (and intimidating) carrying case, it amounts to the weight of a small notebook. The mat is off-white in color, and is pretty devoid of laser etching save one of Razer’s logo. The whole thing is finely made and feels fantastic, I reckon you could even throw it at one of your opponents and it’ll probably survive (though I doubt your victim would).
The bottom of the mat is rubberized, so it stayed put even during hectic gameplay. The surface of the Ironclad allowed the Lechisis to glide easily over it, allowing me a better degree of control compared to playing without it.
The only thing that’ll probably stop people from buying the Ironclad is the price. At Php 3,299, it’s as expensive as they come. This isn’t a purchase that most people take lightly, but once you do take that plunge, the money you spend is definitely worth it.
What’s Hot (Lachesis):
Excellent customizability
Excellent tracking and control
Ambidextrous design
What’s Not (Lachesis):
Ambidextrous design might not be for everyone
What’s Hot (Ironclad):
Solid design and construction
Immovable, doesn’t budge even in fast and furious games
Comes in a nice carrying case
What’s Not (Ironclad):
Expensive
Bottomline:
Both the Razer Lachesis and the Razer Ironclad isn’t for the faint of heart. The high price of admission (especially for the Ironclad) is a significant barrier to some but for the people who are willing to make the leap, both products will help them win games, whatever they may be.