Virtual Reality In Your Hands | Valve Index Controller Review

Are The Index Controllers Still Worth It?

Overview

Virtual Reality is growing FAST; and with an ever changing market, what should you invest your money, and time in? The Valve Index Controllers are very much worth every pretty penny. They fit my large hands, are super easy to slip in and out of. We will be going over Durability, Price, Comfort, and Tracking.

From extremely accurate shots in Shooters like Onward, To parrying an arrow with your sword in Legendary Tales, this technology really puts you into the shoes…(Gloves?) Of the character you are playing as.

Durability

Not setting up your Guardian can be a big ouchie. It is very easy to start moving around your room and quickly loose your sense of center and smack a wall. However, these index controllers has withstood me slamming my hands into my steel 3D printer, my wall, my closet, my fan, my bike, and my other wall. Needless to say 10/10 durability and construction. 

I did have gripe of how the sensor pads at the palms flexed when I squeezed them, but it goes without saying; “What doesn’t bend, breaks.”

Comfort

Comfort is a huge thing to any gamer, and right off the bat I noticed how comfortable the fabric is around the hands.. Well these straps feel QUALITY. It goes without saying, being able to let go of the controllers and let them free float by the straps is a HUGE energy saving feature and reducing massive amounts of wrist/arm and hand strain. When it comes to immersion and virtual reality, one needs to be as comfortable as possible.

Price

Price feels a bit over the top but remember ladies and gentleman… you get what you pay for. And I have not yet needed to return these for ANY reason, yet my friend SloganMotion over on Twitch Recieved His and it was Smashed, he was upset but returned it with pictures. The price you pay is also in the support you get. The experience alone is worth the money, but the controllers have earned my trust.

Finger Tracking

With games such as Onward, Legendary Tales, Sniper Elite VR, And the upcoming game Now There Be Goblins, I have a LOT of confidence in the capability and ability of the motion trackers and their accuracy. I have lost tracking VERY few times and it was usually to a low battery on the Vive Wireless setup. Lightyears away from the Vive Cosmos 6DoF tracking (which I improved by upgrading my lights in my room the very bight, and I have two windows)

Battery Life

Battery life has done me well and well out lived the battery packs I own for the Vive Cosmos Elite Wireless. If you are a light to medium user like myself, but still enjoy intense game play and competitive play, these controllers will well live up to 4 hour play time and still kick.

Gregs Gavel – Final Verdict

If you are on the fence about how these controllers perform, check out the GamesWithGreg Channel. It has a ton of videos on just how these controllers behave, and I think you would be well impressed! The build quality of the whole body has protected my hands from injury many times; perhaps saving me a trip the the ER or the clinic. Thanks Valve You Saved Virtual Reality! The experience is well worth the money of a few fun nights out, then you can have so many great nights in!