Do you need physical buttons and a special controller case
to play games on your iPhone? Probably not – especially if you’re more of a
Flappy Bird kind of gamer. And yet, iOS MFi-certified game controllers are here,
promising handheld console-like gaming for supported iPhone games.
Whether
in the air, on the road, or between classes, PowerShell opens a new world
of mobile gaming with powerful console-style controls.
Logitech’s
G550 Powershell controller is one of the first to hit the market. The case
connects via Lightning connector and is compatible with iPhone 5/5s (but not
5c). It meets Apple’s ‘standard’ game controller specifications, with a
SNES-style configuration, adding a D-pad, four face buttons, two shoulder
buttons, and a dedicated pause button. As the name suggests, it also includes a
built-in battery pack. Sound good so far?
Unfortunately,
it also costs $129. For that price, you’d expect it to meet Apple’s ‘extended’
game controller specifications, which requires dual analog sticks and dual
trigger shoulder buttons as well...which it doesn’t.
Both
groundbreaking new games and timeless classics can take advantage
of iOS 7 and PowerShell's analog console-style controls.
Nevertheless,
as expected from Logitech, build quality on the G550 is excellent. The case has
a nice solid feel, and a grippy textured rear finish. Every button is also
analog and pressure-sensitive. The four face buttons are firm, with plenty of
travel and a satisfying bottomed out actuation point. However, they are rather
small and squished together, which can be a bit fiddly, especially if you have a
large thumb. The D-pad is usable, but a little erratic to use, and control
sometimes isn’t as precise as it should be – for example, in Nucleus, the
spaceship would often jerk from side-to-side rather than rotate smoothly.
The biggest
drawback to the G550’s control scheme is its lack of even one analog stick.
While the single D-Pad is fi ne for most games, some, like Grand Theft Auto, use
two directional controls, which means that one of these must be handled by the
on-screen D-pad – obviously not the best solution.
As a case
itself, the G550 also feels a bit cumbersome. While your iPhone will sit snugly
in the middle of the case, the case itself is also laughably long – it’s
unlikely to fi t into even the baggiest of pants pockets. It also makes basic
phone functions somewhat awkward to use. For example, the power button can only
be activated via a little pull up tab switch that’s just a bit too short, and
requires you to dig your nail in underneath it to operate – even then,
sometimes it takes a few tries. Meanwhile, headphone access is provided via an
unwieldy blue plug that juts out of the bottom of the case.
Even just as
a backup battery pack, the G550 isn’t the easiest to use. A flashing blue LED
indicator on the back shows when the 1,500mAh battery is fully charged, but
there’s no easy way to tell how much battery life is left when in use.
Intense
gaming can strain your device's battery. PowerShell backs you up
with a 1,500 mAh battery, increasing the available power capacity of the
iPhone 5, iPhone 5s or 5th generation iPod touch.
The big
problem facing the G550 (and other Apple game controllers), at least right now,
is a lack of game support. While Logitech lists ‘hundreds’ of games, I only
found a few I wanted to play. And games that could have used a controller, like
Street Fighter IV, are not supported, and it looks like there are currently no
plans to add support for it. All things considered, the G550 is a tough sell.
Even if you can get past the limited title support, its high price, awkward
case design, and lack of analog sticks and trigger buttons will still leave you
looking for better choices out there.
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Specifications:
·
Models
supported: iPhone 5/5s, iPod Touch 5th generation ·
Buttons: D-pad
four face buttons two shoulder buttons one dedicated pause button ·
Dimensions: 200
x 63 x 21mm ·
Weight: 120g ·
Battery
capacity: 1,500mAh ·
Price: $129
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