[Review] PS4 StrikePack F.P.S. Dominator

Being only able to use my right hand, I’m always looking for peripherals that will make things easier for me, whether it’s using the computer or gaming. Over the years, I have used a number of different controllers, and have contemplated getting a custom controller like a SCUF, but ultimately, the cost has deterred me. However, I have discovered the PS4 StrikePack F.P.S. Dominator by Collective Minds Gaming Co. Ltd.. The question still remains though: How is it?

I initially purchased the StrikePack in preparation for the at-the-time-upcoming Final Fantasy XV, because I knew that the shoulder buttons were a major part of the controls. The StrikePack adapter does not require you to open the controller or anything. It simply clips onto back of the DualShock 4 and gives you 2 programmable paddles where you'd normally hold the controller. The paddles are magnetic and snap into place. It connects to the PlayStation 4 via included custom USB cable. There is also a StrikePack F.P.S. Dominator for Xbox One, but the problem with the Xbox One version is that those paddles are on the underside of the controller, so you have to press upward on them, which if the controller is on your leg or table or something, isn’t the easiest. With the PS4 version, you just have to press sideways.

Out of the box, you can program the paddles to be any button (or 2-button combination) except L2 and R2. For those, you'll need to plug the adapter itself into your computer and download/upgrade the firmware to 1.5.1, but that's a painless process. You can also choose the specific firmware you want, and even downgrade the firmware. To program the paddles, you just hold either the left or right square button on the back of the adapter and press the button(s) you want to assign to the respective paddles. In most cases, I just map them as L2 and R2 and just use the PS4’s built-in button remapping accessibility feature to adjust it from there if need be.

It’s not called the StrikePack F.P.S. Dominator for nothing. The StrikePack has various mods for different FPS games, including adjustable anti-recoil, quick scope, auto run, rapid fire and burst fire. In addition, with the release of firmware 2.0.0, Collective Minds also introduced Mod Pass, a yearly $14.99 USD subscription to Game Packs for a variety of different games, the catalog of which is continuously updated. These games include: Destiny 2, Overwatch, NBA 2K19, Fortnite, Call of Duty: World War II, Grand Theft Auto V, and God of War. The Game Packs contain various control mods for the respective titles. However, these are neither here nor there for me personally, as I got the StrikePack purely for the paddles.

I do have a couple issues with the StrikePack. The first is that while the adapter and controller need to be plugged in to function, they need to be unplugged when the PS4 is turned on, or else the adapter won't work correctly. This is and is not an issue -- I can easily unplug the controller from the PS4 and plug it back in, but doing that multiple times everyday puts a lot of wear and tear on the console’s USB port. To circumvent this potential issue, I bought a $8 USB hub with individual power switches for each port, so I can "unplug and plug" with a press of a button.

The other issue that I have is more of a design issue. The adapter has a custom connection channel, so you can’t just use any old USB cable. This connection channel is angled downward, which means when you put the controller on a table, the weight of the controller is on the USB port. Add the weight and force of playing one-handed on top of that, and you can imagine just how much pressure is applied. It still works, but the USB cable that came with my StrikePack is permanently bent. Collective Minds has seemed to fix this particular issue, though, by releasing a redesigned StrikePack. In his review of the new one, Frank Sparapani showed off the difference of the connection channels. On the new one, the connection channel is angled upward, so it rests flush against a table, whereas on the original, the USB cable is what rests against the table.

Image Credit: Frank Sparapani, from his review of the improved StrikePack

In addition, there is currently no official method to use a DualShock 4 with the StrikePack on PC. There are ways to do it, of course, but the methods include downloading a third-party program and installing specific drivers. It’s worth noting that this workaround installs the controller with the StrikePack as an Xbox controller. Now, this is a double-edged sword, because certain PC games, like Overwatch, require an Xbox controller, but because it’s recognized as such, this means the touchpad and its buttons do not work. At the end of the day, this workaround is adequate, but it would be nice to have an official method to accomplish this, without having to rely on programs that you may not know anything about.

There are also a couple more things I’d like to see done in the future, such as a version of the StrikePack with four paddles, rather than just two. Two paddles get the job done just fine, but four would be perfect for someone like myself, so we could map L1, R1, L2 and R2. As it stands right now, we have to choose between L1 and R1, and L2 and R2. Another thing that I would like is the ability to save multiple paddle mappings, instead of just one. I’d love to be able to delete, for example, the Call of Duty mod profile off my StrikePack, and save another paddle mapping in its place. This could also be used as an alternative to a hypothetical four-paddle version—let us switch between our own custom paddle mappings.

The StrikePack has become an inseparable part of my gaming experience. Since I got it, the StrikePack has been of use in every PS4 game I’ve played. In fact, most of what’s in my Playthroughs section, and everything I stream, I can only play, because of the StrikePack. As someone who can only play one-handed, the programmable paddles are exactly what I need. Would I recommend it? Yes, without a shadow of a doubt, and here’s the best part: It retails for only $39.99 USD! You can purchase the PS4 StrikePack F.P.S. Dominator from Amazon, GameStop, and of course, off the Collective Minds official website.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Accessibility Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars