GameSir Tarantula Pro Controller Review
Summary: GameSir have once again created a controller that manages to both be affordable, and feature-rich, with a list of pros that massively out weigh the minimal cons.
4.5
Outstanding
I recently checked out one of GameSir’s multiplatform controllers and found it rather good. Let’s not mince words, I thought it was perhaps the best controller I had ever used thanks to excellent build quality and a robust feature set at an affordable price. Following on from that, I’ve been given the opportunity to try out one of their higher-end handsets, the GameSir Tarantula Pro Controller.
Right out of the gate, expectations were high. The Cyclone 2 set the benchmark for GameSir controllers up in the stratosphere, so I was looking forward to seeing what a higher-end controller was capable of.
On first inspection, all the signs were good. The Tarantula Pro Controller is built to the same quality standard, and as such feels very sturdy in the hand with no flex or mushiness in the plastic shell.
The Tarantula has a form factor and layout that is roughly like that of a PlayStation controller, with a symmetrical stick layout. I normally prefer the offset stick setup of an Xbox-style controller; however, I had no issues getting to grips with them in this case. In terms of weight, it comes in at 270 grams, which is slightly less than a PS5 Dual Sense controller. Its weight, combined with overall solid build quality means the Tarantula is a very sturdy controller that feels good in the hands without being too heavy.
Each of the two thumbsticks uses TMR (Tunnel Magnetic Resistance) technology over traditional potentiometers, much as the Cyclone 2 did, meaning that stick drift shouldn’t ever be an issue. Other benefits of TMR sticks include theoretically lower power consumption and a 1000Hz polling rate for extreme accuracy. They feel great to use and have a textured rubber, concave grip atop the shaft that I found to be comfortable.
Most of the buttons on the Tarantula Pro make use of microswitches for activation, rather than a traditional membrane, including the D-pad. This leads to incredible responsive and tactile button presses, each with a satisfying click, like that of a mouse button. The exception to this is the four main face buttons themselves, GameSir decided to stick to a membrane for these. This is something I preferred over the microswitches used for the face buttons on the Cyclone 2. Perhaps it’s just the comfortable familiarity of decades-old technology, but I’ve always found the microswitch click and feel to be rather jarring on face buttons, even if using them has obvious benefits.
Each of the two triggers has both a hall-effect sensor and a microswitch. The two can be toggled between at will using a small switch on the back of the controller. Each trigger can also be set independently of one another. Additionally, each trigger has a ‘hair trigger’ mode which converts any use of the trigger, no matter how small, into a full input. All of this can be accomplished on the controller itself using either a combination of inputs or with the dedicated switch on the back, with no need to go into the software.
Along with all the buttons you’d expect to be on a modern controller, there are several others, unique to the Tarantula Pro controller. Four entirely customisable buttons adorn the front, just above the options and share buttons. These can be assigned to almost anything in GameSir’s ‘Connect’ software, with full support for all the buttons already on the controller, mouse, and full keyboard inputs – including a numpad, as well as some system-level functions such as volume controls.
Furthermore, it includes a macro system that’s surprisingly robust and has a lot of scope for complex collections of inputs. It’s also worth noting that this level of customisation isn’t relegated to the additional buttons, rather every input on the controller can be entirely customised using the same system. This is also true for the thumbsticks, with settings such as dead zones all being configurable.
Another new addition is that of a large button that sits roughly where the touchpad would on a Dual Shock 4 or Dual Sense controller. Unlike those, the Tarantula doesn’t have any touch capacity, however, it does translate into three additional buttons that can be customised however the user desires.
Lastly, on the rear of the handset, there are two back buttons. Unlike most buttons of the type, these are entirely flush with the shell of the controller and have a toggle switch nearby to disable them entirely, making them impossible to accidentally activate. It’s a great idea and one that I hope more manufacturers take on board in the future.
Perhaps the most interesting new feature, and as far as I’m aware the first on a controller, is the method in which the Tarantula displays and subsequently changes the face button glyphs. By default, it uses the Xbox ABXY layout. Rather than have these permanently on each button though, they are backlit beneath the button, which acts as a lens to magnify and display them. What’s interesting about this is that GameSir has come up with a novel way of changing between the Xbox layout and the Nintendo layout, which reverses the AB and XY buttons.
Holding down a combination of buttons physically swaps the glyphs around underneath the buttons themselves. There’s a satisfying whirring of gears as it happens, and even a little window just beneath the face buttons that shows it happening. It’s without a doubt, an incredibly over-designed and unnecessary solution to a problem that only just existed, but it’s so damn cool, nonetheless. My only concern with the system is that it introduces moving parts where there would otherwise be none, and this could potentially be a point of failure down the line.
Final Thoughts?
GameSir has once again, knocked it out of the park with the Tarantula Pro Controller. It’s comfortable, well-built, and has all the customisation options you could ask for. At AUD $95.99/£69.99 it’s a very affordable controller when compared to others that fancy themselves as ‘pro’ controllers, many of which don’t have half the feature set.
Included in the box are a wireless dongle, USB-C cable, and charging stand (which also has a USB port for the dongle so as not to use up two ports!). It works right out of the box on PC, Nintendo Switch, and iOS/Android and has gyro controls for supporting platforms and software.
My only concern with the Tarantula is the previously mentioned concerns over the system to swap the face button layout and its longevity. The lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack is disappointing, but not exactly a deal breaker (for me at least).
All-in-all, the Tarantula Pro Controller is another fantastic product from GameSir. Anyone looking for a controller with extra inputs and tons of customisation options should definitely check this one out.
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