Junk Hunter Yoshida uses the newest HYPERKIN Gamepad! Junk Hunter Yoshida tried the latest HYPERKIN gamepad!

HYPERKIN, which handles a wide range of video game peripherals, will release a new gamepad on June 22, 2023.

The new products to be released are the Duke XBOX 20th LIMITED EDITION, a limited edition Xbox 20th anniversary model that replicates the original Xbox controller CODE NAME: DUKE, and the X91, which features a classic 1990s-style appearance. Both are easy-to-use gamepads compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/1 PC.

Junk Hunter Yoshida, who loves Xbox, reviews them thoroughly! He will delve into the two types of pads with a lot of love and dryness at the same time!

Duke XBOX 20th LIMITED EDITION, a must-buy for all Xbox enthusiasts!

It's been a while since the Akiba Research Institute descended ......, and I'd like to say with confidence that I've been playing games for a while, but I've only been playing them in my private time and not at work for the past few years, so my writing skills may be a bit dull. Please forgive me.

By the way, the games that I play almost every day without fail are "Fortnite" and "Dragon Quest X Online. I just do the required task of daily routine, but the mission assigned to me this time is to thoroughly review the Xbox third-party controllers, and since I'm not talking about the game content, I'm not going to ...... ah, "Dragon Quest X Online". I'll be focusing on "Fortnite," which has recently become so popular that it's been advertised in huge ads at every bus stop on the metropolitan bus system (though of course I'll choose other titles as well), and I'll introduce the controller, including my personal views on how it feels to operate, while comparing it to a standard controller. I'd like to introduce you to the Duke XBOX 20th LIMITED TITLE.

I will be introducing two types of wired controllers for Xbox made by HYPERKIN, which will be released on June 22nd. Personally, I cannot hide my surprise at HYPERKIN's full-fledged entry into the Japanese market. This is because until now I have been importing HYPERKIN products from overseas, and I was thinking, "Finally, HYPERKIN is entering the Japanese market! I am feeling a mixture of resentment and happiness, as if it is too late to join the Japanese market.

Duke XBOX 20th LIMITED EDITION

The first controller I would like to introduce is the Duke XBOX 20th LIMITED EDITION in black (also available in white). Why the 20th anniversary now? This is a limited edition model commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Xbox, which was released in December 2021 in the U.S., and is available in Japan in limited quantities (limited to 500 units of each color). The shape of this controller alone makes it a must-buy accessory that enthusiasts who have loved the original Xbox since its inception must definitely have. Incidentally, the shape is almost the same as the "Duke" for Xbox One, which was also released by Hyperkin in 2018. In terms of operation, the buttons are slightly different.

Here's a look at the packaging of the limited edition Japanese sleeve commemorating the full-scale entry into the Japanese market

When I first held it in my hand, I felt a flashback to 20 years ago when I felt its weight. It brings back my youthful days of playing around with the original Xbox. Seamus Blackley, the developer of the first Xbox, was involved in the production of this controller, so it definitely has the authentic feel of a standard controller (although it is a licensed product).

At the time, this huge controller was not well received by the Japanese, but I could not get used to the smaller S controller because of the size of my own hands. As I was an overwhelming supporter of the larger and heavier one, I am happy to see its revival in this era. I also appreciate the detachable USB Type-C connection.

And the cable that comes with it is green! The color follows the public color of the Xbox, which shows HYPERKIN's seriousness and makes the hearts of their fans tremble. The controller name "Duke" also follows the name of the controller bundled with the original Xbox, "The Duke," and I guess it was a return to the roots to please the enthusiasts.

I plugged "The Duke" into my beloved Xbox Series S (a monitor-added version of the XSCREEN) and launched "Fortnite. By the way, I own a total of five Xbox Series S for my office and home use, and since the HDD capacity is small, I thought, "If I'm going to expand it, I might as well buy another one! I have only one Xbox Series X, but the Xbox Series S doesn't take up much space, so it doesn't matter how many I have.

I thought "Fortnite" would be perfect for a review using "Duke" because it uses all the buttons on the controller, but I stumbled on ...... right from the start. Perhaps because I was too used to the standard controller, my movements when controlling the characters became awkward.

The biggest problem is that the LB and RB on the "Duke" side of the controller are too small (smaller than a gum clorette!). . I first played the standard mode with building with a 4 person squad, and I made so many mistakes when building that I felt sorry for my friends, and it took me about 2 hours to get used to it after 5 hours of play (my personal opinion).

On the other hand, the left and right analog sticks were easy to use, thanks in part to the fact that I was a lover of the original Xbox, and the aim worked perfectly when shooting. the only problem with the LB and RB buttons is that the directional keys are not cross keys, so it is easy to misenter at an angle (probably because the response is too good) The LB and RB buttons were standard on the original Xbox. This is a quirk that hasn't changed since "The Duke," which came standard with the original Xbox, but I honestly wish they would have improved on that. Or maybe that's just too deep of an enthusiast's opinion.

I decided to try playing the game in zero-build mode, and with the help of my friends, I played for 3 hours in a 4-player squad without building. The difference was that I didn't have to use LB and RB for building, which is a big difference from before when I had to use them for building. I was able to play crisply, which increased my chances of winning the first place Victory Royal!　This is great.

I can say that I have never felt so awkward playing with builds. The Duke, which is easy to hold in my large hands, may be better than a standard controller (as long as you don't have to build).

Since there must be some enthusiasts out there who are looking for a bit of "The Duke" in their arsenal, I decided to play the Xbox classic "Halo" as well. We played this one for a quick hour or so.

I've already played it for about an hour, and it's so perfect that I don't even need to add any difficulties. I can operate "Duke" as if my brain sends out commands on its own, probably because I was playing it so much at the time. In fact, the feel of the controller is so sure that it might have been reissued for the purpose of letting you play the "Halo" series.

To challenge "Duke" with a new title, I chose "Redfall," which was just released on May 2, 2023. It is an open-world survival FPS set in a devastated city, ruled by vampires. Since "Halo" had perfect controls, I'm sure it will work well with an FPS.

I chose the co-op mode, as the game itself seems to recommend co-op play, and we took on the vampires together. The only thing that bothered me was the length of the strokes to push in the analog sticks on each side. I can't deny that the sticks feel slightly longer than standard controllers, so some users may need to get used to them a little.

The author has been using this controller since the days of "The Duke," so there is not much to be concerned about, but some users may feel a little uncomfortable because of the delicate control required when aiming. It is a common gamer's experience that the shorter the length of the analog stick, the easier it is to fine-tune the point of aim with the AIM.

In this respect, "Duke" was designed to revive the concept of a controller from over 20 years ago, when there were fewer FPS titles than there are today, so it is best to use it with the understanding that it has been reproduced as it was back then, without worrying about fine-tuning your aim to the point of nervousness. The vibration of the controller is also moderate, and there is a 3.5mm headset jack for easy voice chat.

I should also add that there is a huge round button in the center. When you press it, you get an animated recreation of the original Xbox startup screen, which will impress you the first time you see it!

A green controller stand is also included.

If you want to play classic games, don't hesitate to get the X91!

The second controller we'd like to introduce is the "X91" wired controller, which is designed to look like a 1990s home console controller. Well, no matter who you look at it, it looks like a fusion of a Super Nintendo and PlayStation controller (laughs).

Personally, I would like to own one of these classic style controllers as a sub, since the LR button and front four button layout that started with the Super NES has remained the worldwide standard, or rather, the benchmark, for controller design to this day.

Package image

The X91, like the Duke, has a 3.5mm headset jack, and although it is small, it has a vibration function. However, the controller cable is not detachable.

If you are going to use a controller of this shape, you will have to try out some old arcade games, so I chose the universal classic Gradius, a horizontal STG game that is still fresh even when played today. The key to "X91" is the cross-shaped directional keys, so I decided to focus on this key. Naturally, the left analog stick can also be used, but the potential of "X91" will not be fully realized unless the cross-shaped keys are used as the main controls.

I played "Gradius" with this in mind. The X91's cross keys are soft and comfortable to press, so there is no need to press them all the way down to get used to them. Even the Big Viper can be operated easily.

Unlike the rounded buttons on standard controllers, the ABXY buttons are almost flat and easy to press. The Xbox series' stubbornness in not placing the crosshairs (directional keys) on the left side of the controller was also used in the "X91," which is a bit of a shame. I wish they would have abandoned this policy and changed the location of the left stick and the crosshair.

However, I got used to having the crosshairs in the lower left center of the controller by the time I completed the first lap of "Gradius," and continued playing as usual, only to have my eyes get tired after the third lap. Although it's a bit cheap compared to "Duke," the X91 isn't as bad as you might think; after 15 minutes of use, you'll quickly feel comfortable with both the position of the crosshairs and how they operate. It may just be that my brain remembers it because the directional keys on previous Xbox series were in this position (smiles).

I thought how about a fighting game, so I chose "Street Fighter II" from "Capcom Arcade Stadium". It was a common practice in the 1990s to evaluate third-party controllers based on how accurately they could perform Hadoken and Shoryuken with the crosshairs, so I tried to confirm this.

With the X91, the LB and RB strong punches and kicks are easy to perform, thanks in part to the size of the buttons. In other words, it was easier to connect to combos. Perhaps "STO II" is easier to operate than the standard controller.

As for the four-way controller, I'm not very good at using it, and I often jump at an angle, which is pointless, because the input is too diagonally upward. Of course, it will stop when you get used to it, but there are times when you aim a Hadouken and jump with a "Oops! when I aim for a Hadoken. However, after playing for about 20 minutes, this problem was gradually resolved.

The response of the cross keys may be a factor, but while it is easy to move diagonally up, it may be a little peculiar to move diagonally down. It may be an individual difference, but there were many times when I missed the Shoryuken after getting up. Well, that can be managed by getting used to it.

I used the "X91" for a total of 4 hours, and I think it would be a good idea to buy it as a sub controller because of its low price. You might say that it is only suitable for old arcade games or 2D games, but I think it is a good idea to always have one wired controller in reserve in a sub position, just for classic games. As for the feel of the (not-so-important) "X91" analog sticks, I can assure you that they are not needed for any old arcade games. Like "Duke," the long stroke of the stick makes it difficult to perform subtle maneuvers, and the cross keys are definitely better for dodging enemy bullets in STG games. With the left stick, for some reason I was not able to avoid the enemy bullets in time, or I sometimes blew myself up due to an operation error.

To sum up, I think it is better to use "Duke" for those who mainly play FPS, and "X91" for those who play classical games with excellent cross keys, depending on your purpose. If you think your faith in Xbox might be tested, you should buy both.

Product Information

Hyperkin Duke Wired Controller XBOX 20th LIMITED EDITION

Limited Edition with Japanese sleeve to commemorate the full-scale entry into the Japanese market.

Release date: June 22, 2023 (Thursday)

Compatibility: Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Windows 10/11

Suggested retail price: 9,980 yen (including tax)

Product size: approx. 165mm (W) x 125mm (H) x 60mm (D) (excluding the stick portion)

Weight: approx. 885g (excluding cable)

Input: DC5V/500mA

Operating temperature: 5°C to 35°C

Color: Black, White

＜Color: Black, White

Hyperkin Duke wired controller ... 1 pc

USB Type-C cable (approx.) 1.8m - 1 pc.

Controller stand ... 1 pc

Instruction manual ... 1 copy

Hyperkin X91 Wired Controller

Release date: June 22, 2023 (Thursday)

Compatibility: Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Windows 10/11

Manufacturer's suggested retail price: 4,980 yen (tax included)

Product size: approx. 145mm (W) x 70mm (H) x 30mm (D) (excluding the stick portion)

Weight: Approx. 298g (excluding cable)

Input: DC5V/500mA

Operating temperature: 5°C to 35°C

Color: Black, White, Aqua Green, Ruby Red

＜Included in the package

Hyperkin X91 wired controller ... 1 pc

Instruction manual ... 1 copy