Rock Band and Guitar Hero defined a generation of gamers, and the thrill of shredding on plastic guitars is making a comeback with Fortnite Festival. For those of us who remember the golden age of rhythm games, or for new players eager to dive into the experience, the need for a quality guitar controller is real. Enter the PDP Riffmaster Wireless Guitar Controller, promising to be the next evolution in plastic instruments. After spending some time with it, here’s a breakdown of how this controller helps you unleash your inner rock star and master those riffs.
Unboxing and First Impressions: Ready to Rock
The moment you unpack the Riffmaster, nostalgia hits hard, but it’s quickly replaced by the realization that this isn’t the flimsy plastic toy of the past. Remember those Guitar Hero controllers that felt like they might break if you looked at them wrong? The Riffmaster is a step up. While still surprisingly lightweight, perfect for hours of gameplay without strain, it feels significantly more robust and premium. You might even find yourself considering a guitar stand for it – a thought that definitely wouldn’t have crossed your mind with older models.
Setting it up is incredibly straightforward. The Riffmaster comes practically ready to use right out of the box. Simply unfold the guitar neck until it clicks into place – a clever design choice we’ll delve into later – and plug the included USB dongle into your console. Powering it on is as simple as holding the PlayStation or Xbox button, just like any standard controller. If you prefer to rock out with a strap, one is included and easily attached. Within minutes, you’re ready to jump into Rock Band 4 or prepare for Fortnite Festival’s instrument support update.
Key Features: Elevating the Guitar Controller Experience
PDP has clearly listened to years of player feedback and innovated in areas where previous guitar controllers fell short. The Riffmaster isn’t just a rehash; it’s a genuine upgrade in several key aspects.
Enhanced Fret Buttons: Precision and Durability
One of the most common issues with older guitar controllers was button failure. After intense sessions, buttons would become unresponsive or require excessive force to register. The Riffmaster addresses this head-on. The fret buttons are constructed from a denser plastic and offer a more tactile and responsive feel. You can clearly feel each button press register, and they do so without the annoying clicky sounds that plagued previous controllers. This improved responsiveness is crucial for nailing those complex riffs and solos, ensuring every note you intend to play is accurately captured in the game. Furthermore, PDP plans to release interchangeable faceplates, meaning you can customize the look of your Riffmaster and even replace scratched ones, keeping your guitar looking fresh for every performance.
Ambidextrous Design: Play Your Way
Finally, a guitar controller that truly caters to both left and right-handed players! The Riffmaster’s fret buttons are rectangular and span the width of the guitar neck, making it equally comfortable for southpaws and righties alike. This simple yet brilliant design eliminates the awkwardness and compromises that left-handed players often faced with older, asymmetrical controllers. Whether you’re a natural lefty or just want to try playing in a different style, the Riffmaster makes it seamless.
Analog Stick Navigation: Menu Mastery
Navigating menus in rhythm games with a guitar controller has always been clunky. Reaching for the D-pad during breaks between songs could break the flow and immersion. PDP’s solution? An analog stick, perfectly positioned at the top of the guitar neck. This seemingly small addition is a game-changer. Menu navigation now feels intuitive and natural, allowing you to quickly select songs, adjust settings, and browse menus without disrupting your flow. While the D-pad is still available for those who prefer a truly retro experience, the analog stick is a welcome and significant quality-of-life improvement.
Foldable Neck: Portability and Storage
Guitar controllers of the past were bulky and cumbersome to transport. Taking them to a friend’s house for a jam session was often more trouble than it was worth. The Riffmaster tackles this issue with its foldable neck design. The ability to fold the guitar down makes it significantly easier to transport and store. While it’s still guitar-sized, tucking the neck away streamlines the shape, making it far less awkward to carry around. For those anticipating a revival of band nights and rhythm game parties, the Riffmaster is designed to be more mobile.
Rechargeable Battery: Say Goodbye to AA Batteries
Another welcome departure from older controllers is the Riffmaster’s built-in rechargeable battery. No more scrambling for double-A batteries in the middle of an epic set. The controller boasts an impressive 36 hours of battery life on a single charge, which in real-world testing seems accurate. And if you do happen to run low on power mid-session, a 30-foot charging cable is included, allowing you to continue playing while you recharge.
Price Point: Is the Riffmaster Worth It?
The Riffmaster’s biggest hurdle might be its price tag of $129.99. This is a significant investment, especially when considering the older guitar controllers retailed around $70. However, it’s important to consider the advancements and improvements the Riffmaster brings to the table. The enhanced build quality, improved buttons, analog stick, foldable neck, and rechargeable battery all justify the higher price point. In today’s market, $130 for a premium gaming peripheral isn’t unreasonable, especially for a device that promises to revive the rhythm game experience.
The Riffmaster is currently compatible with Rock Band 4 and will be compatible with Fortnite Festival once Epic Games releases its promised instrument support update. Whether you’re a seasoned Rock Band veteran eager to dust off your skills or a Fortnite Festival newcomer looking for a more authentic musical experience, the Riffmaster is a worthwhile investment, provided the price aligns with your budget.
Final Verdict: A Riff-Worthy Return to Form
The PDP Riffmaster Wireless Guitar Controller is more than just a nostalgic throwback; it’s a genuinely improved and modernized instrument for rhythm games. It addresses many of the shortcomings of older guitar controllers with thoughtful design choices and quality-of-life enhancements. The analog stick, ambidextrous design, and foldable neck are features we wish had been standard years ago. As Fortnite Festival gains momentum and the rhythm game genre re-emerges, the Riffmaster is perfectly positioned to be the controller of choice for both returning and new players. For now, it’s an excellent way to revisit Rock Band 4, and with the base game often available at budget-friendly prices, now is the perfect time to pick up a Riffmaster and get ready to shred.
PDP Riffmaster Wireless Guitar Controller
PDP’s Riffmaster delivers a revitalized guitar controller experience. Available for PlayStation and Xbox, it’s compatible with Rock Band 4 now, and Fortnite Festival compatibility is on the horizon. Key features include a convenient foldable neck, an intuitive analog stick, and a low-latency 30-foot cable for charging during gameplay.
Brand: PDP
Platform: PlayStation/Xbox
Battery Life: 36 hours
Connectivity: Wireless and wired low-latency
Headset Support: 3.5 mm audio jack
Color: Black
Cable Length: 30 feet
Weight: 3.46 pounds
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
- Significant improvements over previous generation guitar controllers.
- Foldable neck enhances portability.
- Analog stick adds much-needed menu navigation functionality.
Cons:
- Higher price point may deter some buyers.
$130 at Amazon (PlayStation) $130 at Amazon (Xbox)
A PlayStation version of the Riffmaster was provided to TheGamer by PDP.
