PowerA Spectra Review

PowerA is no stranger to fantastic peripherals. From various mobile controllers that easily make many gaming experiences much more precise to an array of franchise themed controllers from Mario to Skylanders, their lineup is had a controller for all types of gamers. Their latest product is an Xbox One controller, dubbed the PowerA Spectra, which comes with some impressive illumination options for two separate sections of the controller. However, below the shiny illuminated gimmick lies a pretty fantastic alternative to Microsoft's first party hardware, even though it's missing some key features.

Since it's a wired controller, the first thing I noticed was its decrease in weight, thanks to the fact that it doesn't need a battery pack on the back. Of course, being wired means that it's somewhat restricting, but for someone like me that has the Xbox One generally close to my couch, it wasn't really that big of an issue. Even then, the cord is nearly 10ft long, so length shouldn't be an issue.

The controller's build is nearly identical to its Microsoft counterpart, however, there are a few slight changes that actually make it a lot more comfortable to use. The top bumpers are slightly pushed back making them slightly easier to access, but even that slight change makes it a lot more comfortable. It still feels just as sturdy as the first party controller, and I really love the metallic looking middle that serves as one of the illumination spots.

I do have to give props to the d-pad as well, as it outmatches the first party d-pad in almost every way. It doesn't click as loud, but still has a click you can feel, and that already makes it a ton better. I was never a huge fan of the loud click on Microsoft's controller and this one feels just right.

On the back of the controller are three buttons. One button switches between three illumination levels and also turns it off completely. The other two buttons control the two different illumination spots, one in the middle and the other on the outside of both handles. The first two options switch between all the various colors, with the first one having smooth transitions between them, while the other just switches colors from one to another. Every other button press then cycles through all the available colors. By having both sections controlled by two separate buttons, you can match various colors together, you know, go crazy!

There are two negatives about the controller which actually might be big deterrents to some. First off, the face buttons don't necessarily stick, but they always feel like they will. It's a hard thing to describe unless you're actually using the controller but whenever I press down each button, it feels like it's going to get stuck underneath the shell. It never actually does, which is a plus, but the buttons just don't exactly feel…right.

The biggest disappointment though, especially for people that play a lot online and refuse to use the Kinect as a microphone, is that the controller doesn't have inputs for the Xbox One Microphone on the bottom. That can be a dealbreaker itself for players that spend a lot of their time in multiplayer that requires communication.

At $49.99, The PowerA Spectra is $10 cheaper than the Microsoft controller, with some sweet looking illumination options and superior bumpers and d-pad. However, if you require the expansion port on the bottom for microphone purposes, then the PowerA Spectra most likely isn't the controller you're looking for.