Official Review Hardware

Review cover DarkWalker ShotPad (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review

It might look odd but the DarkWalker ShotPad isn’t your regular gamepad. So what is it really? Let’s find out in this review!

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Here’s an interesting gaming accessory: the DarkWalker ShotPad. While it looks like an oddly-shaped gamepad, it is actually more akin to a keyboard+mouse replacement than a gamepad. In this sense, it is not unlike the excellent Azeron Cyborg and Azeron Classic keypads. In other ways, it could also be considered as an alternative to the Steam controller as it also has a touchpad and a controller format.

It retails for $60 on its official website and  comes with the following items:

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What will be striking once taken out of the box is the build quality. The finish is rather plastic-y and not really on par with other contemporary controllers like the PowerA MOGA. However, in addition to reducing the selling cost, this material also makes the ShotPad relatively lightweight at 238g. 

Its lightweight aspect is also enabled by the lack of rumble motors. Not having rumble is a personal downside but then again the ShotPad is more akin to keypads than controllers, despite its form factor.

Even if the overall finish could have been improved, it’s not all that bad. All of its buttons are easily accessible once held in the hand and the left hand grip is textured to prevent it from slipping while in use.

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One odd hardware choice from DarkWalker is to not include a handgrip on the right side. This would have made the device more familiar and comfortable to hold but the company even recommends a specific way to hold the ShotPad. The company even has a dedicated video for how to hold the device properly:

While they are clearly going for a familiar gamepad-like form factor, not having a handgrip on the right seems odd. With this approach, the left shoulder buttons are stacked, instead of having another trigger. 

Another gripe I have with the hardware is that its USB cable is integrated. Having a wired connection is appreciated for reducing any latency concerns but not being integrated means that in case of damage, it won’t be easy to replace the cable.

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Regarding compatibility, the DarkWalker ShotPad is compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S. It is also compatible with popular games, with the company mentioning the following ones as being supported. 

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With 42 key inputs in total (as some keys double as function keys), the DarkWalker ShotPad provides plenty of inputs for popular games. In addition to face and shoulder buttons, it bears three back buttons which, I think, should be common additions to gamepads going forward.

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I’ve tried it on recent PC games such as Fort Solis, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, Viewfinder and Gord and it works well. Controls are responsive and all keys are easily accessible (with proper handling). It’s worth noting that games recognise the DarkWalker ShotPad input as keyboard (physical keys) and mouse (trackpad) rather than as a controller. For first-person games, using the touchpad instead of an analogue stick feels particularly appropriate and can be preferred for competitive games if you still want a controller-like hardware but with keyboard+mouse controls (on PC or console games with KBM support).

Most keys have a mouse-click like feel to the press with short travel and fast response. However, the D-pad feedback would have been better with a membrane underneath. The large touchpad area that it offers is a definite improvement for first-person games over joystick controls as it gives you more range of movements. It also practically eliminates dead zones and stick drifts.

As you can imagine, with the ShotPad’s unconventional and unfamiliar layout - despite bearing a controller-like look - there is a learning curve to using this keypad. Thankfully, DarkWalker has each key labelled on the device itself and this is a godsend as I found myself double-checking which key is where during my first few uses. 

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If a game allows it, you can rebind the keys as well as the mouse sensitivity. But this might mean getting used to a new layout all over again. But if you would use different bindings for different games, custom profiles would be handy but this is not a feature in the ShotPad and it does not feature an on-board memory. This could be a consideration for future iterations.

While an oddity of controller-like keypad, the DarkWalker ShotPad is a welcome addition to the market. It does have room for improvements and isn’t on par with the Azeron Cyborg or Azeron Classic keypads, which it is a direct competitor to. However, it does offer a different take as a keyboard/mouse replacement and it does so decently and affordably.

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Verdict

What We Liked ...
  • Affordable controller
  • Interesting take on keyboard/mouse replacement
  • Responsive controls
What We Didn't Like ...
  • Plastic-y build quality
  • No right hand grip
  • Integrated cable
7
out of 10

Overall

While its controller-like looks can be deceptive, the DarkWalker ShotPad is a decent keypad that offers an alternative take to keyboard/mouse combo replacements.
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Osakasan
It looks so 90s it fascinates me, but the build quality is apparent from the pics, and the wild design overall makes it the kind of product one would not blindly spend their money on, unless you have a lot of cash to spare.

It really reminds me to those PC gamepads from the 90s that were clearly based on more elaborated products with better base quality, but the manufacturer didn't want to take a risk, so they cheaped out on materials and gave it a price that would guarantee a hefty profit.
 
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