| Brand | Vertibox Arcade |
| Release | 2022 |
| Compatibility | NS / PS4 / PS3 / PC |
| Cable | 3 m |
Introduction
The Vertibox is an ergonomic all-button controller made of resin. Instead of putting your wrists flatly on the top panel of a controller and potentially pressuring your wrists, the Vertibox allows you to eliminate pronation by placing your hands in a vertical position that is supposed to be more natural. This can also help with finger/forearm strain as well as carpal tunnel syndrome.
The Vertibox lets you pick between your left or right thumb to jump in a game. Otherwise, just like with a standard all-button controller, the directional buttons are on the left, and the attack buttons are on the right.
The top front function buttons are for options, home, and share. As for the lower ones, they are for turbo, touchpad, L3, and R3. Three SOCD modes are supported.
Performance
The Vertibox is bigger than the Ergobox. It seems its size is supposed to be a one-size-fits-all, which is a concept that may not work as well for ergonomic controllers.
Per side, the buttons feel too far apart. Also, the attack button rows are not intuitively distanced from each other, so you might have to peek over to the side to look for the button you would like to press.
Another observation about the attack buttons is the slope between the rows, which may impede those who like to perform throws in games like Street Fighter by laying an index finger flat on the jab and short buttons. You can do it, but not as easily.
That said, the Vertibox does have good aspects. Despite being a fairly novel concept, all-button players should not experience too steep of a learning curve, and the comfort gained from such an ergonomic controller can be felt almost immediately, especially because of the palm pads. Plus, the comfort level should only increase over time as one gets used even more to the controller.
Another impressive aspect about the Vertibox is that it seems it was designed to sit on your lap conveniently as well as on a table, thanks to its width.
Hardware
The resin Vertibox comes with a Sunga PCB, and PC compatibility is achieved through XInput. On the PlayStation, there is no eight-minute timeout issue. The firmware is upgradable through USB. The port comes out of the lower back. There is a convenient handle for carriage.
Appearance
The Vertibox is a white controller, and the logo blends in nicely. There are no button labels, which can enhance aesthetics but potentially decrease convenience. Regarding the resin, each Vertibox has its own unique resin tattoo left by production, and there is no painting applied.
Conclusion
The Vertibox may be the next big thing when it comes to playing fighting games efficiently without sacrificing comfort.
- Ergonomic design
- Lap & table play
- Palm pads
- Carriage handle
- Futuristic look
- Too big
- Buttons far apart
- Layout not intuitive
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐
See Also
