PDP RIFFMASTER wireless guitar controller review — Rock and Roll All Nite — GAMINGTREND

As a student, I played both Rock Band and Guitar Hero like crazy. I fondly remember the times when my friends and I would stay up all night to play while we were on tour, something I certainly can’t do today. What you also can’t do: Buy an official guitar controller for the old games. You’d love to play, but you can’t due to the wear and tear of your old equipment. PDP has fixed that with the new RIFFMASTER guitar, and it’s the perfect option for someone who plays music games in 2024.

The package includes the RIFFMASTER guitar controller, a USB-C charging cable, the USB dongle, and a guitar strap. That’s not a lot, but you don’t need much in this area. The charging cable is a little short at just under 4 feet, so you might want to get a better one. And while I know it’s the current standard, thank goodness USB-C charging is possible. This lets you jam quickly even if your guitar runs out of juice.

After minimal assembly (just attach the headstock) you can open up your RIFFMASTER and use it straight away. There is a handy hinge on the bottom of the guitar neck that allows you to fold it up for easy transport. I don’t usually use it, but for many it is much easier to take a guitar controller with you.

On the controller, you’ll find plenty of familiar buttons, the five colored frets at the top of the neck and the matching solo frets at the bottom of the neck. There’s also the Strum Bar, Whammy Bar, menu and options buttons, and a D-pad and Xbox button. There are a few surprising additions, including a capture button and a joystick at the top of the neck. The joystick actually works admirably, and while it took me a bit of time to get used to it, it was very helpful for moving my character around while playing Fortnite Festival with their hub system. PDP has also incorporated some of their controller innovations, including a 3.5mm audio jack that can be controlled via a PDP button, and audio controls via the D-pad. Somehow, the guitar accommodates all of this without feeling cluttered, which speaks to its design.

The RIFFMASTER guitar controller is a real looker. While I’d like to see more colors in the future, the black Schecter-like design is neat. My only complaint is the high-gloss finish on the body; it attracts fingerprints and can easily get visible scratches. The neck and knobs are matte, so that’s not a problem when holding it normally, but it’s something to keep in mind.

The guitar is lightweight and comfortable and feels both sturdy and light enough for long sessions. Likewise, the strap fits well on the strap buttons and is comfortable around the neck. This is an important feature for this type of device as you can play for hours. Also the grip reminds me of the time I spent with my Rock Band controllers and is almost indistinguishable from the time I spent with my Rock Band controllers. Getting this comfort one-on-one is a plus for PDP.

When you use the RIFFMASTER guitar, it’s like you never left the venue. All the muscle memory has returned instantly. The keys are perfectly laid out so they’re a natural extension of you as you play. I think the only thing I would wish for would be a clicky strum bar. It works fine and you know when you’re hitting it, but it lacks that extra sound signal that I like so much. Other than that, everything just feels right.

One of the best things about the controller is how versatile it is. I have the Xbox version and it works on PC and Xbox One as well. While you might think it would naturally work on the previous generation of Xbox, I wouldn’t have been surprised if it didn’t. Instead, I can switch between my systems and play Rock Band no matter where I am. I haven’t noticed any performance degradation either, the functionality is excellent everywhere.

As for gaming compatibility, it’s pretty good. The music games you can officially use the RIFFMASTER with are Rock Band 4 and Fortnite Festival. I haven’t had a single issue with either of them, both work as intended. On the other hand, Clone Hero, a popular freeware guitar title, doesn’t work for me at all. I could be doing something wrong, but after a bit of troubleshooting, I didn’t want to get into the complex instrument remapping applications and stopped. The main games work, and that’s what counts. It’s disappointing to see Guitar Hero left out, but given that the latest game uses a completely different controller design, that’s not surprising.

I recommend testing the calibration right away. This is a pretty obvious clue, but I couldn’t play the RIFFMASTER on my Xbox Series X in the slightest. After testing the guitar with my Xbox One and PC, I was much closer, although I still had to calibrate. After doing the manual calibration for my Xbox Series X and Rock Band 4, I was able to hit everything again. Nothing most music players don’t know, but something important to get the most out of the RIFFMASTER.

Another area where you get the most out of the RIFFMASTER: the battery. None of the previous guitar controllers had a rechargeable battery. I’ve played on and off for a week and I’ve yet to charge the battery. PDP touts a 36-hour battery life, and that’s easy to believe. With fast USB-C charging, you can really rock all night long.

You can pick up your own PDP RIFFMASTER guitar controller right here!

David Burdette is a gamer/writer/content creator from Tennessee and senior editor for Gaming Trend. He loves Playstation, Star Wars, Marvel, and many other fandoms. He also plays way too much Call of Duty. You can chat with him on Twitter at @SplitEnd89.

Unless otherwise noted, the product in this article was provided for review purposes.

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