Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight Deck review – a first class controller

Turtle Seashore isn’t any stranger to flight peripherals, however I’d argue it’s not the primary title that involves thoughts whenever you think about a flight stick. Following the discharge of the VelocityOne Flight Deck, nevertheless, that may very well be about to alter. This HOTAS (hands-on throttle and stick) system gives an awesome, if expensive, flight management system with a number of layers of element for knowledgeable pilots.

In reality, after spending loads of time utilizing the Turtle Seashore VelocityOne Flight Deck in a wide range of flight sim and aerial fight video games, I can confidently say that it’s the finest PC joystick for anybody in search of high quality and depth. Sure, the sheer quantity of inputs and shows could be overwhelming, however you’re additionally free to arrange your expertise to simply cowl surface-level wants if you want.

VelocityOne Flight Deck specs

VelocityOne Flight Deck options

The headline function that caught out to me on the VelocityOne Flight Deck is its twin shows. There’s a small OLED one on the joystick and a a lot bigger touch-screen slightly below the throttle. These shows are customizable utilizing the baked-in menu or through the devoted software program, which is downloadable from the Microsoft Retailer. Throughout these two shows, it’s potential so as to add as much as 39 extra buttons, taking the entire variety of inputs to 139.

Inside this large choice of inputs, you’ll discover devoted touchdown gear and autopilot controls, with the latter being a function that’s nonetheless lacking from many different opponents such because the Logitech G X55 and Thrustmaster Warthog. You additionally get six HAT/POV controls, with VelocityOne once more main the way in which versus opponents who can solely muster a most of 5.

The joystick and throttle additionally each benefit from Corridor Impact know-how, which drastically reduces the danger of stick drift and negates the necessity for a lifeless zone, which is an space inside a joystick’s motion space the place no enter is detected. These exist to offset stick drift which creates phantom actions in-game. It additionally creates a way more responsive expertise as each slight enter could be seen and felt as you make it.

Comprising two separate UBS items, the VelocityOne Flight Deck could be damaged down and used as only a joystick should you’re in a rush or haven’t any want for the throttle controls. Nonetheless, should you want to enhance your immersion past simply the Flight Deck, you’ll be able to obtain the companion app in your smartphone or pill so as to add extra contact controls to your setup. I fired this as much as develop my choices inside Microsoft Flight Sim, however usually felt like I had no use for it as the varied inputs on the Flight Deck itself have been greater than sufficient.

VelocityOne Flight Deck design

There’s no straightforward approach to put this, however the design of the Turtle Seashore VelocityOne Flight Deck is overwhelming. This isn’t inherently dangerous, nevertheless it’s effectively price taking time to get acclimatized to the structure and key controls the primary time you get it out of the field.

The preliminary setup course of is tremendous easy, without having to repair the Flight Deck to a bracket or desk, because the weighted bases are greater than sturdy sufficient to maintain them nonetheless throughout gameplay. Every unit additionally has its personal braided USB cable, which means there’s minimal fuss concerned with establishing this HOTAS system. You can even add a headset through the three.5mm jack on the joystick unit.

The construct high quality of each the stick and throttle feels implausible and there isn’t a single enter or thumbstick that feels low-cost or like should you apply an excessive amount of strain it should merely crumble and break. Actual thought has gone into the design all the way in which right down to the aforementioned braided USB cables making establishing and managing cables a breeze.

Whereas the VelocityOne is certainly handsome, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel in relation to normal structure. It nonetheless has to remain devoted to what players anticipate from a conventional HOTAS setup, whereas additionally hanging the best steadiness between premium appears to be like and practicality.

Whereas some management capabilities are clearly marked, there are nonetheless loads of blankly labeled inputs that you just’re seldom going to recollect from the generic quantity they’ve been assigned. As a substitute, it’s finest to understand and get acclimatized to the structure of the Flight Deck first. You possibly can then acquire a deeper understanding of which buttons do what in a sport that makes essentially the most of each single enter, corresponding to Microsoft Flight Simulator.

When it comes time to pack the Flight Deck away, it’s a easy course of if you wish to use its authentic field, as you merely take away the joystick from the bottom by unscrewing it, and place all of the elements again into their assigned areas. That is implausible for pilots who don’t or can’t hold their HOTAS system out on show 24/7, and as beforehand talked about, the setup course of is extremely easy for whenever you subsequent wish to play.

VelocityOne Flight Deck efficiency

Utilizing the Turtle Seashore VelocityOne Flight Deck is an extremely clean expertise. It may be very straightforward to miss and underappreciate simply how well-designed it’s, and the influence this has on the efficiency.

It’s little touches like the way in which the curvature of the joystick suits completely within the hand, and you’ll so naturally lengthen your pinky finger to clutch the brake enter. It’s the satisfying resistance felt when sliding the throttle that offers it a sense of significance and provides to the immersion that takes over whenever you’re within the sport.

One other nice instance of the flexibility of the VelocityOne Flight Deck is the flexibility to reply to something you’ll be able to throw at it. By this, I imply testing two drastically totally different video games corresponding to Microsoft Flight Sim and Struggle Thunder. I by no means felt hampered or like I used to be laboring to get the Flight Deck to maintain up with the sudden movement that an aerial dogfight calls for, whereas the wealth of controls and inputs create an instantaneous immersion for Flight Sim that will get the very best out of the sport.

The implementation of Corridor Impact outright makes the VelocityOne Flight Deck the cleanest and most responsive joystick I’ve had the pleasure of utilizing. The second movement is began, you’ll be able to see a response in-game, all as a result of there isn’t any want for lifeless zones to account for potential stick drift.

There may be additionally a unique tactile response from every button kind, which makes it tremendous easy to establish the place your arms are sitting on the controls while not having to verify the place each few seconds.

One other neat contact is that, when adjusting the pink slider subsequent to the round ‘hearth’ enter on the joystick, it transforms this fundamental button right into a touch-sensitive trackpad that you should use to manage the on-screen cursor. This can be a good addition that isn’t clearly signposted anyplace however is extremely helpful as soon as you already know about it.

It’s a disgrace that the Turtle Seashore software program it’s important to obtain is so vulnerable to fixed freezing and unresponsiveness every time a firmware replace is required, which makes the duty far more troublesome than vital. Nonetheless, every time firmware is up to date, the software program will then be nice to make use of till the following one is prepared.

Bindings can be found for a choice of video games: Microsoft Flight Sim, Struggle Thunder, Star Wars: Squadrons, Elite Harmful, DCS World, Prepare3D, and X-Aircraft 11 & 12.

The extent of bindings will range game-to-game relying on whether or not the throttle controls are even wanted and whether or not the sport tracks the Flight Deck as a default enter or particularly because the make and mannequin. Both means, creating customized bindings is one thing many pilots will likely be used to, and whereas it might generally be a protracted course of, it’s solely a case of doing it as soon as and saving the profile for future use.

VelocityOne Flight Deck conclusion

The Turtle Seashore VelocityOne Flight Deck is a implausible HOTAS system, solely held again by its intimidating look to newcomers. Robust sport assist makes the VelocityOne irresistible given the construct high quality and in-game efficiency additionally on supply.

VelocityOne Flight Deck value

The Turtle Seashore VelocityOne Flight Deck retails for $399.99 (£379.99), which is extremely cheap given the extent of options and efficiency it gives over merchandise such because the Thrustmaster Warthog, which is $150 costlier.

VelocityOne Flight Deck options

Thrustmaster T.Flight One HOTAS

In the event you’re not fairly seeking to spend $400, or just need a controller that’s rather less imposing in relation to attending to grips with it, the Thrustmaster T.Struggle One HOTAS is good, because it prices 1 / 4 of the worth and it’s additionally suitable with Xbox.