RiotPWR ESL iOS Gaming Controller REVIEW

Create an enjoyable gaming experience with your mobile device with this gaming controller.

Gaming has come a long way from where it was in the 80s. We used to have to visit video arcades to play anything advanced in nature and at home, we had consoles that were only capable of 8-bit graphics. I’ve seen video games evolve through those primitive platforms into modern video games that can be played on our mobile devices, advanced consoles, computers, and even in virtual reality. For me, I tend to play on my iPhone these days. I don’t have tons of free time these days and my phone affords me the option to play some games in between tasks. 

One of my favorite games is LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga. I originally played that game on my Xbox 360 more than 10 years ago. Now the entire game has been redeveloped for mobile gaming. I was very excited to find it was available so I downloaded it. I started trying to play and found that it just wasn’t as enjoyable without a controller. Fortunately, I just acquired the RiotPWR ESL Gaming Controller for iOS.

DETAILS

The RiotPWR ESL Gaming Controller allows users to play mobile games as they would on a console. The design of the controller mimics modern console controllers. It features a solid comfortable grip, two joysticks, a D-pad, and X-Y-A-B/select/start buttons. The controller operates with plug-and-play functionality and uses a wired Lightning connection to connect to your mobile device. The controller provides passthrough charging to the connected mobile device – assuming the controller is connected to power through the charging port. There is a companion app that provides controller-compatible iOS games and apps – Ludo Mapp. A headphone socket is also included on the controller. 

IN THE BOX

• RiotPWR ESL Gaming Controller with the connected Lightning cable
• iPhone mount 
• QR code card that points to the Ludo Mapp app or the user manual

USER EXPERIENCE

The box for the controller has a clean, easy-to-read design. There is a colorful image of the controller on the front along with the name of the product. The back of the box provides some basic details and the side has the following information included in multiple languages: “iPhone not included. Does not work with all games, requires iOS 7 or later. Lightning connection. Lightning receptacle.” There is a badge on the back of the box that indicates there is a limited lifetime warranty on the controller. Inside the box, there is a card that describes what the warranty covers (mainly workmanship defects). There is no printed user manual included, but it can be downloaded by using the QR Code provided in the box. 

The controller is essentially bus-powered. It powers on automatically when you plug the Lightning cable into your mobile device and it powers off when you disconnect it. Your connected mobile device can receive passthrough charging provided a power source is connected to the controller’s Lightning port (located on the bottom of the unit). Getting the controller set up is incredibly easy. Once it’s plugged into your mobile device, you just start up a game and start playing. It doesn’t work with all games that are available on iOS, but it does work with a lot of them. The companion app is really just a catalog of games that are compatible with the controller. I tested out the controller with LEGO Star Wars as I already had it downloaded on my phone. It worked perfectly. I didn’t have to download the Ludu Mapp first. Truth be told, I only meant to play a couple of rounds to test out how well the controller worked and I ended up playing for over an hour. The gameplay was seamless and I didn’t have any issues with connections. 

I am using an iPhone 12 Pro and my fiancé has an iPhone 13 Pro. He is a first-person shooter gamer so I asked him to give the RiotPWR controller a try, too. He was happy to do so because he had Call of Duty on his phone but really hadn’t enjoyed playing it much because it was too difficult to control his firearms in the game with the on-screen controls. He plugged the controller in and again, without needing to download the app, he was able to not only start playing COD, but he was also able to win. He joined a group of people and ended up with the MVP shot at the end of the round. I was on the opposite end of the house and heard him shout. He rushed to where I was to tell me what happened and was thrilled that he was able to enjoy the mobile version of the game. He said the controller gave him the ability to have gun control, which he was lacking without the controller. 

CONCLUSION

The RiotPWR ESL Gaming Controller is a great accessory for any avid mobile user. It gives you an entirely new set of activities to enjoy on your mobile device. It’s a fairly budget-friendly accessory and it’s really fun to use. If you are a mobile gamer or want to be able to enjoy your games a little more, check out the RiotPWR ESL controller. 

For more information, visit riotpwr.com and Facebook.