Testing and Conclusion
Testing
Testing involved me playing several games over several hours and comparing the experience with other mice I had used in the past. When testing I looked at the most important factors:
Functionality: How simple and effective the mouse was at doing what I wanted. Was it accurate enough, sensitive enough?
Comfort: Did my hand get tired during testing? Did the mouse get covered in sweat?
What’s missing: Any features that I missed during game play and that I thought would improve the mouse.
The games I used for testing this peripheral were:
Mount and Blade Warband
Dawn of War II Chaos Rising
Various online flash titles
Results
Functionality
Considering how light the Abyssus is, I was expecting it to be a little unruly. I was pleasantly surprised though, as even with the teflon feet on the base making it slide across the mat very smoothly, it was very easy to control. High sensitivity combined with excellent accuracy made this an incredibly easy mouse to use. I never had points in the games where I overshot icons or missed a shot because of the mouse; I missed a few because I suck, but that’s not the mouse’s fault.
Comfort
Due to the body of the mouse being made of plastic, there was a little moisture build up during the more strenuous parts of the games. However, despite this it didn’t get to a point where it was particularly noticeable or irritating.
With my small hands I had no problem reaching any of the buttons, I didn’t have to stretch, and the fact that I prefer the claw grip style of game play meant the ambidextrous frame accommodated me nicely. Switching, somewhat begrudgingly to the palm grip to give a fair test, I found that while not quite as comfortable – for me at least – this type of grip was possible with this mouse and I see no reason why a palm gamer wouldn’t find the Abyssus Mirrored SE comfortable. However, it must be noted that with this grip my fingers were almost to the front of the buttons. My hands are pretty small so a palm grip would be hard for a large handed gamer with this mouse.
What’s missing?
This is where people will divide their opinions on the Abyssus depending on what sort of games they play and how seriously they take them. While this mouse does go back to basics somewhat – indeed the non-mirrored version is quite a budget peripheral by Razer standards – it does mean that it misses out on some more common gaming mouse features. There are no side buttons for back and forward option, no software for macro creation or button remapping, and no side rocking buttons on the scroll wheel.
This is a basic mouse for basic gaming, but unless you’re playing a macro heavy game, all these cut backs make the Abyssus a very streamlined mouse. You never feel annoyed that your thumb is resting on a side button, you don’t have to use software to switch DPI, or wait for it to start up when your PC boots. It’s a question of taste, but personally, I like the kind of gaming mouse that does what it says on the box; it’s fast and it’s accurate.
Conclusion
While MMO gamers and some RTS players that utilise macros for quick unit builds may find the Abyssus a step backwards in Razer’s lineup of gaming peripherals, I found the sleek design and feature list quite refreshing. Sure there was the odd occasion where I missed certain renovations that have become commonplace in recent years, but with this mouse it feels like Razer have really gone back to their roots and produced something that just works; and works well.
Jon Martindale
| We Like |
|
Verdict |
Score |
- Smooth mousing surface transition
- Beautifully accurate
- Grass roots design
- Not too expensive |
|
It’s fast, it’s accurate and it looks fantastic. If you want more from your mouse there’s plenty of others out there to choose from, but few that do the basics as well as the Abyssus Mirrored. |
90 |
| We Don't Like |
|
- No side buttons
- A bit small for some
|
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