I’m not a competitive gamer, at least in the sense no one is paying me to ride the leaderboards in my favorite shooter or destroy unsuspecting players in Elden Ring invasions. That said, I do enjoy having the edge whenever possible. If fighting games like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and Tekken were my passion, I’d definitely be using a leverless controller like the HyperX Clutch Tachi.
If you’re stumbling into this review and don’t know the lingo, a leverless controller gets rid of the thumbsticks of a standard controller and replaces them with directional buttons (not unlike a keyboard). No matter how high-end, thumbsticks have built-in imprecision, and those milliseconds add up in tournament-level play. Around 40% of pro players now use leverless keyboards in competitions.
The HyperX Clutch Tachi is a leverless keyboard that supports PC and Xbox right out of the box, but PS5 players are out of luck without an interface device like the Brook Wingman. The Tachi retails for $199 US, so PS5 players are looking at around a $250 investment.
Looking at the Tachi, the array of directional buttons is on the left, and the right cluster includes a block of face buttons and shoulder buttons/triggers. There is a sloped wrist rest below and power button, an RGB selector and a dedicated SOCD button that supports four different selectable profiles to comply with varying tournament rulesets. Of course, more exacting customizability comes via the HyperX NGenuity software. You can configure a number of profiles, either for different players or specific games.
The HyperX Clutch Tachi is not wireless and includes a generously long cable. One slightly dubious decision is to include a cable management notch that feeds the cable from the right-angle USB-C connection underneath the box. While it makes the cable incredibly secure, it comes at a cost of a little stress at the connection point.
With any kind of interface device, ergonomics are a complex design decision. Every user’s form factor is different and no gear is a perfect fit for everyone. That said, I personally found the HyperX Clutch Tachi’s button size and spacing an excellent match for my average-sized hands. The buttons are slightly raised and rounded with a matte finish that’s very tactile and comfortable under the fingers. I appreciated the oversized jump button which could be practically used with either thumb if needed. The keys have a nice clack and are incredibly responsive.
The bottom of the Tachi is rubberized and sits without sliding both on the desktop and in the lap. Although not the thinnest or lightest leverless keyboard on the market, the 8’x12′ form factor still fits easily in a bag. The Tachi comes with a brushed metal faceplate and a clear plastic alternative. Aesthetically, it’s a winner. It feels solid and premium. Even without the software, there’s a good array of RGB lighting choices.
Full disclosure time. My time with the HyperX Clutch Tachi was not my very first leverless experience, but close to it. A few hours with it don’t compare to decades of standard controller muscle memory. From my beginner’s perspective, playing Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8 or Injustice 2 on the Tachi was a revelatory experience. The level of precision and speed was incredibly satisfying, even if my skills lagged far behind.
Many players use leverless controllers for action platformers like Dead Cells or Hollow Knight. To be honest, these felt less intuitive using the HyperX Clutch Tachi, but that’s probably — almost entirely — on me. I can absolutely see that changing with practice. Now, in theory, the Hyper X Clutch Tachi should be able to control just about any game. For fun, I tried playing Mortal Shell 2 (my current obsession) with it. Let’s just say it isn’t the right tool for the job, at least in my hands.
The HyperX Clutch Tachi is an awesome controller, but not necessarily for everyone. At $200, it’s a pricey way to test the leverless waters. If you’re a dedicated PS5 player, you can add the cost of an interface box. The package is a bit bare-bones, without alternative keys, for example. The HyperX NGenuity can be finicky to set up. However, if you’re looking for an extremely comfortable, solidly built, and attractively designed leverless controller, the HyperX Clutch Tachi is an excellent choice. I have seen the leverless light, and the HyperX Clutch Tachi will be required gear any time I play a fighting game from now on.
***HyperX Clutch Tachi provided for review***
