ikari posts

Ergonomic, light weight, and extremely responsive, the Ikari fits a gamer's every need. The fast CPI switching lets gamers go from FPS action games to RTS games without missing a beat. Its buttons can be programmed with macros that will work even when the mouse is plugged into a computer that doesn't have SteelSeries drivers installed. Additionally, the software lets gamers customize its sensitivity down to a single CPI, so they can get the best performance to suit their individual skill.

The Good: Wide, comfortable ergonomic design. Fast CPI switching. Mouse clearly displays loaded profile. Macro support that works when plugged into computers without drivers installed. Extreme sensitivity customization down to increments of 1 CPI.

The Bad: The "anti-slip" surface doesn't offer as much grip as we like. Combined with its design, it can make picking up the mouse in the middle of gaming difficult. Although the mouse supports numerous profiles, the mouse can only switch between two CPI settings.

Bottom Line: The Ikari offers great performance that appeal to both pro-gamers and at-home hardcore gamers alike. It has a very comfortable feel and has excellent response. As an added bonus, it even works well with general non-gaming uses, a design feature that is becoming increasingly rare with a lot of high-performance gaming mice. One of its best features is the internal memory that will carry custom CPI setting and macros to computers that don't have Ikari mouse drivers installed, but this is mainly a pro-gamer concern. Our main gripe is with the Ikari's smooth surface, which isn't as "non-slip" as it should be and makes picking up the mouse during gaming a bit of a hassle. Although it has an attractive design, it's all about function, so it's not for those who love glowing LED lights to add to the computer's aesthetics. Those who can happily do without flashing lights will have a lot to love with the Ikari.

SteelSeries made a name for itself in Europe as a specialized maker of high-performance pro-gamer gear. The company uses a minimalist, no-nonsense, design philosophy that puts function and performance above all else. That means there are no extraneous lights or functions on their gear that don't directly relate to competitive gaming. In an effort to make its presence better known in the U.S. market, SteelSeries is paying a little more attention to aesthetics in addition to high-performance and quality, as evident with its Siberia Neckband Headset. Its recent acquisition of another specialized gaming peripheral company, Ideazon, marks the company's intention to bring pro-gaming quality gear to home gaming enthusiasts.

We test out SteelSeries' top current top offerings, the 7G Gaming Keyboard, Ikari Laser Mouse, 5H v2 Headset and the Siberia Neckband Headset to see how performance and price balances out between the pro and hardcore gamer.