Nostalgia Meets Skepticism
Music game fans: when CRKD unveiled the NEO S Bruno Mars 5-Fret Edition controller for Fortnite Festival, my Guitar Hero memories lit up—and so did my scepticism alarm. It’s the first officially licensed, guitar-style peripheral tied to a chart-topping artist, promising a tactile experience that mobile taps and Joy-Con flicks can’t match. But beyond the glossy pop-star branding, can it truly reignite the rhythm game flame?
State of Rhythm Gaming Today
After the plastic-instrument crash of the early 2010s, major publishers all but abandoned dedicated rhythm peripherals. Mobile titles filled the gap with tap-based play, while Nintendo and PlayStation stuck to simplified motion options. Yet Fortnite Festival’s custom music events have quietly built a community hungry for more—hinting at an opening for real hardware. At the same time, niche brands and indie developers experiment with MIDI adapters and DIY kits, showing there’s still enthusiasm for physical controllers.
Key Features and Build Quality
- Authentic Fret Buttons: Five guitar-style frets snap onto the NEO S core, then detach for standard gameplay—no more sofa-swallowing monstrosities.
- Hall-Effect Thumbsticks: Designed to minimize drift and prolong lifespan, a welcome upgrade over cheaper analog sticks.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works via USB-C or Bluetooth on Switch, PC, mobile devices, and even compatible smart TVs.
- Customizable App: CRKD’s companion app lets you remap inputs, adjust trigger sensitivity, and track your controller’s rarity rank.
- Collector’s Appeal: Limited-edition shell art and a built-in rarity system make it as much a display piece as a playable tool.
Performance and Usability Compared
Compared with a standard Switch Pro controller or a PC gamepad, the NEO S adds targeted feedback and dedicated frets—but at a mild cost of extra weight and bulk. Button travel feels snappy, though heavy-hit strummers might notice minor flex on the snap-on attachment under intense sessions. In latency tests under typical Bluetooth settings, drop-outs are rare but can surface in crowded wireless environments—something to consider for serious score chasers. The Hall-Effect sticks do live up to their promise, offering smoother analog control when you switch back to non-rhythm titles.
Software Support: The Make-or-Break Factor
No matter how solid the hardware, peripherals live or die by software integration. Fortnite Festival is the sole release with deep fret support at launch. If Epic or third-party studios don’t roll out dedicated rhythm modes or plug-and-play mapping in future titles, this controller risks repeating the fate of dusty Guitar Hero axes. Encouragingly, CRKD has teased partnerships with indie rhythm developers—though concrete demos remain pending.
Who Should Buy It?
If you’re a collector or a die-hard Bruno Mars fan, the striking design alone could justify the $59.99 price tag. Rhythm veterans looking for that old-school buzz may appreciate the authentic fret layout and Hall-Effect upgrades. Casual players better served by a single-purpose plastic guitar might stick with touchscreen or Joy-Con inputs—unless Fortnite Festival becomes a long-term obsession.
Conclusion: Real Revival or Flashy One-Off?
The NEO S Bruno Mars 5-Fret Edition is a confident step toward reviving dedicated rhythm hardware for today’s multi-platform landscape. Built by engineers steeped in Guitar Hero and DJ Hero lore, it blends collector polish with functional upgrades. Yet its ultimate success depends on software support beyond a single Fortnite mode. If CRKD manages to foster a vibrant ecosystem of compatible titles, this could mark the start of a genuine rhythm game resurgence. If not, it remains a stylish conversation piece—an impressive flex but little more.
TL;DR – The Beat’s in Your Hands, If the Software Catches Up
The NEO S Bruno Mars 5-Fret packs nostalgia, genuine frets, cross-platform use and collector flair into one controller. It’s built for a comeback, but its legacy hinges on deeper game support.