Rig Nacon Pro Compact review: "Punches above its weight"

I've got a confession for you when it comes to the Rig Nacon Pro Compact: I underestimated it. Now I've got to eat those words. This is a great controller.

More specifically, the Rig Nacon Pro Compact offers a feature-set that's normally reserved for something much more expensive. As such, it's a great choice if you're in the market for good Xbox Series X accessories.

Features

Don't be fooled by the low price of the Rig Nacon Pro Compact; it aims to provide you with the kind of customization and performance you'd receive on a controller that costs twice as much. Namely, it's backed up by programmable settings that allow you to tweak almost everything about it. 

Besides the standard functionality of an Xbox controller and a sizeable 3m cable (which means you don't have to worry about yanking it free of the USB port), Nacon offers free downloadable software on the Microsoft Store that lets players customize trigger sensitivity, button mapping, rumble intensity, and stick settings. You can also download Dolby Atmos onto the controller for a more precise audio experience.

Design

The Rig Nacon Pro Compact is an unusual beast. Rather than following in the footsteps of the chunky Nacon Revolution Unlimited, it's reminiscent of a DualShock controller for PS4. It's a lot more slight (15% smaller than the competition, to be precise), and the grips are much less pronounced here than on a standard Xbox Series X handset.

This took me some getting used to, but I'd imagine PlayStation gamers will feel right at home here.

Elsewhere, a matte front and intricately textured back are broken up by asymmetric thumbsticks with gold-rimmed housing, a metallic-looking D-pad and face buttons, a smooth plastic top, and wide shoulder bumpers. Surprisingly, the triggers don't pull the same trick; they're daintier than expected.  

Performance

Even though it's petite, the Rig Nacon Pro Compact punches above its weight - it performs remarkably well no matter the task. Comfortable and accurate, this controller impresses in spite of its affordability.

While it does a fine job out of the box, downloading the Pro Compact's dedicated software on your Xbox or PC is where things get spicy. This allows you to reprogram each button or adjust sensitivities, providing an opportunity to finetune responsiveness across a range of genres. It's a shame that these options are limited to pre-set profiles (for racing or FPS games, that sort of thing), but they do an excellent job nonetheless.

The difference in stick twitchiness or trigger actuation between modes is definitely noticeable, too. It allowed me to aim down my weapon's sights or line up a headshot in Destiny 2's latest season a lot faster than normal, and I felt more in control as a result. Particularly because you can swap modes quickly thanks to the Series X's quick-resume function.

There are issues, yes. The option buttons could be lower down for ease of access, and the sticks aren't as grippy as they should be (they're surprisingly smooth). But it's not an issue in the heat of the moment. In terms of those sticks, I was never in danger of losing my grip during a firefight - in spite of a rumble feature worthy of an earthquake.

Overall - should you buy the Rig Nacon Pro Compact?

Any concerns I had about this Nacon controller disappeared when the games started. Plus, its easy-use customization makes it a great choice for those who want to fine-tune their experience without breaking the bank. 

Want to become a 'pro' gamer? This is where to start.