Transformers 3 Optimus Prime Razer DeathAdder Review

Typically when you use a particular piece of equipment on a daily basis (be it a car, lawnmower, toaster), you tend to take said item for granted.  A mouse is no exception, and when you’re gaming it is an even more important, yet neglected, piece of equipment.  A good mouse will get you far in a PvP or Deathmatch, but a great mouse will get you even farther.

Razer’s DeathAdder line has been a heavy hitter in the mid-entry level gaming market for some time now, and in 2009 it received a slew of upgrades.  Most notably, the optical sensor was upgraded from 1800DPI to 3500DPI to provide almost twice the accuracy as the original.  Recently, Razer released a line of Transformers 3 themed DeathAdders to celebrate the release of the trilogy’s finale, and we got our hands on one to take a closer look at the Optimus Prime DeathAdder!

The first thing that you’ll notice is the shining red gloss that adorns the top of the Optimus Prime DeathAdder mouse, with a sleek black finish trimming the sides.  Just above the Transformers logo is the classic Autobot symbol, that, when plugged in, illuminates a cool pulsating blue along with the scroll wheel.  The red top cover is a single piece of durable plastic that has been cut with a slot to provide space for the scroll wheel and forms the buttons alongside it.  By using just a single piece of plastic, the DeathAdder mouse maintains a clean look that won’t get gunked up over time in the crevices that you have with separate pieces for buttons.  Furthermore, this design allows the top plate to act as its own spring mechanism for the buttons instead of having additional mechanical parts that would fail over time, thus improving its durability and longevity.

Adding to the Razer DeathAdder‘s durability is the seven-foot, braided fiber cable.  The braided fiber gives the mouse’s cord extra structural integrity to prevent pinching from being run under monitors, behind desks, etc, while maintaining flexibility.  The gold-plated USB connector also allows for maximum conductivity to ensure a solid and reliable connection while gaming.  The super lightweight construction of the mouse also ensures that you’ll be able to play those marathon runs with minimal fatigue as well.

Once the Razer DeathAdder software is installed on your Mac or PC (yes, it supports both), you’ll find that a number of options are available for you to tinker with, including the ability to program the five buttons (left, right, scroll wheel, and two buttons on the left side thumb) as well as the scroll up and down behavior to your liking.  You can also configure the lighting options, enable or disable the scroll wheel, adjust the sensitivity, and more.  When you’re done, you can save it to one of five profiles to use.

Having a comfortable mouse is paramount to playing at your best in most modern PC games, and the Razer DeathAdder delivers.  Its ergonomic design fits well inside an adult’s hand with all of the buttons easily accessible in position where your fingers rest naturally.  This allows you to concentrate on your crosshairs, locking in between an opponent’s eyes, and taking them down quickly without having to worry about where your button is at.  As a matter of fact, the side buttons were so comfortably and conveniently placed, that I remapped my weapon changes to those instead of the scroll wheel to give me more precision in quickly selecting weapons.  The only gripe that you may find is if you have petite hands, or if you’re left-handed.  The DeathAdder is most definitely a right-handed mouse.

A fantastic feature of the DeathAdder mouse via the installed software is the On-the-Fly Sensitivity.  By mapping it to a button on the mouse, you open up a quick bar that shows where your mouse sensitivity is set.  Scrolling up or down while holding this button will allow you to increase or decrease it on-the-fly as advertised.  What’s especially nice is that you can actually adjust the sensitivity as needed while you’re playing the game.  Unfortunately, the scale doesn’t show up in the game, so you have to play around with it a little, but being able to adjust it without having to wait between matches is definitely a well thought out feature.

The Transformers 3 Razer DeathAdder line comes in four flavors that will satisfy the most rabid fans:  Optimus Prime (Red), Bumblebee (Yellow), Megatron (Silver), and Shockwave (Purple) are available to choose from.  And for those who absolutely must accessorize, you can pick up the Transformers-themed Vespula gaming mouse pad and/or the ultra-cool line of laptop cases.

At $60 retail, the Transformers 3 Razer DeathAdder is definitely an affordable mid-level mouse to consider without breaking the bank.  The DeathAdder line is a longtime favorite amongst gamers, and makes for an excellent conversation piece at LAN parties.  With Christmas soon coming, this is something that should be on your list, provided you haven’t been naughty.

The Transformers 3 Razer DeathAdder receives a 4.75/5.0.