The
Freedom V’s biggest asset was that it was wireless, allowing players a little more freedom of movement when playing, especially players who REALLY get into things. The
Double Range comes with the same range and freedom allowed by the
Freedom V. I was impressed with just how far I was able to take the guitar and still play. My apartment isn’t the largest of living spaces, but I was able to take the guitar as far as the end of my hallway and into the kitchen and still play, both of which are a good 15+ feet from my PS2.
Another feature the Double Range shares with the Freedom V is its feather-touch buttons. Unlike the stock guitar controller, the buttons on the Freedom V have a light, spongy feel. This feature is something I’ve come to find you’ll either love or hate, there’s very little middle ground. When I first tried the buttons I wasn’t a fan, but I learned to like then during some demo time with Guitar Hero II. The buttons require less force to register a press, allowing you a little more speed. The downside is you don’t have as much tactile feedback, so it is hard to resist pressing down hard on the buttons waiting for a response.
The big difference between the two controllers is the Double Range’s second set of fret buttons located at the base of the neck. These buttons don’t have the same feel as the normal fret buttons and are smaller. At first it wasn’t uncommon to hit the wrong buttons or stumble around and hit two at a time. Even after a couple of play sessions I am still learning; but this is simply me having to retrain my brain.
So what exactly do the new buttons offer? Faster solo times. Anyone who has played Guitar Hero II can tell you the combinations can get tricky, especially on higher difficulty levels. Having the buttons closer to the guitar, and your body, gives you that little extra burst of speed you need to really bust out the combos and solos.
