I swore I could sense the patter of rain on my back going 90 miles per hour.
I paused the game, and the feedback on theRazer Freyja haptics seatcushion went silent.
I had to take a breath.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
I turned to my editor and spoke with hushed excitement.
Pros
Cons
He couldnt feel what I was feeling.
He also couldnt see what it was because I was sitting on it.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
The Freyja is the near realization of theprototype I first experienced at CES10 months ago.
As cool as it is, so many small details take away from the full promise.
It requires too many layers of software to get working properly.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
How is the Freyja Different From Other Gaming Haptics?
Too often, gaming haptics are a gimmick.
Razer is so, so close to getting it right with the $300 Freyja.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
This works by translating your in-game sound into force feedback through 14 pads for your back and buttocks.
The headsets sound quality deserves its own separate review, but Ill also touch on its haptics here.
You dont really need the ultra-expensive Kraken if your only goal is to get the full haptics immersion.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
Simply put, any high-quality sound setup will do to get the most out of the $300 cushion.
Its also a perfunctory equipment that makes it a hassle to use.
It requires you to download several layers of Razer software just to control the Sensa haptics suite.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
You also need to plug the cushion into an outlet with an all-too-short cable.
Finally, worst of all, I could not actually use the promised haptic effects built for some games.
I spent weeks working with Razer to get the haptics in these games working.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
When I finally did, the experience was underwhelming.
InFinal Fantasy XVI,the haptics play when you attack or cast a spell.
The cushion sent a small jolt of rumble into my lower back with each strike or spell.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
On a finishing blow, it sent a wave of haptics up and down the chair.
In minute-to-minute gameplay, it was largely underwhelming.
The games prologue has your main character running down a ravine as the earth is literally erupting around you.
There was nary a flick or itch from the cushion.
In those instances, I miss the all-consuming nature of sound-based haptics.
Its just as, or even more limited in other games.
What Does the Razer Freyja Feel Like?
The haptics in Freyja are easily its most impressive quality.
Whats great is that they also help with immersion in other gaming contexts.
Razer Chroma allows you to set the haptic gain for both the Freyja and the Kraken.
Three base modes will sound off haptics for different frequencies.
Whats sometimes odd about the sound-based haptics is how it might even pick up on dialogue.
Even talking with some characters, I get random jolts in my thighs.
Goro Takemura may have a deep voice, but it shouldnt be deep enough to feel like a subwoofer.
Combined with the Kraken V4 Pro, it has almost too many haptics.
Razers software defaults to a low level.
Thats basically all I would want from earphone haptics.
It was so minimal that the Kraken felt largely unnecessary.
You attach it to your chair via three elastic belts to hold it in place.
In particular, youll need to use Razer Chroma.
Why is Razers haptics locked behind its RGB control app?
God knows, but its supremely annoying.
Razer Synapse also recognizes that you own the chairs, but you cant affect their options.
Its just unfortunate theres no way to modify it to ignore in-game conversations for haptics.
It feels like its so close to being a real revolution for gaming haptics.
Update 11/20/24 at 1:02 p.m.
ET: This review was updated after working with Razer to finally get the Sensa HD haptics working.
The review score was updated to reflect these improvements.
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