There are incredible options for players that’s looking for immersion when it comes to games like Flight Simulator, Elite Dangerous and Star Citizen (my reasoning). From budget friendly models like Thrustmaster T-Flight to a more premium variant such as Logitech X56, it’s there. Turtle Beach has been producing great midline products that can benefit players seeking premium functionality, at a fraction of the cost – and if you’re like me that need a more compact design, but also want to make sure you’re effective, the VelocityOne Flightstick is the best option for a budget gamer, even if it’s a bit pricier than some budget flight sticks, it’s well worth it.
Suitable Design with a Surprise
Out the box, the flight stick is a lot bigger than anticipated, yet very sleek in overall design. The hard plastic elevates its premium feel with all of the UI buttons we come to expect. It comes with a single braided USB Type C cable for connectivity. In terms of control, there’s your usual thruster and spool nozzles that clicks in place when at maximum position which is a nice touch. The overall design is ambidextrous so you can swap the grip plates of the nozzles to fit your need, this includes a palm rest plate that’s also adjustable – pretty considerate.
The joystick is sturdy when rotating its axis which I personally love, but there’s no way to adjust sensitivity. At the base of the joystick is a rotating dial for menu navigation – it can take a while to get use to but it’s pretty intuitive based on my testing. Additionally, you can click on the left and right side of it to navigate as well. For those that desire mounting the VelocityOne Flightstick, there’s 3 screw holes at the bottom to mount which I found wasn’t needed as the runner padding on the bottom are sturdy; I had zero movement during my time of testing which impressed me.
It’s The User That Matters
The UI buttons are pretty standard with Turtle Beach design – similar to the Universal Control variant, there’s LED lighting that is differentiated with blue and yellow. The usual Xbox button layout is fixed on the front center, where additional control buttons are seated to the right and left of the joystick. At the top of the axis control are two diagonal buttons with one of them being analog, useful for navigating and even cockpit view. The surprising element is a fixed track pad at the center of the joystick top section, can be used for mouse control – if you’re dexterous enough this could benefit you as a player. A small OLED display screen is also fixed at the top of the joystick which I personally thought was cool. Overall, it’s a pretty intuitive, compact design that has all the necessities, but can take a bit of work if your hands are large.
My time with this module has me fixated on its integration to my overall setup – I have a L-shaped desk and would much prefer as much space for my mouse as possible, with this flight stick, I can place this anywhere without worry of clutter. That means after inputting my functions, I wad able to play Star Citizen with ease – navigating its complicated flight system with this overall joystick design feels comfortable and intuitive. I highly recommend this to newcomers or enthusiasts who are looking to reduce their clutter while still feeling in control of their immersive set up.
REVIEW SCORE: 9/10
Turtle Beach produced a thoughtful flight stick with its compact design while maintaining their premium quality at a slight budget increase – well worth the $129.99 price if you’re looking to get a little more bang for your buck.
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