Roccat Isku+ Force FX

Analogue gaming RGBd

Price $ 159.95 www.roccat.org

The Isku+ Force FX, aside from having a rather clunky name, is an interesting and altogether decent keyboard thanks to a mixture of cost and features. The keyboard features a row of programmable macro keys along the left hand side and another three keys situated under the space bar, as well as multiple profile slots, media controls and RGB lighting, but that is all frills on top of what makes the keyboard so interesting. Although the Isku+ uses decent if somewhat squishy feeling membrane keys, the QWEASD keys can be set to analogue, enabling the force of a keystroke to be measured for finer control in gaming.

While this may sound a bit like a solution to a problem that doesn’t really exist, after a brief learning curve, the analogue keys definitely make a difference when it comes to gaming. The keys can be programmed in a number of ways, but the most interesting is when a key is set to have multiple levels of contact – the W can be set to walk and run depending on how far the key is pressed. It’s a neat trick and one that Roccat seems to be pursuing in some other upcoming products. It will be interesting to test the technology with smooth linear mechanical keys, as the membrane keys in the Isku+ Force FX (still a mouthful) feel a little short and have too much of an actuation bump to make the analogue features feel natural. DANIEL WILKS