Of all of Razer’s mice, I’m surprised that the Imperator was chosen as the model to headline one of EA’s biggest games this year, Mass Effect 3. I may have had my problems with the game, but I played through the majority of the game, and dozens of hours of multiplayer, with the Imperator. And as good as this mouse is, I can’t help but wonder why a more popular, or perhaps a bolder and more fully-featured mouse wasn’t chosen for the N7 logo. So keep reading to learn about this and some of the other best gaming mouse you can buy today.
The Razer Imperator is a fairly young mouse, relatively speaking. When I first looked at it back in late 2009, I felt it was a decent mouse that lacked features and had overly abrasive feet. The former remains unchanged while the latter has been completely fixed. Now the Imperator is a solid design, a mix between the Logitech G500 and Razer’s DeathAdder, with an adjustable set of thumb buttons.
The only difference between the current model and the original is the upgrade of the laser, which now tracks up to 6400 DPI. It depends who you ask, but even with 3 displays I can’t get used to anything past 2400, and rarely go that high even for gaming.
See also: Our Razer Lachesis review.
What about the Mass Effect edition? Unlike the Blackwidow Ultimate, it’s the same price as the standard Imperator, though like the original they are fairly expensive for what they are. $80 is a lot to ask for a gaming mouse with only four buttons and a DPI adjustment “switch” (it’s the two buttons directly below the scroll wheel). Even with the chain-mesh paint job, N7 logo and Mass Effect 3 stamp on the underside, that is a steep price.
Nonetheless it performs extremely well for gaming, Mass Effect 3 and otherwise. The laser tracks flawlessly and it’s very comfortable for hours on end. In every way the design is excellent.
All that’s left are the adjustable thumb buttons, which can move about two centimeters forward or back to match your thumb length. I truly wish there were more to say, but sadly that’s it. The Imperator has nothing else to talk about. It’s in many ways the exact opposite of the game it represents, which no one can seem to shut up about, for both good and (mostly) bad. I think both the Mamba and DeathAdder would have made better official Mass Effect mouse. Especially for this price point.
Related: If you like this mouse, you won’t want to miss our Mad Catz R.A.T.M Gamesmart Mouse review.
Editor’s Rating:
[Rating: 3]
Good
Bottom Line: A good, albeit bare-bones and slightly overpriced mouse.
Pros:
- Very comfortable for extended use
- Adjustable thumb buttons are convenient
- Pricey for a featureless mouse
- As the official Mass Effect 3 mouse, there is nothing that makes it stand out
