CRKD Atom Bluetooth Controller review - “Perfectly reasonable power in a small package”

• The CRKD Atom is the newest peripheral from the hardware manufacturer
• A keychain-sized portable bluetooth controller, it promises to be as much a collectible as a tool of play
• But how does it measure up? I went hands on with the device, so let's find out

It seems that miniaturisation is back in vogue, or at least that’s what CRKD are counting on. Their newest line of peripherals is the aptly-named CRKD Atom (not to be confused with the Turtle Beach product of the same name), a keychain-sized peripheral that offers a new way to control your games and a snazzy collectible to boot, or so they say.

I got the chance to get hands-on with this snazzy new device. So does it hold up? Should it be the next thing on your Christmas list? And how well does it perform in the actual role of playing games?

Let's find out!

What you get in the box

While the CRKD Atom comes in a fairly big box, the actual contents are fairly straightforward. You get the controller, a quick start guide, a (very small) USB to USB-C charging cable, and a wrist loop to attach to the Atom. I did find it a bit odd that you don't get a keychain loop or other optional attachment, given that the Atom is also being sold as a collectible.

Features

The CRKD Atom is relatively simple to connect - you simply hold buttons to turn on pairing mode. Aside from that this is as straightforward as you can get, starting with a D-Pad and four face buttons. The shoulder buttons are a neat little addition of course, but you may be hard-pressed to find games that feature these but not a joystick. Otherwise, if you've played with a Bluetooth gamepad, this isn't reinventing the wheel.

Performance

I tested the CRKD Atom with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and the ever-popular Metal Slug series, which are perfectly suited for a controller without a joystick. Plenty of button repetitions and enough variety of movement to ensure a decent stress test. Both are also, in my opinion, ill-suited for touch screens and the Atom was a great way to experience them without my thumbs taking up most of the screen.

I was pleased to find that the CRKD Atom didn’t offer any delay with the buttons or D-Pad, and I was able to perform as well as I would have if using something like a PlayStation controller. Ergonomically speaking, although it was comfortable, I did feel the occasional twinge from jamming my fingers so close together.

In terms of how it integrated with games, I think the only issue was that the face buttons are in a different format than what seems to be commonplace. So some games like SotN which have default layouts for face buttons may be a bit awkward to translate properly to the Atom. 

I think the Atom would've been just as useable without any letters on the face buttons at all, especially since these aren't engraved but embossed, meaning 99% of the time you won't even be able to see or feel the difference except by memorisation. But otherwise, it's easy to differentiate between them by touch alone thanks to the angular layout.

Build quality

When it comes to “mini-devices” like the Atom, build quality is always going to be a concern, especially for something that bills itself as a keychain accessory as much as a peripheral. Fortunately, the Atom is a solidly built controller with only one major plastic seam conjoining the front and back halves that had no give or bend that I could find. There was a slight gap around the USB-C input port, but connecting the charger didn't seem to have any issues.

The buttons are a bit of a different story, with the occasional bit of tilt rotating them slightly right or left, however, both they and the D-Pad, as well as the shoulder buttons, have plenty of feedback when pressed and are as ergonomically comfortable as you could expect something like this to be. They also feel quite solid, so even that worrying rotation never goes further than a slight tilt.

Pros

Including all the above points, the CRKD Atom was overall a great experience. Solidly built, responsive, lightweight but not flimsy and easy to set up and charge. While I can’t see myself hanging it off a keychain or a backpack (given how I’d be worried about it getting nicked), the fabric loop you receive in the case is a pretty easy way to carry it around and prevent it from getting lost amidst any desktop detritus or other messy locations.

It's also worth noting that the Atom is not 'just' compatible with mobile. If you have a PC, Nintendo Switch or other Bluetooth-compatible device you can easily hook it up and play. And while it may not be the go-to choice for serious gamers, if you don't want to pull out your DualShock or fight stick for some simple platform games, this is an added extra benefit.

Cons

Now, my one major issue with the CRKD Atom is the price. It’s not a massive jump, but in comparison to the similarly-sized 8Bitdo Micro, which is £17.99, the Atom is a whole £2 more expensive than it at £19.99. Is that a deal-breaker? Not even slightly, but it is worth noting, and the wider variety of colours and clear plastic casings may not be enough to sway penny pinchers.

Even so, the fact that the Atom is being sold as a collectible (with the tagline 'collect them all') is not going to be a major game changer in my opinion. At the price, it's being retailed for, and with the rather niche use-case scenario, I think the CRKD can justify its price based on the relative ubiquity and unique designs, but only slightly.

Should you buy it?

I’d say it’s a pretty firm yes, if this is what you’re looking for. While the CRKD Atom has caveats, if you’re looking for a miniature controller at an affordable price with a wide range of compatibility and virtually every feature you’d expect with no extraneous additions, then this device more than meets those requirements.