Not for the first and hopefully not for the last time, I’m taking on a review of gaming accessories with a particular theme. This time I got my hands on the game Naraka: Bladepoint, the developers of which Bloody has teamed up with. So today in my review we have Bloody S98, Bloody W95 Max, Bloody G575 and Bloody BP-45. You can see for yourself what the themes are, and not for all the money in the world.
Naraka: Bladepoint – $20
First off, a little bit about the game. It’s a pretty interesting online mix of Battle Royale and fighting game, with a very high level of verticality, and also in an Asian setting. You might not have heard of this game because it, unlike many Battle Royales, costs money, not Free-To-Play.
This, however, means that the number of cheaters, Call of Duty kids and just plain goofballs is minimal. Especially because the game is quite difficult to learn, deep, and doesn’t even contain an AK-47. I mean, it’s not for shooter fans. But the pay-per-play gives a lack of hyper-aggressive monetisation, which is also nice.
So if you like the actual Asian setting, don’t mind being defeated and want to feel a little like the main characters of the movie “The Sneaking Tiger, the Lurking Dragon” – you’re welcome, as they say. And to make playing the game especially fun, a full set of accessories is coming next.
Bloody BP-45 – $10
Let’s get the mat out of the way quickly, because it’s an absolutely standard model that surprised me with its size. The fact that the Bloody BP-45 isn’t rectangular, but almost entirely square, will be useful in the game, as Naraka: Bladepoint is hyper-vertical and you’ll need to make sharp upward mouse movements frequently.
So, in fact, the dimensions of 450 x 430 mm are justified. And the print is beautiful, there’s nothing to say about it. However, the pad is not important if the mouse is not very good. In our case you don’t have to worry – W95 Max is not worse.
Bloody W95 Max – $33
How do I know? Because I’ve already done a review of it. More precisely, its little sister, the W70 Max, but they are much more similar than different. In fact, I praised the mouse then, almost kissing it – I’m planning to do the same now. Or don’t kiss it, after all we’re not allowed to have 18+ content here.
The mouse is a good one. PixArt MAX BC3332-A sensor, popular for A4Tech and Bloody in general. It’s not top-of-the-line, maximum acceleration, for example, is only 35 G. But the resolution is 12,000 DPI, the maximum FPS recognition is 8,000, the tracking speed is 250 IPS, the poll rate is 125 to 2,000 Hz, and the key response is 1ms.
Not forgetting the optional N-mode wheel, the functionality of which, as well as all the other buttons, including the four additional ones, can be set up without too much trouble in the proprietary software. There’s also a software cheats counterpart, so that’s the end of the story, if you’ll excuse me.
You’ll need a mat, by the way, because the feet here are X’Glide Armor metal, with an endurance rating of over 300km.
It’s a lot, but for any surface other than a mouse pad, it’s dangerous. It’s safe, however, with software that allows you to change both RGB backlighting and even macros – for which the mouse has 4KB of memory.
Well and a small detail – here the Naraka integration is done in style, and if you remove the logo of the game itself, the feeling is that the mouse is simply made in Japanese style. That is, it will stand the test of time without any problems.
Bloody S98 Naraka – $70
Next up is the Bloody S98 Naraka. One of three variations of the S98. Fully mechanical 80% keyboard. Not TKL, with NumPad, but much smaller in size.
The cable is Type-C and can be replaced if required. The cable is Type-C, and is replaceable if necessary.
The switches are Bloody BLMS, a novelty for the company, which plans to enter the premium custom keyboard market. Or semi-custom. The switches have a two-pin gold-plated cross-connector, an improved stainless steel torsion spring, they support quick-change and sound very nice. You can listen in the video review below.
The Bloody S98 Naraka comes with a dozen replacement switches, pliers and a manual, and the platform is also compatible with both 3 and 5-pin switches. A little nuance – this particular keyboard is fitted with silicone pads, which reduces the intensity of pressing than reduces noise – but it also lubricates the tactile experience a little.
The keycaps at the same time are honest PBT, but not everywhere, only at the “game” opaque keys, of which there are only 25. Which is actually a GREAT idea, because the main difference between ABS and PBT is the reaction over time to irritants – grease from your fingers, for example. Firstly, the cacaps are replaceable, and secondly, the most actively used ones are particularly enduring. Which is a frankly cool idea.
Also cool about the Bloody S98 Naraka is the idea of the optional 3 way cable management, plus two tilt leg adjustments, macro settings and even 4MB of onboard memory.
I would also like to say a few words about RGB backlighting – it is fully customisable via the proprietary software. But it can also be adjusted without it – using keyboard shortcuts. Whether you need it or not, I’m not sure, because the standard presets are more than cool. And it’s not just the animation that changes, but also the brightness.
Well, the design for Naraka is absolutely universal. There are no game logos at all, just a stylisation of the Japanese theme. Which doesn’t even break from the style of these models, for the original S98 looks ANY more expressive and intense.
Bloody G575 – $38
This model, albeit in cyberpunk colours, we also reviewed, and reviewed in detail, but it wouldn’t hurt to go over the benefits once again. That is – giant 50mm drivers, a more or less unique headband option consisting of two ‘wing-type’ elements that press against the head in two places – rather than in one, as usual.
These wings, by the way, have textile cushions – as do the ear cushions themselves. This is the main difference from the original G575, and in summer this option would be ideal, but it gives worse sound insulation. On the plus side, the detachable microphone is not bad quality with noise modulation. And three-dimensional surround sound – the scene is great, detailed, and in Naraka: Bladepoint hearing the enemy is as important as seeing.
However, there are nuances. Among them is the cup height control. There is none, so the headphones can press a little bit on your ears from above. Does the quality and switchable RGB lighting compensate for this? I don’t know, it’s up to you to decide. But it’s cool, for sure.
Also different from the original G575 – the cable is actually braided, as promised. And the Naraka styling – the logo is small, the red dragon print on white looks cool. And the backlighting isn’t bad, not too bright and turns off when needed.
Summary
The set doesn’t have to be used solely for the you-know-what Sneaky Battle, Lurking Piano. Accessories will behave just fine in any game. But missing out on such stylisation is rather odd. By the way, Naraka: Bladepoint is also available on Xbox Game Pass, so you don’t have to spend much to taste the Asian action. Well the Bloody S98, Bloody W95 Max, Bloody G575 and Bloody BP-45 I recommend.
Bloody S98 Naraka, Bloody W95 Max, Bloody G575 and Bloody BP-45 videos
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