GameSir Tarantula Pro review: A symmetrical controller with extra buttons and features

The good ol’ KB+M combo works really well for FPS, CRPG, and MMORPG titles. But there’s no denying that controllers provide a more engaging experience in titles belonging to the racing, platformer, hack-and-slash, and a variety of other genres.

But there’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a controller. While the company usually manufactures gamepads for the mobile community, GameSir’s latest Tarantula Pro is a multi-platform accessory that’s also designed for PC and console gamers. Despite its affordable price, it combines solid ergonomics with a couple of unique features. So, here are my impressions after spending well over three weeks with the Tarantula Pro.

About this review: GameSir sent me their Tarantula Pro controller. But the company had no input into the contents of this review.

A solid controller for PC gamers

GameSir Tarantula Pro

The Tarantula Pro is GameSir’s latest budget-friendly controller that features a symmetrical design remniscent of Sony’s DualShock/DualSense gamepads. Compatible with PCs, smartphones, and the Nintendo Switch, the Tarantula Pro packs swappable face buttons, HD rumble motors, and nine customizable buttons. 

Pros

• 6-axis gyroscope sensor and dual face button layouts are great for emulation
• HD rumble motors provide responsive vibrations
• Symmetrical design at an affordable price
• Nine mappable buttons

Cons

• Impossible to modify the controller settings on PC

Pricing, specs, and availability

The GameSir Tarantula Pro launched earlier this month for $70 and is only available in a jet-black color scheme. While GameSir ships a charging cable and a wireless USB dongle with the base version, you can spend an extra $10 to grab a charging dock for the gamepad. Speaking of, the Tarantula Pro is currently up for purchase on Amazon and GameSir’s website, and we expect other third-party retailers to stock up on the controller in the near future.

What I like about the GameSir Tarantula Pro

Solid build quality, alongside swappable face buttons, gyroscope sensor, and amazing rumble motors

Appearance-wise, the Tarantula Pro has a striking resemblance to modern PlayStation controllers – particularly the DualShock 4 – with the two hall-effect TMR analog sticks lying in the middle and the directional pad pushed to the top-left corner. However, a clear distinction lies in the face buttons, which lack any markings whatsoever. That’s because the Tarantula Pro uses swappable face buttons, allowing you to switch between the ABXY (Nintendo) and BAYX (Xbox) layouts at will. In fact, you’ll hear the gears slot into place whenever you switch it on or change the layouts by pressing the rear M key in tandem with the A button.

As someone who adores the replaceable buttons in GameSir’s X4 Aileron and G8+ controllers, I have to highlight that the Tarantula Pro makes customizing the face buttons a lot easier than its mobile-oriented siblings. Flipping the controller over will reveal two latches under the hall-effect triggers, and you can use them to switch between hair-trigger and full-press modes.

Under the hood, the gamepad includes highly responsive HD rumble motors, easily some of the best I’ve ever used. In Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, you’d feel slightly weaker vibrations when exiting the hangar than you would when dodging and activating the boost function. Likewise, you’ll experience different magnitudes of rumble for different in-game actions, which makes for an even more immersive experience. The gamepad also comes with a six-axis gyroscope sensor, and after testing it using emulators on both my PC and Android phone, it works just as well as you’d expect. The 1,000Hz polling rate and minimal input latency on a wired connection makes the GameSir Tarantula Pro extremely satisfying to use.

Several mappable buttons and multiple connectivity options

Above the camouflage-like patterns of the GameSir Tarantula Pro, you’ll find an entire row of buttons. While I would’ve preferred if the Start and Select buttons were a tad bigger, you get four extra buttons named C1-C4, which can be mapped to your preferred inputs using the Android app (which I’ll go over in a bit). Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed a bar bearing the GameSir logo at the top. As it turns out, the bar itself contains three extra buttons, which you can activate by pressing down on the left, right, and center portions. You also get two extra paddles on the back, which, unlike the GameSir Kaleid Flux, can be rendered inaccessible with the nearby latches.

The Tarantula Pro supports wired and wireless connectivity, and you can use Bluetooth or a USB dongle if you aren’t fond of relying on cables. Although I prefer the minimal latency of the wired connection, the GameSir’s latest controller works pretty well when used in conjunction with the USB dongle. I also tested the Tarantula Pro on my Android phone, and the controller was pretty responsive over the Bluetooth connection.

What I don’t like about the GameSir Tarantula Pro

There isn’t a companion app for PCs

When I reviewed the GameSir X4 Aileron back in June, the Android app provided excellent customization features for the Joy-Con-like controller. Seeing how the Tarantula Pro is meant for PC and console gamers, I expected it to work with the official GameSir Nexus app. Unfortunately, the companion application failed to detect the gamepad, even though pressing the A button lets me change the language. Switching to Bluetooth or using the dongle didn’t help, either.

However, the Android companion application immediately paired with the Tarantula Pro. I’ll give credit to GameSir for giving tons of customization options, including dedicated tabs for the lighting, button, and trigger settings, inside the app. But for a controller that’s geared for PCs, the lack of a proper x86 companion app is a real bummer, as you’ll have to go through the tedious procedure of disconnecting it from the PC and pairing it with your smartphone every time you have to modify a single option. As such, GameSir’s oversight in adding a proper PC companion app is a major annoyance in an otherwise brilliant controller.

Should you buy the GameSir Tarantula Pro?

The GameSir Tarantula Pro is the perfect addition to your gaming space if:

• You want an affordable controller with symmetrical analog sticks.
• You’re into emulation and need a gamepad with swappable Microsoft/Nintendo face buttons and gyroscope sensors.
• You’re a fan of hall-effect components in your controller.
• You need a small and lightweight gamepad with terrific rumble options.

The GameSir Tarantula Pro isn’t worth your money if:

• You’re in the market for a controller with typical Xbox-esque aesthetics.
• You’re a PC gamer and don’t want to access the Android app every time you need to modify the gamepad settings.

The GameSir Tarantula Pro manages to get many things right. The rumble motors are easily my favorite part of the controller, and I also love its symmetrical layout and the multitude of customizable buttons. The ergonomic design is another plus-point, and while the swappable buttons are a neat addition, you only get two layouts (ABXY and BAYX) to choose from. For an emulation addict like me, these work pretty well, but it would have been nice to cycle between a few more layouts. Plus, I would’ve preferred if the controller could display PlayStation-style buttons.

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Unfortunately, the lack of a proper PC app is easily the Achilles Heel of the Tarantula Pro. Technically, you can swap between the face button layouts and modify the triggers and back buttons from the controller itself. But if you want to change the button mappings, LED settings, or just switch the dead zones, you’ll have to waste extra minutes pairing the controller to your phone, making the modification, and connecting the GameSir Tarantula Pro back to your PC. As long as you’re willing to overlook this issue, the GameSir Tarantula Pro is easily one of the best budget-friendly PC/console gamepads out there.

A solid controller for PC gamers

GameSir Tarantula Pro

The Tarantula Pro is GameSir’s latest budget-friendly controller that features a symmetrical design remniscent of Sony’s DualShock/DualSense gamepads. Compatible with PCs, smartphones, and the Nintendo Switch, the Tarantula Pro packs swappable face buttons, HD rumble motors, and nine customizable buttons.