frontFresh out of E3 and a release date finally announced, the brawl between Call of Duty and Battlefield is approaching rapidly. The two titles seem similar, but true fans know they are almost as different as white and black. The same can be said about Razer's new gaming surface line, the Goliathus. One built for speed and one built for control, the story begins to sound very similar to the formerly mentioned FPS struggle. With a four pack of Red Bull and a Speed Edition Goliathus surface, I'm ready to get my twitch on.

Product Name: Goliathus Speed Edition

Review Sample Provided by: Razer

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Specifications

  • Slick Cloth Weave For Unbridled Speed And Effortless Control
  • Anti-Fraying Stitched Frame Extends Mat Durability
  • Pixel-Precise Targeting And Tracking
  • Rubber base for a secure grip on smooth surfaces
  • Space-efficient 270mm x 215mm x 3mm Design
    Standard 355mm x 254mm x 3mm Design (Review Sample)
    Large-sized 444mm x 355mm x 3mm Design
    Desktop Length 920mm x 294mm x 3 mm Design


Packaging
There is no test better for a mouse pad than taking it to a LAN party, and conveniently Muncie Gamers out of Indiana was hosting. Along with the rest of my equipment, I tossed the Goliathus, cozy in its original box, in my bag and was out the door. I have always appreciated when companies spend the resources to make something as minor as the packaging durable and attractive enough to keep around and carry.

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The long, rectangular box opens simply, which is great since setting up for a LAN party is always a whirlwind, always anxious to get in-game. The pad slides out easy, and benefits from materials that allow for the surface to be rolled and unrolled and still lay flat. The exterior of the box features the acid green and black scheme Razer is known for, and features testimonials from professional gamers who use a speed-style when gaming.

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Construction
The Goliathus is crafted with tightly-woven cloth, free of seams so that nothing interrupts you or your DPI. The edges have a nice stitched finish, to ensure that the cloth will survive gaming marathons without fraying apart. On the back, a anti-slip rubber material gives the Goliathus hold and weight, which is why the surface is so forgiving about how you transport it. This design contrasts that of the Control edition, which features heavy, textured weave pattern.

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Performance
When I read about Razer's goal of appealing to the speed gamer, two things initially concerned me when I got my hands on our test sample: the stitched frame, and the graphic on the surface. While both aid in the overall appearance of the mat, as well as its longevity, they could potentially slow down and hinder movement.

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The stitched border looked as though it may create some resistance on the arm while moving, especially since fast FPS gamers tend to use the entirety of the surface while gaming. If that stitching was too thick, it could not only slow gamers down but also cause irritation on the skin. I was pleased to find that the frame was not noticeable, even when using a variety of grip styles.

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My second concern was quickly dismissed as well when I learned the art graphic is not printed on the surface but rather in the cloth itself. A screen print would have eventually begun to peel and break, destroying the appearance and leaving behind the adhesive residue that would have directly opposed Razer's intentions. The Goliathus however has been engineered to look good without sacrificing any performance.

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Overall

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I showed the Razer Goliathus too many of the gamers at the Muncie LAN, and the only complaint was that it was too small. The Goliathus not only comes in small, mid, and large sizes, but an extended edition is also available. Our review sample was the mid-size, and personally I think it was the perfect fit, especially for LANs. The slick, tightly woven cloth provides a great surface for those gamers looking for speed support, and features quality ensuring features such as a anti-fray border and anti-slip base that any gamer will enjoy.

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Author Bio
Lersar
Author: Lersar
Contributing Editor / Event Staff
Adam is a big proponent of LAN parties, esports and speed-running, and helps organize our semi-annual LAN events. He has covered hardware and software reviews of a wide variety, but most content these days come from event coverage, such as other LAN parties.

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Leonresevil2's Avatar
Leonresevil2 replied the topic: #16303 25 Jun 2011 09:01
I'd love to see a review of the Razer Hydra controller!
Wingless92's Avatar
Wingless92 replied the topic: #16305 25 Jun 2011 09:16
You get it on Steam!
Lersar's Avatar
Lersar replied the topic: #16315 25 Jun 2011 21:15

Leonresevil2 wrote: I'd love to see a review of the Razer Hydra controller!

Ha me too!

Vialdragon actually pre-ordered one and has had one for about a week now, I'm hoping to get a few words from him on it.

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