Reviewed: June 2, 2011
Reviewed by: Mark Smith

Manufacturer
Sony Computer Entertainment

Type: PS Move Gun Accessory
System: PlayStation 3

Rating: 9.5

Features

The Sharp Shooter, modeled after an MP5, can look a bit intimidating when you take it out of the box. The first thing you need to do is get your PS Move Motion Controller and Navigator installed into their designated locations. This involves releasing a few plastic restraints and inserting each device into their slot then snapping the restraints back into place. For a cleaner look you may want to remove any wrists straps from the devices before inserting them.

With both controllers seated into their control ports the various functions of the triggers and buttons are electronically transmitted to matching symbol buttons strategically placed around the gun controller. Exclusive features for the Sharp Shooter include two cool new ways to fire and/or reload by either pumping the forward grip to fire or reload depending on the game, or by hitting the large reload button on the bottom of the simulated magazine cartridge, much like you would if you were inserting a real magazine clip.

The Sharp Shooter is extremely well-balanced considering the weight of the gun and both Move controllers. I was able to use for upwards of 3-4 hours at a time with no arm strain. An adjustable shoulder stock slides out and locks in various positions to offer the perfect comfort for gamers of all sizes. Another nice feature is a locking switch that can disable the Move button located below the trigger. Since some shooting games make little or no use of the Move button this can help you avoid unwanted pauses in the gameplay.

So, the Sharp Shooter looks and feels great but how does it perform? First up was Dead Space: Extraction, the Wii game that was recently given an HD facelift and included with the PS3 Limited Edition of Dead Space 2. Since this game is on rails you really don’t have to use the analog stick on the Navigator. This made using the gun much easier, especially for my first title. The aiming precision was just as good as using any other gun peripheral or even the Motion controller by itself, but since Extraction frequently requires you to rotate the gun 90-degrees to activate the alt-fire, the added size of the Sharp Shooter proved unwieldy and not that much fun…at least for this game.

Next up was Time Crisis: Razing Storm. This compilation of previous and new Time Crisis games offered the unique opportunity for both on-rails shooting and their new 3D gameplay mode that requires moving around using the analog stick on the Navigator. While I pretty much detested the game when I first played it month ago I do have to admit that the added immersion of the Sharp Shooter made the game a bit more tolerable. The game still stinks, only just not as bad with the Sharp Shooter.

Now was the moment I had been waiting for; Killzone 3 and the reason most of you would likely consider purchasing the Sharp Shooter. Sadly, I had already finished the game using the DualShock 3 so I was instantly met with a huge learning curve that required me to retrain my thought and game-playing process. With the Sharp Shooter, you can waggle the gun to move the crosshairs but once you hit the edge of the screen your camera view will not rotate like it does when playing with a controller. You have to instinctively control your camera with the analog stick on the Navigator while also moving forward and back with that same stick. Being able to move the crosshair independent of the camera is amazing, but it can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes to just get the hang of this concept and at least 2-3 hours before you master the technique, but once you do you will be an unstoppable killing force with a level of sharp-shooting precision you could never get with a standard controller.

And finally it was time to join the SOCOM 4 fire team and test out my new weapon. SOCOM 4 calibrated and played almost identical to Killzone 3. I certainly did appreciate the added level of precision when it came to sniping and the Sharp Shooter worked well with SOCOM’s cover tactics and ability to fire around and over obstacles. I do have to admit I preferred using the gun more in Killzone 3 than SOCOM 4 due to the third-person view of SOCOM. Using a gun seems a bit unnatural when you also see your character on the screen, much like using a steering wheel when driving from behind the car.

The PS Move Sharp Shooter is a fantastic concept that makes using the two Move controllers instinctively natural in a FPS setting. The gun is constructed of highly durable plastic and feels very solid, even at the obvious weak points such as the controller docking hinges. The gun has internal electronics that allow you to map the buttons and alleviate any signal delay so you can be sure that when you squeeze the trigger something cool will happen a split-second later.

With support for four games now and many more on the way this year like Resistance 3 and Battlefield 3, if you want to take your FPS gaming to the next level of precision and immersion, you won’t find a better peripheral than the PlayStation Move Sharp Shooter. It’s only $40 or you can find it as part of numerous game-specific bundles. I highly recommend you check it out.