OCZ Behemoth Gaming Mouse Review - PAGE 3

Testing mice is a very subjective matter; some may think a certain model is totally sweet while others are left with a sour taste. Nevertheless, I will evaluate OCZ's Behemoth based on three elements : comfort, performance and customizability.

Comfort

There is no doubt the Behemoth was engineered to optimize ergonomics. In fact, not only both left and right buttons are carved, but the right side is also shaped to allow your two other fingers to rest snugly. The carvings help in keeping fingers where they should be, while retaining a slick and comfortable surface. Put basically, all five fingers have a place to rest.

However, more doesn't always translate into better. I prefer keeping a more relaxed position with a finger in contact with the mousepad and the Behemoth doesn't comfortably let you do that. As much as the mouse fits your hand as if it was custom molded, it just doesn't feel natural to me. I like having a finger dedicated to the scroll wheel, but the Behemoth's shape apparently wasn't designed with that in mind.

The side buttons are well located, although they are a tad hard to press which happens to have a positive side effect: you can't accidently click them. The button to change the DPI setting easily accessed while remaining pretty far back and low profile enough that it's impossible for your palm to press it at the wrong time.

Performance

Now, of course, if a mouse doesn't feel comfortable, it's hard to get it to perform optimally. That aside, the 3200 DPI laser sensors were up to the task, offering quick and precise movements. You might be wondering if the second laser sensor provides a noticeable improvement. Honestly, I couldn't feel the difference. Many companies, including OCZ, already allowed users to independently adjust the resolution of their sensor, which seems to negate the need to have a sensor for each axis.

Even though the Behemoth is noticeably larger than its competitors, at 118 grams without the custom weights, it's about as light as the rest, give or take a few grams.

Customization

Like most gaming oriented peripherals, a gaming mouse is not quite complete without proper software to further enhance and customize their functionality. OCZ does bundle a compelling application with the Behemoth. I like the fact it is portable so you don't have to actually install it -- simply run it directly from the disk or any other storage medium.

The included program allows you to load up to three different profiles on the Behemoth's onboard memory. On each of those profiles, it is possible to change the function assigned to each and every button. OCZ gives even more flexibility by letting the user choose the exact DPI setting to use for each level in 100 DPI steps; you can also choose to have less than four DPI levels so you don't find yourself accidently modifying the speed of the sensor while gaming.

The really neat part of OCZ's application is the ability to create custom key sequences and save them as scripts onto the mouse's memory, so they follow you wherever you go. After you start recording, the software catches every keys, mouse clicks and even scrolling. Once you're done, you can perform modifications to your script. If timing is crucial, you can also change delays. These scripts can then be bound to the Behemoth's button.

Additionally, the Behemoth's weight system allows further usability customization. The USB cord can also be routed in six different directions from left to right in order to accomodate even the oddest desk configurations.