In the realm of Guitar Hero and Rock Band controllers for the PS3, compatibility and functionality have been an elusive beast. Companies have tried to make more realistic versions of these pseudo-axes by sizing them up or even by making them from real materials, and sometimes these attempts are a big hit, while others are a wind-whirling miss.
Unfortunately for dreamGEAR, the WarBeast is no big hit, but it still isn't a complete miss either. While all the functionality you expect to get is there out of the box, with GH/RB and PS2/PS3 modes, one thing they do advertise, right on the packaging, is not quite perfected.
I tested out the WarBeast, primarily in Rock Band 2, and found that as I eased into harder difficulties while getting used to the controller, the lag started to ramp up. The "lag-free gameplay" that was supposed to be a major selling point was not there. While it isn't a deal breaker, it does take some major calibrating before you can even come close to making it through any of the more complicated songs on harder difficulties.
The buttons also sometimes seem to have a bit of a temper, but all you have to do is disassemble the guitar's neck, and re-attach it, and you'll be good to go. That feature, by the way, is handy. A controller of this size would have no portability if it were just one piece.
So, the end result is this: The WarBeast delivers in realistic size, without the heavy weight, is comfortable, and simple to set up, yet does not have the best wireless gameplay for your buck. Come to think of it, it really fits the B.C. Rich mold it was cast from, as they are known for having some bad ass looking guitars that have a pretty crappy sound and feel. Authenticity, maybe? As guitar controllers go, you could do a lot better, but you could also do quite a bit worse. Thankfully, most places are selling this well below the MSRP.
