RipTen Hardware Review – Razer Imperator

Razer is one of the world’s leading PC peripheral designers – well known for their awesome keyboards and gaming mice. Their products have gone on to help some of the world’s best gamers win tournaments the world over, and they’re just getting started.

I recently replaced my long used Microsoft Sidewinder x6 with the Razer Imperator – a high precision mouse with more features than you could care to point a stick at.  Originally launched back in late 2009 – the Imperator is by no means a new mouse, however we’re compiling a trustworthy database of Razer reviews to give you an accurate and concise idea of how each product performs.

The Razer Imperator is targeted towards the ‘Expert’, with the mouse quoted as boasting a number “of advanced gaming functions that will equip you with the ability to, “pull away the pack” and it truly lives up to that statement.

Underneath the sleek sexy plastic hood of the Imperator is a bevy of technology and specifications that might be too much for the average user to take in. Precise movements and actions are set to become even more precise and controlled thanks to the 5600dpi sensor, and the 1000Hz polling rate helps output an astounding 1ms response time. Also included is a bunch of on-board memory that will allow you to store all your macros and settings in the mouse itself, allowing you to take everything on the move to tournaments and LAN parties no matter where they are using the Razer Synapse technology.

As I mentioned above the 5600dpi sensor allows for precise and controlled movements, however if it ever gets too much to handle in-game you can just click the dpi adjustment buttons located on the top of the Imperator until you find a comfortable speed, and then when you’re used to that you can bump it up another notch.

Something I noticed right away when using the Imperator was how it felt, because it is, well – out of this world. I’ve used a number of Razer mice, including the Death Adder and the Mamba, and they all feel like they have the same form factor and shape – but the Imperator feels very similar to the Logitech MX500 and really sets a high standard for further products to live up too. The outer shell of the Imperator, can however, get a bit sweaty after prolonged sessions of intense gaming.

The Imperator is more compact than the Razer Death Adder and fits perfectly in your hand, which is a stark contrast to the Death Adder that required you to have hands that are 1m across and deep. To further increase control and movement of the Imperator, there is a set of movable thumb-buttons on the right hand side of the mouse that can be adjusted via a slider on the belly of the mouse. Also located on the bottom is a button to switch between Synapse stored profiles.

My only gripe with this set of buttons is that they feel too small and are easily pressed in the midst of combat and unit control. This is handy if you have the buttons set to in-game macros, however I use mine for booting Firefox and showing my desktop. To control your macros and profiles you’ll use Razer’s great program that allows you to customise everything from pure sensitivity to pure acceleration speed.

Razer has also replaced the fragile cable seen in older models of their mice, instead opting to replace it with a braided cable that not only provides more durability, but it also gives you a great sense of quality in your purchase.  It also won’t tangle.  The Razer Imperator is available for $80 USD, a price-point that I think is slighty high considering the Logitech MX500 boasts similar features and retails for considerably less.

The Razer Imperator is easily Razer’s best mouse yet and runs rings around it’s opponents. The sheer amount of control and precision that it affords the player is insurmountable to anything else I’ve ever seen or used before, and I can’t see myself replacing this mouse for a long time to come… unless it’s with a sequel to the Imperator.  If you’re interested in seeing some real time footage of the 5600dpi on-the-fly changing, and an unboxing video, then check out the videos below the review.

Here’s The Rundown:

+ Great form factor – feels amazing in the hand
+ 5600dpi sensor really ups your control
- Price is asking a bit much
- Can get slightly slippery in warm environments coupled with intense gaming

The Razer Imperator is a high-end mouse release by Razer in Late 2009 at a retail price of $80 USD via the RazerZone store. This model was provided for review by Razer Australia. This review was conducted after two weeks of use coupled with a Razer Goliathus Control Edition cloth mat.