Reviews and awards for SteelSeries Ikari Laser:
English review by PC GAMER (Rating: 97% - Editor's Choice Award)
"It's got everything gamers want - insane accuracy, a comfortable fit for the right-handed, and macro-recording software that RTS and MMO garners will actually use - and nothing (like always-onlanding pad lights) that they don't. The Ikari's expensive, but for me, it's already paying off."
English review by Driverheaven (Rating: Gold Award - Best In Class)
"Every aspect of this mouse combines to create one of the finest mice we have tested. For a laser unit it has an incredibly low lift-off distance which means that low sensitivity gamers out there are going to be able to reposition the mouse on the pad without issues. The Teflon feet on the underside of the mouse are particularly large and it glides with ease. Additionally, as I mentioned earlier it is one of the most comfortable gaming mice I have ever used and the shape and size actually assist with grip and accuracy, especially at high sensitivity. To top it all off, your CPI settings and macros are stored in the mouse which makes it the perfect candidate for taking to your tournaments and LANs."
English review by Hooked Gamers (Rating: 8.35 / 10)
"Overall, we liked this mouse very much. Even though it has fewer buttons than other gaming mice and its weight cannot be adjusted, the overall feel was still better than with many other mice we've tried. In fact, with the scores shown above, SteelSeries Ikari Laser beats every other gaming mouse we reviewed in our previous article."
English review by Tech-Reviews (Rating: Seriously Hardcore Award)
"In-game the SteelSeries performed flawlessly, in TF2 you need to be able to dish out wild sprays of death but also need to get the accuracy to kill your opponent before they kill you. The mouse helped to do this and assisted in capturing one point in particular where I was on my own as a heavy gunner trying to fend off most of the opposing team. The careful and quick use of the CPI changer meant that I was able to spray enemies but also get critical hits and defend the entire area, in the end after about 2 minutes of defending (an almost unprecedented amount of time to stay alive as a heavy in TF2) my team came along to find no enemies and another captured point."
English review by Gadgetoid
"The shape of the Ikari is bizzarre to say the least, but there's a method to its madness. It's designed to support the variety of ways in which twitch gamers grasp their pointing implement and has undergone extensive testing in the hands of these very gamers to ensure that the design meets expectations. Suffice to say; it does. [...]
What can I say other than; buy it! It's a high grade piece of kit designed with gamers, for gamers by, in my opinion, a company that clearly trumps Razer who, in some cases, don't appear to even design their own products. You can pick it up for just under £50 from Play.com with free delivery, which is a pretty good deal for a mouse that has a freaking LCD screen on the bottom!"
English review by Gameworld Network (Rating: 97%)
"On some mice, such as the Razer Lachesis, the design left us wishing for more stability, whereas the Logitech G9 is very stable, but leaves the pinky finger leaning on the mousepad. The Ikari wouldn't be more stable if it was tied to a boat anchor."
English review by ClanBase (Rating: 96% - ClanBase Certified Award)
"To conclude I feel this mouse is just stunning and does exactly what is required. It feels amazing and all the buttons are perfectly placed. The laser itself it simply brilliant, with the smoothest and most accurate performance I have ever had, as well as giving you the ability to easily switch between any CPI to make it fully customizable.
This mouse is amazing and is by far the best gaming mouse I have ever used. Designed by gamers for gamers, I can't see much topping this mouse for some time! The only downsides I can see from this is £50 or €80 is quite a lot for a mouse. But when you end up with something as good as this, you can see why it costs that much!"
English review by Altgamer (Rating: 10/10 - Editor's Choice Award)
"At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this mouse. It's not a “normal" mouse. Ikari is the incarnation of creative thought and design. This is an original piece of gaming masterpiece and is my main mouse right now. I take it to LAN parties with me and I use it here in my office. Wherever I use my computer you will see my Ikari laser mouse."
English review by TweakTown (Rating: 85% - Must Have Award)
"With all the innumerable gaming mice out there, it can be hard to accurately test and gauge what makes a great gaming mouse. The laser diode technology has brought about a new level of accuracy that we can take advantage of, but the LED based optical system is not out the door just yet.
[...]
If you are serious about gaming and feel that your current rodent is not giving you the accuracy you deserve, then I would have to recommend the Laser. It's an ergonomic and feature packed beast that will have you covered for many years to come. "
English review by FPSLabs (Rating: 9.9/10)
"We have had this discussion one too many times and I am going to end it here and now for FPSLabs. Fact from fiction, the laser technology that initially had some problems has now advanced to a point where it has surpassed optical in every category including the most important stats: CPI, Lift off distance, and Tracking.
[...]Their debut into the mouse industry is shining example of the fact that no one knows serious gamers like SteelSeries. The Ikari is the best there is."
Japanese review by 4Gamer (Rating: 87/100)
"The shape and the buttons are well made. The CPI feature is way more useful than I excpected. The FreeMove function is remarkable. The lift distance is superior. The Ikari laser is pretty complete as a product and I won't hesitate to give it the highest score I've ever given."
Danish review by XplayN.com (Rating: 6/6)
"De typiske laserproblemer er væk, den ligger skidegodt i min hånd, reagerer hurtigt og præcist og har nogle lækre funktionaliteter - måske ikke helt så mange som andre, men til gengæld nogen, jeg kan bruge som gamer."
English review by Tweak News (Rating: Top Rank Award)
"The mouse is the same size as the Ikari Optical too but given all the added function there is no way I can give the Ikari Laser any rating but our best. If you want the best you gotta pay the price and in this case, I believe, it's worth it. The Ikari Laser is hands down the best mouse I have ever used."
Swedish review by SweClockers.com (Rating: Recommended Award)
"Det har tagit många år, men äntligen har en tillverkare lyckats skapa en mus som är nyskapande samtidigt som man gjort den så enkel som möjligt. För en spelentusiast som inte behöver mekaniska skrollhjul, olika vikter och grötiga inställningsmjukvaror kan vi inte tänka oss någon lämpligare mus.
För spelentusiaster kan vi inte komma på en bättre mus att rekommendera. Vilken modell av Optical och Laser man gillar är upp till var och en. Laser har lite mer lull-lull, men båda varianterna har samma sköna känsla. Prislappen må vara lite hög på Laser-versionen, men det kan den vara värd. Steelseries Ikari är en farlig konkurrent till Intellimouse 3.0, MX518 och Habu."
English review by XSReviews (Rating: 10/10 - Extreme Award)
"The SteelSeries Ikari is what I expected the Razer Lachesis to be; it's perfect. Driver-less usage, 100% adjustable on-the-fly CPI, comfortable shape, great looks and all importantly, a fantastic sensor.
The cost is the only downside… it weighs in at a very heavy £60. Considering as you can get a low-end Intel CPU for the same money, it's a hard one to sell. However, after using this for a few days, it's truly an incredible mouse and the price-tag is probably deserved considering the obvious R&D and quality control that has gone into it.
The bottom line is, the SteelSeries Ikari wipes the floor with EVERY other mouse I've tested, which is definitely no mean feat"
English review by [OC]ModShop (Rating: 5/5)
"The Ikari's unusual shape cradles and supports the entire hand in a natural way, and the textured surface reduces hand perspriation. These two simple but practical design features make the Ikari more comfortable than even "super-ergonomic" mice, and is easily the most comfortable gaming mouse available.
There are a few improvements that could be made, but these are minor gripes when compared with other gaming mice. The fact of the matter is that the SteelSeries Ikari Laser mouse is streamlined to truly improve in-game reaction time and is the most comfortable gaming mouse available."
English review by ThinkComputers (Rating: 10/10 - Editor's Choice)
"The mouse was very comfortable to use and the mouse clicks were much easier than I anticipated. It fit perfectly around my hand and didn't become bothersome at all for extended periods of time while gaming. While playing I noticed that I was able to get much better accuracy with this mouse than previous mice mainly because I was able to fine tune my CPI settings."
English review by Entertainmentopia (Rating: Editor's Choice)
"The design of the mouse itself takes a little getting used to, but after extended use feels natural and comfortable in most situations. Having larger hands it's usually harder for me to find a comfortable mouse to accommodate me. The IKARI Laser makes it so your entire open palm rests firmly on the sleek curves, even providing a grooved resting place for your ring and pinky fingers, something most manufacturers pass over. Index and middle fingers rest tightly on the left and right mouse buttons, respectively, and the thumb rests on a small outcropping on the left side of the mouse below the two programmable buttons."
English review by DragonSteelMods (Rating: 4.5/5 - Editor's Choice)
"The trend with gaming mice seems to be to add more features, buttons, weights etc, but SteelSeries has essentially done the opposite and created a laser gaming mouse that takes us back to basics. No weight kits, no interchangeable face plates, no other gimmicks, just a good solid mouse that offers excellent performance and the ability to be custom tailored to the users specifications.
I truly like the idea of being driverless, yes there is optional software to further customize the Ikari, but it's not truly needed to utilize the main feature of changing the CPI, this is done on the mouse itself easily.
The Ikari is an excellent mouse in all aspects of it's form, function and design that I can easily recommend to anyone looking for a new, quality gaming mouse."
English review by techPowerUp! (Rating: 9.3/10 - Editor's Choice)
"The durability and comfort of this mouse is something you cannot help, but will notice it right from the start. It is well built and feels rock solid apart from the scroll wheel. That coupled with a few new features means that this mouse is ready to take on all of the competition. The SteelSeries Ikari is definitely one of the best performers out there when it comes to tracking at all sensitivity levels. During the course of my testing the tracking was immaculate and did not fail me at any time."
English review by GameSpot
"Luckily, the spartan design works in the Ikari's favor. Instead of focusing on bells and whistles, the design here seems to emphasize what matters most in a mouse: ease of use and responsiveness."
English review by Bit-Tech.net (Rating: 10/10 - Excellence Award)
"Right - and that's just what SteelSeries has done with the Ikari. The extra chaff of fiddly weight drawers which compromise the build quality and multiple DPI profiles which require extra driver software have been done away with. What's left is a mouse which is just purely a joy to use, keeping the bare minimum of gimmicks and nothing more.
The Ikari is one of the best mice I've ever had a chance to look at…
Despite that though, the Ikari is still easy to wield and will suit most gamers down to a tee without forcing you to pay through the nose for features you'll never use. If you're really bothered by how heavy your mouse is then you may want to look elsewhere, but if you're man enough to admit that you don't really mind then the Ikari is the mouse for you."
English review by Trusted Reviews (Rating: 10/10 - Editor's Choice)
"By this point, you're probably aware I really like this mouse. Indeed, I'd hope you realised that as soon as you saw the score. However, if you need it spelling out for you, this is the best gaming mouse I've ever used!
Now, obviously there's a degree of personal preference involved when it comes to reviewing such a tactile product, but I'd always recommend you get yourself to a shop and try a mouse in your hand before you purchase it anyway. However, when it comes to sheer performance, I defy anyone to name a more accomplished mouse.
Choosing between mice is a very personal thing and I'd always recommend handling a new mouse to make sure it's comfortable before you buy it. However, in terms of performance and value, the SteelSeries Ikari Laser mouse simply can't be faulted and it deservedly gets our top award."
English review by DreamWare Computers (Rating: Recommended)
"When put through the gaming test it's hard to say much more than the fact you have literally endless options when it comes to customizing the Ikari. Although the software is only a few pages in length and has very few settings, it's the combinations of those settings that leaves you with thousands of possibilities. High CPI or Low CPI? Some FreeMove, no FreeMove or lots of FreeMove? Oh wait, what about combining the right level of FreeMove with the right level of CPI? Did you want some programmable Macros in there? Never underestimate the power that can lie behind simplicity!
For being SteelSeries' first introduction into the world of gaming mice, they've done an excellent job of taking many new ideas and features and implimenting them onto a nice mouse. They've tried a lot of new things that I haven't seen any other gaming mice manufacturers doing yet, this is stuff that is certainly going to give them a new edge in this market."
English review by IGN
"In layman's terms, the Ikari features an extremely precise sensor that yields unprecedented accuracy and speed. During our trials the Ikari fared well in several FPS and strategy titles. In the FPS titles, particularly Halo and Call of Duty 2, the Ikari was noticeably swift and accurate. The aiming reticule was comparatively fluid and typically followed direction without error."
Slovak review by Pretaktovanie (Rating: Gold Medal) [translated quote]
"The idea of "driverless" mouse is amazing. Want to make changes to your profile? Simply launch the software and on exit, everything is saved into your Ikari. How efficient! Together with excellent ergonomics and an extraordinary precise sensor, we consider Ikari Laser as the best choice for gamers in the segment. Only downside is that you're only able to store one profile in the mouse.
Frankly, I didn't expect much from Ikari Laser, but SHE convinced me otherwise immediately when we "met" for the first time. The guys from SteelSeries has tried to go high-end. Successfully. In comparison with its opponents - Logitech G9, Saitek Cyborg or Raptor Gaming M3 Platinum - Ikari doesn't look so futuristic, "overpowering" and unusual. And that's the thing that impresses us the most. Unobtrusive... Gentle... But absolutely perfect. Go on, SteelSeries."
French review by Les Numériques (Rating: 5/5)
"La G5 a perdu sa place de ''souris préférée'', la Ikari Laser Mouse lui ravit cette position. Elle remporte les faveurs de toute la rédaction qui la préfère pour : son allure plus sobre, sa précision, sa glisse, ses matières... Une superbe réussite !"
French review by Erenumerique (Rating: 9/10)
"Je dirais que pour ceux qui aiment une position confortable, c'est pas loin de la souris parfaite quel que soit le jeu d'ailleurs et même au delà quelque soit l'usage de l'ordinateur.
Et pourtant pas de coque amovible, pas de halo bleu, pas de poids, nada. Alors, qu'est-ce qu'elle a de particulier cette souris ? Elle a été conçue pour le joueur par des joueurs et pour jouer."
Italian review by PCTuner (Best product award) [translated quote]
"The Steelseries Ikari Laser Mouse offers great performance in any situation.
At a price of 80 Euros, the Ikari shows optimal ergonomics and top performances - thanks to the high resolution of the optical sensor - and extreme versatility, through the software that allows to create different profiles.
The Ikari therefore is capable to unify in itself the most different usages and functions: dominating the scene with any game, comfortable and light during daily usage and precise, reliable and versatile during professional activities. All this aspects are contained in a discreet and elegant design, that easily matches also in a living room or a professional office."