Mad Catz will tell you that the M.O.U.S.9 isn’t a gaming mouse… it’s a relative of the R.A.T.9 which is a hyper sensitive, mega customisable mouse of very similar birth. But from what I can tell, the M.O.U.S.9 is more than capable of play, work, the lot.
So, let’s get to it, price… a M.O.U.S.9 is going to cost you about 5x more than a standard 3 button mouse (£99). But boasting smart bluetooth 4.0 technology, a year’s use out of a single AA battery and software which allows you to customise the actions of 8 of the 10 buttons… (you’re getting a lot of mouse).
Elitists will pick up on the fact that the M.O.U.S.9 is missing the adjustable weights and rests that it’s big brother the R.A.T has, but from where I’m standing, I really don’t see why they’d be needed. This thing just feels so at home in my hand! I’ve been testing it out by playing a few games, some which have pre-written setups for, some which I’ve had to set up myself, and it’s all working flawlessly.
I’ve even had a play with the settings allowing for making my usual day-to-day computing easier. Some of the text you’re reading in this very review was pasted in with a single button click from the M.O.U.S.9’s programmable buttons!
The real question you need to be asking yourself before you go out shopping for a gaming mouse, is:
“Will this change the way I play for the better? ”
My answer is:
“Yes”
Going from a standard mouse to a gaming mouse is a big jump. It takes some getting used to and it will certainly slow you down before it speeds you up. It needs setting up and tweeking to find that sweet spot just for you. But that’s the joy. This thing really is YOUR mouse. It allows you to do things YOUR way.
One thing I found a little disappointing with the M.O.U.S.9 is that while it’s smart bluetooth compatibility is supposed to make it the one mouse to control all your devices, it’s not backwards compatible with previous bluetooth modes. So unless you’re running gadgets and systems with smart bluetooth, you’re going to need to use the dongle, which arrives safely stowed away in the belly of the unit.
The laser MadCatz have gone for in this particular unit is a 900dpi – track on glass. Which I’ve not yet found a surface it won’t work on. This is all well and good, but when compared to the 6,400dpi laser fitted on the R.A.T.9 for ultimate precision, you can see why MadCatz are eager to state that the M.O.U.S.9 isn’t a TRUE gaming mouse.
Overall the M.O.U.S.9 is comfy, adjustable (to an extent), programmable, and nice looking too. For those that use their PC for more than gaming, the M.O.U.S.9 is a great middle-ground between work and play. Impressed!