This is not an in-depth review of the products themselves. We have reviewed each individual product in-depth, so if you are interested in how they perform, feel free to check out our review section.
Introduction
Razer is a brand that loves to do collaborations. So when Nikola “NiKo” Kovač became a Razer-sponsored player, it seemed only logical that a NiKo collection would hit the scene at some point. He is one of the most celebrated players to ever touch the game, after all.
What we’re looking at here is a series of peripherals that NiKo himself uses. This includes the DeathAdder V4 Pro, the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL 8KHz, the BlackShark V3 Pro, and the Gigantus V2, though it should be noted that he’s not using the Gigantus at the time of writing.
In this article, we’ll go over the design, talk about the way the products look and feel in real life, and tell you a bit more about what to expect from these peripherals.
Collaborating with NiKo
NiKo, in case you’re not aware, is one of the most legendary Counter-Strike players ever. He’s known for his insanely reliable rifling, his clutch Desert Eagle (‘Deagle’) plays, and his never-ending drive. This drive has notoriously not won him a Major yet, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t an accomplished player. His award collection on HLTV is so expansive that you need a slider to properly display them all, and he has featured in their illustrious Top 20 list for ten years straight. On top of that, he has 10 Tournament MVP awards and 52 EVP (Exceptionally Valuable Player) awards, three of those at Majors.
In short, NiKo is Counter-Strike royalty.
So, knowing that NiKo was one of the pros who was involved with the design of the DeathAdder V4 Pro, it only makes sense to see this collaboration pop up. Rather than sticking to just the mouse, Razer has decided to expand the collection to a number of other peripherals that NiKo is currently using. So, if you want to channel that NiKo spirit, you can get yourself a complete peripheral set.
Looks
White and black flames against a silver/grey background is the running theme here. This particular choice was made for two reasons. Firstly, the flames represent NiKo’s drive to keep practicing and grinding until he finally wins that coveted Major.
Secondly, the flames are a reference to his legendary Desert Eagle Blaze. This skin is practically synonymous with NiKo at this point. It’s been his main Deagle skin for pretty much a decade now, and it’s responsible for a ton of iconic moments. The Deagle miss against an unaware s1mple in the Stockholm Major Final is one such example of a moment that (regrettably for NiKo, perhaps) will live on in the collective memory, but there are plenty of crazy highlight reels of him using his Deagle as well.
As a skin nerd, I love references like this. I like that the design hasn’t been chosen ‘just because it looks cool’ but also because it has a meaning and ties into the player’s history, personality, and even in-game loadout.
In addition to the design, all peripherals in the NiKo Collection are finished with NiKo’s signature. This looks a bit more stylized and intricate than his in-game signature (which is logical since Valve imposes strict rules on those signatures).
While I like the thought behind the design, I’m not a fan of the flames and how big they are. I have the same size objections to the logo. It looks cool, but it’s very big and present. To me, these elements combined make the design a bit too busy, but obviously that’s a subjective thing.
In terms of the application, everything is well-done. Razer knows how to make these special editions pop, and they did it again here. The background has an almost metallic sheen to it, giving the products some extra visual flair.
Feel and Performance
In terms of the overall feeling and performance, pretty much all of the NiKo peripherals function exactly the same as their regular counterparts. There are no special switches, different skates, or other unique features present. And, in case you’re wondering, all peripherals in this release are high-tier, pro-ready products that are among the best options in their respective categories.
One thing to note about the keyboard: this is based on the 8KHz version, not the regular version. The 8KHz version has under-the-hood changes to make it sound better and it has true 8KHz polling.
That polling rate isn’t something you’ll really notice (polling rates aren’t that important on keyboards in my opinion) but the other changes are definitely noticeable. The switches are lubed, and there’s a rubber sheet and EVA foam in the case to eliminate case ping. The result is a keyboard that sounds much, much nicer than the earlier Huntsman V3 Pro versions.
One final touch: the configurable peripherals (mouse, keyboard, headset) all come with NiKo’s favorite settings pre-applied. There’s no reason you can’t dial in these settings on regular versions of these products, but it’s a nice little extra regardless. It’s also a cool way of making the products feel more personalized without going for different switches and so on.
I’m personally not opposed to brands introducing spec changes for signature products, as long as they’re not super limited or super exclusive (read: expensive) releases. But a company like Razer releases a high volume of collaborations, so giving each edition unique switches or hardware variations would quickly create a very confusing product lineup. So in that sense, I understand why Razer’s signature releases focus on cosmetic updates and minor tuning differences rather than structural changes. It’s the right way to go in this case, in my opinion.
Cost
Signature editions of products almost always cost more. The brand also has to pay the collaborating player/artist to use their likeness, name, and designs, after all. As such, the NiKo Collection products will cost more than the regular versions.
I don’t see this as a big deal. People who aren’t interested in supporting NiKo or his story can just buy the regular version anyway. These special editions, to me, are a fun way for hardcore fans or collectors to add some spice to their collection and don’t mind paying a little extra for it. There’s no functional difference with the regular versions anyway, so you’re not losing out on anything if you skip this.
Conclusion
The Razer NiKo Collection is a great way to celebrate the legacy of one of the game’s most iconic players. It’s a collection full of top-tier gaming gear with a design that’s personalized to NiKo’s style, ideas, and even in-game skins.
As per usual with Razer, the finish is done extremely well. The slightly shiny silver background helps the products pop, and the white and black flames add a deeper meaning and look to the peripherals.
It continues Razer’s tradition of putting out lots of recolors and special editions of their products without changing the specs. So, if you’re not a huge fan of NiKo or the design, you can safely skip this one without having to worry that you’re missing out on an upgraded product.
The looks aren’t for me, but I can definitely say that this is another well-done addition to the ever-growing lineup of personalized Razer flagship products.
You can check out the NiKo Collection on Razer.com.
