Ratings: Ease of Use, Performance: 24/25, Look & Feel: 24/25, Features & Software 23/25, How much I enjoy 22/25
Total: 93/100
Microsoft has teamed up with Razer to create a true work of art in a gaming keyboard. The Reclusa is truly a gamers keyboard with plenty of features. The Reclusa has five separate profiles that change at the touch of a button for five separate control scenarios. The added macro buttons and backlit keys make not only a handy and useful keyboard for gaming but a stylish one as well.
The Reclusa is a simple to install and easy to use keyboard with plenty of features:
Blue LED Backlighting Ambient backlit keys allow gaming in low-or no-light conditions.
Two 360-Degree Jog-Dials One on each side of the keyboard for quick access during gameplay.
Four Bumper Buttons Programmable buttons that enable easy access to common keyboard commands.
Six Programmable Gaming Hot Keys Create and store different macros and keystrokes for each game profile- gamers can combine several moves with the touch of one key.
On-The-Fly Profile Management Users can create and store Key Mapping and Macros for each game profile- keyboard software also automatically assigns different game profiles for supported games.
Detachable Padded Wrist Rest Ergonomically designed for exceptional comfort.
Gold-plated USB Ports Provides additional peripherals plug-in access with maximum conductivity.
The black design is very reminiscent of the Razer product lines with only a little added room for the extra macro keys and dials. The keyboard features two extra USB ports on the top corners so you don’t have to worry about taking up your PC’s USB ports. The keyboard also adds some very nice default controls for your windows use. The default settings for the macro keys are handy ones like mail or internet homepage but I prefer setting ones myself for my writing or gaming.
Each profile you set has the ten macros and two dials as assignable keys. You can set five profiles with each set for various games or other general use. The profiles are stored in the Razer keyboard program that installs to a tray icon during setup. You can set the macros easily using the very Razer styled keyboard profile manager.
Setup for the Reclusa only takes a few minutes. Simply run the software and plug in the keyboard when prompted. The setup will add one program to your startup folder and you need to restart your computer after installation. Once your up and running you can quickly change to the various profiles using the tray icon or macro keys you set.
The keyboard is a standard keyboard layout with the additional macro keys five on each side and the dials above them. They have only extended the sides a bit and made them rounded so there are no sharp corners on the keyboard. There is also a detachable palm rest that is a leather like material with foam padding inside that snaps to the bottom of the keyboard. There are some tell tale lights on the top portion of the shiny black section above the number pad for number lock and caps lock.
The Reclusa is powered using Razer technology such as their on the fly setting for profiles. Set key assignments according to your favorite games and save that profile. Before starting up the game you simply press the tray icon to enter the Razer program and set the profile to the one for your game. Better yet do I like did and set a few of the macros for the profiles and you will be gaming in no time. You can set profile keys to launch a program as well as change profiles.
The macro keys are fully featured assignable keys with up to ten key combinations including delays or launch program shortcuts. You simply enter the Razer keyboard program and click on the key you wish to change assignments for. The program will have both the key assignments you can press as well as the profile drop down menu to assign the key to one of the profiles. There is also the program launch bar to include a program exe or link to launch a program by pressing that macro key.
The Reclusa also uses whichever media player program you have installed that are automatically detected during setup. In the Razer keyboard program at the top is a drop down menu that allows you to choose whichever detected media player you have installed for your default media player using the default media function keys.
I really like Razer products and they do think like gamers when designing theirs. You can tell with touches like in game ability to change things and the Reclusa keyboard is no different. They have added the nice and easy profile switching that can be done even in a game. I have tried this out while playing ARMA: Combat Operations and the feature works very well. You can have assignments for one type of gaming such as foot combat and change it to other assignments such as vehicle controls.
The Microsoft Reclusa powered by Razer is a very stylish keyboard and is a nice addition to any gamers setup. There is not much to not like about the keyboard and with the profile switching and easy setup I highly recommend the Reclusa for any gamer.
