ASUS Cerberus Fortus Mouse Review

Conclusion

As we said on our second page, if you expect your purchase of the Cerberus Fortus to come with a laser display show and dry ice when you open the metal tin then perhaps you’re missing the point of an affordable option and, at the very least, should re-evaluate your expectations of any peripheral and how much they cost these days. At this price point, MSRP £45, we think it’s fair to say that everyone would prefer as much as possible of their financial investment to go towards the mouse rather than any frivolous packaging niceties. With the Fortus you get absolutely no packaging niceties. The box is thin cardboard and the mouse itself is on a thin cardboard stand. Our review sample came in a box full of air-pockets and still was dented. So leave your airs and graces at the door, treat the box as the disposable item it is, and concentrate on what you’re actually paying for.

Doing that is a revelation. Often at this end of the market – or indeed any cost based financial decision – you’re making compromises. If you want a blinding sensor you have to dispense with lighting. Flashier lighting might come at the expense of build quality. More buttons might be made of Milk-Tray plastics. You rarely get a tick in every box. With the ASUS Cerberus Fortus we’re not really seeing those compromises.

Okay you’re not going to get some five-figure sensor for this kind of price. Much like our packaging comments if you’re expecting that kind of CPI then you need to take a long hard look in the mirror. For the vast majority of gamer skill levels though such lofty figures are beyond mere mortals. Most people use rodents in the 3000-4000 DPI range, and that’s exactly the sweet spot that the Fortus finds itself. The sensor tracks well on a variety of surfaces, has reasonable lift off performance and doesn’t suffer too much from angle snapping. The alloy base that forms the spine of the Fortus combines beautifully with the large textured side pads to keep everything well under control. In fact the only negative we have about the sensor is that we felt like it had a little bit of acceleration in it, rather than the linear 1:1 mapping you get with higher quality sensors. It’s very subtle and by no means a deal breaker, but it just seemed like it was on a slight accelerative curve.

Speaking of the magnesium alloy spine of the Fortus, the build quality is really good, especially at this price point. The plastics feel very nice, there are no squeaks or rattles, and even gripping tightly didn’t lead to any flexing. When you add this to a braided cable and the really good lighting system and it’s difficult to come away from the Cerberus Fortus with any other feeling than you’re getting an awful lot of mouse for your money, and it wins our OC3D Gamers Choice Award. 

  

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