I will never forget the first time I put my hand on a real MMO mouse. A friend and I were beta testing Guild Wars 2 at his place and he was AFK while I was reloading my game client… and he was being attacked! I couldn’t let my friend die, so I did what any good friend would: I grabbed his mouse and keyboard… and I froze! I didn’t know how he had his buttons mapped, so I mashed all off them. It was at that moment that I got the itch: I needed to get myself one of these and I did.
That was several years ago and the demand for multi-button, programmable mice has exploded as the MMO scene has grown. With new contenders and old reliables alike offering their take on the peripheral, we have seen some interesting pieces here at MMORPG.com! Today, we are going to be reviewing the new kid on the scene: the Theorem MMO/MOBA mouse from ENHANCE.
Specifications
- MSRP: $49.99
- ENHANCE Software suite (Windows) gives full control over the 19 fully programmable, buttons, LED-based RGB lighting, macro and game profile setup
- Recessed and staggered side switches
- Quick DPI switching with 7 zones to choose from
- Ergonomic design with a thumb rest
- Braided cable housing
- 1 year warrantee
Before we dig into details, let’s look at where the Theorem is coming from. ENHANCE is a new subsidiary of the consumer electronics lifestyle company Accessory Power. With thirty years of experience in providing accessories from camera straps to cables and cases to car chargers, Accessory Power launched their gaming division, ENHANCE, in 2016. Since then, ENHANCE has been busy establishing their product lines and sponsoring collegiate eSport teams.
Now that we know a little history, what is the Theorem, how does it work, and where does it fit in the hierarchy of MMO mice?
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What is the Theorem?
As previously mention, the Theorem is a multi-button, programmable mouse geared toward the MMO and MOBA player. As a long time MMO player, I like quick access to my skills and if you’re playing an MMO, there are typically a lot of them! While gear doesn’t always outweigh skill, building out your action bars and developing the muscle memory for button placement can turn the tides in a PvP match or save your tank with a quick heal during heavy boss damage phases.
The mouse is designed in a matte black finish with some glossy accents and a fractal design to allow that sweet, sweet RGB light to shine through. All of this built around a Class 1 laser. So, no need to worry about shooting your eye out if you pick your mouse up!
How does the Theorem work?
The Theorem has the twelve side buttons, right and left click, DPI up and down switches, as well as right, left, and center wheel clicks. The left and right buttons contain Omron switches (good up to 10 million clicks) and the buttons themselves have a slight dip in them, creating a comfortable contour for the fingers. On the left side of the mouse the design has a subtle concave to it that finishes in a thumb rest. This is also where the twelve thumb buttons live, each one slightly staggered from the others.
Each one of these buttons is programmable via the ENHANCE software suite for Windows (Sorry, Mac users! More on this in a bit.). Unfortunately, it is not included in the box and the side buttons require programming before use. You will have to go out to ENHANCE’s website and create an account in order to download the suite.
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The ENHANCE software takes a bit of getting used to. Button customization offers a pull down menu of presets, but also gives the option to assign a specific key to that button. Coming from a 2011 Razer Naga Elite platform, I am used to the buttons being assigned vertically. However, the layout on the Theorem and the ENHANCE software suite has them running horizontally. The set up was a little bit unwieldy, but not impossible to deal with.
Aside from programming each button, you can also select colors and lighting pattern (pulse, steady, cycle) as well as adjust their parameters from here. The options within color adjustment do feel a bit more limited than other RGB gear I have used. While the lighting on the top of the mouse can be altered, there is not a way to change the color of the side buttons. It’s not necessarily a deal-breaker (unless you really hate the color blue), - but it is worth noting.
If you are a Mac user or frequently swapping peripherals between systems, the good news on the Theorem is that it does have on-board memory. Any of the settings that you programmed through the ENHANCE software (outside of any program-specific macros) will carry over between systems.
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Where does the Theorem fit in the hierarchy of MMO-mice?
The Theorem fits in an interesting position in price point. At $50, it sits $10 - $30 below established favorites like the Logitech G600 and Razer Naga or the newer Corsair Scimitar. For the extra money, you would get more robust features like the cloud-based Synapse software from Razer, but you’re also out that much more. If you are not used to an MMO mouse, the lower price point may mean some paired down features, but no less capabilities.
From a build quality standpoint, it is rather light weight… lighter than I typically like. While a mouse doesn’t (nor shouldn’t) take a whole lot of physical abuse, it feels as sturdy as a standard, run-of-the-mill mouse. That isn’t to say it’s bad, just unremarkable from a build standpoint.
As for comfort level, the design features that I mentioned above really do make this mouse a pleasure to use. I didn’t think that I would like the thumb rest, but I find it surprisingly enjoyable. The matte finish has a nice tactile feel to it also.
It is also worth noting that Theorem’s design is not unique; it’s actually been done before by another company. The HAVIT HV-MS735 is virtually the same mouse with different branding design, a slightly less versatile sensor, and cheaper. Button design and layout, contours, and even the software interface are identical. It’s hard to say whether or not Accessory Power and HAVIT share a supplier. If they do, the Theorem’s slightly upgrade features I would be hard pressed to recommend it when there is a less expensive option of virtually the same caliber.
Final Thoughts
Gaming gear is such a subjective thing. We all have our tastes for what we like or don’t like from our peripherals. You may not like the a multi-button design on your mouse, but for those that do, Theorem presents a convincing argument for its place within the market. For the new MMO player or those needing to replace aging gear, the Theorem may be the new entry point into an MMO mouse.
While the Theorem isn’t quite a “snake-eater” - if you catch my drift, this mouse does have the heart of a mongoose.
Pros
- Price point: great for an entry-level MMO mouse
- Contoured shape: buttons are comfortable, thumb rest is a surprisingly nice addition
- Highly programmable
- Software-based profiles
Cons
- Has a lighter feel to it
- Lighting options and color range are limited
- An account with ENHANCE is necessary to access controller software
The product discussed in this article was provided by the manufacturer for the purposes of review.
