Reviewing the SteelSeries WoW MMO Legendary edition gaming mouse
by Mathew McCurley 
Dec 5th 2011 at 1:00PM
As usual, I tested out each peripheral for review for no less than a week of actual WoW gameplay and learning, trying out the gear on my main as well as new alts created for the express purpose of learning with a new peripheral from scratch. Here's my week with the SteelSeries WoW MMO Legendary edition gaming mouse.
Incoming bullet list of features from SteelSeries:
Mouse features
- In-game setup for both Mac and PC
- Bind all 11 buttons using the WoW interface
- 16.8 million color options with four levels of intensity and pulsation (you only really need one color, though -- red)
- Sleek design, comfortable buttons
- Drag-and-drop software makes macro creation easy, or just drop in over 130 preset commands
- Mouse
- Instructions
- Quick-start guide
- SteelSeries stickers for you to put wherever you like stickers
A quick disclaimer before we begin that has to do with hand size, personal preference, and all that jazz: I am reviewing this mouse based on its size relative to my own hands and my own preferences for input hardware. My review is all about my own personal experience, and yours may vary, because we all have different hands. However, I can promise you that I do not have little dainty 4-year-old hands, nor do I have Rossi-sized bear paws that are capable of felling a wild boar. My hands are average.
The original Steelseries MMO gaming mouse offered little to me in terms of design and button placement. It was not as well-received as the company had hoped, I would imagine, but the mouse had an untold amount of potential because, frankly, the world needs more MMO mice. The only competitive offering out there was the Razer Naga, which is a powerhouse in its own right, but the button configuration isn't always for everyone. The Steelseries mouse has a much more traditional button layout that fits a bit easier on hands that have traditional mouse experience.
I didn't hate the original Steelseries MMO gaming mouse. It just felt a little light, like I might break it if I pressed too hard. I am confident in saying that the Legendary edition of the MMO gaming mouse, years after its predecessors, feels solid in the hand. It's a heavier mouse with better buttons and a better-feeling thumb design.
One feature that I did not anticipate liking so much is the thumb buttons. The Legendary mouse has the traditional forward and back thumb buttons that you press by rocking your thumb forward or backward, as you would expect. There is a second thumb button rocker that adds two more buttons when you rock your thumb right or left. It was a pleasant surprise, easily adding two extra buttons that were thumb-accessible that didn't feel out of place.
In-game configuration
The in-game configuration of the Legendary mouse is easier than you would expect it to be. Since the product is a licensed Blizzard peripheral, there are lots of hooks that the Legendary mouse has caught into the WoW interface. You would never really have to live in the mouse utility outside of the game, if you were so inclined. You'd miss out on a bunch of macro features and other cool things built in to the software, but the basic stuff is all contained within the game itself. Pretty cool, if you ask me. Being a licensed product and getting to work with Blizzard designers is a pretty nice boon.
Characters and profiles
The Legendary's software is a real gem. Each button is easily configured using a simple interface with a ton of preset functions available to players that are directly from WoW itself. Having the game's own commands right there in the software outside of WoW is an excellent feature and makes the software that much more powerful.
One of the coolest features of the Legendary mouse software is that you can sync your character from the WoW Armory to your mouse profiles. For instance, my tanking profile could have my tank attached to it with picture and all, versus my hunter who is on profile 2. It's not the most useful feature, but it makes the Legendary and its software feel like a real addition to your game experience. Your characters live in and out of game, in your profiles and the mouse.
The true strength of the Legendary mouse is how the mouse and game interact in an almost seamless fashion. You will be hard-pressed to find a peripheral that syncs up better with the game that it is intended for.
A drawback or two
I did find two minor drawbacks with the Legendary mouse that, again, are issues specific to my hand size, so you might not experience these same concerns. First, the mouse is larger than most mice I've used from both SteelSeries and Razer. As someone who likes to wrap my hand around the mouse's body, I felt like my hand was riding the Legendary mouse like at a rodeo, minus the bucking bronco. The mouse was not really designed for the way I like to hold my mice, but I don't hold my mice like everyone else does anyway. The Xai mouse, another awesome mouse from SteelSeries, has a much smaller, much smoother body that I can rest my hand over and surround with my thumb and pinky, versus the more open-palmed flatness I was getting with the Legendary.
The second issue I had was the 11th button. There is a button on the Steelseries Legendary mouse that I have absolutely no use for because, for the life of me, I couldn't find a comfortable way of hitting it. The button lives under your pinky on the right side of the mouse -- in my case, right under the top knuckle. Try as I might, it was the one button on the mouse that just wasn't doing it for me. Ten out of 11 ain't bad, though.
Connections and user interface symmetry
My time with the SteelSeries Legendary MMO gaming mouse was enjoyable and carefree. The true strengths of the Legendary mouse lie in the connections and user interface symmetry that exists outside and inside the game while you are using the mouse. The external software is powerful stuff, but you'd never need it if you want the mouse to perform its basic functions since it's all configurable from inside World of Warcraft. It's a sturdy mouse, leaps and bounds ahead of the old models of the MMO gaming mouse, and acts admirably as an everyday pointing device. While a little large for my tastes, the Legendary mouse is a marked improvement and a solid peripheral from a company already known for solid stuff.
Breaking it down in bullet point form:
- Score: 8/10; if you like the aesthetics, you won't be disappointed.
- A little large, but my hands are pretty "medium," anyway.
- Thumb buttons easily hit, especially the up/down rocker.
- Sturdy design; hefty piece of equipment.
- Colors! Lots of colors to set!
- Still no idea how I can hit that 11th button, but you might have better luck.
Filed under: Hardware
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
ShadeX9 Dec 5th 2011 1:17PM
You could just flip the mouse onto its side to smack the button..
Debesun Dec 5th 2011 1:58PM
I feel as though there is a far more practical and intended use for this function.
As the reviewer has stated that he seems to find that the button is in an unnatural position to be pressed by the digitus minimus, I believe the original intention was for the player bind a survivability cool-down ability / macro to that specific mouse key so that in the unexpected event that you find yourself going 'oh shi-' and under the immediate effects of the flight-or-flight response and prone to 'flinching' as your muscles tense up, you should be able to train your body to 'flinch' the mouse immediately to the right side of your mousepad / desk to the secured brick that you have conveniently placed to perform the maneuver that will cause the digitus minimus to activate the otherwise normally considered 'ergonomically flawed' button due to the resulting collision between the brick and the mouse at high speed. This gives function to the otherwise immobile minor knuckle portion of the finger that seems to be responsible for the use of the mouse key and I believe this genius and thinking-out-of-the-box design should have received a lot more praise in the article.
It may have also been intended for people who use a tad more extreme 'claw grip' on their mouse, but that's hardly interesting.
ScrubRogue Dec 5th 2011 1:17PM
My hands are bigger than average so this larger mouse might actually be a benefit (although I too would never hit a mouse button with my pinky!)
How is the mouse as far as sensitivity and resolution? Are these things adjustable?
Infinite Duck Dec 5th 2011 1:49PM
And my hands are smaller than some 8 year olds'. Remember those large xbox controllers? I couldn't reach the buttons and the triggers at the same time. I used to play with them in my lap and just press the controller into either leg to press the triggers.
I use a molten naga and it works wonders and fits well in my hand. It fills my entire hand, so my hand is always pressed right up against this mouse. The minus of that is the mouse itself gets fairly warm so my hand gets overly hot sometimes. At least it'll keep my mouse hand warm in the winter!
Quinto Dec 5th 2011 1:22PM
I'd really like to see an article that directly compares this mouse to the Razer Naga (and any other current MMO mice) and picks a winner.
Larry Dec 5th 2011 1:32PM
Thats really impossible in my opinion. Things like mice come down to personal preference. Its like trying to make a review comparing Pepsi vs Coke.
RetPallyJil Dec 5th 2011 2:26PM
Coke.
Oh, sorry thought it was a poll :D
Zayd Dec 5th 2011 3:00PM
Naga or gtfo.
Mathew McCurley Dec 5th 2011 3:27PM
I think mice and keyboards are both too subjective to do a head-to-head on anything but features. It just isn't fair.
Angus Dec 5th 2011 5:57PM
Also both have given this equipment for reviews an might get mad about losing. Can't tick off sponsors.
That and mice really are subjective. I am using a wired gateway mouse because the Bluetooth Logitech was flaky for my wife so she has my normal one.
sperrone Dec 5th 2011 1:36PM
I bought the Cata Steelseries mouse, but had to take it back. It's much too large for anyone who uses a "claw" grip. If you palm your mouse and like them large...these would be awesome.
I just went back to my G5, which is starting to show some age. :(
Are the Razr's smaller? I'd love to have more than 5 buttons to configure with Healbot (10 with shift-clicking).
Mersedes Dec 5th 2011 2:56PM
The naga is similar to a G5. The biggest problem I have with the naga is there is no tilt scroll wheel. I relied heavily on it for straffing. Now I just turn and run. Part of why Im glad I no longer main tank anything other than occasional alt runs.
IMO if you like your G5 pick up the G500 it is what Logitec told me was the replacement mouse.
Gendou Dec 5th 2011 1:48PM
Don't forget the Logitech G700 MMO Mouse: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse-G700/dp/B003VAM32E
- 13 programmable buttons help you perform intricate macros with a single click*
- Natural curves that fit your hand and smooth-gliding feet give you epic comfort and control
- Full-speed wireless (1,000 reports per second) combines gaming-grade responsiveness with wireless freedom
- A USB recharging/data cable makes sure you never run out of power in the heat of battle
- Crafted for gaming with high-precision laser tracking and onboard memory for storing up to five game profiles
(THE FOLLOWING IS ENTIRELY MY OPINION)
The G700 is also an MMO mouse, and one that I like a great deal more than the finicky, fragile Razer Naga.
It has the legendary Logitech toughness, as well as several quality-of-life features that make it equal to or better than the more expensive Razer and Steelseries offerings.
I tend to be a little rough on my mice (CLICK HARDER TO TANK BETTER), and Logitech mice haven't let me down in the fifteen years I've been using them.
I definitely recommend it as an alternative to the other brand-name (and better known) MMO mice.
Tish Dec 6th 2011 1:22PM
Tried to get that one instead, but it doesn't work on a Mac. :(
Lucera Dec 5th 2011 2:00PM
I also have this mouse! I'm a somewhat petite woman, so I'm assuming I have relatively small hands? (6.5 inches from wrist line to tip of middle finger). Even so, I've found this mouse to be quite nice. I also tend to hold my mice from the back with my wrist on the pad, so keep that in mind. The vertical thumb buttons are real easy for me to use, as is the closer horizontal one, though the further one is a bit harder for me to reach. The pinky button I can hit , though just the back 3rd or so of the button, so I have to press it harder than normal to get it to click. If I rest my hand more on top of my mouse, I can reach all the buttons well enough.
It does move real smoothly though, and has great sensitivity. I also like the glow (I set it to blue). I picked out the mouse not because it's an mmo/WoW mouse, but because it just felt really nice and comfortable in my hand as compared to others at the store. :) Also, if you're the type to care about such things, the packaging in came in was *really* nice. :)
Brian! Dec 5th 2011 2:10PM
I used to love my R.A.T. 9 until the second mouse failure brought its use to a halt. Now I switched to a G700 from Logitech and I have to say it works great.
4 thumb buttons that, now that I am used to them, work great. Three extra buttons near the main mouse button (1) and then one more in the middle below a button that switches the wheel from a step to a smooth roll. Also, the middle wheel has the left & right scroll ability that adds 2 more keystrokes/macros/buttons to the mix as well.
The only problem with the G900 - and actually most PC based mice, is that Windows 7 seems to only support 5 mouse buttons. Anything more and you have to bind the button to a keystroke. I'd really like to see direct support on a OS level of all 13+ buttons. Otherwise I am trying to find keys on my keyboard to bind to (which I don't always want to do). This is less of a WoW issue and more for my art apps like Photoshop. Complex software has so many hot keys that finding an empty binding can be a real chore at times.
RetPallyJil Dec 5th 2011 2:27PM
TY for this review. I was debating whether or not to pop this onto my Christmas list.
Mathew McCurley Dec 5th 2011 3:30PM
I don't think anyone using this mouse will be disappointed unless you have really tiny hands. And the software is so, so good.
cosmicnova Dec 5th 2011 3:10PM
the way I hold mine, my ring finger is actually on the part with that side button, so it reaches just fine. I really adore this mouse, so glad i tried it out at blizzcon. :)
Mathew McCurley Dec 5th 2011 3:30PM
See, this is the kind of post I was looking for! Other people can hit that damn button perfectly but my pinky is just WEIRD? Thank you for sharing your experience.