Roccat Vulcan 120

A second look at mechanical keyboard design.

- Zak Storey

MECHANICAL KEYBOARDS have been a significant part of the PC gamer’s toolkit for the last seven years, and with good reason. Those simple rectangles laden with Cherry switches provide those who invest in the pricey products with a feeling unlike any that a membrane or chiclet keyboard could produce. The responsiveness and the immediate and tactile nature exuded by those switches is second to none.

Since those early days, we’ve seen refinement upon refinement. So much so that the question has to be asked: Where do you go from here? How do you stand out in such a crowded market? It’s a tough one, but Roccat believes it may have the answer.

The German manufacturer, known for its budget-oriented headsets, mice, and keyboards, has typically not been seen at the premium frontier of PC gaming peripherals. Its keyboards, although touting some fantastic feature sets and packing a plethora of Cherry switches, often lacked the design flair and high end material use of some of its more prestigious competitors. It always seemed to cater more toward the would-be or younger gamer, rather than someone truly serious about where they place their digits.