When it comes to PC gaming, gamers get what they pay for. Keyboards can be purchased for around $10 and will certainly get the job done, but those that are able to purchase higher-end keyboards will likely have a much better experience. There are a ton of expensive mechanical keyboards on the market aimed at gamers, but few are as high quality or worth the steep price as the ROCCAT Vulcan 121 AIMO keyboard.

The ROCCAT Vulcan 121 AIMO keyboard costs a whopping $159.99, so it's certainly a steep investment, but it's by and large worth the price of admission. PC gamers will immediately notice that the keyboard is much sturdier than the cheaper fare, so it will likely last much longer. So while the keyboard may be pretty expensive, it seems as though it will be one that gamers will get a lot of use out of before it will need replaced or repaired, even when compared with other high-tier mechanical keyboards on the market.

As far as performance goes, it's hard to beat the ROCCAT Vulcan 121 AIMO. The keys are positioned in such a way to allow for maximum accuracy, even for especially fast typers. ROCCAT attributes the keyboard's precision to its new Titan Switches, which really do make a difference. As someone that types fast and tends to hit the keys hard, the Titan Switches feel great, even after hours of use.

Twitch streamers or anyone else looking to buy a gaming keyboard are likely going to be more interested in its aesthetic than anything else. After all, having a fancy, colorful keyboard in a stream is a hallmark of many streamers, and helps make one's stream look a bit more high-tech and professional. The ROCCAT Vulcan 121 AIMO definitely fits the bill, with users able to greatly customize its look using ROCCAT's Swarm application.

Customizing the look of the Vulcan 121 AIMO is simple enough. Users simply need to plug the keyboard in and then download Swarm, at which point they will have its full customization capabilities at their fingertips. It's possible to change the color of each specific key, or go with a pre-made theme. All sorts of lighting effects are available as well and can be tweaked. The Swarm app streamlines the customization process, so users should be able to get their keyboard to look exactly how they want with little hassle.

Beyond the lighting and color effects, the ROCCAT Swarm app also lets users change the sound effect of their keys. For example, it's possible to make the keyboard sound like a typewriter, or it's also possible to make it so each key stroke sounds like a blast from a science-fiction laser gun. The latter is more of a goofy novelty than anything else, though there is something satisfying about a computer keyboard sounding exactly like an old-school typewriter.

Something that's a bit disappointing when it comes to customizing the sound of the ROCCAT Vulcan 121 AIMO keyboard is that the feature is very limited compared to the color and lighting effects. The Swarm app comes with just four sounds to choose from, and they are pretty similar to each other. The click sound and the typewriter effects basically sound the same, as do the beam and science-fiction sounds. Considering how much freedom users have when it comes to the keyboard's look, it would have been nice to have more options with sound.

Regardless of what sound or lighting effect users go with, they can test it out right away. A second after hitting "apply" and the keyboard will adjust to whatever settings were changed in Swarm, allowing users to see if that's what they really want and adjust the settings as needed. Users can also save multiple set-ups in Swarm and swap between them at will.

And even if one isn't interested in the full suite of customization provided by Swarm, the keyboard is still great without it. All users have to do is plug it in and it's good to go, though we wouldn't recommend dropping so much money on a keyboard for someone that isn't looking to take advantage of the Vulcan 121 AIMO's various customization options.

Thanks to its suite of customization options and Titan Switches, the ROCCAT Vulcan 121 AIMO is a top of the line mechanical keyboard that's great to use and should be long-lasting. It's also much easier to clean than standard keyboards, and it should rarely be necessary to even pull the keys off to clean it, so maintenance should be a breeze as well.

At $159.99, the ROCCAT Vulcan 121 AIMO keyboard is expensive, but it's sturdy and has great customization options. It's true that there are far cheaper keyboards that will get the job done, but they won't get it done quite as efficiently as the Vulcan 121. Anyone looking for a new mechanical gaming keyboard that's willing to spend a bit more than one usually would for a keyboard should definitely consider giving the Vulcan 121 AIMO a look.

Game ZXC was provided a ROCCAT Vulcan 121 AIMO mechanical keyboard for this review.