I was genuinely interested in getting my hands on the SEGA x Higround Basecamp 96+ Keyboard, not only because it visually caught my eye, but because it was time for a good upgrade. Circumstances have made it so that owning a decent laptop has been more practical than owning a desktop, and as such, I’ve been restricted to somewhat limited keyboards.
I was excited to take on a mechanical keyboard featuring my favourite speedy blue hedgehog. But design aside, the Higround Basecamp 96+ is a solid keyboard that offers a lot of versatility and personality to any gameroom or office setup.
The Higround Basecamp 96+ Keyboard is a solid unit, measuring in at 4.77” x 14.52” x 1.65” and maximizing efficiency at 96% button layout. Having gotten used to the keyboard on my Alienware m16 R1, I honestly felt like the unit would be a bit too small or take some adjusting, but it has an impeccable feel that is easy to adapt to.
Initially, I had assumed the Higround Basecamp 96+ was going to have those extra-clacky keys that a lot of these mechanical keyboards have, so I was genuinely surprised by how soft keystrokes were without losing their tactile sense of weight and impression. This is because the unit is built with five layers of dampening alongside its TTC Neptune Switches, which give the keys a really solid feel without being overly harsh.
Typing on the Higround Basecamp 96+ is smooth and satisfying, offering just enough resistance to feel sturdy while not detracting from the lightweight feel the unit is going for. The 1.5mm thick PBT keycaps feel solid under your fingertips, and there’s a genuine sense of durability throughout the whole thing. In some ways, it almost feels like the sleekness of the keys prioritizes speed—which is very much in line with the character it’s collaborating with.
“Typing on the Higround Basecamp 96+ is smooth and satisfying…”
If anything, one complaint I had while using the Higround Basecamp 96+ is that the keys might be a little too smooth, as I would often find myself pressing unwanted keys if my finger either slipped off the current one or pressed an adjacent one during frenzied typing. In this regard, it did take a bit of getting used to, however its not really a criticism against the quality of the keyboard itself.
However, if users prefer a more static feel or clacky sound, both the switches and the keycaps are completely customizable, allowing users to build a keyboard that really works for them, be it the entire unit or just specific switches. And everything needed to easily remove switches and keycaps comes in-box and is simple enough that even casual adopters can change keys with ease.
But the true selling feature of the Higround Basecamp 96+ Keyboard is its visual design in collaboration with SEGA—namely Sonic the Hedgehog. As part of a collection of four distinct keyboards with different designs, the Higround Basecamp 96+ features the “Classic Sonic” design, utilizing a colour palette that evokes the art style of the Genesis era games and box art.
Soft oranges clash with reds and yellows on the edges of the keys, centring the off-white and grey QWERTY keys which draw your eyes to the center and make the whole unit pop. Amongst the keys are the classic renders of Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy Rose, giving the unit a sense of playfulness and fun. The whole thing is brought to life through an RGB backlight that works on its own with the standard rainbow wave, but can be made even more dynamic with full customization through the Higround Forge App.
I honestly don’t know what else I can say about the Higround Basecamp 96+ keyboard because it really is just a solid device with an impeccable visual aesthetic. It’s a low-frills, rock-solid keyboard that is impressive on its own merits and enhanced by the Sonic The Hedgehog inspired art. While its price point may be a bit high for less enthusiastic Sonic fans, if you’re willing to splurge, this would honestly be a solid long-term investment.
