HyperX's Alloy Elite 2 mechanical gaming keyboard was released earlier this month. The keycaps give the Alloy Elite 2 a natural glow and the most shamelessly aggressive use of RGB I've ever seen on a keyboard. Frankly, I think it's a pretty impressive feat, even if I feel a tinge of embarrassment every time I type the word "pudding" in this review.

The most impressive feature of the Alloy Elite 2 is also its biggest difference from the original Alloy Elite RGB: the pudding ABS keycaps, which confirm (sadly) that HyperX's pudding keycaps have nothing to do with snacks. The keycaps allow for maximum RGB lighting on each key, and while HyperX sells black and white Pudding keycaps separately, the Alloy Elite 2 is the first keyboard to feature Pudding keycaps from the start. No tools are required.

The way RGB lighting works on most keyboards is that light peeks out from under the keys through the letters on top of each keycap; what makes HyperX's Pudding keycaps unique is that the sides of each key are translucent, allowing the RGB light to escape in a more dramatic increase This allows for a more dramatic increase in RGB light to escape.

To say the RGB lighting increases dramatically still feels like an understatement; the RGB lighting on the Alloy Elite 2 is like the peacock in PC gaming. It immediately grabs everyone's attention.

My wife, who has developed selective RGB blindness for all the gaming hardware I have set up on my desk, could not ignore the Alloy Elite 2's colorful luminescence. Now I just need a gaming mouse with enough RGB to pair with it.

Much of what we liked about the original Alloy Elite RGB is still here. The steel plate on top gives the Elite 2 the sturdy feel of a high-end keyboard. Weighing in at over 3 pounds, it stays in place no matter how hard you type.

The media controls, huge volume wheel, and quick access keys are also back on the dynamic light bar. This lightbar has no real purpose, except to be another place for more RGB. It's excessive, but I like it; it's odd that the quick access key for controlling the RGB lighting is the only key that doesn't glow.

Another feature added to the Alloy Elite 2 is the USB 2.0 pass-through on top of the keyboard. The number of USB devices on my desk is growing at an alarming rate. Not the sexiest feature, but still nice to have.

There are a couple of odd omissions, however. First, there is no wrist rest or additional keycaps. Sure, the Alloy Elite 2 is about $10 cheaper than the Alloy Elite RGB, but a wrist rest and an easy-to-clean keycap remover would have been great. Another change is HyperX's use of Red switches instead of the Cherry MX Brown, Blue, and Red switches of the previous model; HyperX's Red switches have less travel and use less force than the previous Red switches.

I didn't notice much difference in typing or gaming, but I still got my usual 80 characters per minute; the ABS Pring keycaps are wide and comfortable, but I found myself stretching my fingers more than usual to hit certain keys. For someone with large hands, this full-size keyboard is perfect.

As for gaming, the snappy responsiveness of the HyperX's Red switches worked well in a Call of Duty: Warzone matchup, and I wanted to see how it would do in an MMORPG, so I picked up Star Wars: The Old Republic and played Imperial Guard I took down several Jedi in PVP as an agent. The spacebar feels great for those whose primary mode of transportation in MMORPGs is to jump around like a sociopath.

The HyperX Allow Elite 2 is an unapologetically bold and bright gaming keyboard that often feels more like a statement piece than something for playing video games. If you're looking for a solidly built gaming keyboard with blindingly bright RGB, the HyperX Alloy Elite 2 is the board you want, assuming you don't mind a little color. Or if you crave more colors.