I ordered it when it was announced and it finally came last week. I've used
five or six different wireless controllers but they've always had problems -
this one addresses them all.
Just comparing to the previous Logitech (which they're still selling)
they've fixed all of my problems with it:
+) The analog sticks on the old controller where concave and hard plastic:
you're thumbs couldn't get good purchase and they slipped. The new sticks
are convex and coated in rubber - they feel even better than the dual shock!
The sticks on the new controller are firm and spring back to center with
alacrity (which some people may not like, but I love). It was very
difficult to complete subtle moves on the old controller, with the new one
it's just as easy, if not more so, that with the dual shock.
+) On the old controller the R3 and L3 buttons (pressing the analog sticks)
was nearly impossible to do without moving the sticks, the new one
eliminates that problem.
+) The radio receiver on the old model was tethered with an 18" cable for
some insane reason (wasn't that supposed to be a WIRELESS controller?). The
new receiver is a simple plug-in module and very small (only about twice the
thickness of a memory card).
+) The old model was HUGE and heavy and took 4 AA's. The new one is only
very slightly larger than the dual shock (and in all the right places with
slightly longer finger groups), much lighter and only takes two AA's (I'm
not sure what the life is, but I'm about 30 hours in without a change).
+) The old model had a wonky "disc" d-pad that was decent but very large.
It also tended to drift at all the wrong times. The new model has a smaller
disc overlaid with a more traditional cross design. It's much more
responsive subtly guides you to the cardinal points. Very nice.
+) The old model has a MSRP of $60 - the new one is $40. That's still
nearly double the price of the Pelican wireless controller, but it's worth
it.
(The Pelican was my previous favorite, but it was an odd egg. No rumble at
all since the batteries fit into the handle (and you needed a special screw
driver to change them). It's also made of cheap, brittle plastic that can't
take the abuse dished out by a five-year old. Both Logitech controllers are
made from high-quality, impact-resistant plastic.)
Also I love the fact that both Logitech controllers have automatic sleep
modes: after a few minutes of inactivity they just turn themselves off.
Easy as pie. The Pelican controller (and the Wavebird for the GameCube for
that matter) both require you to manually turn the controllers on and off.
It's not difficult, just annoying when Logitech manages the same thing so
logically and unobtrusively.
My only complaints (and they're niggling ones):
+) I'm not thrilled with the placement of the shoulder buttons. They're in
the same place as the dual shock (I would have preferred the L2, R2 buttons
as triggers lower down the unit) but are a shade smaller. They're not any
harder to hit that the dual shock, but like the dual shock it's
uncomfortable if you have to manipulate all four at once.
+) The battery compartment mars the contour of the bottom of the unit. As
you're holding it your ring fingers tend to slide on the corners of the
battery compartment. It doesn't affect game play at all, but after long
sessions got a little uncomfortable.
+) The analog sticks are place up and inwards slightly compared to the dual
shock. While this doesn't affect the use of the sticks themselves (at least
for me) it means that the select and start buttons are pushed away a bit
making them slightly harder to hit. Since I'm playing "Onimusha 2" now
(which requires that the start button be hit about 50,000 times) it's become
a minor, persistent annoyance.
It's a complaint (since personally I don't care but other may) but the only
extra button on controller is a manual vibration toggle. There are no
extras like turbo fire or macro buttons - this controller won't let you do
anything that can't be done with the dual shock.
All told this is the best controller for the PS2 ever in my opinion. I've
always said that the dual shock is the best video game controller ever
created: this new Logitech controller is a better controller. Its being
wireless is just thick icing in the cake.
Jim Davis
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