controller

All posts tagged controller

Hyperkin Duke Xbox One Controller

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 03/05/2019

Posted in: Hardware, Microsoft Consoles, PC Reviews, Xbox One. Tagged: controller, duke, hyperkin, og xbox, original xbox, xbox, xbox 1, xbox one. Leave a comment

Manufacturer: Hyperkin

Release Date: 10/22/2018

MSRP: $69.99

Colors: Black, Green, Red

I’m a sucker for awesome game controllers and when I saw the Duke being announced by Hyperkin I was both excited and puzzled. Why bring back such a loathed controller which is considered one of the worst ever made? Who does this appeal to? The few who did like the Duke or people who like collecting weird controllers? The question is that it was neither as the controller didn’t sell very well and received very little attention. I picked it up only for the retro awesomeness factor and because I have never owned a Duke controller.

In the box, you get a very long USB cable and the controller itself. Sadly, this is not wireless and part of this is due to the fact that Microsoft will not release the codes to third-party developers so Microsoft is the only company with wireless controllers. It’s been this way since the Xbox 360 sadly. Once you do open the box and pick up the controller you realize just how gaudy this thing was. I have large hands and it’s almost too big for me. It feels ergonomic but so bulky and heavy it’s both satisfying and weird. The face buttons are slanted and at least the bumpers were retained as small buttons on top but the black and white buttons also function as bumpers (I mean…the black and white buttons were converted to bumpers on the Xbox 360). The coolest feature is the LCD at the center that plays the original Xbox startup animation and displays the Xbox logo with a crisp clear LCD. I would have liked the startup sound as well, but I’ll take what I can get. There is no other controller on the market with a built-in LCD like this and it’s great.

Once you start playing games I can see the issue of bulkiness making your hands tired and the controller build is a tad iffy. The controller creaks and the buttons feel hollow and clack loudly while vibrations rattle the entire controller. It’s both awesome as it makes the controller seem that much more ridiculous and adds to that factor, as well as questioning the build quality. It sure feels solid like you can knock someone out with it and the analog sticks and D-Pad are fantastic and feel just like the originals. The back and menu buttons are where they start and select normally would be and they feel fine.

Overall, the Duke controller is a strange device as retro collectors will get a kick out of it, and it has some enjoyability, but new players will balk at the bulkiness, build quality, and overall weird factor this controller brings.

Logitech Cordless Attack Controller for Xbox – 13 Years Later

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 04/02/2017

Posted in: Hardware, Microsoft Consoles, Xbox. Tagged: controller, cordless, logitech, Microsoft, precision, wireless, xbox. Leave a comment

Manufacturer: Logitech

Release Date: 08/2005

MSRP: $39.99

Colors: Green

After loving the Cordless Precision Controller for PS2, I had to get something similar for the Xbox. Now, the Xbox controller is great, but I don’t like cords strung across my house, but back in the day, wireless controllers were expensive, and they’re just weren’t many good ones. After picking up a generic wireless controller a couple of weeks ago I ditched it in the trash. It lagged, constantly cut out, had to be reconnected from the receiver end, and was just glitchy and cheap feeling. The Logitech controller feels solid, literally melts away in your hands, and has a nice weight to it.

The arms of the controller are bent out more and are a bit longer so you have a more solid grip. The black and white back and start buttons are closer to your thumbs and are a bit bigger. The triggers aren’t really better than the OEM controller, but they still feel nice and are a little less stiff. The analog sticks feel great, and just like the PS2 version, they are a tad loose so it takes getting used to.

I found it puzzling to have memory card slots on the receiver end as it makes it big and bulky and the Xbox has an HDD, so why do we need memory cards? I understand transferring saves to a friend’s system, but couldn’t have been built into the system? Anyways, the controller connects without a hitch and never needs to be repaired. Just press a face button and it connects with zero hassle and this is why I absolutely love these Logitech controllers.

The back door to the batteries is much easier to get off than the PS2 version and you get 50 hours of battery life off of two AAs. Overall, this is the go-to wireless controller for Xbox as it feels better than the OEM one and is just a seriously solid and amazing product. They tend to be a bit cheaper than the PS2 versions as there was only one version released. However, a new controller will still run you over $100.

Logitech Cordless Precision Controller for PlayStation 2 (Older Model) – 11 Years Later

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 03/30/2017

Posted in: Editor's Choice, Hardware, PlayStation 2, Sony Consoles. Tagged: controller, cordless, logitech, PlayStation 2, precision, ps2, wireless. Leave a comment

Manufacturer: Logitech

Release Date: 8/28/2006

MSRP: $39.99

Colors: Black, Silver (EA Sports), Blue

I have to note that this is the older, and better, model of the Cordless Precision Controller for PS2. The newer one doesn’t feel as nice but is more widely available. Besides the official DualShock 2, there isn’t a better controller out there. There were so many third-party controllers for the PS2 and they were all mostly terrible. From poor ergonomics to bad wireless technology or lame button placement. Some controllers opted for the Xbox-style analog stick layout or were just poorly built. Logitech was the king of accessories back in the day, and while they were more expensive, they were worth the money. I had this controller last for over 10 years until it pretty much died on me recently and I had to buy a new one. That’s a long time for an accessory and it went through several moves, was stashed in storage for a couple of years, and was dropped, kicked, thrown, and smashed over and over again growing up.

What makes this controller the best wireless option for PS2 is that it just feels good and is more solid than the official controller. There’s more bulk and it feels heavier and more solid in your hands. The controller fits so nicely with shorter arms and a thicker back with larger top buttons. The D-pad is much improved and works well with fighters as it’s a rolling D-pad over the standard plus D-pad. My only complaint would be that the analog sticks are too loose for my taste and they take some getting used to.

The controller connects to the receiver easily with just a press of a button and no need to repair it. I never once had to pair the controller over the 10 years I owned it. It shuts off after 5 minutes of inactivity, there’s a mode button for switching from digital to analog and that’s all you need. It lasts nearly 50 hours on 2 AAs so get some rechargeables and you’re golden. I also have to mention the battery cover is a pain to get off, but you can’t have everything.

Overall, this is the best controller option for the PS2 bar none. Sadly, it’s not made anymore and can be upwards of $50-60 used and new controllers run over $100. If you can nab one these are worth the investment tenfold. Just another side note, the black version is the most common with the silver being second and the blue one being nearly impossible to find. The silver ones pop up here and there, but I have yet to ever see the blue one.

Moga Pro Hero Controller

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 08/08/2015

Posted in: Android, Hardware, Mobile Reviews. Tagged: android, controller, emulator, mobile, moga, powera, pro hero. Leave a comment

Manufacturer: PowerA

Release Date: 11/4/2013

MSRP: $79.99

Smartphone controllers are not a new thing. However, Android users have been lacking a great controller for quite a while. Moga has been considered the name brand for Android controllers for a couple of years now. From small pocket-sized controllers to full-sized ones, Moga is the way to go; that doesn’t mean they are the best controllers ever made.

The Moga Pro Hero feels like an Xbox 360 controller with an alternate analog layout, triggers, bumpers, and face buttons. The controller feels good in your hands and is very familiar; however, that’s about where it stops being familiar. Like other Moga controllers, the game feels too rigid, while we appreciate sturdy controllers, and this one, the buttons are too stiff. The face buttons make a very loud clicking noise and require a good hard press. The D-pad also feels too D-pad…y, there’s no diagonal movement whatsoever. While this is good for older games on emulators, it does us no good for fighting games. I also felt the triggers were too stiff and required too much heavy-handed pressing to feel comfortable; the same goes for the bumpers. The analog sticks are probably the only things on here that feel familiar and right, but that’s still not saying this is a bad controller. The arm that holds your phone is nicely cushioned, however, the inner piece feels too loose and I felt the phone wobble a tiny bit when moving.

A nice feature of this controller is that it has a built-in battery so no more AAA or AA batteries. You can also charge your phone FROM the controller thanks to its large battery which is nice for long gaming sessions. I also love the HID (Human Interface Device) mode for emulators as games must support the regular mode natively. Emulators respond nicely to this controller and it has more than enough buttons for what you need.

Overall, if you need more buttons and a full-sized experience, the Pro Hero is a perfect choice, just be ready to get used to some stiff buttons and a weird D-pad.

Microsoft Xbox One Controller

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 06/29/2015

Posted in: Editor's Choice, Hardware, Microsoft Consoles, PC Reviews, Xbox One. Tagged: controller, hardware, Microsoft, pc, xbox one. Leave a comment

Manufacturer: Microsoft

Release Date: 11/22/2013

MSRP: $59.99

Colors: Black

NOTE: Controller was tested for 6 hours with Ryse: Son of Rome, Project Cars, and Resident Evil 6

I had my Xbox 360 controller for Windows for about 4 years and I felt it was time to finally upgrade. I won’t lie, the Xbox 360 controller is fantastic and was the best controller of the last generation, it was sturdy and extremely ergonomic. My 360 controller for PC has been through absolute hell. It has traveled with me for nearly 5 years on my gaming laptop and I played dozens of games with it from Batman: Arkham City to Need for Speed: The Run to Saints Row The Third. It’s scratched up, the four bumps on each analog stick are completely worn down, and the left trigger squeaks like a mouse. The cable is split in one area, I have taken it apart to clean it, goop got stuck down in the buttons, you name it. However, the controller hasn’t failed on me and works just fine for nearly any game that supports a controller. Any game that supports a controller since 2006 supports the controller. I have never had to use a third-party button mapper for this thing. It’s fantastic and just awesome. Again, it’s time to move on and upgrade to the next biggest thing.

The Xbox One controller is actually better than the 360 one out of the box since you don’t need a specific controller for a PC. Just grab any Xbox One controller and plug it up via standard micro USB, install the drivers off Microsoft’s website, and you’re golden. Of course, these are $20 more than 360 controllers, but you’re getting a more advanced and better feeling device. The XBONE controller is black, which is better than the 360’s off-white theme. The glowing white Xbox One logo helps the aesthetics compared to the green glowing one on 360. There’s a little glossy black piece that sticks out above new menu buttons that hold the Xbox One logo. This is a great new design choice as it makes the controller look sleeker. Of course, the button doesn’t do crap on PC, but it’s nice to press when you’re bored I guess.

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Holding the controller itself feels better than 360. The handles are tapered smaller at the bottom and are angular rather than round. This makes gripping the controller easier for people with smaller hands and it just felt better. The triggers are completely redesigned. They are softer yet glide much smoother and feel more responsive. They have a soft stop so you’re not slamming the triggers into the controller. It just feels so much better. The LB and RB buttons are a little disappointing. They are much louder and are a little harder to press. However, the bumpers vibrate for minute sensations and this is brand new for controllers. PS4 has the touchpad and speaker, and Xbox One has this new rumble feature. Honestly, I’ll take the speaker and touchpad over this any day, but it’s nice knowing Microsoft at least tried. Outside of that, the face buttons are much larger and flatter which is awesome. They don’t look so cartoony and aren’t colored like the 360. They are clear black but the letters are colored. So much better looking. Now, here’s the make-or-break part. The analog sticks and D-pad. The analog stick is actually wonderful. They are looser than the 360 sticks but you have more controllers. Everything on the Xbox One controller is looser but much smoother with a “glade” feeling that just feels natural and buttery in your hands. The D-pad is something I really like. It clicks with feedback, but not like your thing. This is a raised D-pad like the horrible one on the 360. It’s an in-set D-pad that feels responsive and fast.

Here’s the dumbest part of the controller. It still needs AA batteries. 2015 and Microsoft are still making controllers like it’s 1995. Their theory is you won’t run into half-life issues and have to buy a new controller. I call bullshit on that. My PS3 controller from 2009 has been charged who knows how many times and I still get 15+ hours with it. This is just a money-making scam from MS to buy the $25 play-and-charge kit for the controller. The way around this is rechargeable AA batteries which MS surprisingly doesn’t suggest. Gee, I wonder why. With rechargeables, you can keep two spares for a quick swap.

Here’s another downer, the controller can’t be used wirelessly on PC, at least not yet. The wireless dongle is yet to be released and will only work with Windows 10. Another stupid roadblock. Thankfully you can use any USB cable so the 360’s extremely long and thick cable isn’t an issue here. All in all, the Xbox One controller is fantastic and the best one you can get for a PC. Just some stupid design choices get in the way of making it perfect.

PowerA Moga Mobile Gaming System

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 06/20/2013

Posted in: Android, Hardware, Mobile Reviews. Tagged: android, controller, mobile gaming system, moga, portable, powera. Leave a comment

Manufacturer: PowerA

Colors: Black

MSRP: $39.99

Now that gaming on tablets and phones is becoming more serious and popular, companies are coming out with dedicated controllers for your devices. PowerA was one of the first ones out of the gate with their Moga series of controllers. This is the mobile version that holds your phone while you play. It’s Bluetooth so there are no cords tethered to your device. The controller is very well designed and sturdy, it doesn’t feel cheap at all.

I love the ergonomics of this controller. The middle of the controller has a flip-up phone holder. It can hold up to 6″ phones, so everything up to the Samsung Note II. The top and bottom of the clip have rubber grips so your phone doesn’t slip out, and it keeps it from getting scratched. Getting the controller to connect is a breeze. The initial setup is done with the Moga Pivot app, it also scans your device for games that can be played with the controller. You can also navigate and launch these apps with the controller. The controller sits well in your hands, and is powered by 2 AA batteries, each housed on either side of the controller. PowerA went for minimalism with this controller and they nailed it.

The only issue with the controller is that it feels too rigid. The buttons aren’t very soft and make a loud clicking sound. The thumbstick nubs are a bit stiff and there’s no D-pad. I like the L and R triggers which feel great for shooting games and racing. I wish the controller had analog sticks rather than nubs. It’s really hard to adjust to these in a shooter, I had to turn the sensitivity way down in the game to make it feel somewhat normal. The controller is also lacking bumpers which could have fit just fine. So there’s a bit of a learning curve with this controller.

At least it comes with two free games, Pac-Man and Sonic CD. It also includes a really nice leather case to hold your controller in. The biggest issue of all is that there aren’t many games that support this thing. There is a free universal driver app to use in emulators which is probably the main reason why someone would buy this. I was able to play a GBA, SNES, PS1, and Genesis emulator with no issues. Other than this, this is well worth the $40 for anyone looking for a controller without having to buy special cables, rooting, or buying expensive apps.

PDP Afterglow Motion Controller with Motion Plus

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 05/25/2013

Posted in: Hardware, Nintendo Consoles, Wii, Wii U. Tagged: afterglow, controller, motion plus, Nintendo, pdp, third party, wii, wii u. Leave a comment

Manufacturer: PDP

Release Date: 1/30/2013

Colors: Red, Green, Blue

MSRP: $29.99

After buying a Wii U you will need controllers with Wii Motion Plus in them. For $10 less you can get these which are pretty well designed and I like them a lot. PDP makes great products and these are no exception. The Afterglow products look cool because they have colored LEDs and transparent cases. I also like the new layout for the controller. The + and – buttons are on the extreme sides of the remote above a. 1 and 2 are diagonally placed so your thumb doesn’t hit both all the time when holding the remote horizontally. I just found the home button a little hard to press because it is inset along with the power button at the top.

The LEDs are bright and vibrant and look cool in the dark. The remote feels solid and sturdy and not cheap like some Wii peripherals. It comes with a strap as well so the whole package is here. It will fit any rechargeable battery, but it’s a bit tight. One thing you really have to look out for on third-party controllers is the quality of the buttons. They press nicely and give good feedback. I just found the speaker to be a bit quieter than the official ones and the vibration is a bit softer as well. This is minor issue, but it still feels nice and is a great product. For $10 less you get cool LEDs, better button placement, and a solid feeling controller.

Nyko Raven Wireless Controller for PS3 (Alternative)

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/27/2012

Posted in: Editor's Choice, Hardware, PlayStation 3, Sony Consoles. Tagged: alternative, controller, nyko, playstation 3, ps3, raven wireless controller, third party, wireless, Xbox 360. 2 Comments

Manufacturer: Nyko

Release Date: 1/1/2012

MSRP: $34.99

Colors: Black

I saw this little guy on a shelf at Fry’s one day and it looked very sleek and ergonomic. I was surprised at seeing something so well made from a third-party peripheral company like Nyko which is notorious for making crappy products. I love collecting controllers, so I kept this guy on my radar. I finally got it as a Christmas gift and I am very pleased and has become my favorite PS3 controller thus far. When you put the thing in your hands your fingers just mold to the controller. It is more square in shape than a rectangle like the OEM controller. The texture of the controller feels great and is a very silky smooth rubber. The triggers are designed more like the Xbox 360 controllers and are much better than the OEM controller which I found my fingers slipping on a lot. The controller is slightly heavier than the OEM one, but it just feels so much nicer. The analog stick orientation is set up like the Xbox 360 so your thumbs don’t bump into each other during frantic movement. The sticks are much smaller and the tops have a pretty deep dip so your thumbs stay nice and snug. I love how tight the sticks are, not too tight, but not as loose as the OEM controller. They click very nicely and the D-pad is small and gives a great response when using it.

The overall look of the controller is great. It is all black and sleek with the PS Home button being a large square in the middle with a picture of a raven. The face buttons are clear with nice designs set inside. However, there is one useless feature that this controller has, that I have no idea why anyone would use. On the back, there is an A-B switch that will swap the functionality of the shoulder buttons. No idea why this would be used, but it’s there if anyone needs to use it I guess. The controller has a nice USB dongle (no Bluetooth unfortunately) and comes with a USB charging cable which is rather short. There is a square LED right below the home button that will stay solid when charging, flash fast when charged, and slowly flash when low. This is a great hassle-free way of telling what status your battery is in. The controller lasts quite a long time with a whopping 25 hours of battery life per charge. The larger battery may be why the controller is slightly heavier.

My only real issue is that the L1 and R1 buttons are a little too close together because of the controller’s square shape. It takes a while to get used to this and you have to force your fingers into the right position, but after about 4-5 hours of playing it starts to feel natural. Other than that this is a very nice well-made controller that doesn’t feel like cheap plastic. For the low price, I was surprised at how well made this was especially being wireless, having rumble, and SixAxis control built-in. This is probably one of the best wireless controllers I have ever used and will be one I recommend to everyone.

PDP Mortal Kombat Klassic Limited Edition Arcade Fight Stick

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 01/11/2012

Posted in: Editor's Choice, Hardware, PlayStation 3, Sony Consoles. Tagged: arcade fight stick, controller, fighter, fighting, klassic, limited edition, mortal kombat, pdp, playstation, playstation 3, ps3, Sony. Leave a comment

Manufacturer: PDP

Release Date: 11/18/2011

Colors: Black

MSRP: $189.99

Fight sticks are usually the only way to go when it comes to 2D fighting games. Mortal Kombat has finally started creating its own and this bad boy is almost flawless. The components are Suzo-Happ which are top-notch and the thing feels like a piece of an arcade cabinet. The buttons have that lightning-fast spring and the joystick snaps around like you would expect. The layout is just like that of Mortal Kombat cabinets with the 5 buttons (think of a 5 on a die) and the Run button where you can tap with your thumb. The buttons are big and you can hit each one by just rocking your handing around and quickly slapping the buttons.

The Home button, Start, and Select are up top along with L2 and R1. The stick is designed for the Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection and needed some re-mapping for Mortal Kombat (2011). I did feel like I was ten times better at the game in MK (2011), and I could pull off moves a lot faster on this thing than I could on any controller. My win/loss ratio was boosted after using this thing.

The cabinet’s cosmetics are gorgeous with the classic MK1 design on the front and a soft velvet padding on the bottom for your lap. You can connect any mini-B USB cable to it, but I just wish it were wireless. Nothing can really beat this and is probably the best home console stick I have ever used. this also works for other fighting games but may need some re-mapping. I also had trouble pulling off X-ray moves in MK (2011) because the L2 button is up top so I had to take my hand off the stick to do this. Other than that the stick is perfect and everyone should get one. Be warned though because these are limited with only 6,000 produced (I have #1,069). The stick is very expensive running at over $200 at most places, so this is probably for hardcore MK fans only.

Power A Batman: Arkham City Batarang Controller

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 01/11/2012

Posted in: Editor's Choice, Hardware, PlayStation 3, Sony Consoles. Tagged: arkham city, batarang, batman, comics, controller, DC, playstation, playstation 3, ps3, Sony, wireless. Leave a comment

Manufacturer: Power A

Release Date: 10/7/2011

Colors: Grey

MSRP: $49.99

Most third-party controllers are usually never good. Power A did a great job with this officially licensed (by DC anyways) PS3 controller. While it looks a bit cheap with some areas not coming together smoothly and seeing a few uneven gaps the controller feels good and has a few nice features. For one the thing lights up with 7 different colors that you can change with a push of the button. All the regular PS3 buttons are here including the Home button, plus there is a battery indicator button that lights up the quadrants to the left of the top row of buttons.

The overall feeling in your hands is great except that the shoulder buttons are a bit closer together to people with huge hands will not like this. It has kind of a triangle shape, and the ergonomics are great when wrapping your fingers behind the controller to grip it. The sticks are laid out like the Xbox 360, which I prefer, and they are just tight enough for the perfect sensitivity range (which is really important for shooters).

Overall, there are a few problems such as the top button being too close to each other so you have to look down to press Start and Select. Several times I didn’t look and hit the color change button instead of Start. I also like how it’s wireless, but doesn’t use Bluetooth so you have to use a dongle in the PS3 USB slot. That also means no turning on the console with the controller, but it does have an on/off switch to kind of makeup for it. The battery lasts a long time so no issue there, but if the controller didn’t look as cheap as it does, the top buttons were spread out more, and this thing used Bluetooth I would say it was perfect. For what you get this is a great controller for Batman fans.