With the ever-increasing need for convenience and functionality, wireless controllers are finally becoming more readily available. Currently, the demand is high for wireless controllers but the supply is enigmatically low. I’ve tried about a half dozen different wireless controllers for various consoles, and the only one I've supported was the Wavebird for the Gamecube. While you gained the freedom of wireless with the Wavebird, you also lost the functionality with the lack of force feedback.
One thing that the almighty XBOX has lacked for two years now is the functionality of a wireless device. Don’t get me wrong, I know there are a few third party controllers out there, but honestly they are so poor that they become unusable. Needless to say, XBOX fans are stuck in the corded world of gaming… until now.
For years now, I’ve been a huge fanboy of Logitech gadgets. In my opinion, Logitech has truly come a long way. In the beginning, they were categorized by many as a cheap alternative to the real thing. This has all changed, and the company now is the front-runner on nearly every known accessory for all platforms. To this day, I feel the Wingman for the PC is still one of the best controllers of all time.
From first glance, the XBOX wireless controller by Logitech actually looks like a Wingman. In fact, it looks nothing like a standard XBOX controller (biggie or S). This isn’t a good thing, mind you, because the “S” is currently my favorite console controller, and seeing it devolve into something this clunky was quite a shock to me. The good folks at Logitech deemed it necessary to increase the size in order to compensate for the motors inside, providing great force feedback. Again, when creating a wireless controller it seems as though developers have to choose one of two things: size or functionality. Logitech went opposite Nintendo's route, and shot for functionality; it will be interesting to see how consumers handle the behemoth of a controller.
Before chastising me, I have large hands and the controller fits nice and snug within my grip. However, my wife gave it a test drive for a few hours and came away with cramped hands. I know Logitech is cringing as I write this and are saying: “Why oh why did we send this gimp this controller?!” Fear not Logibuddies, for I had to get the bad out of the way…
When it comes to controllers, I’m about as finicky as they come. Sure, I may not be your ideal candidate, because I love the smallness of the MadCatz Microcon, but I also love the bulky goodness of the Dreamcast controller. And since I’m already in love with the Wingman, the added beef to the XBOX wireless just made adaptation a bit lengthier. But once you’ve become accustomed to the weight of the unit, de-wiring yourself is as enlightening as becoming unplugged from the Matrix.
What makes this controller so special isn’t the size or functionality, but rather the natural feeling you get in gameplay. The buttons are quite responsive, despite what you may have heard. Button presses have a nice balance between a “soft press” and a “click”. I appreciate that, since finding this happy medium has to be a difficult one for manufacturers.
I was also impressed with the use of the force feedback, and the games that fully supported the function worked beautifully. My test game for this feature was Rally Sport Challenge, simply because no other game uses force feedback the way it does.
Aside from the button and force feel, the tangible difference between Logitech and other manufacturers is huge. Logitech’s products have a tank like feel to them, and they seem indestructible. I admit that I didn’t use the controller as a boomerang, but I did whack it a few times against the wall… (What can I say? NFS: Underground can get quite frustrating.) This controller is no different, and the construction is top notch. My only complaint would be that material used can get a bit slippery. If your hands are wet, the controller becomes very slick. Maybe a few light grips would help here Logi.
For you real sickos that crave distant gaming, this is the controller for you. It has a sweet 2.4gHz system and the performance shows. I wanted to see how far I could take it, and I ran out of space before I lost connection. I was easily 30 feet from the XBOX adapter, and still had precise movements. Why you would want to play that far away, I wouldn’t have a clue, but, if for some reason, you had to get a Coke or something, you could do so.
I’ve also been quite impressed with the battery usage. I’ve clocked in about 30 hours and the batteries still are going like a champ. The controller needs four AA batteries (which are included), and installation was a breeze. You’ll also be happy to know that you can have multiple controllers in the same room without any interference. That means, no, you don’t have to configure the adapter and the controller to find the frequency; this is all done automatically… nice touch, Logi.
The bottom line here folks, is that the Logitech wireless controller is the best wireless controller on the market for the XBOX. I don’t foresee any other developer coming close to the overall quality of the unit. So, if you are up for a hefty controller with no strings attached (wacka-wacka), then this is the controller for you.
