cyrix
02-26-2005, 01:26 AM
This review will cover the PC iterations (obviously) of the Logitech Dual Action Gamepad and the Nyko Air Flow Controllers.
Logitech: At quick glance it looks almost identical to the PS2 controller. But aside from button layout, this thing has nothing in common with it. For starters you have the area of movement for the analog sticks. Instead of a traditional round design, it is actually square with slightly curved corners. Not good if you are gaming on the fly and want to just head straight or backwards. You might think it would be simple, but this layout hinders that movement. The sticks themselves have a semi flattened top to them, making control a little easier (depending on how you look at it.) '
Then of course we have button mapping. You would think it would be a simple task, but it isn't. I'll use GTA Vice City for this example. We all know you have certain controls for in car, and on foot. Well with this controllers mapping program that comes with it, setting it up is very difficult to near impossible. You actually have to set a cycle for the button, IE: setting a key for on foot, and a different key for in car. Which becomes quickly annoying because you have to double press a button to get the second command. Not very helpful for those requiring speedy results from a controller. I spent hours trying to set it up so it would play like a PS2 or even Xbox controller, but to no avail.
The feel of the controller is farily good, pretty ergonomic, unless you have very tiny hands. The buttons are spaced just about right, so I can't complain about that.
NYKO Air Flow: Straight out of the box this controller looks awesome. The fans and air vents actually managed to keep my hands dry for the most part, just don't grip it too tightly otherwise it nullifies the effect of the air flow.
Again the layout is typical of what you'd find on a PS2 controller. The analog sticks have a circular area of movement, which of course is always good. The middle buttons 9, 10, and 11 (or what we'll assume to be start, pause, and some other command) are placed semi awkward. Almost right in the middle of the analog sticks. But that isn't a big deal. The analog sticks have a ribbed circular design on them making gripping them all that much easier. And the way they move feels very fluid. However, the right analog stick.... It seems as if the axis of it has been shifted 90 degrees counter clockwise IE: up is right, left is up, down is right, and right is down. It can be annoying at times, especially if you aren't all that used to it, but after a week or so you can get used to it.
button mapping was a breeze. After setting up my VC controls in the game, I simply closed it down and set the buttons to the keys using NYKO's software. And every button worked as it would on the PS2 version of the game (except of course the right analog.)
Bottom Line: Althought the NYKO Air flow is 5 dollars more than Logitechs controller, the fact that mapping commands was such a breeze and the fact that they all worked without a hitch makes it more than worth it. The right analog problem is annoying at first, but after time you can get used to it. Plus of course the air flow vents work very well. It's not just a gimmick.
Logitech: At quick glance it looks almost identical to the PS2 controller. But aside from button layout, this thing has nothing in common with it. For starters you have the area of movement for the analog sticks. Instead of a traditional round design, it is actually square with slightly curved corners. Not good if you are gaming on the fly and want to just head straight or backwards. You might think it would be simple, but this layout hinders that movement. The sticks themselves have a semi flattened top to them, making control a little easier (depending on how you look at it.) '
Then of course we have button mapping. You would think it would be a simple task, but it isn't. I'll use GTA Vice City for this example. We all know you have certain controls for in car, and on foot. Well with this controllers mapping program that comes with it, setting it up is very difficult to near impossible. You actually have to set a cycle for the button, IE: setting a key for on foot, and a different key for in car. Which becomes quickly annoying because you have to double press a button to get the second command. Not very helpful for those requiring speedy results from a controller. I spent hours trying to set it up so it would play like a PS2 or even Xbox controller, but to no avail.
The feel of the controller is farily good, pretty ergonomic, unless you have very tiny hands. The buttons are spaced just about right, so I can't complain about that.
NYKO Air Flow: Straight out of the box this controller looks awesome. The fans and air vents actually managed to keep my hands dry for the most part, just don't grip it too tightly otherwise it nullifies the effect of the air flow.
Again the layout is typical of what you'd find on a PS2 controller. The analog sticks have a circular area of movement, which of course is always good. The middle buttons 9, 10, and 11 (or what we'll assume to be start, pause, and some other command) are placed semi awkward. Almost right in the middle of the analog sticks. But that isn't a big deal. The analog sticks have a ribbed circular design on them making gripping them all that much easier. And the way they move feels very fluid. However, the right analog stick.... It seems as if the axis of it has been shifted 90 degrees counter clockwise IE: up is right, left is up, down is right, and right is down. It can be annoying at times, especially if you aren't all that used to it, but after a week or so you can get used to it.
button mapping was a breeze. After setting up my VC controls in the game, I simply closed it down and set the buttons to the keys using NYKO's software. And every button worked as it would on the PS2 version of the game (except of course the right analog.)
Bottom Line: Althought the NYKO Air flow is 5 dollars more than Logitechs controller, the fact that mapping commands was such a breeze and the fact that they all worked without a hitch makes it more than worth it. The right analog problem is annoying at first, but after time you can get used to it. Plus of course the air flow vents work very well. It's not just a gimmick.