Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Member since:29.08.2002
Reviews:625
Members who trust:281
Ever since I bought my first console way back in the days of the original Nintendo my bedroom had been littered with wires. I always found the controllers ended up in a mangled mess on the floor and no matter how hard I tried they never seemed to stay separate. Then there were the times when I'd be playing on one of these consoles and my mum or Dad would come in and end up standing on the controllers and generally it was just a nuisance.
So when I finally got round to buying an XBox 360 last year I was pleasantly surprised to find that the controllers were in fact wireless. There were no wires to get tangled up and now that I'm living on my own and the console is in the living room that works far better for me. The only time you might have to connect a wire to the system is to charge the rechargeable battery but even this is not necessary due to Microsoft's Quick Charge Kit.
As with the new look of the console itself Microsoft have gone in for a redesign of the original XBox controller. Like the console itself the first thing that you notice about the controller is the switch from the black colouring of the old XBox controller to the pure white of the 360's. Of course while this new colouring makes them look quite sleek it is a colour that shows the slightest specks of dust and dirt. The other obvious change is in the weight of the controller. It's much lighter than the previous system's controller and again this is a mass improvement over its predecessor.
The changes to the 360's controller aren't just cosmetic, certain buttons have been moved and changed to give the controller a more familiar feel to any gamer. The "Back" and "Clear" buttons have been replaced with the more traditional "LB" and "RB" both of which sit nicely on the controller, surprisingly to the left and right. The start and back buttons too have been moved and now sit proudly in the middle of the pad, sitting nicely on either side of the new Menu button.
The controller is particularly easy to set up. It comes complete with a couple of AA batteries, which you simply plug into the battery pack and it's ready to go. Obviously AA batteries will run out and you can either invest in some rechargeable or the Microsoft plug and play rechargeable battery pack (£14.99). I still think with the cost of the console and the controllers that Microsoft could throw these in but then that would reduce the amount of additional revenue they can make. Once the batteries are in and ready to go you hit the Menu button in the middle of the controller and it all comes to live.
A lot of wireless controllers made by third parties to work with the likes of the XBox tended to have quite an intermittent signal. That doesn't seem to be the case with the official Microsoft controller, which not only boasts a strong signal but can be used up to 30ft away from the console without the performance and connectivity suffering. The performance of the controller is quite similar to the normal wired controller and with no lag between your actions on the pad and the results on the screen it does seem to be a success.
Overall it would appear that Microsoft have taken the best elements of the original controller, given them a snazzy overhaul, detached the wires and created a controller that is a marked improvement on the previous effort. The only complaint I would have with the wireless controller personally is the after costs. You either need to buy all Microsoft's add-ons to get the best value or end up shelling out a fortune on batteries. That said the controller is easy to use, it's sleek and gives the XBox 360 a look that rivals the PS3 and WII.
Amazon: £29.99 Amazon Marketplace: £22.48
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
With a half black/half white case and custom LED buttons, your 360 controller can be given ... more
a new lease of life with the addition of this simple to fit, funky case shell. This unique case has been manufactured using a special colouring process, called '...
Postage & Packaging: £4.39 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Superb controller with no wires and loads of features and very good feel Disadvantages: None- except a bit more expensive than wired controller
exceptional by (2%):
very helpful by (98%):
