Control Freaks

     Hello again from the Geck0 - the Hardware Review Editor around here. For some time now I've wished that there was a better means of judging the various aspects of controllers against some sort of 'scale'. I have done almost every single hardware review personally, among other reasons, to insure a single, consistent frame of reference. Even so, any you think about purchasing a controller, you are forced to make a comparative decision. Sure, five different controllers you're interested in may have received good reviews here at PlayStation Illustrated, but how do you know for sure which one is the best - or more to the point, the best for YOU.

     In order to help you with these types of questions, I have begun working on comparative tests to help point out the relative strengths and weaknesses of various controllers. As I develop new tests, new controllers will be evaluated and scored according to these tests. Previously reviewed controllers will slowly be evaluated and added to these test results pages, as time permits. Some of the oldest controllers may not still be available, so older controllers will appropriately have a lower priority. But, enough with the explanation, let's jump in, shall we?

The first test I've devised is for testing CONTROL only.
CONTROL - (kuhn - TROLE) - 1) The ability to accurately and precisely affect the resulting action by utilizing the hardware's user interface, including its buttons, switches, sticks, throttles, etc.  2) The ability to maintain CONTROL or to regain CONTROL after losing it.  3) Any aspect of a videogame input device which makes gameplay more manageable.
The best test of the ability to keep and regain control (that I could think of) was the 'SURVIVAL' mode in 'DRIVER'. As a driving game, it requires a good amount of control in steering. Also, since you can expect to be knocked around a bit, the ability to regain control with a specific controller greatly affects how long you can last. Finally, with burnout, braking, handbrakes, and the various tricks that you can do with them, DRIVER is a good judge of how precise your control over the car's handling is.

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