Combat Controller Review

This morning I picked up the XBOX 360 version of Mad Catz (Snow) Combat Controller. I sat down for 45 minutes and played CoD4 Hardcore Headquarters. Here's my review of it after the short sit down.

Pros
+ Looks amazing. Between the awesome camo, the LED Lights, and even just the MW2 logo this controller looks awesome.
+ It comes with a container so you can hide it from that pesky dog you have (although it's hell to get it in the case)
+ The joysticks feel very nice. I don't believe my thumbs slipped off the joysticks at all.
+ Grips on the side keep your hands from sliding.
+ Controller is wired (for the 360) so batteries are not an issue. The chord itself looks to be designed to take a small beating. This is a positive since I have a dog who from time to time thinks chords are good chew toys as I'm sitting there playing. This better design gave me enough time to catch him before he could do any damage.

Cons
*sigh*
- Design of the Triggers and Bumpers is sub par. There's actually a GIANT (in comparison to the Microsoft Controllers) gap between the bumpers and triggers which does not allow for easy/ fast gameplay (a.k.a. Call of Duty).
- I found on numerous occasions while cooking grenades that my finger would slip off of the bumper and my grenade would be thrown accidently (in many cases at walls in front of me since I was cooking to throw through a door/window).
- The combat buttons on the back are positioned in an awkward spot for quick hitting. When holding the controller normally they are positioned probably 1/2 - 1 inch higher than where your fingers rest. I can see Mad Catz reasoning for this as if they were on your fingers theyd be accidently hit, but becuz of the extra reach for these buttons I barely used them at all.
- Besides positioning the Combat Buttons are also too small. Perhaps if they were larger theyd be easier to hit in the spot they are located.
- The D-pad is sunk into the controller more than that of the normal 360 controller. I found it difficult to place claymores as sometimes would need to hit the button twice before my character would pull them out since I was not used to pushing that far. Sometimes I'd even take it out on the first try, but end up putting it away becuz it didnt feel like I had pressed it far enough when actually I did.
- Start/Back Buttons are located further from the left joystick and x buttons. When looking for a quick update on how many opponents were still alive (remember I'm playing Headquarters) it was not an easy/quick hit to the back button for that information.
- Those grips that I mentioned on the side that helped your hand from sliding are almost TOO grippy. They felt like if I used the controller for multiple hours of straight gaming I might get some sort of a friction rash (or whatever you want to call it).
- The controller itself feels alright to hold, but it does feel a little wider and thus would take some getting used to just to feel comfortable holding it.
- I mentioned the controller was wired so batteries did not need to be worried about. Well I'll list the wired controller as a con as well since you are limited to how far you can be from your system. The distance was not a problem for me as it seems to be the same length as the Microsoft Play and Charge chords.
- FOR A BONUS CON- I was not able to attach my 360 messenger pad to the controller. It seems as though the shape of the controller does not fit correctly. It was close so maybe it is possible, but I did not want to break my controller or pad trying to force it on.

Wrap-Up
From my list you may think that I've already turned around and headed back to GameStop for a refund. However, a lot of the cons I mentioned above MIGHT be corrected with enough game time given. I plan to try this controller out more in the next couple weeks, but as far an immediate change to this being my primary controller it's just not happening anytime soon. While playing I noticebly felt my accuracy being HORRIBLE and k/d for these matches reflected that as well.
For $49.99 this controller may be overpriced for some, but with it being MW2 and with the added Combat Buttons this controller could be very useful if it works itself on me.

Buy or Pass? Pass, unless you love MW2 (as I do) and you don't mind retraining your hands and fingers for the new feeling this controller offers.

PS3 controler is way better than any 360 one

Keith3618 wrote:PS3 controler is way better than any 360 one

Do you have any reasoning behind this or are you just making an opinion statement?

Keith3618 wrote:PS3 controler is way better than any 360 one

Which controller is better is clearly a matter of opinion. Don't be THAT guy. Nobody likes THAT guy.

Keith3618 wrote:PS3 controler is way better than any 360 one

How is it better? The analogs are horribly placed, in fighting games the PS3 games isnt bad, but other than that its pretty horrible. With the 360 controller my hand fits around the controller, not with the PS3 controller... The 360 controller is very comfortable pretty much ergonomic in a sense (though you can still get hand cramps), the PS3 controller is a lil small, easy to handle, but not as comfortable (though you get less hand cramps due to its size). Lets not forget the 360 has a superior dpad, and since it has a trigger instead of two top bumpers its easier to remember what button to press, and is more realistic when playing shooters. IDK the PS3 controller sucks especially when aiming with the analogs, look at the 360 controller you can aim up and down without wiggling it like an arcade fighting stick.

Oh, and nice review, I'm definitely not going out to buy the controller anytime soon. The only reason I grab madcatz controllers is cus they are generally about half the price of a regular controller anyway, fact is most of the Microsoft stuff is good quality (but overpriced)..

Its all personal opioion. I like the Playstation Controlers because the shoot/aim is R1 L1 but on 360 its the triggers. And i dont like how one anolog is up and th other is down. I own boh systems and the ps3 is way bette.. (to me!)

wow there is alot of cons! lol i probably wont get 1 unless one of my controllers break or stop working. Ill get the black one for PS3 if i do end up getting one

yeah i have the ps3 verison of the controller and it doesn't have half those cons it works and feels great.

I like the normal ps3 controler idk what it looks like

Thanks for the in depth review!

R0K L0bStEr wrote:Thanks for the in depth review!

No problem.

I appreciate the review of the controller. It looks a lot like the MadCatz Wired 360 controller I had a while back, except with a camo and stuff. I'm assuming the bottom of the bit you hold is sort of pointed? The Messenger Kit will not fit onto those - unless you break it or something.