PX5000
Score: 97% Developer: Saitek
Function: What can I say? A professional needs his tools. The Saitek PX5000 gamepad is a dual-analog compatible gamepad with built-in programmability and some unique features to give you additional control. This gamepad allows you to customize your gameplay to suit you. You can even personalize your controller by entering your name into it - it will display your name on the LCD screen. (Sweet!) The PX5000 serves well as an everyday PS2 gamepad replacement, but its axis-lock and programmable macros also make it useful as a 'task force' controller; one that you reach for to get you past a tough spot. For example, the PX5000's axis lock feature made itself quite useful in a 'dream sequence' in Max Payne, where accurate movement in either forward/backward or left/right directions reduced the amount of turning that was required...
Performance: You want control? You've got it! You get excellent performance from this gamepad, as well as the ability to 'lock' your axes... letting you restrict an analog stick to up-down or left-right motion. This can come in handy when you are playing a 3D game and need to have extremely precise control at some crucial spot. While the D-pad is not as comfortable as the Sony dual-shock controller, it works well enough. The buttons on the PX5000 gamepad are about the same size as on the original gamepad, but they have much more throw, giving a much more definite tactile feedback. One downside to the PX5000 is the location of the 'face' buttons, such as 'SELECT', 'START', 'ANALOG' and 'SETUP', a button used in programming the pad. Due to the location of the LCD display in the center of the face of the gamepad, these buttons are pushed to either side, and are small and close together. This makes activating them more difficult than on the original Sony Dual Shock gamepad, but with some practice it's possible to use these buttons without mishap. In addition to the usual four shoulder buttons, the PX5000 has a 'MACRO' button on the left side and a 'TURBO' button on the right side, beneath the standard L2 and R2 buttons. This unique placement of the buttons seems to work much better than the traditional 'face mounted' extra buttons. It is much easier to activate these special features on-the-fly without removing one of your hands from the controller and attempting to slap the appropriate (usually tiny) button on the face of the controller. The Axis Lock mechanisms on the PX5000 are much simpler to use than those found in earlier Saitek gamepad models. The current model requires that you merely grab the 'Axis Lock' rings, which surround the analog sticks, and turn them so that the axis you want free motion in is indicated by the ring. Attempting to do this in-game (without pausing) can result in accidental bumping of the analog stick if you're not careful, but the act of adjusting the lock itself is relatively easy, being a one step process.
Features: Large LCD screen (for programming, menu navigation) Programmable - Identify Macros by Name Cord Length: 10 feet 4 Analog Buttons 4 Analog Triggers 2 Analog Mini-Joysticks Analog D-Pad Turbo Mode Axis - Lock on Both Analog Sticks Double-Shock 2 Vibration Effects
Drawbacks & Problems:: As seen above, the 'face buttons' are not ideally placed. Then again, with the LCD display added to the design, options were limited. The D-pad is also not as good as the original Sony Dual Shock D-pad, but then, it's rare to find one better than that. Besides, it's more of a 'feel' difference; the D-pad works fine. The programming system takes a bit of getting used to, as does using the Axis Locks. Once you get the hang of it, however, the Saitek PX5000's features are quite useful. Also, the Saitek PX5000 is a nice size for larger hands; People with small hands may find it to be a bit large. Overall, this is a very nice controller.
-Geck0, GameVortex Communications AKA Robert Perkins
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