Xbox Controller

*buzz*

Wrong.

There's one thing that all of the well-be negative reviewers out there don't tell you- probably none of them has played with this controller for more than an hour. True, upon first examination, it looks like it was designed to be a boulder simulator of some sort. However, extended play reveals that it is surprisingly comfortable, and laid out quite well.

First of all, the size issue. I have notoriously small hands, and it is true that the first time I picked up the Xbox controller, I felt dwarfed. However, I had no trouble reaching the primary controls, and the ones that I did have to strain to reach (specifically, the Start, Back, White, and Black buttons) are used rarely enough so that it's more of a help than a hindrance- I don't find myself accidentally hitting the wrong button very often. The size also gives the controller a very tough feel. It's very sturdy, and you don't get the "I'm afraid this thing will break apart in my fingers" feeling that you get with the other next-gen console controllers, especially that of the Gamecube.

The two analog sticks are the best you can find in a video game controller- rubberized for grip and highly sensitive. The same goes for the shoulder triggers, which have far more action than their Gamecube or PS2 counterparts. Their analog design makes them perfect for driving games, when feathering that throttle just right can make all the different.

The primary buttons (identified both by the traditional letters as well as by color) are a bit small for my taste, and require more force than you'd expect to depress, but do their job more than adequately. While their layout is rather counter-intuitive, you pick up on it after a while and it becomes no more confusing than the Playstation's shape-based button configuration.

The D-pad is my major complaint with the controller. Microsoft claims that it is ergonomically designed, but I have a feeling they just wanted it to look "cool," as in "different," as in "away from the perfectly good established standards set by Nintendo." Not a good idea. The pad has a strong tendency to move diagonally rather than up/down or left/right, and this can lead to some mild frustration while trying to navigate a menu or control a fighting character.

On the other hand, the vibration function works very well, with multiple degrees of power that are used to great effect in games such as Rallisport Challenge and Halo, and the dual memory pack ports are a nice touch. Probably the most interesting (and best-implemented) innovation in this controller is the breakaway safety plug, which allows your controller cable to pull itself apart if jerked too hard, preventing you from damaging your Xbox (or worse, having your Xbox fall from its perch onto an innocent child's head). This, in conjuction with the extremely long cable, makes worrying about excitable hands a thing of the past.

Overall, the Xbox controller introduces some very good innovations. It's not perfect- it does take some getting used to, and some of the parts could be better. But for its sturdy durability, high-quality control sticks and triggers, creative button placement, and loads of features, I would say that this controller is the best buy for your money... especially compared to the 3rd-party Xbox controllers on the market.