Type – Controller Manufacturer – Logitech MSRP - $24.99 Platform – PlayStation 2
Every time a hardware manufacturer releases a new console, its controller gets mimicked in some form by just about every third party peripheral maker. While many are simply alternatives or gimmicky toys, there is a few that really gets the design down good enough to be considered a worthy replacement. One of these happens to be Logitech’s Extreme Action Controller, a small step up from Logitech’s original Action Controller for PlayStation 2.
Of course, there are so many controllers available, and the Dual Shock 2 is quite comfy and ergonomic on its own, so really, there isn’t a need for a different style controller for PlayStation 2, especially if it has nothing to offer that the Dual Shock 2 doesn’t already have. Logitech has no main hook for the Extreme Action Controller, but it does come with a few things that gamers will welcome. The ever-present Turbo is here, allowing you to assign any button on the pad a turbo function (even the analog clicks, R3 and L3). There are both a fast and slow speed available, though using this turbo function is kind of clumsy, since there isn’t any real indicator what buttons have been assigned and what buttons haven’t. And you have to press and hold the Turbo button again to clear that button of its turbo, so you won’t know if your command registered until you try it.
The unit itself feels comfortable, but just a bit off. Since the design is so similar to the Dual Shock 2, the slight differences are more conspicuous. The construction is rock solid, up to the usual Logitech pedigree. The controller comes with two features that seem a bit unnecessary though: The leather grips that adorn the sides of the controller -- which certainly look good enough – don’t really seem to increase the comfort level at all, as the material is very stiff. And the gold-plated connector pins, which Logitech advertises “high-end performance” is a bit baffling. While this kind of thing helps maximize video quality on cables and such, controller connectors are to do one thing: connect. The controller is either connected or it’s not. We didn’t notice any difference when connecting the Extreme Action controller than when a Dual Shock 2 is connected.
The Extreme Action Controller has some good things going for it though, mainly its 9.5 feet of cord, which as any gamer knows, you can never have too much cord. The shoulder buttons also feel a lot more solid than that of the Dual Shock 2’s which never felt quite “perfect”, ever since the first iteration of the PlayStation controller on PSone. The shoulder buttons feel nice and responsive rather than cheap or flimsy. The rest of the controller’s buttons feel equally good.
Best of all, the Extreme Action Controller is priced right, coming in at a reasonable $24.99, the same price as a standard Dual Shock 2. So if you’re in the market for a new controller, and are into the features that the Extreme Action Controller offers, you may want to check this quality alternative out.
