Review By

Dale Weir 5.5 RATING

If we were to take a step back and look at our game machines, be they of the PC or console variety, the leaps and bounds the technology has made up until this point would amaze us. The processors and other hardware that run our games on these machines were once theoretical impossibilities -- never mind that they werent thought to be the least bit cost effective. But if we look even harder, we will notice that one of the few things that haven't really changed to match the times is the controllers that attach to these game systems. You would think that in this day and age of cordless phones and remote controls that we would be beyond using the basic analog cords that have been existence since early days of the electric cord. That is why I have such high hopes whenever I pick up a wireless videogame accessory. Its not like I get a kick out of having the most advanced technology or anything, but a wireless product could make my life a lot easier. Unfortunately with the Mad Catz Dual Force Wireless Controllers (Dual Force), I will have to wait a bit longer.

Once holding the Dual Force in my hand, I immediately noticed its larger size. The two-pronged handles are longer and broader than the Sony Dual Shock Analog controller and that meant that I could finally hold a PlayStation controller in my hand without experiencing cramps afterward a couple of hours of playing time. It also meant that I could hit the R and L buttons while holding onto the analog buttons at the same time a first for me. The Dual Force's D-pad is a one-piece molding ergonomically designed to go easy on your thumb in the surprisingly high number of games that support it. It comes with sturdy dual analog sticks, larger face buttons and even full vibration support putting it in leagues with the standard Sony Dual Shock Analog controller.

Performance-wise the Dual Force comes up short. The analog support often felt too sensitive while playing which was most evident in games that required pinpoint accuracy like Gran Turismo 2. Peculiarly, it was fine in a more arcade-like game in Crash Team Racing. The Dual Force would also suffer from an occasional lost of signal for no apparent reason and would mildly interupt my gaming. A possible saving grace is that the analog joysticks always work even for games that dont support it. In these instances, the analog stick will essentially mimic the D-pad though the varying degrees of sensitivity characterized by true analog control are lost. Even without true analog support, this option will be most appreciated by those who prefer the use and feel of the analog stick for games like WWF Smackdown!, which strangely only incorporates the digital D-pad. As for the vibration, while solid, it didnt feel as smooth and natural as that of Sony's Dual Shock.

Moving away from the physical feel to the features, the Dual Force as a third party controller has many extras that the console manufacturers never seem to want to touch; three of which seem rather solid. One is the fact that there are in fact two controllers packed in with the box (each can act as either the first- or second-player controller with the press of a button). Two is auto-fire capability. Anyone looking to give alleviate finger soreness from too many rapid button mashes will find relief with the Dual Force. Three is that the actual wireless feature is pretty functional despite some inherent weaknesses. An infrared sensor that connects to either one or both of the controller ports on the PlayStation is used to capture the signal of the each individual controller. This signal must be strong in order for the controllers to work and unfortunately many things preventing this from happening. When I placed the PlayStation on the floor, I found that the reception was shaky and I lost control of my character on screen on more than a few occasions. However when I raised it to about eye level, the reception seemed to be much better. There were also issues such as the reception dropping off if I veered the controller too much to the right or left and if anything blocked the controller for even a second, my input wouldn't register. Still, like I alluded to earlier, the wireless feature does work rather decently despite those annoying reception issues.

As for the rest of these extra features, they seemed impressive on paper, but after actual testing, they werent so dazzling. Take for example the Control Modes, which allows the Dual Force to simulate other types of controllers like steering wheels or the NegCon for racing games. These modes were a mixed bag because while using the left analog joystick to steer was relatively problem free, using the right analog stick in place of the four face buttons took some getting use to. I realized that I needed to make a huge adjustment in order to use it properly.

The other feature that is also a mixed bag and also underwhelmed me the most was the TV Remote mode. In what appears to be a total gimmick decision by Mad Catz, the Dual Force can act as a universal television remote control. Like many other types of universal remotes, this feature requires a series of codes (specific to your particular brand of television) be programmed into the Dual Force. In its defense, it works and works well, but since there is no support for our cable box, it wasnt of much use to us when we wanted to switch back and forth between the Knicks game and The Sopranos. Even worse, this is where another failings is exposed. As with any regular TV remote, the consistency of the Dual Force is predicated on the battery strength and while there is are two free four-packs of AAA batteries included for each controller, with extended use they will quickly be used up. Replacing them can become quite costly if you put them to frequent use. As a sort of remedy, the Dual Force has an auto shut off feature, but you can still expect to purchase a few extra packs of batteries further down the road.

All in all, the Dual Force showed potential, but never lived up to it. As a controller, it was satisfactory despite some of the features being useless. The wireless mode was more or less functional, but once the reception issues cropped up, the Dual Force seemed to lose a lot of its luster. Perhaps its these unfixable reception problems that prevent manufacturers from producing more wireless controllers. And while, it was a trip to watch myself instinctively try to reach for a cord that wasnt there every time someone would callously walked between me and the PlayStation, but that simply wasn't enough to warrant a higher score.

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