Yes, it's got a really funky shape, but...
Written: Oct 23 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Provides good control
Cons: $30 a pop, strange shape may take some getting used to
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| basilisk4's Full Review: Sega Controller for Dreamcast |
Boy, is this thing shaped funny. The first thing I noticed about the Dreamcast console was how strangely the controllers were shaped. A far cry from the ancient, simple rectangular shape that was the Nintendo (NES) controller, which was the last controller of any kind I owned, the standard Dreamcast controller is, at least at first, just plain weird.
For starters, the Dreamcast controller had to be designed such that it would accommodate the insertion of a Visual Memory Unit (VMU) into the controller itself, rather than into the console as had been done with prior systems. This is actually helpful at times, as it allows the player to see specific information (i.e., special plays in football games) without allowing the other players to see them. Oh, yeh, and the VMU will also show you some pretty lame, dot-matrix renditions of the various Soulcaliber characters as well.
Joysticks/Directional Pads
At first glance, I wasn't too encouraged about either the placement or the appearance of the so-called analog thumb pad on the Dreamcast controller. Since most of my experience with such a thumb pad was with the N64 controller, I was used to it being in the middle, which seemed like a relatively intelligent design. As I've played my Dreamcast more, however, I've grown quite accustomed to the placement of the thumb pad, and I now feel that it provides excellent control. Having the analog thumb pad (also called a "joystick" by normal people) close to the standard control pad can be convenient. For example, not all games use both these sets of directional controls for the same functions, so it's nice to be able to quickly get to the other one in the event of a screw-up.
Buttons
The first time I used a controller which had button(s) on its top and underside, I thought it was about the weirdest thing I'd ever seen. To be honest, I never quite got used to the placement of the "Z" button on the N64 controller (on its underside). The Dreamcast controller has two buttons located on its underside. Unsurprisingly, and similarly to the N64 controller, the one on the left side is called the "L" button, and the one on the right, the "R" button. In the week or so that I've owned my Dreamcast, I've not only gotten used to the L and R buttons, but I've begun to find their placement very convenient.
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While I've tried to describe the things I like and don't like about the Dreamcast controller, I think that if I'm going to paint an accurate picture about the positive and negative factors about it I should compare it to two other general categories: controllers for other consoles, and other controllers available for the Dreamcast console.
Controllers for Other Consoles
When you get right down to it, it boils down to personal preference -- nothing more and nothing less. If you are used to the feel of the Playstation controller, then the Dreamcast controller will feel very strange to you, at least at first. Having used the Nintendo 64 console far more often than the Playstation over the past few years (although not having used either one of them very often), I found the Dreamcast controller to be somewhat similar to that of the N64. Of course, it's not a perfect match and the joystick (i.e., "analog thumb pad") is in the upper-left-hand corner rather than in the center, but the dimensions and the feel of the two controllers are somewhat similar, at least in my opinion. So, if you prefer N64 to any of its contemporaries, you may find the Dreamcast to be a nice evolution of the standard N64 controller.
Other controllers available for the Dreamcast
Just yesterday, a close friend of mine was commenting on the fact that everyone who has a recent game system seems to have one "gimpy" controller that no one wants to use. People would often rather not play at all than use the "gimpy," or generic, controller. I know that's certainly been my experience, as these "bargain" controllers seem to malfunction frequently, aside from just feeling and appearing to be cheap. For whatever reason, they just never seem to work as well as the name-brand controllers do.
While I'm sure that there are many people out there who have been completely satisfied with their off-brand controllers, I would typically stay away from them. If you have a friend who has a generic controller, and you've used it several times and liked it, then it may be worth considering; otherwise, shell out the extra $10 and get a real Sega-brand controller. While it's not always true, there's often a reason why off-brand items are cheaper than the name-brand.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
basilisk4
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Location: Atlanta, GA
Reviews written: 233
Trusted by: 214 members
About Me:
Soon-to-be married 26-year-old lawyer who likes electronics, computers, and cars.
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