Customer Reviews

Controller S for Xbox

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Okay, I was just joking -- the original Xbox controller didn't weigh as much as an 800 pound bear. But seriously: IT WAS HUGE. Not for me, mind you, but for almost everyone else I knew, the first Xbox controller was at least a few sizes too large. It hindered the way they, amoung thousands of others, played. If someone's playing badly because of the controller then something is wrong.

Thankfully Microsoft noticed this and created a smaller, lighter, more easily handled controller for those of us who needed it. The Controller S, as it is called has a more even button layout and the A, B, X and Y buttons are not slanted, but have the traditional shape of raised domes. The black and white buttons were moved to below the A, B, X and Y buttons so as to be made easier to reach. However, I personally had more problem pressing these buttons on this model than on the other one. Anywho, the Start and Select/Back buttons were relocated to the left side of the left analog stick. These buttons probably should have stayed where they were or moved to a more convenient spot, like above the Xbox logo.

In any case, this is a massive improvement for the Xbox controller. I suggest that you buy at least two of these controllers, (even if you like the other one better), just in case your friends, etc. want to use them [which they will].

When I got my Xbox a month or so ago, one of the downfalls of the system was the controller. I am sure many of you agree with me, but in many ways it suffered the flaws of being too big, heavy, and cumbersome. Not only was it tiring on the wrists, but the D-Pad was oddly shaped causing awkwardness in games that used it.

Knowing that Microsoft offered another type of controller (Controller S), I immediatly headed down to the store to grab one as a replacement for the pack in. Let me tell you... it was one of the smartest decisions I could have made with my new system.

With the old clunky original controller out of the way, I tested out the Controller S with both NFL 2K2 and Morrowind. Relaxing. Easier to use. Perfect is all I can say in a nutshell. Ideal for handsizes big and small.

Give the Controller S a try. Your hands will love you for it!

Some people think the problems with the American Xbox controller have been overly exaggerated. But the truth is, if there weren't major problems with the controller, Microsoft wouldn't have taken the time and resources to bring the Japanese controller to the States. So now, the Xbox Controller S has made it to the States. Does it have what it takes to be a vast improvement over its American counterpart? Sadly, no. While it does improve upon some areas of the original controller, it falls incredibly short in others.

First, the improvements. The size of the controller has been reduced, which is good news for all those people who complained about the American controller's large size. The triggers feel a lot more comfortable and responsive, and the D-pad actually feels better and more usable. But the biggest improvement has to be the face buttons. On the original controller, the colored face buttons were in an awkward, bunched-together set up that made it difficult to find the right button without looking right at the controller. With the Xbox Controller S, the set up is more natural, making it easier to find the right button. The buttons are also more much flatter, which means gamers no longer have to press horrible oval-shaped buttons.

But then there are the flaws. The first is the Xbox logo. Why Microsoft puts that enormous logo there is beyond me. Do they really think we'll forget which gaming system we're playing and need to remind us with a big, round logo that actually makes the Xbox Controller S look even uglier than the first controller? Because of the placement of the logo, the Start and Select buttons were moves to under the first analog stick, which makes it somewhat awkward for most people to press them with their left hand. But the biggest flaw is undoubtedly the black and white buttons. In the American controller, they were placed above the face buttons; they took some getting used to, but were accessible. With the Xbox Controller S, they are placed below the face buttons in a sloppy configuration, and just trying to press these buttons is a pain because they are set deeper in the controller than the face buttons.

With this said, which controller is better? American or Japanese? Truth be told, neither is better than the other. Actually, each controller has its advantages over the other in certain games. For example, the D-pad on the Controller S makes "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3" and "Dead or Alive 3" much easier to play, but the analog sticks on the American controller work a lot better on "Halo" and "Project Gotham Racing". If only Microsoft would take these controllers' strengths and place them in a hybrid controller, then they would have the ultimate controller.

Make no mistake, the Controller S isn't terrible; however, it's also not the saving grace controller that everyone wants it to be. It has its strengths and weaknesses, just like the American controller, and it'll hopefully point Microsoft in the right direction for a third and perfect controller for the Xbox.

Remember the Sega Genesis? Remember the first time you got to use Sega's 6-button controller? It was great! A sleek, smaller design that got rid of the bulk and wasted space of the original, while also slimming the buttons down as well as adding a second row of face buttons. It was a tremendous improvement that was very welcome at the time.

Now fast-forward to present day: Microsoft, less than a year after the debut of its wonder-machine, has decided (at the bequest of dissatisfied gamers everywhere) to make the controller originally designed for the overseas Japanese market available in the USA. Enter the "Controller S," a smaller model designed to solve the often cumbersome limitations of the original. And it succeeds, albeit not 100%.

Many people cited the controller as one of the bigger drawbacks to the Microsoft XBox: it was too big, the buttons weren't user-friendly, there was a lot of wasted space (hello, logo!) and people really didn't know what to make of those pesky white & black buttons. The Controller S aims to solve these problems, and does so in most areas. The controller is smaller now, thus decreasing reaction time, the analog sticks are now identical and seemingly a bit tighter with less movement area, the gigantic clear dome logo has been replaced by a smaller button-sized logo, and the Back & Start buttons have been relocated to the left side underneath the left analog.

Obviously the biggest (and best) change is the new "standard" placement of the face buttons. They are now North/South/East/West and also flat and circular, instead of teardrop shaped. This makes finding & utilizing them much easier and intuitive. BUT, we still haven't mentioned the B&W buttons yet, and that's where the design fails yet again. Microsoft acquiesced to the positioning of the main face buttons, and should have just place the Black & White buttons in the same pattern as the C & Z buttons on the old Sega Genesis 6-button controller. But, instead of having them in the awkward yet usable spot of the original XBox controller, they are now recessed and completely below the face buttons. This all but forces the player to use the heel of their thumb to press the B&W buttons, whilst the main portion of the thumb performs the usual face button duty. This isn't impossible, but it's even more awkward and counter-intuitive than the previous awkward & counter-intuitive setup.

No bones about it, the Controller S is the better controller. The new design facilitates faster and more accurate control, which is especially helpful in sports games. I noticed the difference in NCAA 2003 the minute I played using the Controller S. Though others maintain that the slower, more deliberate nature of the original is helpful in games like Halo or Star Wars Starfighter, I tend to disagree but your mileage may vary. So check it out and see how much more precise your gaming experience can be with the superior XBox Controller S.

Thank you Microsoft! You see? Companies can listen! XBox has been slowly improving since launch. Its games are getting much better, and the controllers have as well. I'm actually beginning to enjoy this machine. While the button placement is not as convenient as the PS 2 Dual Shock, or as comfortable as the GameCube controller, this controller is much less awkward than the original XBox controller. It could still be better, the black and white buttons are not in a place that make them easy to get to, but the other buttons are not as close together, and the button shape make them easier to know what button you're hitting, thus avoiding hitting the wrong button by accident, which happens to me a lot of the regular controller.
Aside from the placement of the black and white buttons one more complaint I have, I can get new Nintendo made GameCube controllers for much less than the Microsoft controllers are going for. If Microsoft could lower the price on these I'd buy three more.

The new S-Controller addresses all the problems i had with the original X-Box controller. The cheif difference is the overall smaller size, which is much easier to handle children or individuals without large hands. The four main face buttons are more spaced out and laid out in a much more managable diamond configuration. In addition, the white and black buttons are moved below the main group. Now recessed, these buttons are still accessible, but no longer get in the way of normal play. All the buttons are reshaped to be flatter than the original's spherical, sharp buttons, which is much easier on the thumbs. The D-Pad has been redesigned using a much more comfortable shape. The Start and Back buttons ahve been moved over underneath the left joystick, which is a much more accessible location. The analog joysticks are a different shape, but maintain the same excellent feel that the original controller had. The trigger buttons are slightly smaller, but otherwise identical to the stock controller. This is the controller that should have been. Kudos to Microsoft for finally releasing it, but shame on them for waiting so long.

The original Xbox controller was bulky.I was always getting my ... whooped in a game of Halo.Now that I have the Xbox Controller S,things are much better.

Xbox Controller S is Microsoft's answer to hundreds of customer complaints.It's made for people with smaller hands.If you have small children that have trouble with the old controller,Xbox controller S is the way to go.

The button layout has been rearranged.The black and white buttons are below the four primary buttons (A,B,X,and Y).Also,this controller is similar to the Sony PlayStation's one.

Also,the D-Pad has been redesigned,too.Instead of the old controller's bumpy pad,this D-Pad is more like that of the Nintendo GameCube.

This controller is also much sturdyer than the old one.With the previous controller,you can hear it craking and squeaking inside,but on this one,it's completaly solid.This is a very,very,VERY high quality controller.Don't listen to the people that whine about their new controllers breaking;they just don't take very good care of them.

Overall,even if you have big hands,I reccomend buying the new Xbox Controller S!

Thanks to the guys at Microsoft all of you complainers of the original XBOX controller now have a smaller alternative to fit your puny hands...Happy Now?
It's about the same size as the PS2's. This controller is top notch XBOX quality. The 10' cord is a cool feature. The rumble feature is great and the button layout is perfect. I still love the original controller as well, never had a problem w/ it. The only thing that would be better is if it were more affordable. Please don't waste your cash on 3rd party controllers, stick with the best(Microsoft). Highly Recommended!... Rock on MS!!

The Xbox Controller S is supposed to be the small controller but I still find it too big for my hands. I find that most games require you to use the left joystick on the unit. This is fine except when I'm done playing, my left thumb hurts. I wish I was able to use the left navigation buttons instead but there are only a hand full of games which allow you to use those on a regular basis. The unit is big and bulky. I feel like I'm holding a Big Mac instead of a controller. Everytime I finish playing, I have to exercise and massage my hands because they are so cramped up. Beside this, I find that some of the buttons are useless on the controller, particularly the right joystick and the two smaller buttons on the bottom right side. Are they there for decoration?
I'm old school, I remember the old Nintendo, Sega, etc... joysticks from the past. Those were easy to use for everyone, young and old, with large or small hands. The Xbox Controller S is an innovative controller but when it comes to comfort, it is extremely lacking.

I bought an S controller at the same time I bought my system A: to have a second controller, and B: to see what type of controller I like better.

As long as your hands are big enough for the original controller (which most of my friends and my hands are), the original controller is actually better than the new S controller. About the only good thing that thet S controller has is rearranged A, B, X and Y buttons, but the other repositioning is very, very bad. The Start and Back buttons, and the black and white buttons are right underneath your hands when you are gripping the controller, very awkward to have to bring your thumb back that far when you are trying to play a game.