Mad Catz Lynx Wireless Controller X Box Accessories Review

fishbelly

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 0 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5,
3 votes

Price Paid:  $40.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I own this controller and the logitech one. If your trying to save a little money it is not worth it. The controller is unresponsive at times and sucks for pressure sensitive control. I have found the logitech may be more pricey but has been flawless. I am just mad with frustration that I bought this controller and know how much better the logitech one is. I wish I would have spent just a little bit more game outcomes very substantially.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 0 of 5

Price Paid:  $38.00 from eBay - OuterSpaceSal

Summary:
The MadCatz Lynx wireless controller is awesome! Along with a PS2, I also own a GameCube and got spoiled on the excellent WaveBird wireless controllrer, so it wasn't long before I wanted a wireless controller for the Xbox! After using it for a while, the Mad Catz Lynx wireless controller receives much praise from me. It's built like a tank, it feels sturdy, there is no noticeable lag...this thing is great. It is a tad heavy but with batteries, what do you expect? It certainly doesn't bother me. I like the feel of the buttons and the button placement is nice. The D-pad is LIGHT YEARS better than the horrible Interact D-pad and the L & R trigger buttons have great resistance/tension (that's a good thing!). The only complaint I have is that the analog sticks don't provide as much tension as I'd like (the Microsoft sticks provide more resistance), but it's nothing that should keep someone from purchasing one of these beauties. The amount of resistance built into the analog sticks, though not quite up to par with the official Microsoft Xbox controller, is sufficient and doesn't hinder game play. The advantages and benefits of wireless technology definitely outweigh any little quirks this unit might have.

I'm sure some of you are wondering about the wireless performance. I'm happy to say that the Mad Catz Lynx wireless is EXTREMELY responsive!! I've played several games with this pad and detected no lag whatsoever. It definitely didn't make me miss my cord-bound controller... I'm not sure why the person in one of the other reviews experienced choppy movement and gameplay. Perhaps he had a defective unit? After using this controller first-hand, I definitely can't fault the wireless nature of the product. I'd be willing to bet that, in a double-blind test, one could not tell the difference in using a wired controller versus this wireless one, other than the different feel of the Mad Catz controller. That's great news.

It feels great in your hands--it has rubber grips that are very comfortable and feels like a really solid unit. None of the buttons have a cheap feel to them and you get the impression that this controller will last you a long, long time.

The unit features an automatic battery-saving feature so that if it detects no activity for 3 minutes, it will turn itself off to conserve battery power. Smart! It also features an LED light that lets you know when it's time to start thinking about replacing the batteries.

Additionally, the Mad Catz Lynx wireless controller features an adjustable switch inside the battery cover that will let the user decide whether they'd prefer longer battery life or stronger force feedback. There is an 0 (off), 1 (low), and 2 (high) setting. Of course, with the switch set to 2, the controller will vibrate and shake with more intensity, but at the expense of battery life. I'd recommend turning the feature off to extend battery life, but if you absolutely must have this feature, I suggest setting the switch to "1" for a compromise.

The only downsides to this controller are:

1)The analog sticks could provide a bit more resistance and would benefit from having a stickier coating...the coating that's Mad Catz used on this particular controller suffices most of the time, but if your fingers start prespiring, they tend to slide on the analog sticks when you move them.

2)Mad Catz placed the controller ports on the receiver (the base part that attaches to the Xbox) rather than on the controller itself. This isn't an issue at all unless you play Xbox Live and need to plug your headset communicator into your controller--there are no ports. You can plug it into the base, but that means your Xbox would have to be really close to your headset or you'll have to use an extension. If you don't use Xbox Live, this won't be an issue. If you do play on the Live service, you can work around this issue.

Overall, I highly recommend this controller. Once you go wireless, it's hard to go back. Not having to deal with cords and cables is SO convenient, and Mad Catz really delivered with the Lynx wireless controller.

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Price Paid:  $50.00 from EB

Summary:
I wasn't too thrilled with this controller. I really wanted a nice wireless controller, but the analog sticks have a noticeable delay compared to the cord controller. The main stick also became uncalibrated quickly (I'm not sure if you can fix this, it wouldn't suprise me, but I was so annoyed by the poor play on the controller when this happened I didn't really care). It had good range, and the fact that it automatically turned itself off was nice, but it didn't play nearly as well as my corded controller.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Price Paid:  $60.00 from funcoland

Summary:
This controller is the best controller today. You can even compare it to controllers with cords. I was very skeptical at first but when i plugged it in and put thebatteries in I immediately tested the distance. It claims that it can go 50 feet. It goes longer folks. I tested it playing ghost recon so i went all the way into my restroom, closed the door, stepped into the shower, pulled the shower curtain, and my wife said she could still see me firing my weaponand running in the fields, great controller. I am going to go buy 3 more to hook up to my box.