Reviewed: July 18, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith
Manufacturer
Saitek
Type: Force Feedback Joystick
System: PC
Rating: 9.0
What's in the box
System Requirements
MSRP: $59.95
It’s amazing how you can get set in your ways and cling to a favorite piece of hardware no matter what else comes out after it. For me, my love affair with the Logitech Wingman Force began in 1999 and has lasted for more than four years, but much like any modern day romance, it was bound to be put to the test when Saitek’s sexy new Cyborg 3D Force joystick came into the office. Instead of telling my wife that I was leaving her for my new secretary, I had to send my faithful Wingman packing. That’s not to say there is no place for the Wingman in my life, but as long as the Cyborg 3D can do everything the Wingman can do, and do it better and with a smaller desktop footprint, that place is no longer on my primary gaming PC.
Installation - 10
Ah, yes. USB. Install software, plug in device when prompted and watch the drivers load. Reboot and play. Need I say more? Need you do more? I think not. Using the Saitek Smart Technology you can install the basic drivers to get the stick up and running or you can install the more complicated programs that let you customize and program the buttons. You can always go back and install the hardcore programs later if you are just wanting to the get joystick going for that hot new game you’re itching to play.
Aesthetics - 8
In some ways the base of the Cyborg looks like some futuristic bedpan, but once you get this baby plugged in and that soothing blue light casts its glow across your keyboard, you know your world is about to change. In addition to the large blue light on the base there is a smaller blue light beneath the hat that will glow with a variable intensity when you move the stick forward or back.
The buttons are all custom molded to fit the base and top of the stick and the large twin levers on the rear of the base provide one of the smoothest and most accessible throttles I’ve seen outside of an actual HOTAS setup. The stick itself twists giving you full rotational rudder control on games that support that.
The Cyborg is surprisingly light considering the powerful motor inside that cranks out the realistic force feedback effects. Even when the stick is shaking at its worst the base remains firmly planted on the desktop and the stick and your hand are the only things moving.
My one and only complaint with the design of this stick is that the buttons are not numbered or labeled. With four buttons on the base and four more on the stick it’s not always easy to remember which one is Button 2 and which one is Button 5. You’ll eventually memorize their assignments but it still would have been nice.
Durability - 9
The Cyborg 3D is solid. I was a bit concerned at the floppy nature of the stick when I took it out of the box, but then I remembered my Logitech is the same way until it gets power since the motor provides all of the resistance. You can even go into the setup and adjust the motor tension for non-force feedback games so you have that same snappy return-to-center you get with other spring-loaded sticks.
The buttons all have a very nice feel and defined click and the trigger is easy to pull but not fragile enough to break off during intense combat. The twin throttle knobs have a very smooth travel with some surprising resistance that gives you impeccable control over your speed.
Performance - 9
When it comes to testing force feedback joysticks I have two games I use to form my opinion. The first is Independence War 2: Edge of Chaos, simply because this game has the best implementation of hat and multi-button input support of any game to date. For those who have never played this complex game, you can do 95% of everything with an 8-button joystick and a 4-way hat. The Cyborg 3D performed flawlessly and the throttle and rudder control gave me unparalleled control over my ship. My only complaint was the force feedback effect for the LDS (warp drive) was very jerky, almost ripping the stick out of my hand.
My second test is more about the force feedback than anything else and for that I break out Star Wars Episode One Racer. This game has always offered the best in force feedback effects and the Cyborg 3D didn’t let me down. My speeder hurtled across the landscapes with the G-Forces being perfectly transmitted into the stick. It was quite an immersive experience.
Just for kicks I fired up Incoming Forces, the futuristic shooter that puts you in tanks, turrets, and alien space fighters. Again, the stick truly shined and added new levels of enjoyment to this already fun game.
Value - 9
You can spend a lot of money these days on game controllers but the $60 you’ll spend on the Cyborg 3D Force is perhaps the most justified. Not only are you getting a quality joystick that look cool (even, no, especially in the dark), but you are getting the great feedback effects that come with TouchSense technology. It’s also fully programmable and the symmetrical design makes this the perfect stick for left-handed gamers. A free game would have been nice, perhaps something like Descent 3 - they used to give that game away with everything.
Overall – 9.0
The Saitek Cyborg 3D Force is just about as perfect as it gets. If they numbered the buttons and perhaps put a power switch on the base – I have a phobia about using the power-plug as an off switch – then this probably would have gotten a perfect score. Then again, I’ve seen some of the joysticks that Saitek will be releasing later this year so I’d better hang onto that “10” just in case…