Batman Begins Control Pad Pro Controllers

Movie tie-ins with various products have become a very lucrative thing for many companies. The products range from toothpaste, cups, food, and videogames. Many times all it involves are slapping on the logo and easily recognizable characters onto already existing products the company has already released. Since the movie Batman Begins has been released into theaters, you can be sure that there already is an in-game movie tie-in (http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r25058.htm). Mad Catz wanted a piece of the Batman craziness going on and has released a Batman Begins controller. How does it compare to first-party controllers? Read on to find out more.

One of the first things you will notice about the controller is the artwork on the front. There are five different styles to choose from. The artwork on the controller is very nice and attractive. On the sides of the controller are groove rubberized grips that help prevent the controller slipping during highly intensive gaming sessions. The button layout is identical to that of the highly popular Microsoft Controller S, so gamers should feel right at home. Also included in this controller is a turbo button at the bottom of the controller.

The things that I always criticize about third-party controllers are the analog sticks and D-pad, as they never seem to be as good and always feel somewhat “loose” in comparison. I was pleasantly surprised about the analog sticks on this controller. They were fairly tight and responsive which is always really important in any game that you might happen to play. I played a few games to test these out such as Halo 2, Mech Assault 2, Batman Begins and various other games, and it held up nicely.

What is not so good is the D-pad. While the D-pad is not bad, it just not is good as quality as the Controller S D-pad. It is pretty slick and doesn’t offer the responsiveness as it should. You will really notice this if you play a lot of fighting games. I played Dead of Alive Ultimate, Street Fighter Anniversary Collection, and Capcom Fighting Evolution just to make sure. Fortunately if you don’t play a lot of fighting games you won’t notice this as much, since many games don’t use D-Pads as much anymore.

The buttons used for this controller are really nice. They have a nice texture to them so they really stand out during gaming matches and help prevent any accidental slipping that sometimes occurs while using other gaming pads. The trigger buttons, which also seems to be a problem with most third party controllers, are surprisingly really responsive and tight. You will have no problems during those intense Halo 2 matches using these trigger buttons.

One last thing I want to comment on is the controller cord itself. Most companies seem to use a cheaper quality cord which always becomes a hassle when you have to store the controllers. The cord here is made of high quality, very easy to wrap up and store for later on gaming. It also features the popular break away cord that Microsoft came up with at the launch of the Xbox. I was happy to see that this was included as well.

You can find the Batman Begins Mad Catz Controller at a variety of retailers for approximately $24.99

Pros:
The game pad it self is extremely sturdy. The analog sticks and the buttons are nice and responsive. The rubber grips on the side help you keep up with your controller during those long and intense gaming matches. The artwork on the controller looks really nice and is a pleasant change from the solid black controllers. The price is also nice at $24.99

Cons:
The D-pad is not as responsive as the ones featured on the Microsoft Controller S. This is a killer for people who play a lot of fighting games.

Verdict: 8.5
Personally, I usually stick with first-party controllers because I like the feel to them. The Mad Catz Batman Begins really surprised me because it is a really solid controller, everything about is pretty much top quality. If you are looking for a nice and cheaper alternative to the Microsoft Controller S then look no further than this controller. You will be pleasantly surprised by it.