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View Full Version : My impression of MadCatz Joypad...


Ema1980
08-08-09, 18:16
...after 3 months+ of play.
The joypad is good to play some games, having the 6 buttons and 8 directions D-Pad.
But when you start playing against better players (G2+) it shows its limits.
Here is a picture of it compared to my thumb: http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/3043/madcatzpad.jpg
I'm not huge, I'm 1.73 m tall, but still is very hard to push the proper buttons under stress, as seen as the buttons are very near and sensitive. Sometimes you end up pushing the right button, but as you skim the near ones, those will result pushed as well...
If you have smaller thumbs then should be ok, but for people 20+ age it becomes really stressful if you're used to the joystick.
10% of the times happens that the keys are sort of 'cached' and it will transmit to the PS3 not the latest pushed button but buttons pushed 2 seconds ago.
If you shake the pad, given the buttons are very sensitive, sometimes random pushed button will be transmitted to the PS3 again.
Another limit are the two upper button (all kicks, all punches). If you just skim them they will action, resulting in wrong key pushed at the wrong moment (against good opponents that means losing 30% health because of this).
The D-Pad itself is not that bad, but if the right-most part is ok, the left-most part requires holding the hands differently on the joypad. Now, if this is one of your first joypads you have, this could be ok (just learn how to play on the right side and the left side will come naturally), but if you're an old school player used to Mega Drive/Genesis joypads, this will become a bit of a nightmare.
At the end, you even have to put your indexes not on top of it, but down, due to the upper button being very sensitive; as before, old school console players should be aware of this (Mega Drive/Genesis pads didn't have upper buttons, you could place your indexes there...).
If you want to have fun but still play good at SF4, buy the stick. The buttons on it are bigger and easier to push, plus you don't have this position based D-Pad.

If you want to play, and have fun, buy the joystick. The joypad is good only is you learn to play this game now, and you never played with the joystick/joypad (I had the arcade joystick on Mega Drive/Genesis and played with the 6 buttons as well). If you're old school player you'll be disappointed.

I still have to add, I don't know about Xbox360 pad, but regarding PS3 default pad, this is definitely a huge improvement. But still all the things I've written before will result in a bit of frustration sometime.

Hope this helps,
Cheers,

Gman707
10-08-09, 20:40
I said this on another thread a while ago but i may as well repeat myself.

My Step son bought me a mad catz pad for my birthday this year and it has made playing SFVI effortless. i can now pull off ultra combos with the greates of ease thanks to the three in a row button layout and not having to work out timings of pressing two face buttons and a trigger simmultainiously. the D pad is also so responsive and presice. i seem to be only able to play SF IV with it though! i tried both virtua fighter and Soul calibur 4 and couldnt get used to it.

E
19-08-09, 22:57
If you have been using the Genesis pad then you should get the Saturn pad for PS3 then that way you are using something more comfortable. For me, I don't like the shape of the controller. Very big hand grip and the D-pad is absolutely rubbish.