With a rather large variety of Dreamcast controllers available, the Astropad
Dreamcast controller offers a few advantages over some of the others, but
then again, there are also some disadvantages. Of course, all controllers
have both pros and cons, but the main question is whether or not the pros
outweigh the cons enough to make it worthy of one's hard-earned money.
That's what we're here to find out...
For adults seeking a larger controller than the one Sega has included with
the system, the Astropad suffices nicely. I can guarantee you that you will
not get "gamer's claw" with this pad! It's huge, and actually quite a bit
heavier than the one made by Sega.
The contours of the controller allow one to hold it comfortably, but it
feels somewhat bulky -- or maybe I should use the word "clunky." With some
adapting, it's a controller that may end up being a favorite for some, but
maybe not for others.
One of the features that I really like about Sega's Dreamcast controller is the
fact that the analog thumbstick offers a good amount of tension, and the
Astropad is pretty comparable in this regard (though slightly looser). When
playing games like Sega Rally 2 or Metropolis Street Racer, you want a
controller that allows you to make fine steering adjustments. The Astropad
comes pretty close to the Sega pad in this category, and that's saying
something. If you're a stickler about stick tension, the Astropad performs
acceptably.
One "extra" that Interact built in to the Astropad is the autofire feature
for those of you who are into shooters. For some, this feature alone will
make the controller worth purchasing.
One of the features many may like about the Astropad is that fact that it
comes in a variety of eye-catching colors (lime-green anyone?), as well as
translucents. For those of you who are aesthetically-challenged this isn't
gonna make any difference, but for those of you who crave a vibrant palette
of joyful hues (you know who you are) this controller could make your day.
The D-pad isn't much of an improvement over Sega's cross D-pad. The cross
may be desirable to some, but sharp edges can really bite into the fingers
when furiously playing a fighting game using either Sega's or Interact's
controller. I am inclined to actually prefer the Sega controller's D-pad
because, on the Astropad, it just feels somewhat cheap.
A couple other negatives worth mentioning: this controller
doesn't offer any extra face buttons for you fighting game fans (there's
just four), and there's no button remapping capability. It also tends to
look and feel like a Fisher Price toy (I think just about any baby would
love sinking its gums into this colorful hunk of plastic)!
Though it's not a big deal, I will note here that the L and R triggers are
actually push-in buttons. Some may not like Interact's decision to use
buttons instead of triggers on the Astropad, but I have not found it to be a
significant problem.