Saitek Cyborg Evo Joystick Review
Introduction
The Saitek Cyborg Evo is one of the best joysticks that I have ever used. It is relatively cheap and has virtually everything that one could want in a joystick.
As a side note, this is the first of the new review format on my site. I am going to be more detailed in my reviews, and include pictures of what I am reviewing.
In the Box
First off, I didn't open this at home, so there are no pictures of the box, anyway, back to the review.
The box has the joystick and a driver cd. The joystick itself is surrounded by styrofoam, so it is reasonably safe. The box itself has a couple logos on it, and some pictures of the joystick.
The Joystick
The joystick looks formidable. It has that intimidating profile that I think looks great on a joystick.
As you can tell from the pictures, there are a *ton* of buttons. Final count puts the number of buttons at 12 buttons, a 8-way hat, and a throttle.
The
buttons are easy to use, however there are a couple of issues with them. First,
the three buttons on each side are counted as separate buttons. Unlike most
ambidextrous joysticks, those buttons aren't mirrored on each side,
consequently, there are 3 buttons that are very hard to use. Secondly, the
buttons at the top of the joystick, next to the hat, require large hands to
comfortably reach, and they sometimes get stuck. These are minor issues that can
be overlooked by all but the most demanding gamers. I personally use the buttons
around the hat for unimportant stuff, because they are difficult to reach.
The throttle feels excellent. Enough force is required to move so that you will not adjust it accidentally, but the force required isn't too much to be uncomfortable. Overall, it feels solid.
The 8-way hat is typical with most joystick hats, there is nothing that really sets it apart.
The
hand-rest on the side of the joystick is adjustable. It is held in place by a
large thumbscrew, so you can
unscrew it and move up or down, switch which side
it is on, or just remove it entirely. It makes the joystick easier to use by
people with different size hands.
At the top and the side of the joystick you may also notice the two large knobs. These control the position of the top of the joystick. By twisting them, you can adjust the tilt and rotation of the pad, allowing greater ergonomic control.
As a slight cosmetic enhancement, the blue Evo logo, and the buttons on the side both light up when the joystick is plugged in.
For those of you who are wondering, no, this joystick doesn't come with force feedback. Some will see this as a disadvantage, while others, like myself, see it as an advantage. I find force feedback a distraction, so I was glad to find out that it doesn't have it.
It does have a twist axis for the rudder. It works well, though it is a bit oversensitive.
The Software
The software is garbage. All it does it make the joystick as a virtual keyboard. I find it to be far more effective to just use the games configuration for it, and not bother installing the software.
For those of you have the patience to use the software, you can make the joystick work with games that don't officially support a joystick, but that you want to use one. Just remember to get out of the software before you play a normal game.
The Conclusion
This is a great joystick. At only $40 at most stores, it is a steal.
Discuss the product and the review here: http://www.furytech.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=68
| Pros | Cons |
| 12 buttons
Nice throttle Easy adjustment Nice looks |
Rudder is a bit oversensitive
Buttons on the top may be hard to reach for people with small hands No Force Feedback |