Joysticks

Flight sticks and throttles for flight simulators

Hardcore gamers will likely want a joystick to maximize their gaming experience, but the type of joystick to purchase depends largely on its purpose. Retro gamers or those looking for maximum control of arcade-style fighting games will want an arcade stick, discussed later in this report. This section covers flight sticks: joysticks designed specifically for flight simulation, particularly for combat aircraft. Taller and thicker than arcade sticks, flight sticks require that you grip the shaft with one hand, the way you would grip the handle of a gun. They have triggers at the forefinger to fire weapons as well as other controls on the stick for functions like loading weapons or locking in on targets. The best flight sticks also come with throttles, separate controllers with at least one lever that you push and pull to control acceleration. If you are more interested in flight simulation of civilian aircraft, you'll want to look at steering yokes and rudder pedals, covered in the section on steering wheels.

The Saitek X52 Pro Flight Control (*Est. $150) is the best-reviewed joystick overall. IGN.com, I4U.com, OzHardware.com and TechGage.com all give it perfect or near-perfect ratings. OverClockersClub.com gives it an Editors' Choice award, and HubPages.com ranks it as the top joystick for flight simulation. The only thing reviewers disagree upon is whether the Saitek X52 Pro Flight Control is the "Rolls Royce" (TechGage.com) or "Porsche" (ComputerShopper.com) of flight controllers.

Thanks to its top-of-the-line features and admirable accuracy -- for less money than its primary competition from CH Products and Thrustmaster -- it is easy to see why the Saitek X52 Pro Flight Control is such a reviewers' darling. In addition to a joystick, it also has a throttle with a unique multi-function display (MFD) that compatible programs use to communicate game-specific commands and information that you might not see on your computer screen. Multiple reviewers point out that its black metal parts offer improved look and feel, superior durability and enhanced realism over the silver plastic of its predecessor, the Saitek X52 Flight Control (Discontinued). Many reviewers also comment on its responsiveness and precision and appreciate its comfortable feel, especially due to its adjustable hand size. SimHQ.com notes that the joystick seems to have lost the "dead zone" that plagues many other game controllers.

Perhaps reviewers' favorite feature is the extraordinary flexibility Saitek gives you for its myriad array of buttons and switches. The joystick has 10 controls (three toggle switches, a two-stage trigger and three additional fire buttons, two eight-way hat switches and a pinkie shift switch), and the throttle adds another six (two fire buttons, one eight-way hat switch, two rotary controls and a clutch button). Hat switches are used to change your viewpoint in the game - as if you were turning your head. You can program the controls and save them in separate profiles and even download profiles created by other users, allowing for an endless variety of ways in which the joystick and throttle can emulate real-world flight situations.

With such complexity, the Saitek X52 Pro Flight Control should come with a massive user's guide, but reviewers are united in their disappointment with the system's skimpy documentation. It does not come with a manual, and one reviewer complains that the help files on the bundled CD are the same as those for the previous, less complex model. To add to the complications, some users say they have difficulty installing the controller's drivers.

Reviewers do have a couple outstanding debates about the Saitek X52 Pro Flight Control, which concern how it stacks up to other flight systems. SimHQ.com's reviewer lauds the tension in the joystick, but IGN.com editors say it is "limp" in comparison to the Thrustmaster Cougar (*Est. $185). In addition, while all reviewers see the sleek looks, enhanced build quality and addition of the multi-function display as improvements over the original Saitek X52 Flight Control, few assess the Pro model's value relative to its additional cost, and those that do come to different conclusions. OzHardware.com argues it's worth the extra money over the original X52, but HubPages.com thinks the previous X52 model offered better "bang for buck."

If value is your top priority, then the Saitek Cyborg Evo Force (*Est. $65) might be your best option. Although you won't find the Saitek X52 Flight Control's throttle or plethora of controls on this cheaper model, it does add two unique features that reviewers love: force feedback and the ability to switch the stick orientation for left-handers. Game Vortex says this flight stick is comfortable, responsive and smooth; a blogger at Computer Joysticks appreciates its "solid feel." The comparable Saitek Cyborg Evo Wireless (*Est. $65) replaces the force feedback with wireless connectivity.

For even less money than the Saitek Cyborg Evo Force, the Saitek AV8R (*Est. $40) earns some positive reviews as a serviceable budget option. Although the Saitek AV8R lacks the throttle and most of the controls on the Saitek X52 Pro Flight Control as well as the force feedback and left/right flexibility of the Saitek Cyborg Evo Force, aviator Bruce Williams (BruceAir.com) says that, with practice, it can be precise, and he appreciates the sound build quality and dual-throttle set-up usually missing in low-cost flight sticks.

Unfortunately, none of the reviewers who rate Saitek's flight sticks highly also review comparable models from Saitek's primary competitors, CH Products and Thrustmaster, but we found decent, albeit dated, coverage elsewhere. Providing a thorough review of both the original Saitek X52 Flight Control and the CH Products Fighter Stick (*Est. $100) with the CH Product Pro Throttle (*Est. $110), FiringSquad.com reviewer Jakub Wojnarowicz rates the CH Products model higher than Saitek's. Although it does not offer as many features and is less comfortable, the CH Products flight stick is more responsive and precise, according to Wojnarowicz, making it a better choice for experienced gamers. Some feel that the Thrustmaster Cougar, which comes with a throttle, remains the most accurate flight stick on the market but, as Wojnarowicz notes and Amazon.com users corroborate, it has had problems with the durability of its components.

Arcade sticks for arcade-style combat games

Retro gamers and those who like to play arcade-style combat games may find the various triggers, switches and precision controls on a flight stick unnecessary. Many prefer a small joystick that you grip from the top or with the tips of your fingers, accompanied by flat buttons your other hand can press in myriad combinations to create a frightening array of power punches, kicks and holds on unwitting opponents. These arcade sticks emulate the layout and design of real arcade games, and some people even use these devices to set up their own genuine arcade box at home.

Although reviewers do not cover arcade sticks for the PC as thoroughly as other game controllers, the X-Arcade Tankstick (*Est. $200) gets more glowing reviews than any other. Review sites IGN.com and I4U.com, both giving it a score of nine out of 10, applaud the arcade stick's massive size, easy installation and seeming indestructibility, backed by a lifetime warranty. It has a joystick and eight buttons each for two players situated on either side of a shared trackball, while adapters (sold separately) can enable use with nearly any console on the market today. IGN likes the side-mounted pinball controls, and I4U loves the 18 old-school arcade games that are included.

The smaller and more affordable Hori Fighting Stick EX2 (*Est. $50) is a good budget option and might be the only choice for gamers in cramped spaces. Although it lacks a trackball, controls for a second player and the sturdy build of the X-Arcade Tankstick, it is still "responsive and accurate" and "performs just as well" as more expensive controllers, according to Gamespot.com. The similar Hori Fighting Stick 3 (*Est. $50), which gets eight out of 10 stars from IGN.com, is designed for the Playstation 3 and comes with eight buttons instead of six, but is still PC-compatible.

Another option, Arcade-In-A-Box's Slim Arcade Custom Controller (*Est. $250), actually gets a higher score from IGN.com than the X-Arcade Tankstick. This arcade stick is only single-player but is fully compatible with Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PCs out of the box and can be customized to your preference of button layout and overlay design -- you can even submit your own artwork.