Sixaxis Review: The PS3's Rumble-Less Launch Pad
6/10 — Sony Sixaxis Wireless Controller
Works with: PS3, PC (with drivers)
Pros
- Wireless with a built-in rechargeable battery
- Light and familiar DualShock shape
- Motion sensing for tilt controls
Cons
- No rumble
- Spongy triggers
- Replaced by the superior DualShock 3
The Sixaxis was the PS3’s launch controller, and it was a strange step sideways. It added wireless play and motion sensing to the classic DualShock design, but dropped rumble entirely.
Design and features
It looks almost identical to the DualShock 2, but it’s wireless, with a built-in rechargeable battery charged over mini-USB, and a PS button in the middle for the console’s menu. Its motion sensors let games use tilt controls, though few made much of it. Its L2 and R2 triggers were springy but shallow, and many players found them unsatisfying.
Rumble was missing at launch, which was widely linked to a patent dispute. The DualShock 3 brought it back a year later.
Verdict
The Sixaxis works fine, but the DualShock 3 does everything it does and adds rumble. Unless you’re a collector, the DualShock 3 is the one to buy.
