Xbox 360 Controller With Transforming D-pad Review: Fixing the Flaw
Image: Alphathon, CC BY-SA 3.0
8/10 — Xbox 360 Wireless Controller with Transforming D-pad
Works with: Xbox 360, PC (with wireless receiver)
Pros
- Much-improved D-pad
- Twist to switch between disc and plus shapes
- Classic 360 ergonomics
Cons
- Still AA-powered
- Harder to find than the standard pad
- Arrived late in the 360's life
The standard Xbox 360 pad’s D-pad was its one big weakness, and late in the console’s life, Microsoft released a version designed to fix it. The Xbox 360 Wireless Controller with Transforming D-pad is the result.
Design
It looks like a standard 360 controller, usually in a silver-grey and black finish with grey face buttons, but its D-pad can be twisted to raise a plus-shaped cross from the disc. That gives much more precise directional inputs for fighting games, platformers and menus, while keeping the disc shape for games that suit it.
Verdict
The Transforming D-pad controller is the best first-party Xbox 360 pad. It’s harder to find second-hand and still runs on AA batteries, but if you play fighting games or 2D platformers on 360, it’s well worth hunting down.
