Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Review: One of the Greatest Pads Ever
8.5/10 — Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
Works with: Xbox 360, PC (with wireless receiver)
Pros
- Superb ergonomics that still hold up
- Excellent analogue triggers
- Guide button made the dashboard quick to reach
- Plentiful second-hand
Cons
- Infamously mushy D-pad
- Needs AA batteries or a Play & Charge kit
- Needs a separate receiver for PC
The Xbox 360 Wireless Controller is widely regarded as one of the best controllers ever made. Its shape has been copied by countless third-party pads, and its influence can be seen in every Xbox controller since.
Design
It refined the original Xbox’s Controller S into something close to perfect: comfortable grips, offset thumbsticks, deep analogue triggers and the glowing Guide button in the middle, surrounded by a ring of light that shows the player number.
Weaknesses
Its D-pad is its Achilles’ heel. It’s vague and imprecise, making it a poor choice for fighting games and 2D platformers. Power comes from AA batteries or the optional Play & Charge kit. On PC, it needs a separate wireless receiver, which makes the wired version a simpler choice for PC players.
Verdict
The Xbox 360 Wireless Controller is a classic. Its D-pad holds it back from perfection, but for most games, it’s still a joy to use. If you’re playing on a 360 today, it’s the controller to get.
