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Gravis G42021 PC Gamepad Pro

Gravis G42021 PC Gamepad Pro

List Price: $24.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Perfect SNES controller
Review: Look at this controller... it looks just like a Playstation controller! The only problem with that is that I don't think you can play Playstation games on your computer, at least not legally... Fortunately, you can play Super Nintendo games using a simple emulator like ZSNES, and it's perfectly legal, provided you own the games you're playing. But no console-based video game can ever be fully appreciated without a gamepad. The Gamepad Pro is the perfect solution to this problem.

If you are accustomed to playing the SNES, you will feel right at home with this controller. The 4 primary buttons (A, B, X and Y) are in the same place as on the original. So are the L and R buttons, only there are two additional buttons on top of the pad--these are useful for "turbo" functions, if your emulator has them available.

A word of warning: do not buy this controller for 3D games! Although there is a joystick (more of a thumbstick, really) attachment included with the package, the Gamepad Pro is not meant for games like Descent or the like. For such games the Eliminator, also by Gravis, is a much better choice because it is an analogue controller. But for your standard retro-SNES games (Super PunchOut!!!, Final Fight, Mario Kart, etc.), the Gamepad Pro is the way to go.

If you're not into SNES emulation, this controller is also good for PC platform games like Jazz Jackrabbit (remember that game?). Basically, any game that requires the use of a digital gamepad should be played with a controller like this one. It's got everything you need for a very reasonable price.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Bad internal design causes breakage.
Review: Nice controller in general, but I have returned 4 of these things because after about a year the down control on the D-pad stops working because of a poor design - the D-pad hits against the circuit board underneath and wears through the connection. If you play a lot of games I would look for something else.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great quality, from a company I trust....
Review: On my visit to the computer store, where I planned to buy one, I looked at others. Others had styling, cool technology, and the price was almost $20 more! I found the Gravis and bought it anyway. It has great quality from a company I trust. What more do you want in a gamepad? Many people say that the cords will bother you when playing but it doesn't. Actually, sometimes I feel like it is the wireless Logitech one that they were selling for $50.

I play NBA Live 2003 with it, and it works fine. The detachable joystick handle makes the directional pad feel like a joystick with the extra buttons. It has 10 action buttons and each one works fine. Usually, games will pick out about 2 gamepads or joysticks you can buy (popular, big brand names, found in almost every computer store), which my NBA Live did, but if it doesn't, it will probably work for any EA Sports game.

Pros-

Quality from a company that people trust
Not to advanced
Detachable joystick handle for directional pad

Cons-

Looks kinda boring
For very fast play, this is not the gamepad to use
Make sure you know the controls, or you are gonna lose the game

Have fun.. at least I hope you do. If you have Windows XP, you just attach the USB thing into the slot and it installs within the minute. Then go to your EaSports game (if you have one) and click on 'Options', Game Controllers and pick the Gamepad pro.

It is fun, if you know how to use it, and very effective. More effective than the joysticks and PS2.... so now you have your very own game console (computer with gamepad), just not a two player.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Gets the job done
Review: Recently I aquired a good deal of older computer games. This sounds like a very good thing. but there's a huge problem - I was forced to control these games with a keyboard. And as you may know, playing video games with a keyboard is nightmarish. I needed a controller. So, I purchased this one. How well does it work? Read on and find out.

PROS:
-The controller is, rather obviously, modelled after the Playstation controller. In my opinion the PSX has the best controller of any gaming console, so they picked a good one to copy.
-There is a detachable joystick that attaches into the center of the directional control pad.
-The cord is quite long, so you'll never have to worry about having too little of it.
-This is about as good a controller as you can get in the $15-$20 range.

CONS:
-The directional control pad was done rather poorly. Because the pad itself has the diagonal directions on it, I can end up being forced into veering off course in my games. The detachable joystick helps correct this problem somewhat, but not entirely.
-Getting the joystick in the hole can be a pain.
-The cord is TOO LONG! Honestly, do you know anyone that sits THAT far back from their computer? I didn't think so.

OVERALL:
Overall this is a good gaming pad if you're not willing to spend too much. I personally recommend shelling out the extra cash and getting a higher quality model, but this one will work if you're on a budget.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very good digital gamepad
Review: The Gravis Gamepad Pro is a solid constructed and fine digital gamepad, if you like the original PlayStation controller you will like the Gravis Gamepad, it feels just the same in your hands, except for the D-button. It doesn't have analog sticks or dual shock, but for its price is a very good buy.

I have two of them connected to the same gameport, I must say it's a blast to play cooperative or head-to-head games, specially console emulation games, it adds so much value to my computer. Just be sure to download the latest drivers at www.gravis.com

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A grreeeatt product. If you're a gamer, get this!
Review: The gravis gamepad pro is a truly amazing controller. It fits your hand perfectly and has over 10 programable buttons. This amazed me since usual gamepads have only around 8. Compatabilty? Its fine. Gravis has been around long, so expect this to work with most of your average Win 95/98 programs. Get it now.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great for emulation/roms!
Review: The Gravis GamePad pro is great for playing console emulation games on your computer (Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Game Gear, GameBoy Color, Gameboy advanced, etc). This controller is also great for Bleem! which allows you to play playstation games on your computer if you dont own the system. This controller has allowed me to download and re-visit games I have played in the past for SNES and NES on the computer and with ease without having to use the keyboard. On top of that, it has a plug that allows you to use two gravis gamepads for two-player games! This controller plugged easily into my parallel port and I was up and running in minutes.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Nice Design, But MAJOR flaw where it really counts
Review: The shape and size of this gamepad is just great - and the layout is perfect for regular PC gaming or most video game console emulators. Unfortunately, the directional pad is awful. Not precise at all, you pretty much have too look at it and slam the direction you're going for multiple times in order to get any sort of reliability. Casually hitting UP can sometimes lean too far to the right and cause you to go sideways. It's just a mess, especially if you're using an emulator. This is decently priced and nicely laid out, but the D-Pad is way too sloppy. There is a joystick you can screw into it, but that's even more awkward and unreliable. Shame.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: WOOOOOOW
Review: This controller makes it so you have a computer and playstation all in one. I use it about 10 to 15 times aweek at a my friends house. It's makes your computer like a playstation because the controller has the same placement of button except the buttons are green, yellow, blue, and red.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: OK but you can do better than this...
Review: This is an inexpensive, lightweight PS2-style programmable gamepad that would otherwise be a great value were it not for the extremely shoddy directional pad.

I own two of these gamepads for about 3 years (which shows its durable) and they have fared well for emulator games and games such as Madden and High Heat Baseball where precise directional control is not crucial. But the d-pad makes this almost unusable for 3D and racing games.

The d-pad is slotted to the diagonals which tends to push you diagonally when you want to go up, down, left, or right. This makes it difficult to go in a straight line which can kill you in certain games where accuracy and speed are important. Using the mini-joystick can help control a little better. The controller is kinda small so it may not fit well in big hands. Its instant and easy setup without any software makes it a true plug-n-play device.

For the $10-$15 price range you can't beat this, but do yourself a favor and spend another $5 to $10 more if you can for a better quality gamepad with ergonomic controls, trigger buttons, and force feedback.


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