expiredRevOne | Staff posted Feb 15, 2022 06:52 PM
Item 1 of 4
Item 1 of 4
expiredRevOne | Staff posted Feb 15, 2022 06:52 PM
ThrustMaster eSwap X Pro Wired Controller (Xbox/PC) + $50 Dell Promo eGift Card
or less w/ SD Cashback + Free S/H$130
$210
38% offDell Technologies
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TLDR: Skip to the bottom for bullet points
My previous Rocket League controllers (going back to 2016): xbox 360 wired, Steam Controller, xbox one (two of these), PowerA enhanced (arrived broken, crap), PowerA Fusion Pro (ok!), Dual Sense (nice!), Thrustmaster.
So far this controller is the best for me because of the back buttons. I use two back buttons (one for air roll, one for boost, used for long periods of time, sometimes pressed hard).
PowerA fusion Pro is probably the most similar competitor to this wired xbox style controller with back buttons/paddles. The PowerA had similar build quality to the Microsoft xbox controller, but the back paddles sucked. I had the V1. The back paddles were squishy and died fairly quickly. They were also annoying because if you put the controller down on your lap, you were almost guaranteed to press the back button. Eventually both of my left side paddles stopped working consistently. I did not develop stick drift.
Thrustmaster: The back buttons are actual clicky buttons and are WAY more robust than back paddles on the fusion pro, or the steam controller. They are hard to reach, it took a while to get used to them. I wear a size large glove, and it works for me. Someone with smaller hands would find it difficult or impossible. I think it would be hard to use all four, but I can use one with my middle finger no problem. From wrist to tip of my middle finger is about 8 inches. 6.5 inches and under, I'd steer clear.
Modularity: I have mine set up in a playstation configuration. I use RB heavily and simultaneously with right stick. It is way more comfortable for me to have them farther apart. Someone who uses index on RB, Middle on trigger might disagree, but also should not buy this controller. This setup turned out to be a huge plus. It was one of the reasons I loved the DS5 so much. The dual sense is way more responsive feeling than the thrustmaster, and I loved the triggers. Thrustmaster triggers can feel a bit heavy. I would stick with the dual sense (my first PS controller!) but i really missed the back buttons and could not ergonomically use two fingers on RB RT.
This thrustmaster is just more ergonomic for me while wanting to use additional fingers with dedicated buttons.
For my use, they are great. I absolutely could see people hating them. If you are only occasionally throwing grenades or something, paddles would probably be better. As a primary, heavily used button you won't find anything more consistent and durable than a button.
We have wildly different impressions of this controller. Maybe the crystal blue pack is the issue? Did you try the controller with the stock sticks? One of the things that sold me on the controller was that I could swap the two sticks if my main steering stick developed drift, or even buy a new set. So far, I have not needed to do that. I will say that the "A" lettering is almost totally gone. I have hundreds of hours on the stock sticks without showing wear. The steering stick after 4-5 months did start to unscrew sometimes, and I screw it back in. If it becomes more frequent I will switch out R and L sticks.
My biggest complaints:
Wired is annoying, and the latency feels about the same as the bluetooth DS5 controller.
The profiles button is easy to hit. I set both profiles to the same setup so that if I accidentally swap, not a big deal.
Heavy somewhat less comfortable triggers to hold down for long periods of time.
It's so ugly. I mean really. Sitting on my desk next to Stadia controller, even the power a, its like.. not quite retro enough to be retro, just industrial feeling.
Price. Can buy two PowerA Fusion Pro or ds5 controllers for less than one thrustmaster. Not a great value.
Small handed people should stay away. It really is bigger than nearly identically sized fusion Pro and xbox one controllers.
Biggest Pros:
Back buttons have held up! (full stop, this is the only reason why I have this controller rather than Fusion Pro, or DS5)
Durability: No stick drift yet, in general has lasted longer than Power A Fusion or one of my xbox one controllers. (Bumpers seem better than xbox one controller)
Clicky buttons are actually kinda nice. Now other buttons feel mushy and slow. You get used to it fast though.
PC reads it as XBOX (way more compatible than DS5) but modular layout can be playstation dual shock. (Now I wouldn't go back to xbox layout. Next controller will be DS5 with back button attachment)
Can swap if there is a stick issue.
Ask if you have any questions or want a comparison. I still have a stadia controller, PowerA Fusion Pro, xbox one and steam controller on hand to compare specifics.
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I'm tempted to get this even though I have an Elite V1 and Fusion Pro. The problem with Elites are stick drift. And the Fusion Pro mic jack has no volume or mute buttons. And the paddles wiggle and easier to accidentally press compared to buttons.
This looks like the best package except that it's wired.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank taswyn
This is a wired controller, not wireless.
This has 4 small buttons on the underside, not paddles. Their ergonomics, by comparison, seem questionable at best.
It doesn't seem to offer the thumbstick tension adjustment of the Elite 2.
The trigger lock functionality is maybe? equivalent to the Elite 2 trigger depth functionality.
Apparently the buttons/button feel on this is better? Maybe the d-pad is better?
What this offers that IS markedly different is a controller that could be a "both sticks in the same spots on opposite sides" (aka dualshock style) configuration, if you choose to swap the number pad with the left stick. Or apparently stick on the left (two sticks on the left?) and the directional pad on the right.
Or spend $40-50 and get something that actually more deeply changes the controller, such as the "fighting pack" [thrustmaster.com], and now it actually is really interesting. But not a MS Elite 2 killer as such. It's too different, while not being as strong as the Elite in specific areas/for specific intended uses/play styles. Assuming your Elite 2 doesn't die horribly in 2-3 months. Then again, going by Amazon reviews of this, assuming this doesn't die horribly in 2-3 months.
It's interesting. Equally in theory you could just buy a swap pack to "fix" a failing joystick, etc, assuming the failure was in the module and not in the controller's non swappable electronics. But for $40-50 for modules, that's... not exactly a cheap fix it scheme, when you can regularly find standard first party and mid-range-ish third party controllers for that price alone.
I wish someone offered a controller for ~$200 that was all mechanical buttons (or the base being cheaper but upgradeable to mechanical button based modules) with great feel, swappable/replaceable sticks, button, and dpad modules (including both ones turned to align with your thumb, and ones that are vertically aligned to the controller's top/bottom), and reverse side paddles, that actually would last and/or be warrantied for at least 2 years. This is very close. The Elite 2 is very close. Neither is quite there entirely.
I'm very tempted to get this. I've been very tempted to get an Elite 2. But I keep feeling held back from buying either one rather than just continuing to buy standard XBox controllers: they just each seem to fall a little bit short, and the longevity questions based on reviews are real, for the prices.
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