" It works and kicks ass "

      Title: RF 900mhz Wireless Controller from Madcatz

      Format: PS2 Controller

      Reviewing Monkey: Our Ape Masters

      The Hype: Almost all PS2 controllers have one thing in common: the cords are too damned short!!! Thus, Madcatz got busy with a radio wave wireless that means you don't have to sit 4 feet in front of your TV to play. But does it work or will it merely leave you with a cordless brick good for little more than hurling at squirrels? Read on, my monkeys. Read on.

      What This Monkey Thought...

      Ergonomics: All in all, this pad feels schweet. It's a bit heavy (which, personally, I like) and a bit wide (which I also like), both of which serve to land it squarely in your lap and make it comfortable to jam on. Now, in case that's a little confusing, let me explain my logic. An excessively light controller does nothing to keep your hands in line (and I, personally, find myself creeping my wrists all over the place when I use them) and a controller that's too narrow pulls my wrist in at unnatural angles. Add to that the fact that you don't actually have to point the pad at the screen and you've got a great set for sitting back, relaxing, and dropping your hands squarely in your lap. Which is absolutely my preferred way to play. 4.5 out of 5

      Features: Technically, the pad has macros and multi-function control schemes (which I'll get into shortly), so that's 2 pluses. But, let's face it, if you pick this rig up it's going to be almost exclusively for the wireless feature. And, putting those infrared shticks to shame, the 900mhz is all about radio control- which means you don't have to point it in any particular direction and can't block it with, say, annoying roommates crossing in front of you. 4 out of 5

      Performance: To get the little stuff out of the way, I'll go ahead and address the macro functions first. Macros is a single button you press on the rig that lets you input or extract your pre-programmed moves and it is, quite frankly, uninspired. There's nothing to remind you what you typed in, no real easy way to know if it's going to work or not, and generally did little to enhance my game experience. Now that we've got that out of the way, let's talk about the wireless action. As I said before, the pad is RF so you can't block it (and boy, howdy, did we try). It also has a nice long range so even if your buddies are chasing you around the room when you're kicking their ass (thank you, Cornelious) you can still keep playing and stomp them some more. Really, the only down side, is that the controller's battery works on a wall mounted charger (which is actually a good thing) but has no battery monitor on it so, in the middle of a game, your controller may die out of juice and force you to switch to an old standard one while this beast charges. It's a minor annoyance, but one I think they could have seen coming and compensated for. 4 out of 5

      How it Compares: Well, it works and kicks ass- and that's good. Plus, given that it's about the only radio wireless controller on the market for PS2 I guess it dominates the market. The down side, though, is its rather pricey $60 retail tag. Ouch! I mean, sure- it's a great pad but is it really worth the price of a game? 4 out of 5

      The Verdict:

All in all, this thing does exactly what it claims to do- gives you a badass wireless gaming experience. What more do you want?

      The Good: Wireless at its finest.

      The Bad: No battery meter so you may suddenly find yourself wireless-less and by the high monkey is it expensive.

      The Overall Ugly: A great pad.

      What it's Worth: Market…But try and find it on sale.