At first glance, the Xbox 360 controllers modified by Evil Controllers will look mostly like their unmodified cousins. This makes sense, since Evil isn’t completely revamping these controllers. Instead, they institute in small but possibly major significant changes that enhance the gaming experience.
They have a mod, for example, that allows for rapid fire, making it great for first-person shooters. There’s another controller modified for Tiger Woods Golf where you can get full power with the press of a single button.
The Evil Xbox 360 controllers that we received both include the same two modifications. They were equipped with Evil Sticks and they were given a “ring of light” mod for an added dash of style.
Evil Sticks for Added Performance
Those two controllers don’t look like anything special, but they have been personalized by Evil Controllers. The Evil Sticks, as they call them, are just a little bit different from the thumb sticks that you would get with a regular Xbox 360 controller.
Regular thumb sticks have a concave shape and they have four raised points to indicate the four cardinal directions. The Evil Sticks, by contrast, have a convex shape and they abandon the raised points in favor of a completely textured surface. This “non-slip technology” really does provide better grip, since the tops of regular thumb sticks can be quite slippery.
The guys at Evil Controllers go on to say that these Evil Sticks will provide force feedback, amazing accuracy, and maximum durability, but I’m a little more skeptical. The Evil Sticks may make for a better overall experience, particularly for FPSs, but I’m not sure about the added accuracy.
Just a Little Dash of Evil
As I’ve mentioned several times in this review, controllers personalized by Evil Controllers will look a lot like their OEM cousins at first glance. Where can you find their branding? It’s subtle, but it’s there.
Until Microsoft further opens its licensing for third-party controllers, the modifications from Evil Controllers could be your best bet for enhancing the gaming experience. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing casual XBLA titles or hardcore first-person shooters, because these relatively minor mods can be quite valuable.
The Ring of Light mod is great for customizing the look of your controller, but the Evil Sticks are a nice little upgrade as well. The added grip makes for a more comfortable and non-slip experience, especially for gamers with sweaty palm syndrome. It’s not a radical difference, like the rapid fire mod, but it’s a good one.
If you’d like to order a brand new controller, Evil Controllers can pre-install the Evil Sticks for you and ship a completed unit. Alternatively, you can order the Evil Sticks on their own ($20) and install them yourself.
Pros
- Evil Sticks provide excellent grip for sweaty thumbs
- Original MS controller gives quality peace of mind
- LED mod looks great
Cons
- Textured surface can cause minor thumb chafing
- Relatively minor difference in gaming performance
- Black Evil Sticks don’t match white controller
For more information or to buy please visit the Evil Controllers website.
