QuakeStation Hardware Review: Sony Dual-Shock Analog controller

• Product: Dual Shock Analog Controller
  
• Price: $25-$35
• Availability: All major videogame stores
• Support: All new PlayStaion games

The Sony Dual Shock Analog controller is simply the best console game controller ever made. There are a lot of advantages to it, so let's start with the obvious:

• Analog controller for supported software
  
  
• Vibration function kicks ass
  
  
• About 90% of the software being released for the PlayStation supports both Analog and Vibration functions. No need to worry about the number of games using it like the rumble pak!

The Analog controller is smooth and responsive. Many of the top platform games like Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Spyro The Dragon, and Gex: Enter The Gecko are perfect examples of how well the analog controllers work.

However, the best feature in this controller is (you guessed it) the vibration function. The controller shakes on either the left or the right side of the controller (often times both) depending on what is happening on-screen. You would be suprised how much a little rumble can add to the overall experience of the game. The controller draws it's power directly from the PlayStation so there is no need to worry about replacing batteries, and the controller will always function properly.

Most of the information given so far is quite obvious. There are also many other areas where the Dual Shock controller out performs everything else on the market:

• Works great for each and every game! Thanks to the intelligence of the engineers at Sony, having the Analog controllers on the game pad doesn't totally mess up your ability to use the digital controller like the Nintendo 64 controller does. Games like Tekken 3, which utilized the vibration function, but not the Analog controls, work perfectly. You'd get your ass kicked if you tried to play a game like Tekken 3 with the Nintendo 64 controller!
  
  
• The controller retains the same, friendly feel of the old digital PlayStation controller even with the new features.
  
  
• There are no compatibility, performance, or warantee issues: its made by Sony!

When it's all said and done, the Dual Shock can't be beat. It adds great Analog controller and vibration, without sacrificing the player's abitlity to the use the digital control easily. If you don't have one already, go out and pick one up!

Score Sheet:

• Ease of use: 10
• Practicality: 10
• Product support: 10
• Price/Quality: 10
• Durability: 10
  
  FINAL SCORE: 10

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NOTE: This product review will updated once Quake II is released.
Another score will be given for how well the controller works with Quake II.