Manufacturer : Logitech

RRP : $79.95

Available : Electronics Boutique

Back in September of 2003 I took Logitech’s Cordless Freedom wireless Xbox controller through its paces, and I must admit I was very impressed with just how far cordless technology had come. Admittedly it was a tank of a controller, outsizing the then-common “Duke” handset while weighing in at around 300-350 grams, and at $140 it was pretty damn pricey too. Shane reviewed a 4Gamers alternative, but since then there really hasn’t been too much to get excited about in terms of cordless controllers. Until now that is, as Logitech unveil their spiritual successor to last year’s Cordless Freedom.

The very first thing about this new Cordless Precision controller that catches the eye is the price-tag, which lets you leave the store after paying a mere eighty bucks without any kind of theft or deception involved. That’s right, it’s nearly half the price of the original release, which puts it around $30 above the cost of a new official S-Controller. This makes the Cordless Precision an extremely affordable alternative to the standard corded variety of controller, and I’d say we should expect more of these cheaper options down the road.

The next thing you’ll notice is the smaller size, as the Precision is only a hair’s breadth larger than the standard S-Controller. It’s nowhere near as heavy either, and when you factor in the added weight of a controller cord, this baby actually feels lighter than the S-Controller! This is thanks to the scaled down battery compartment, which only holds 2 batteries now, thus reducing not only the heft but the size needed. So far that’s three big ticks for the Precision, which they might as well have called the Precision SLC: Smaller. Lighter. Cheaper. That could have easily been the tag-line for an advertising campaign, but just remember I said it first.

Despite these great pros and a catchy slogan by yours truly, you’re probably thinking that less batteries equals less power and thus less performance, which would definitely suck. Yet somehow, the mad scientists at Logitech have somehow managed to get MORE juice out of two batteries than out of four! No kidding!

Indeed, the spartan manual actually claims that over 300 hours play time is possible if vibration is turned off! While I have a lot of free time, I haven’t been able to fully refute or verify this postulation. However, I can honestly say that after at least 50 hours of play time, alternating between the vibration being on and off, that the batteries have shown no sign of conking out. Nor, might I add, are these some super expensive rechargeable batteries worth more than your life, they are the two stock-standard Duracell batteries that came included with the package. In fact I have two of those fancy rechargeable batteries sitting on my desk gathering dust awaiting the moment the included batteries packed it in. It still hasn’t happened.

It probably sounds too good to be true, but for the average gamer this simply isn’t the case. The only real drawback comes for Xbox Live users, who have again been overlooked in terms of easy Communicator Headset access. The wireless receiver still houses two expansion slots for memory units and the like, but the actual Precision controller has none, meaning you’ll either need a Bluetooth headset or sit on top of the television and look in a mirror to play. Still, given the streamlined size and weight, it’s hard to fault the controller.

The controls have been tightened up a bit on the Cordless Precision too, especially the thumbsticks which don’t feel quite as sloppy as before. Better yet, the awkwardly placed BACK and START configuration on the Freedom model is gone, and these two buttons are in the exact same place as they are on your average S-Controller. No other bells and whistles like cheaterous turbo or combo shortcuts have been included, and the only non-standard button is the option to toggle the vibration on or off. If there’s a complaint to be leveled at all it’s that occasionally the coloured face buttons seem a little unresponsive from an analogue standpoint, and it will sometime seem as though they can only be pressed or not pressed with no middle ground. Conversely, the sensitivity of the triggers has been ramped up a few notches which is great, and the analogue functions works perfectly here.

So whether you’re button-mashing your way through Sudeki or sneaking through Butcher Bay, the Cordless Precision will get the job done admirably. In fact, it does such a good job that you will probably even forget you’re not using the default controller, and for my money, that makes it the perfect replacement.