We already know that there are a bunch of must-own games for the Xbox 360, and obviously you wouldn’t get anywhere if you didn’t have the system itself (preferably the new slim model, which is pretty awesome). But what about accessories? There are literally hundreds of peripherals available for the system, including headsets, controllers, plug-ins, and so much more. The Microsoft first-party controllers are cool (particularly the new grey model with the black-and-white colored buttons), but what about third party stuff? Well, we’re here to help. Over the past few weeks, we’ve tested out some awesome third-party peripherals from a variety of companies, and have come up with some absolute must haves out of that list. We thank everyone for participating in our little test run, and will review the products individually over the course of summer and fall, but for now, consider these choices to make your gaming sessions better than ever…
Astro Gaming A40 Headset – BXR – 2011 Edition (Astro Gaming): Most recently, Astro Gaming was acquired by Skullcandy, a company that specializes in kick-ass headphone equipment. And for good reason. Astro Gaming has become one of the more reliable headset makers in the gaming world, with high-quality equipment that more than justifies the somewhat high pricing. The best of the bunch is the BXR 2011 Edition set. Available in a variety of colors (orange, gray or blue – we like the blue ourselves), this headset fits snugly over your ears and also gives you access to a high-quality microphone, so you can chat with friends over the course of each match. It provides 7.1 Dolby Surround through the headset, performing with the separately sold wireless MixAmp, another top notch add-on that is required to get the most out of this headset.
Again, the price adds up, but you get what you pay for – especially compared to the cheaper $50 headsets. Astro Gaming pours its effort into the finest equipment, and this is definitely the best way to go. Also recommended: Turtle Beach PX 5. It’s an equally savvy headset with a Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound built-in, customized sound settings and a cool black-and-red design. Check them out as well.
GunnarOptiks Steelseries (GunnarOptiks): “Why in the world would I need to buy a set of gaming glasses? Don’t I look like enough of a geek as it is?” Say what you want about the tinted yellow shades and how silly you’d look in them, but these things really do help when it comes to optimizing your performance. See, how it works, the GunnarOptiks amplifies what you see on the TV screen, blocking out unnecessary glare and letting you see some of the finer details as to what’s happening. But it does so without the need of a prescription, nor any sort of weird bifocal effects that could screw up your eyes.
There are various models available, including MLG-sponsored glasses and cool Onyx models, but they all serve their purpose rather well. While the price may not exactly rub you the right way (somewhere between $70-$90 for the model), it will help to make you better, and, hey, some girls might actually like the tinted yellow look. Kinda makes you resemble a hitman, you know?
PDP Wired Tron Controller for Xbox 360 (PDP): There are a bunch of wired controllers making the rounds right now, including an authentic Transformers controller from PDP and some slick AfterGlow models. But if you want the best from PDP’s camp, we can’t recommend anything else but the Tron wired controller. Yes, we said wired, and that may be a turn-off for some, but the fact of the matter is, it actually gives a great deal of power to the controller. Along with the best performance you can get out of it, it also glows in bright neon controllers, like an authentic Tron controller should.
Furthermore, PDP pays its Tron fans service by releasing not only this original model (which is in limited supply by itself), but also a series of other colors in the Tron brand, including a bright blue model and a Clu orange one. Don’t bother looking for those, though. They’re long out of production…at least, for the time being. That said, don’t let that sway you from the original Tron controller. It’s pretty damn sweet, and a must for Tron fans – even if you weren’t too crazy about Legacy. Also recommended: The AfterGlow controllers. Despite the slightly cheap plastic feel, it’s a good controller. And fairly inexpensive for $30.
MadCatz Street Fighter IV FightStick (Mad Catz): Last but definitely not least, we have something that’s a true must have for fighting fans. The Street Fighter IV FightStick has been out for some time, but its performance hasn’t dwindled in the least. Using this controller makes you feel like you’re actually playing in the arcade, right down to the button settings and the authentic-feeling knob controller. You can also adjust settings and tuck the cord into the arcade unit once you’re done using it.
The only downside is that it’s quite costly. However, for true fighting fans, or tournament players who live and breathe everything Street Fighter related, this is clearly the best way to go. And various designs are available, including a sweet Chun Li-modeled stick and a Marvel Vs. Capcom stick.
Also recommended: FightPads: They’re smaller than the FightSticks, but they’re equally good in performance, with a D-pad and face buttons that respond appropriately to your actions. And if you want a Mortal Kombat stick to work to your advantage, PDP makes an arcade-quality one that’s just like an MK arcade cabinet, right down to placement of high, low and block buttons. It’s pricey too, but you can snag a bundle that comes with both the controller and game for $150 – not a bad deal at all.
