To some, using regular analog sticks on an Xbox 360 isn’t enough. There’s just something about not meeting the right amount of precision when moving your character, or perhaps not “feeling” what a character is going through without the right attachment in place. And not all of us have the luxury of buying a special peripheral to get the job done, like a wireless steering wheel controller for Forza Motorsport 4. But the folks at KontrolFreek seem to have the feeling of game control dialed down. They’ve worked with a number of gaming pros in the past, including Ultimate Gamer contestants like Kelly “MrsViolence” Kelley, to help get the “feel” of their add-on peripherals nailed down. And with its latest batch of releases, it might have just done the trick. The company was kind enough to send over some of its latest add-on sticks to test out. Now, these aren’t complicated peripherals to say the least. They are, in fact, extensions to your current analog sticks that simply snap on top. You can remove them just as easily and store them for later use, should you want to go back to the “good old fashioned” style of analog play.
All of the KontrolFreek analog stick accessories are made of good plastic fibers, so they won’t break off when you temporarily try to remove them, or get damaged too easily when you drop them on the ground. (If you step on them, perhaps.) Several types of Freek attachments are available, including the FPS Freek Legendary (for Halo) and the classic Rcade Freek rounded knobs, making you feel like you’re handling an arcade-style joystick. But let’s take a look at the company’s latest, er, Freeks. The first is the Football Freek, and even though it sounds like something suited for the Madden games, it’s really “football” in terms of the worldly sport of soccer. Both of the analog stick covers are designed with soccer ball-style patterns on top, as if you get the feeling of the ball when you’re moving up and down the field. This is probably the least effective of the add-ons, probably because it serves more of a cosmetic purpose that intensifying gameplay. However, they do their job when it comes to precision, and, those of you who play FIFA Soccer 12 religiously can attest to this, it’s all about where you kick the ball. If you’re a hardcore sports fan, we easily recommend these. Then there’s the Speed Freek, which is available in regular and redesigned Apex styles. But they’re both about the same. You’ve got one analog stick cover that’s normally designed with a cover on top (meant for the right stick), and another that actually looks like a U-shaped hold structure, which you can easily fit your thumb into.
This makes you feel like you’re handling a car with better control than your typical analog stick, especially when it comes to leaning into turns. It also means less wear and tear for your driving hand, which is a huge plus when you’re plowing through the main career mode of Forza 4…and we know what kind of time that takes. For driving fans, this one gets a thumbs up. Finally, there’s the one that most Xbox 360 fans will get into the most, the FPS Freek Epic Edition. KontrolFreek has made a series of FPS Freeks before, mainly for the likes of Call of Duty and Halo, and this one, as the title indicates, is best suited for playing Gears of War 3. Two red attachments come in the box, both shaped the same, with a light skull insignia on them. While it would’ve been nice for KontrolFreek to get permission from Epic Games to use their awesome skull insignias, it doesn’t really matter since your thumbs will be covering them anyway. The feel of these attachments is spot on, and we actually improved our shooting tactics using these in battle. No Gears of War fan should be without these. So, yes, KontrolFreek is three-for-three when it comes to its new peripherals. And they’re pretty affordable in price, going between $9.99 to $13.99 plus shipping. You can shop around for these fine attachments, and others, over at www.kontrolfreek.com. Tell them the lunatics at PlanetXbox360.com sent you.
