Hori Gem Pad EX (Xbox 360)

Hori Gem Pad EX

Developed by Hori Co.

Released for Xbox 360 (11/2013)

The Hori Gem Pad EX is a wired controller compatible with the Xbox 360. The first thing I noticed when handling the controller is that the size is quite a bit more compact than the standard 360 controllers. As a result everything on the face feels a tad cramped, and those with large hands will definitely prefer the Microsoft controllers. The analog sticks don't have the rubber on the tips, so your grip never feels as good as it does on padded sticks, though the analog function works quite well and there is a switch to choose between three sensitivities. The d-pad is a noticeable improvement as it is a cross shape similar to the Xbox One controllers, making this a very decent option for 2D gaming. The triggers and bumpers are laid out a bit more flat on the top and take a bit less pressure to activate than usual. Whether or not you like this can vary from person to person, personally I prefer the standard trigger style. 

The Gem Pad EX definitely scores points for looking cool. The variety I purchased features a clear cystal-like blue shell on the front half, and when plugged in there are some LED lights inside that illuminate the controller. There is no option to turn these lights off, so as soon as the controller is plugged in the lights come on. There were four different color varieties of the shell on this controller released: red, blue, black and clear. The cord is of decent length and as long as you don't mind a wired controller is not too bad. I recall paying quite a bit less than the asking price of the Microsoft controllers and if you can find it for that I'd say it's not a bad controller though I do wish it was a bit less cramped.

Final Verdict: The Hori Gem Pad EX is a decent alternative the standard Xbox 360 controllers and, at its time of release, also retailed at a lower cost.

Xbox 360 Standard Controller (Xbox 360, 2005)

Controller Review | Xbox 360 Standard Controller
Developed by Microsoft
Original Controller Released in 2005
Revised Controller Released in 2010

Microsoft got the controller right (for the most part) the first time with the 360, as opposed to the original Xbox controller which received a drastic makeover during that console's lifespan. The standard 360 controller design remained mostly the same throughout the consoles almost decade-long lifespan. There were some variants with d-pads more suited to 2D games that were released in 2010, but the stick and button layout stayed consistent for better or worse while also laying the groundwork for the Xbox One controller.

Microsoft's controller obviously borrows some inspiration from Sony's design, containing the same amount of buttons in a similar layout with the main differences being the analog stick positions and the back "trigger" button styles. While the PlayStation's back buttons are more like actual buttons, the 360's triggers give these a different feel that seems a bit tacky at first, but is quite nice once you warm up to it. Being very familiar with the PlayStation stick layout and with the 360 being my first console from Microsoft, I initially was very skeptical of the analog stick positions. After a few months of consistent gaming on the system I failed to even really notice any difference and the analog stick position works just fine if not even better with this layout. All of the face buttons are responsive as well as the triggers. I've been through many of these controllers over the years but the buttons are never a point of failure. The first thing to go will typically be the analog sticks as they experience the most wear and tear over time.

Microsoft would of course release a ton of variants in the form of controller colors, some with designs and in limited quantities, making them something that could be a collectible if  you're into that kind of thing. There were also two standard variations: wired and wireless. The advantage of using a wired controller, other than not having to use batteries of course, is the ease of use with your PC. The ports on the 360 are USB so you can plug it right up on your computer and start playing a good majority of PC games. The wireless controller will eat up your AA batteries pretty fast, so you'll likely want to purchase one of the rechargeable batteries which is sold separately. Be weary of buying the play & charge kits second-hand since these batteries do still die out and you never know how much those used ones have been through.

While these are solid first-party controllers for the most part, of course everything isn't perfect. It's common knowledge at this point that the d-pad pretty much sucks. It's more of a disc rather than a cross which makes it very difficult to have any kind of precision, particularly in 2D titles where the pad will get the most use. Later releases of the controller feature a transforming d-pad that actually rectified this problem but these are nowhere near as common as the standard disc d-pad. My other issue with these controllers is that the rubber material used for grip on the analog sticks is really not that durable, and this is most always the first thing on a controller to show deterioration. While this is understandable considering how much action the sticks will see, I just wish they were a bit more durable. Microsoft did a great job making the analog sticks a lot more sturdy on the Xbox One controller.

Other than my somewhat minor gripes with old standard 360 controller, overall it's a good product that's comfortable to use and works great with all the 3D titles and games that use both sticks. It's biggest weakness is the d-pad (unless you have the transforming d-pad), so it's not optimal for your 2D action but there are other solutions for that available on the 360. The controller can also be great to use for your PC gaming and is often as easy as just plugging it in and playing!

Final Verdict: A good first-party controller that will also work with your PC. You definitely need to have a few of these around if you have a 360.

Related Links
Buy it at the Microsoft Store
Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller Variations at ConsoleVariants
Every 360 Controller on XBLA Fans
Xbox 360 Controller on Wikipedia
33 Xbox 360 Controller Variants by Metal Jesus Rocks - YouTube
Evolution of Xbox Controllers by PapiGFunk - YouTube

Hori Gem Pad EX (Xbox 360, 2013)

Hori Gem Pad EX (Xbox 360, 2013)

Here we take a look at a third-party controller that was released for the Xbox 360. The controller is wired, so no batteries or charging is necessary. Click the above link for a review and see if it's something you might be interested in.