10th March 2017, 9:51 PM
Yeah, Hori's stuff is usually pretty high quality. I mentioned it in the 'games I bought' thread when I got it, but I didn't say what I think of it later, only that I got it, so, comparing the Hori EX2 gamepad -- and note I am talking about the gamepad, not the Hori EX2 wheel -- to a regular X360 controller or the other one from MS with the transforming d-pad, since I have both:
The Hori EX2 Gamepad is a comfortable controller that I really like. Please note, this is an Xbox 360 or PC Xinput controller with a cord, so it is not wireless. That's just fine with me, since that makes it easy to use on the PC, which does not have native wireless support (and I do not have any PC wireless adapters for wireless 360 controllers or what have you) and I'd rather not have to use batteries if I don't have to, also! The primary reason I've wanted one for years is that it's the only Xbox 360 gamepad I know of with analog sticks and also six face buttons, as there are LB and RB buttons on the face, where C and Z buttons would be in a Genesis/Saturn/etc.-style pad. I of course have always strongly preferred 6-button controllers to four, but this one only released in Japan so I put it off for quite some time... only, when I finally got one a few months ago, to quickly decide that i really should have gotten it years ago because it's great! It is a really good controller in just about every way. (Oh, in addition to six face buttons, it also has a turbo button and turbo-speed slider, and also an analog control accuracy slider as well. Interesting features.)
For issues, compared to official X360 controllers, the buttons have flat sides instead of the rounded buttons of of official controllers. that means they are maybe slightly less nice, though it's not much of a difference. Similarly, the LB and RB buttons are projecting buttons with flat sides, instead of the more sleekly designed lines of official controllers. All buttons work just as well in effect, and this controller is feels as solid as a first-party controller, but the buttons aren't quite at MS's level in terms of looks.
On the other hand, it has a traditional d-pad, which is a definite step up over the mushy regular 360 d-pad or the fragile transforming one (which, remember, broke on me once and I had to replace it)! I have no problem with the round shape of MS d-pads as seen on their PC Sidewinder controllers or the original Xbox, those two controllers' d-pads are just fine, but the 360's version of it does not feel as good, and while the transforming one feels better, its design is flawed in that it can break apart due to the 'transforming' thing -- what happened to me is that it broke off around the central pin, since that's a higher point which the pad tilts around, and I guess it tilts too much each way because after it broke I looked it up and it's a common issue. I've had similar issues with Saitek's P880 and P990 controllers for the PC, which have a d-pad that is a large circular thing which tilts from a central pin... and is fragile, I've had the break on both of my controllers in that line. I love the feel of those Saitek d-pads until they break, but the durability is not good. So yeah, while round d-pads can be just fine and can be durable, such as the ones in Sega's Genesis or Saturn controllers, the Hori EX2 pad's traditional crosspad is probably the better overall design. As implemented here it feels and works well, too.
As for the rest of the controller, the analog sticks feel fine, and better than most third-party controllers for sure. The triggers are also great.
Finally, the size... the controller is probably a little on the small size. I like larger controllers, so I wish this controller was a bit bigger. As it is it feels great, but it is a little small. For instance, those LB and RB buttons are on the curving side of the controller, since it's not quite big enough to have six face buttons on the top. It feels fine, but... I like larger controllers like the Saturn 3D controller, the N64 pad, the original Xbox controller, and such, so yeah, a bit more size would be nice. Ah well, it's minor.
So yeah, overall the Hori EX2 is a good controller I certainly recommend to anyone who wants a good wired xinput controller for PC with six face buttons, or a six-button X360 controller too. They cost a bit, since they are not super common and need to be bought from Japan most of the time since it was only released there, but it's well worth it. I got the controller thinking I'd mostly use it on my 360, but I'm liking it so much as a PC gamepad that now it's hooked up to this most of the time, and maybe I'll have to get another to have one to use on the 360... :)
The Hori EX2 Gamepad is a comfortable controller that I really like. Please note, this is an Xbox 360 or PC Xinput controller with a cord, so it is not wireless. That's just fine with me, since that makes it easy to use on the PC, which does not have native wireless support (and I do not have any PC wireless adapters for wireless 360 controllers or what have you) and I'd rather not have to use batteries if I don't have to, also! The primary reason I've wanted one for years is that it's the only Xbox 360 gamepad I know of with analog sticks and also six face buttons, as there are LB and RB buttons on the face, where C and Z buttons would be in a Genesis/Saturn/etc.-style pad. I of course have always strongly preferred 6-button controllers to four, but this one only released in Japan so I put it off for quite some time... only, when I finally got one a few months ago, to quickly decide that i really should have gotten it years ago because it's great! It is a really good controller in just about every way. (Oh, in addition to six face buttons, it also has a turbo button and turbo-speed slider, and also an analog control accuracy slider as well. Interesting features.)
For issues, compared to official X360 controllers, the buttons have flat sides instead of the rounded buttons of of official controllers. that means they are maybe slightly less nice, though it's not much of a difference. Similarly, the LB and RB buttons are projecting buttons with flat sides, instead of the more sleekly designed lines of official controllers. All buttons work just as well in effect, and this controller is feels as solid as a first-party controller, but the buttons aren't quite at MS's level in terms of looks.
On the other hand, it has a traditional d-pad, which is a definite step up over the mushy regular 360 d-pad or the fragile transforming one (which, remember, broke on me once and I had to replace it)! I have no problem with the round shape of MS d-pads as seen on their PC Sidewinder controllers or the original Xbox, those two controllers' d-pads are just fine, but the 360's version of it does not feel as good, and while the transforming one feels better, its design is flawed in that it can break apart due to the 'transforming' thing -- what happened to me is that it broke off around the central pin, since that's a higher point which the pad tilts around, and I guess it tilts too much each way because after it broke I looked it up and it's a common issue. I've had similar issues with Saitek's P880 and P990 controllers for the PC, which have a d-pad that is a large circular thing which tilts from a central pin... and is fragile, I've had the break on both of my controllers in that line. I love the feel of those Saitek d-pads until they break, but the durability is not good. So yeah, while round d-pads can be just fine and can be durable, such as the ones in Sega's Genesis or Saturn controllers, the Hori EX2 pad's traditional crosspad is probably the better overall design. As implemented here it feels and works well, too.
As for the rest of the controller, the analog sticks feel fine, and better than most third-party controllers for sure. The triggers are also great.
Finally, the size... the controller is probably a little on the small size. I like larger controllers, so I wish this controller was a bit bigger. As it is it feels great, but it is a little small. For instance, those LB and RB buttons are on the curving side of the controller, since it's not quite big enough to have six face buttons on the top. It feels fine, but... I like larger controllers like the Saturn 3D controller, the N64 pad, the original Xbox controller, and such, so yeah, a bit more size would be nice. Ah well, it's minor.
So yeah, overall the Hori EX2 is a good controller I certainly recommend to anyone who wants a good wired xinput controller for PC with six face buttons, or a six-button X360 controller too. They cost a bit, since they are not super common and need to be bought from Japan most of the time since it was only released there, but it's well worth it. I got the controller thinking I'd mostly use it on my 360, but I'm liking it so much as a PC gamepad that now it's hooked up to this most of the time, and maybe I'll have to get another to have one to use on the 360... :)