Xbox 360 Special Edition Silver Controller Review

Over the years the Xbox 360 controller has been through a number of facelifts. Besides changes to the standard issue controllers, moving from white to black, there have also been quite a few Limited or Special Editions doing the rounds - Halo has a few; Fable III has one; there’s a red one for Resident Evil - and most of these were only cosmetically different from the base model. It’s a pity then that there has always been something inherently troublesome about that base model: an imprecise d-pad. Now, to prove that Microsoft really does listen to its audience, albeit five years on, here we have the solution - the new Xbox 360 Special Edition Controller with transforming d-pad.

The original controller, with its 'disc' style d-pad, has been shunned by many gamers for being too floaty, too vague. This new controller remedies this to a large extent with a simple yet clever mechanic: a d-pad which can switch between a 'disc' or a 'plus' setting in an instant, letting gamers choose the set-up which suits them. What dark witchcraft is behind this transformation, you ask? Nothing more than a quick twist of the fingers. By gripping the 'plus' of the d-pad and turning it 45 degrees (in either direction), the disc drops about 4mm, receding into the controller. This exposes the 'plus', and offers more precise directional control in a flash. Prefer the sweeping motions that a disc shape allows? Just twist it another 45 degrees, and it's back to normal. Easy, straightforward, and functional. Well, to be honest, flicking the plus isn’t as easy as it should be, depending on the size of your fingertips or your finger nails - you need to get quite a good grip on it to turn it, but at least this means it stays put once in position.

While this new d-pad system is clearly the focal point of the redesigned controller, it’s not the only aspect which has been tweaked. The analogue stick has had a bit of work, the thumb pads now have a more concaved surface, and instead of the four little plastic bumps (which tended to wear down over time) there is now a sharper ridge inside the edge of the pad. Under normal gaming circumstances you won’t notice a big difference, but over long sessions I thought these new sticks felt more responsive and less prone to thumb slippage. I also found that the concave surface made it easier to press the stick in when it needs to act as a button input.

The other changes are purely cosmetic, with Microsoft’s designers putting together a gamepad clad in sleek silvers and shades of grey. The 'plus' of the d-pad is a nifty gunmetal metallic, while the shoulder buttons and triggers in glossy black complete the look. It exudes style and quality, with a definite upmarket feel. One design decision which may prove a sticking point is that the four primary face buttons - usually in red, yellow, blue and green - are now monochrome grey tones. Veteran gamers will have no problem here, but newcomers may struggle in instances where an on-screen prompts indicate a button by its colour. The ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘X’ and ‘Y’ insets are still clearly visible through the semi-transparent buttons though.

Your need for this Special Edition will be dependent on a few factors. Firstly, if you only have one controller and are in the market for a second one, then there’s really no reason not to pick up this slick performer. Secondly, if you find yourself cursing your current controller for its sludgy d-pad during those intense Street Fighter IV sessions, then this is a good solution. With the included Play & Charge kit I found that it charged relatively quickly, and once fully charged the battery life was seriously impressive - I was able to play Crysis 2 and Homefront from start to finish, including some time online, with a single charge. There will be those who bemoan the fact that the controller is only available bundled with a Play & Charge kit, which is a fair complaint since some will already have an alternate charging set-up or a spare charge cable. Regardless, this Xbox 360 Special Edition controller is stylish, built to the typically high standards of other official Xbox 360 accessories, and has enough tweaks to make it the obvious choice for any gamer looking to add to his or her arsenal.

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