3D Controller Shoot-out part 4

Mad Catz Panther XL (read the full review here)

The Panther XL was a unique design when it hit the shelves a few years back (The Xterminator Dual Control is similar in layout). A few inventive players had been using similar setups for 1st person shooters however. Connecting a joystick to their system for basic control and actions and supplementing it with a large trackball for viewing and aiming. Mad Catz adopted the idea and released the Panther XL.

The Panther XL requires a configuration file for most 1st person shooters. Mad Catz has done a great job of assuring that the files are released when a new game is released. Some games actually ship with Panther XL support built right in. The Panther XL also functions quite well as a standard joystick. It is the only controller in the shoot-out that supports external rudder controls for flight simmers. The Panther XL has a port that most rudder pedals can be directly connected to.

The Panther offers a difficult to describe but cool to use feature with the trackball. With smaller movements the trackball controls the typical mouse movements. With a horizontal flick of the ball a different axis is controlled. In the test menu it is referred to as rudder control. In most games this easily allows you to do a quick 180 degree turn on attackers from the rear.

Many Panther XL websites and clans have cropped up over the years. Although the controller is an older product it has a strong following. Attendees of major Quake LAN events will see some of the top players using the Panther to eliminate the competition. Mad Catz will be releasing the Pro version sometime in 2000. The Pro will connect through a USB port and have other minor improvements.

Performance-

The Panther XL is a great performer and fairly easy to setup. For games not directly supported a patch is usually required. Installation of the patches are straight-forward and can be handled by anyone with basic computer knowledge. Of the games listed in the test, most required some type of patch. Once the patch is installed its a matter of setting button preferences in the game menus and its off to frag.

Use of the Panther is near intuitive but it will require hours of practice to master. The users skills grow rather quickly though and it is usable once setup. The trick is getting your hands to work in sync with your brain. All of the movement and action is controlled between two hands using two different controllers.

The Panther XL is also versatile. It functions great as a standard joystick and has the added benefit of allowing external rudder pedals for more realistic control. The Panther XL was put to the task of controlling the vehicles in the two Microsoft racing games. It offered more than enough control surfaces and buttons. For Microsoft FlightSim 2000 the trackball went unused but the rudder port did not. The Panther XL is certainly the most versatile controller in the shoot-out.

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