Review by: Jeff McAllister

The Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 controller from Mad Catz is looking to help you up your game and give you a flash of style in the process. Like most controllers, switching from the old and familiar to something new and different can take some getting use to, but thankfully the controller features some nice additions to make the transition as painless as possible.

The controller features twin glowing soft green lights at the base of the analog sticks that make for a nice aesthetic that is not too distracting and gives an extra little flair. The face of the controller features the digital camo that has become known in the game as a weapon skin and the Modern Warfare 2 branding in the center, above the guide button, with soft rubber grips on each handle of the controller, giving your hands comfort during hours of gameplay.

The triggers found on the front are thinner and more pronounced and are reminiscent of a trigger one would find on a gun rather than the normal Xbox 360 controller. However, the two key points with the Modern Warfare 2 controller is the fact that it’s wired and there are “combat” buttons found on the underside.

If you already use a wired controller, then it’s not going to be that big of an issue and although the ability to make a wireless third party controller is impossible due to Microsoft’s restrictions, the wire that the controller does have is braided like a black nylon rope and is long enough to stretch across the most spacious living rooms.

The combat buttons found on the bottom can be set up to mimic any of the face buttons, as well as the left and right stick presses, which end up being pretty convenient. This in itself is an awesome addition that controllers should have had for a long time and it’s nice to see Mad Catz take the initiative to add them. If you are like me, pressing the thumbstick without moving it in a direction can be tricky, and these macro buttons remove that awkwardness while adding the functionality to your fingertips without disrupting any other actions. The addition of these buttons will improve your game, bearing in mind that you can get used to them. The buttons themselves are a little small and for some people may be in an odd position, depending on the length of your fingers.

Overall, Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 Combat Controller has some unique features that are not found with any other controller on the market and once you get used to the feel it should improve your game thanks to the combat buttons. Wired or not – it’s an improvement over the standard 360 pad.

You can purchase the Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 Combat Controller directly from the GameShark Store .