I've only bought one third party controller in my life, and it was this really terrible one for the N64 that shunned me away from anything other than the one the console comes with. However, if a controller like the Nyko Zero had come along back then and been my first third party purchase, then perhaps I wouldn't have the bias that I have. Loaded to the gills, stylish, and functional. What more could you want?

Right off the bat, the Nyko Zero controller for the PS2 is very striking and comes in one of three color styles: Stealth (Black), Nippon (White), and Hybrid (mix and match). We got our hands on the Hybrid and it just so happens to be the one we think looks the coolest. The Nippon is a clean white like what the 360 controller looks like while the Stealth has the style of the PS3's dark Sixaxis controller…only shinier. The Hybrid, however, has a look unlike any controllers out there, with a sunken in black and raised shiny metallic making up the controller's look. Now, with the double layer, it could've been easy for the raised metallic to feature some point corners or sharp ends, but after some rigorous testing (namely dragging my finger across it with pressure applied) we've come to find out the controller is very smooth with no rough edges whatsoever.

While we are talking about the metallic front, it is important to know that it is actually metal (or very close to metal). Upon first touch, you'll be taken back by the cold chill, but it is a momentary thing and soon your body temperature and grip fuse to the metal and it is really comfortable in your hands. After handling some controllers, especially after a good hour or so of gaming, my hands will get a bit sweaty, but nothing like water dripping mind you. However, with the Nyko Zero, my hands never got a funny feeling and my grip always remained constant.

The style also continues with the backlit buttons, which light up with these very nice looking iridescent orange/red color that shines through the place where the shapes of the PS2's face buttons are. It is important to note that the lights aren't a gimmick and they aren't blinding bright, just very mellow and calming. While talking about things on the controller equally well done, the thumbsticks are also very nicely implemented into the controller. I've been playing the PS3 a lot recently, so I've had the feeling of the raised up thumbsticks of that controller, but the Nyko Zero PS2 controller is how thumbsticks should be, with nicely fitting sticks and tops that sink into themselves so your thumbs sink into place and won't want to slip off cause they are rounded.

The controller is also wireless, featuring a backing similar to that of the Xbox 360 controller, but unlike that one, besides running just on batteries, it also comes with its own rechargeable battery pack that you can hook up and charge with the USB charge cable. A great way to use the controller is to use the battery pack, and then when it needs charging plug it in, put the battery powered pack (AA batteries) in, and replace it back with the other once charged; this should keep you gaming for a while (rechargeable battery has 25 hours on it). The controller is also supposed to work up to 30ft away, which is a considerable difference and should fit almost any gaming room you may have.

The controller is almost perfect, sans two or three things that could probably be adjusted to after time. First up, the D-pad is a little too loose for my liking, and it likes to swivel around. Now, the D-pad works perfectly fine, but it just feels a little cheap with the way it is so loose and clicks about. The shoulder buttons are the worst culprit, however, as the L2 and R2 buttons are just a tad to short, and the L1 and R1 buttons don't give enough feedback and "click" so when you press in on them, there is that uncertainty as to whether you are actually clicking them properly or if they are just not responding that well. Also, if all you have to use is the thumbsticks and face buttons, the controller feels excellent in your hands, however, once you move beyond those functions, you'll have to acclimate yourself to the new feel as it doesn't feel as natural right from the go like many controllers.

Though there are some issues that take more adjusting to than anything, the Nyko Zero controller for the PS2 is a really well done controller and adds a bit of class and sophistication to the third party PS2 controller market, plus it works well. If you are in the market for a new PS2 controller, be sure to consider the Nyko Zero.

Rating:
Our Scoring System