Psychopad Jr. Score: 83% Developer: Act Labs Device Type: Controller

Function: The Psychopad Jr. allows several types of programming. The most comfortable feature of the layout is a second button cluster (four macro buttons) which is programmable. These buttons appear on the controller as a second D-pad located in the center of the pad. I found this location to be surprisingly easily accessible with my right thumb, allowing me to simply slip over from my ?normal? attacks to hit a ?one-button combo? attack I had programmed in. The unit?s control is solid when using it as a normal controller as well (as long as you don?t accidentally leave it set for macros).

Performance: There are different types of macros that can be setup on the Psychopad Jr., and each one has slightly different limitations and methods of programming. You WILL need to keep the programming instructions close by to remind yourself how to program that special move you want quick access to. Unfortunately, the instruction booklet is not very clear as the buttons are not referred to as their shape (Square, Circle, Triangle, X), but instead are given numeric labels, which are pointed out on a diagram on one page of the manual. The programmability of this pad makes it wonderful for fighting games. The action response, weight, and feel of the Psychopad Jr. makes it a great controller for other games when not using the programming feature. If you can get past its drawbacks (listed below the Features), it is a solid controller.

Features: Ten actions-in-one button programming 12 ?HYPER? Programmable buttons Macro button cluster -- accessed with d-pad type control Well planned design Excellent response Sensitivity controls (three settings) Six-foot cord High impact plastic construction Programming instructions included (though confusing)

Drawbacks & Problems:: There were two primary problems with the Psychopad Jr. The first is the learning curve for programming it. This is not helped much by the fact that the programming manual is not easy to follow. It should be noted, however, that this so far has been a constant with programmable controllers. The second (and harder to forgive) problem is that the ?START? and ?SELECT? buttons are reversed in location compared to the original PSX controller. There is no benefit in either layout except that the layout of the original controller has been generally accepted as a standard. This means that all of a PSX gamer?s experience is working against him in regard to these two buttons. Everything is going fine, then you want to pause and BAM... wrong button. While it?s fine to have a bit of a learning curve with a new controller, this slight yet bothersome rebellion against the accepted standard is an unnecessary source of irritation. If the Psychopad Jr. is the only controller you EVER use, you?ll get use to this. However, most gamers do not limit themselves to one single controller.

-Geck0, GameVortex Communications AKA Robert Perkins