Logitech is widely known
for their quality products, and their console peripherals are no exception to
the standards set by these products. When Logitech took on the responsibility of
creating the perfect Gran Turismo wheel for the 3rd in the series
they created the best wheel a console has ever seen. With the release of Gran
Turismo 4, the people at Logitech have once again surpassed the competition as
well as themselves in creating the best steering wheel for the GT experience;
the Driving Force Pro.
The first noticeable
change to this Driving Force since the last is the look. It now looks more
realistic with its black and silver color scheme. The wheel is also surrounded
by a rubber-like grip that feels really nice. There is also now a stick shift
off to the right side, which seems like a cool idea, but is almost out of the
way compared to the behind-the-wheel shift levers. The only time the stick comes
in handy is in rally racing, when you’ll most likely be taking full advantage of
the steering range…but we’ll get to that a bit later.
All of the standard
controller buttons are found on the face of the steering wheel and clear of your
hand while driving. This is extremely nice, because no matter how involved you
are in your race you don’t have to worry about accidental button presses.
A major change to the
Driving Force Pro, and probably the most talked about, is the new 900 degree
range. You can now turn the wheel 2 and a half times from one max to the other.
This is almost too much, since turning the wheel more than 90 degrees either way
during a race usually results in a spin-out. This insane range is really useful
for correcting mistakes, or rally racing where you must constantly correct your
steering, but overall it makes you a little more prone to over-steering.
The Driving Force Pro is
a very comfortable steering wheel, except for the pedals. Pedals for steering
wheel controllers have always felt unnatural to me, and that’s something that
still hasn’t changed. It may be that they’re too close together, or not heavy
enough, or that there’s no force feedback, but they just aren’t as comfortable
as the wheel itself.
Another aspect that must
be mentioned is the amazing force feedback. Depending on the surface you’re
driving on and how sharp you steer; the wheel will push back with varying
strength. A great display of the force feedback possibilities is rally racing.
The wheel will rumble across the gravel, go loose when hitting jumps, and fight
back hard when power-sliding around corners. These effects do an amazing job at
pulling you into the GT ride.
The Driving Force Pro
isn’t just built for the GT series; it works on many other excellent racing
games available. I performed test drives in both Need for Speed Underground 2
and Burnout 3 and was thoroughly pleased. The wheel provided the full 900
degrees of control in NFS and was very efficient. In Burnout 3 the wheel
deployed locks at 90 degrees either way, so I wasn’t allowed the full range of
the wheel. Burnout 3 was extremely fun with the Driving Force Pro, thanks to
both the incredibly detailed force feedback and the act of physically yanking
the wheel to ram an opponent.
The Driving Force Pro
currently retails for around $149, but it is well worth the price tag. Whether
you like to fully experience your racing games, or you’re a Gran Turismo purist,
this wheel is a must buy. For anyone else it would still be a shame to miss out
on playing your racing games with the Driving Force Pro.
Pros:
– Best force
feedback yet on a console wheel
– Sleek look and excellent feel
– Precise control
Cons:
– Limited gear
shift
– The pedals still don’t feel
quite right
Verdict: 9.6
Game peripherals
are quickly closing the gap between the living rooms and arcades, and Logitech’s
Driving Force Pro is leading the way for the racing genre. Though it’s not quite
perfect, it’s the closest so far with precise control and realistic force
feedback. There are very few flaws in the Driving Force Pro, and if you want to
fully experience your racing games it’s a must.
