By screws! TOP 5 joysticks

Speed-Link Dark Tornado

Dark Tornado from Speed-Link, first of all, is notable for the price — it is the lowest not only in our review, but also among manipulators of this class. Therefore, it is suitable, first of all, for those who purchase their first joystick and are not familiar with this type of control in games. If you like it, you can eventually switch to more advanced models (we'll talk about them later). No — it doesn't matter either, it's not a pity to give a cheap device and you can sell it with a minimum discount.

The low-cost of Dark Tornado is manifested in a relatively small set of buttons (there are not a few of them — eight, but less than the others). An option for a novice pilot: four of them are located on the body-stand, four more — on the handle itself. Also on the case, separately from the other buttons, there is a lever with which it is convenient to adjust the level of traction.

The case of the device stands securely in place thanks to the rubberized legs and even with a sharp pressure, it does not fidget. The joystick handle stroke is moderately rigid. It is good to use it in civil flight simulators. A small number of buttons will not be a problem. But in War Thunder, many players complain about the presence of "dead zones" in the centre and around the edges, as well as its excessive sensitivity for this game. However, these problems are partly solved by scrupulous tuning or using configurations of other players.

We recommend the Speed-Link device to those who are just getting acquainted with this type of gaming manipulators. Dark Tornado justifies its price and positioning and is very good as a gift for children. However, you should not expect something outstanding from him — not that category.

ThrustMaster T.Flight Stick X Price from 2 809 up to 3 407 ₴ →

This manipulator is also not expensive, although it cannot be attributed to low-cost solutions. Its price is about twice as high as the previous manipulator. At the same time, it has a number of features that justify the difference in cost. First of all, we note that T.Flight Stick X provides feedback. This is an imitation of the effects of virtual physical influences — shaking, steering and steering wheel resistance, recoil when firing, etc. And we are not talking about a simple vibration, which most models are equipped with, namely, a full-fledged system that significantly increases the realism of the game.

ThrustMaster is compatible with PC and Sony PS3. It has its own memory for settings and several initially preset modes for popular games — Flight Simulator X, Il-2 Stormtrooper: Winged Predators, Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X and others. In fact, this is very convenient — you can play without additional settings. Especially for those who are fond of aviation, and "communicates with computers on you". You can store your own options in the joystick even when it is disconnected from the computer. I wanted to play with a friend or in a computer club — I took a device with ready-made settings and went to visit. And on the spot you can connect it and immediately play.

In total, the ThrustMaster T.Flight Stick X has 12 buttons, most of which are located on the case. On the handle, the most popular ones are located, such as the fire button. By default, it has an average stiffness stroke, for most games this is the best option. At the same time, its course can be made softer or harder.

The quality of the joystick is confirmed by the feedback from gamers — for most popular games they are positive. In World of Warplanes and War Thunder, some players have encountered the difficulty of fine-tuning the manipulator. However, this happens for inexperienced pilots in different games and with different manipulators. In addition, these games are being actively updated by developers and, perhaps, the issue will be resolved by them. And as for the convenience of playing with ThrustMaster, then the opinions are unambiguous — the handle is comfortable in the hand, and the support of four axes eliminates "dead zones" and other troubles. So this device is suitable for fans of popular flight simulators and network games.

Defender Cobra M5

This joystick stands out among others, first of all, by its design. Unlike the rest, more modern, the Cobra M5 takes us back to the 60-80s of the last century. The square massive body, simple handle and old-fashioned look of the buttons evokes thoughts of slot machines like "Dogfight". The base is not made of plastic, but of metal, which is very rare now. Someone will not like the retro style, but it seems to us that this approach has the right to life. In addition, the planes in World of Warplanes or War Thunder copy the models of the mid-20th century, and Defender suits them more in spirit than futuristic manipulators like Mad Catz Cyborg.

All seven joystick buttons are on the handle. However the manufacturer claims 23 keys, but here he cheated. Due to the fact that the joystick has a three-position toggle switch for switching profiles and two levers, there will be less real buttons. But the design of some of them is very original. The ClusterFire branded keys (N1 and N2) are positioned so that the first lever can be brought to the second . What for? For example, on World War II aircraft, the N1 is assigned a sighting weapon (machine guns), and the N2 is assigned the main one (guns). Thus, immediately after the shooting, you can hit the main guns without removing your finger from the trigger. And if N1 is not needed in the game, you can use only N2 to fire.

As for the control, it is high-quality in all four supported axes. The only controversial point is that when the handle is tilted to the stop simultaneously in two directions, it rotates around its axis. This will not really interfere with games, but it is simply not realistic — the control handle of airplanes has a mechanical lock and does not scroll. Traction control is not very well implemented either. For some reason, it is opposite to the direction in real airplanes and other joysticks, and the wheel itself has no explanatory designations.

Defender's handle stroke is relatively soft. In dynamic battles, this is not the best option — excessive sensitivity prevents you from aiming. So the device for a comfortable game needs to be well calibrated, with not only its own and gaming tools, but also Windows tools. In non-combat simulators, the problem of the soft stroke of the handle disappears. Given the width of its stroke, the design of the firing buttons and the design of the device, we will determine the best games for Defender Cobra M5 semi-arcade simulators about World War II, such as "Il-2 Attack Aircraft: Winged Predators" and World of Warplanes.

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Price from 1 925 up to 3 397 ₴ →

And this is one of the old-timers of the workshop of gaming manipulators. Logitech released it almost ten years ago and it is still in considerable demand. What is the secret of the success of Extreme 3D Pro? Firstly, it has a very ergonomic handle. The brush can hold it for a long time and not get tired at the same time. The handle is mounted on a massive stand, which does not move even with sudden movements to the sides.

Secondly, there are no problems with the controls either. The case has six large buttons and a convenient traction control. The remaining six slightly smaller buttons are located on the handle. According to the manufacturer, these buttons are programmable (using the Logitech Gaming Software programme, which is available for download on the company's website). Moreover, they can be assigned both simple commands and macros that replace pressing several keys in a certain sequence. For example, this way you can simplify the standard actions performed in the cockpit of a winged car like a number of commands for takeoff. The stroke of the handle can be described as elastic. For games, this is one of the best options. And where precision and filigree are needed, and where wide manoeuvres are needed, the course of this joystick allows you to achieve maximum accuracy and convenience. However, if you believe the reviews, after long use, the accuracy of the "zero" zone may slightly deteriorate, which, however, is explained by the wear of mechanical parts.

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro shows itself as a simple and reliable manipulator in almost all flight simulators and games like Battlefield. There are no special complaints (we will not take special cases into account) there are no fans to fly on it, but there are quite a lot of positive reviews. So if you are ready to spend money on buying a special gaming device for flights, this model will be a good choice.

Mad Catz Cyborg F.L.Y. 5

The most advanced and, as a result, the most expensive manipulator in our review. The updated version of the previously popular Cyborg 3D Digital Stick has a futuristic design, which is combined with its name. In spirit, this model corresponds to space arcades like the classic Freelancer or the upcoming Star Citizen. However, it is more important that the "Cyborg" can actually. Like the models with the usual design, it has 12 buttons. But in addition to the trigger and the four main keys on the handle, there is also a scroll wheel and a view switch. There are six more buttons on the base, two of them near the twin engine control lever. And in the centre is Shift, which doubles the number of commands assigned to the keys. All this allows you to conveniently control airplanes and spaceships in games.

The only drawback is the light body and the lack of suction cups. Because of this, during the fight, when the movements are sharp and strong, the manipulator begins to fidget. And this can distract directly from the game and lead to a crucial moment when you need to pay attention to the enemy, and not to the instability of the manipulator. So you need to get used to not making sudden jerks or somehow fixing the manipulator on the table.

The handle stroke is provided by a single central spring, which is why it is quite rigid. For its complete deviation along the roll, it is necessary to make efforts. Also, due to the high rigidity in the "zero" position, it is difficult to aim. Therefore, the manipulator is better suited for civilian flight simulators, where it is not necessary to aim a weapon at anyone. It will also come in handy in dynamic arcade battles. In them, not perfect aiming accuracy can be compensated by high fire density and good manoeuvrability. The last indicator of this joystick is at a height. But in games where filigree shooting is very important, and shifting the sight by a few millimetres can lead to a loss in an air battle, the device does not manifest itself in the best way. Although, the situation is partially corrected by flexible customizability. At the same time, this concerns not only software functions, but also physical characteristics. In Mad Catz Cyborg F.L.Y. you can, for example, set the longitudinal slope of the RUS and adjust it to the dimensions of the fingers, as well as set the length of the handle .