Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R Mobile Gamepad Review: a must have for serious Android gamers

With smartphones getting almost as powerful as notebooks, gaming has emerged as a serious affair for smartphone owners. So much so, that today the gaming accessories market is flourishing with indigenous and international brands pitching in to meet the demands. Mad Catz is one such recent entrant to the Indian market and we have the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R mobile gamepad with us for review. While the device doesn’t look too different from some others as far as the look-and-feel goes, its functionality is what sets it apart from the competition. So let’s take a closer look at the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R Mobile Gamepad for Android.

Simple and Sturdy

The Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R mobile gamepad looks no different from the standard Xbox 360 controller, and while the dimensions could be off slightly, it follows the same key layout, stick placement and even the button layout.

However, even with a similar design the controller carries a simple yet neat look with a glossy black finish on the top, while the bottom half of the controller features a matte rubberised finish that promotes better grip. Provided along with the controller is an adjustable holder that can accommodate 3.5-inch to 6-inch smartphones easily and it cleverly bolts on to the top of the controller with the help of a provided screw.

The grip of the controller is quite firm and comfortable which is ensured with the controller’s dual-wing design. Users can simply grab on to them and play for as long as they want without stress or discomfort.

The controller is powered using two AAA batteries, which sit inside the battery compartment located at the bottom. Even with two batteries installed, the overall weight of the controller isn’t too heavy, which translates into better handling.

Controls and Functions

The key and stick layout includes the joystick on the left followed by the D-pad, while the action keys have been placed on the right followed closely by the direction stick. Up top lie the bumper keys and both sides feature trigger keys as well, which can be use either to accelerate the car in Asphalt or blow a zombie’s brains out in Dead Trigger.

In the centre towards the top, the controller features a row of multimedia keys, which come in very handy while playing multimedia content followed by the power key, which is transparent and has an LED underneath it that indicates the connection, pairing, and power status of the controller.

One clever innovation adopted by the brand is the multi-utility mode for the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R mobile gamepad. This is governed by a three-way key which sits at the centre of the controller towards the bottom. Pushing the key to the left enables the controller for Android smartphones and devices. Keeping the key in the middle enables the mouse or the pointer mode, wherein the controller can be used as a pointing device with a PC. Moved all the way to the right, the key enables the PC gamepad mode, which can be used to play games on PCs.

Easy to Use

The pairing process for Android is very simple and easy to use. All you need to do is keep the power key pressed for 5 seconds, which puts the controller in pairing mode. Post that the controller can be searched and paired on PC’s and Android devices.

For most games, the controller supports automatic configuration and default action keys, however if the game requires special input then each key and action can be customised either manually or based on custom maps provided by the game. We tried the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R mobile gamepad with a number of games covering FPS and action genres and we faced no problems at all. However, the PC gaming expereince is not that good, as the actions seem to be a bit laggy. However, as its primary function of a mobile gamepad, the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R is superb.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the battery life the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R mobile gamepad is close to about 10 days of heavy gaming. For average gamers, the batteries would easily last for 2-3 weeks, which is not at all bad for a Bluetooth gamepad. In addition, the controller also supports rechargeable batteries so if you are planning to save some money there then you can do that as well.

A worthy buy?

The Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R mobile gamepad can be purchased online and is available with a number of online stores carrying a price tag ranging between Rs 3,500 to Rs 3,999. So the only question that arises out of all this is that “Does the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R mobile gamepad justify its price point?”

Well, to be honest the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R mobile gamepad is an inexpensive gaming accessory that is a must-have for all Android gaming fanatics out there. We loved the way the controller behaves to commands; the controls are accurate yet very easy to sue. In addition, the device has a number of functions to offer in addition to just being a Bluetooth game controller. Finally, the design is ergonomic and the battery life offered is good too.

Editors Rating: 8/10

Price: Rs 3,999

Pros

• Great looks
• Good Battery life
• Lightweight
• Multi-mode, works with PC too
• Zero-lag in game play

Cons

• PC mode not as fast as the Smartphone mode
• No vibration feedback