Logitech Driving Force Pro

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 3^rd 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.