I am not a huge fan of third-party controllers. If I need another controller I usually just pay the extra money and purchase the first party one, because it is very rare to find a decent third party controller. Fountech has not only created a good third party controller, but they have also made it wireless as well. Read on to find out the marvels of this new controller.

The thing that identifies most third party controllers is the way they are built in-comparison to the Dual Shock 2 (and I am talking about the durability not the design). The Dual Shock 2 is one of the best controllers on any system, it is really sturdy and the buttons feel just right, they are not too stiff or loose. Most third party controllers are always extremely light, and the buttons and the analog sticks are always extremely loose feeling.

The Air Style W-Shock 2 is just like the Dual Shock 2 in many ways. The controller is really sturdy and is not extremely light, giving you the feeling that you cannot crush it in your hands. Really the controller looks and feels like it is the Dual Shock, except for two things. The first thing is the obvious fact that it is wireless and the second is the D-pad. The D-pad on this controller looks slightly different because the entire pad is raised up, unlike the Dual Shock where you can only see the four “triangles”. This is the first third party controller I have ever touched that made me think that the analog sticks were directly from Sony; they are precise and have that tighter feeling just like the DS2.

Since this is a wireless controller I had to put it through a few tests to make sure that any interfere caused by other obstacles would not cause a problem, such as wireless devices and other things. I put pillows in the way, human bodies, and other things and not once did I ever lose connection. The next test I put this controller through was the reaction time in games to make sure there was no lag. I tested games heavy on actions such as ZOE 2 and Dynasty Warriors 4, fighting games such as Tekken 4 and Guilty Gear XX, and this controller never failed at all. Every time I was in a tense situation, the controller made sure that any button that was pressed got on the screen at the correct time to save my life.

The controller receiver is really unique as well. The receiver has a blue led light that detects when the controller is plugged in. This was a really nice effect that was added to the controller and makes it more futuristic. The installation time was less than a minute, all you need to do is plug it in to your console, turn it on, and then press the power button on the controller and then you are done.

Pros:
The controller is almost as sturdy as the Dual Shock 2, and it is wireless! It also includes a nice rumble feedback as well. What is not to like about it?

Cons:
The L1/2 and R1/2 buttons feel cheaper than the other buttons on the controller.

Verdict: 9.5
The Air Style W-Shock 2 works with every single PS/PS2 game. This is a great controller. Fountech has created a great product and it really shows. If you are in the need for a new controller, pick this one up because you will not be disappointed.