The Basics
The X-65F is a fully-featured “flight control system”, meaning the pack includes a joystick, throttle control and auxiliary instrument panel. Designed to work with every flight sim (or other game) ever made and covered in what seems like thousands of buttons, they are heavy, expensive and definitely only for the hardcore flight sim enthusiast. The main draw, though, is the fact the joystick is “touch sensitive”, in that it doesn’t actually move, and instead registers the direction and amount of force applied then translates that into in-game action.
Using It
For such a complex piece of kit, using the X-65F is actually quite easy. All you do is install some custom software and drivers from an included CD, plug it into a single USB port (the three components thankfully “combine” their leads) and it’s ready to use.
The software lets you customise the button layouts for particular games, meaning you can create a setup for X-Wing, save it to a profile, then change everything for an IL-2 game.
What We Liked
Almost everything. Both controllers are solid, sturdy and very comfortable to use, and the buttons – the main trigger especially – are nice and responsive. I’ve never flown an F-22, but if I had, I bet this is exactly what the stick feels like. The custom profile software makes switching between different flight sims (and keeping separate, complex control schemes) a breeze. Improving on Crecente’s complaints from last month, it also ships with strong velcro strips that stick the controllers to your desk. Most important, though, and also most impressive, is how the touch-sensitive controls work. While strange at first, they soon become second-nature, and allow for a much finer and precise means of control than a “regular” joystick.
What We Didn’t Like
Regardless of how nice and impressive the X-65F is, $US400 is a ridiculous price for a peripheral.
The Bottom Line
The X-65F is, quiet simply, the best video game peripheral I’ve ever had the pleasure of using, especially in terms of build quality. It’s just a shame, then, that at $US400 (and pitched at such a niche genre) it’s a pleasure few others will ever get to share.
The Saitek X-65F Flight Control System is designed for the PC. Available now for $US400. A unit was sent to us by the manufacturer for reviewing purposes. Tested the stick on numerous flight (and space combat) sims.
Aliasalpha
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 10:18 AMIs it wrong to be slightly turned on looking at those pictures?
tsengan
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 8:38 PMNot the only one. I think my wife was disgusted by the way I was stroking the screen.
Mark
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 9:26 PM… are you sure it was only the screen that you were stroking?….
AussieSniper
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 11:59 AMThrustmaster WARTHOG HOTAS would like a word with you Luke. I paid over $600 for my WARTHOG, including shipping.
I reckon it is the best flight control system released for consumers so far.
rick
Monday, April 18, 2011 at 5:52 AMthis is better than the warthog because the stick is springless. it is a solid shaft that senses the forces you apply. this will give you greater precision than the warthog and a better simulation experience.
Mark Pankanin
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 12:38 PMYou could be looking at another $400+ on top of that to also get rudder pedals and a TrackIR.
James Mac
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 12:56 PMI can’t see the rudder pedals in these pictures.
Guess it isn’t a complete system then.
I’d still love one for playing MechWarrior though.
Captain Fram
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 1:06 PMReading this just makes me want to do something highly irresponsible involing eBay and Steel Battalion…