Mad Catz' solidly built and comfortable Xbox 360 MC2 Racing Wheel does what it is supposed to do. Unfortunately the pedal array has its share of minor problems that prevent this from being anything more than a strictly competent wheel controller.

Being the first full-scale Xbox 360 wheel controller on the market can be both a blessing and a curse. The positive side is that, having no competition, a manufacturer gets to set the precedent for quality. The negative is that, since there are no other options for consumers, your product had better be decent. Luckily MadCatz manages to avoid disappointing, although also manages to avoid completely satisfying, with their new MC2 Racing Wheel for the Xbox 360.



Appearance

With its white and gray plastic body and light green shift paddles, the MC2 matches the Xbox 360 console to a tee. Gray rubber grip pads surround the wheel itself, while a matching gray d-pad sits dead center, where a horn might go on a real steering wheel. The Live, Start, and Back buttons are easily accessible on the central arm directly below the D-Pad. The X, Y, and Right Trigger buttons sit on the right central arm of the wheel, while the A,B, and Left Trigger buttons sit on the left central arm. All of these buttons are surrounded in a faux-carbon fiber plastic that adds a little bit of racy-ness to the unit. The carbon fiber detail is mirrored on the top of the shifter knob to the right of the wheel. Unfortunately the calibration LED from the previous iteration of the MC2 style wheel has been replaced by a cheap-looking decal of an instrument panel. Still the overall look of the unit is a nice match to the 360 console itself.