Title: Tacticalboard
Developer: Thrustmaster

Here I am, still searching for the perfect PC game controller and it looks like I am getting closer. The previous controller I was using was the Belkin Nostromo n50 Speedpad (you can find a review of it on this site) and I was quite pleased with. It provided just enough buttons and had the configurability that I was looking for.

I recently had an opportunity to head out to E3 this year and came across the controller that I am reviewing here now. The Thrustmaster Tacticalboard has features I knew I needed, but wasn't getting until now. The controller has several more configurable keys that are quite reachable. The extra buttons are definitly a plus for games that need them like Jedi Knight II and even Soldier of Fortune II.

Other sweet features include the adjustability of the device. The wrist rest, the thumb key selects, and the function buttons can all be adjusted to fit your hand better. There is no reason to be blindly reaching for those buttons during battle.

The Tacticalboard will even remember your last settings. You can set it up to load a specific setting when your pc starts up. The Belkin forced you to load your settings before loading the game. It's nice not to have to think about it anymore.

So, what's missing from this unit? Not much. The adjustability of the keys could have been taken a bit further. Since you can already move things around to fit your hands, why not take the extra step and make them adjust for the insane (like me :P). The price could have also been slightly more reasonable. The $60 US price tag makes it the same as a game, but the Belkin product was on $40 US making it quite a competition. Just cutting 10 dollars out of the tag would have made me smile bigger.

I would absolutely recommend this product over anything I have tried up until now. I see nothing in the horizon ready taking the place of this controller, so I think it would be money well spent for the PC game enthusiast.