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Joysticks are not widely used in PC games, which is a real shame as there are several really good joysticks available. But unless you’re into flight simulations you’re probably not going to get the full benefit of a modern joystick. The Saitek Cyborg Evo is definitely a joystick for all the pilots out there as it offers an amazing set of features for a great price.

Being an owner of the original Saitek Cyborg 3D USB I was looking forward to the new Cyborg Evo and to be honest it is an improvement in almost every aspect. The Cyborg concept is based on customability and comfort rather than fancy features such as force feedback, but it works well and does what you need it to do.

The Cyborg Evo features no less than five thumb buttons, a rapid-fire trigger, four buttons at the base, two shift buttons and an 8-way point-of-view hat switch. On top of this you get a throttle lever and rudder control by twisting the handle of the joystick. This is two more buttons than the Cyborg 3D and I’m not exactly sure what you can use all of them for, but if you do, let me know. The Evo connects via USB to the PC rather than using the now defunct game port that most joysticks employed until recently.

But the unique feature of the Cyborg range has always been that they are adjustable. The Evo is somewhat less adjustable than its predecessor, but Saitek has improved the design and got rid of the allen key in favour of some chunky metal thumb screws. This is great and makes it a lot easier to adjust the joystick on the go. It also makes it easier to change the hand rest around and as with past Cyborg joysticks the Evo caters for left-handed users. The only downside is the rear mounted throttle control as I preferred the front mounted one on the Cyborg 3D.

Saitek has also added some novelty lights to the Evo with a small blue LED on the top and red LEDs behind the buttons on the base. This makes it easier to find in the dark, and it looks quite snazzy but doesn’t add any real functionality.

The Cyborg Evo is one of the most comfortable joysticks around and the main reason for this is that the adjustability makes it fit pretty much anyone’s hand size from small to large. This is also the biggest selling point of the Cyborg range over any other joystick on the market. The build quality is first rate and everything feels as solid as my old Cyborg USB which is a good sign as sometimes newer designs can be cut down versions. Not so with the Cyborg Evo as it boasts even more than its predecessor had on offer.

Using the Cyborg Evo in games is no different from any other joystick, but Saitek supplies a programming utility that allows you to program macros or combinations of key presses into any of the buttons on the joystick. This can be handy in games where you know you will press a certain set of keys in a row, using a macro means it can be done with a single press. This was something that the original Cyborg was lacking and many users found this a bit frustrating as it came with plenty of buttons but no programming options, so Saitek has obviously learnt a lesson here.

Playing a few flight games I found the Cyborg Evo to be very responsive, but the new rear mounted throttle control was a bit awkward to use at times. The other problem I encountered was that the zero position made the planes reverse, which isn’t ideal.
Apart from this I had few problems and everything worked as expected, but it is kind of hard to reach the two buttons on either side of the hat switch if you don’t have very long fingers.

One great feature is the twist function that gives you rudder control. This makes it a lot easier to fly your virtual aircraft by allowing you to make smooth turns and generally improve flight control.

Unfortunately flight games are not my favourite, so I don’t use a joystick too much. That said considering that the Evo only costs £25.55 it’s a great buy even for someone like me.

Verdict

The Cyborg Evo is ideal for anyone that wants a great flight stick with all the functionality you could possibly need at a great price.

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