Intec Universal Racing Wheel

As the PlayStation 2, the GameCube, and the original Xbox ride off into the sunset, we can be assured that the consoles have a sweet ride--all three were home to some excellent driving titles. From multiconsole classics such as Burnout and Need for Speed to exclusives hits the likes of Mario Kart: Double Dash, Forza Motorsport, and Gran Turismo, it's tough to pick among the systems when it comes to racers. Thanks to the Intec Racing Wheel, those looking for a more immersive racing experience needn't settle on any one system. The multiconsole driving wheel works for all three and lists for just $50.

The Universal Racing Wheel consists of a steering-wheel-and-pedal set--there is no stick shift such as the one found on the Mad Catz Universal Wheel, but there are paddles behind the wheel that serve as a decent alternative. The buttons, paddles, and pedals have a metallic sheen to them, giving the wheel a design that's much better than Mad Catz's toy-like wheels but still not quite at the level of Logitech's arcade-perfect designs. The button layout is pretty good--just about every console's respective control buttons are represented on the wheel at least once, with each system's right analog stick--the C-stick on the GameCube--being the only omission. The one major qualm we have with the layout is the clutter caused by labeling each button three separate ways. If each console had its own set of button names, it wouldn't be a major problem. Unfortunately, the three consoles share multiple buttons, so it's difficult to tell whether the X button you're looking at refers to the PS2, Xbox, or GameCube's X button. We have to give kudos to Intec for using a headphone-style input to connect the foot pedals to the steering wheel--it's much easier to attach and remove than the PC-style connectors employed by other wheels.

There are dozens of racing games spread across the three consoles, and not all of them conform to the same control layout. Even worse, some racing titles don't allow you to alter the control setup to work correctly with the Universal Racing Wheel's layout. Thankfully, the Universal Racing Wheel allows you to remap buttons to the paddles and foot pedals so that just about every racing title for each of the three consoles can be experienced as authentically as possible. Another feature to allow a greater range of use is the wheel-sensitivity toggle, which allows you to make a loose- or tight-steering game a little more manageable.

We tested the Universal Racing Wheel with a variety of titles across all three platforms and came away generally pleased with the results. On the Xbox, we first tried Project Gotham Racing 2 and found that the wheel worked well for minor turns, but wasn't quite up to par for wider ones. Forza Motorsport had probably the best compatibility with the wheel out of any title, as both steering and gas were simple to master. Moving on to the PS2, the Gran Turismo 3's cars slipped and slid across the track, even when we turned the wheel's sensitivity all the way down. Finally, we gave the quirky GameCube racing lineup a shot with Mario Kart: Double Dash. While the extraneous actions such as switching drivers and using weapons entailed a quick control acclimation, the superb steering made it worth learning the curve.

In the final analysis, the Intec Universal Racing Wheel is a decent option if you wish for a more arcade-like experience with your Xbox, PS2, and GameCube racing games. If you're looking to improve your performance in said games, you should probably stick with your system's standard controller or invest in an expensive system-specific wheel such as the Logitech Driving Force Pro.