Pro Arcade Stick - PlayStation 2

Apart from the obvious replacement of the standard control sticks with a hefty big joystick, the Pro-Stick is filled with other features such as an autofire mode, programmable buttons (so you can create complex combos and replay them at the press of a single button), a built-in DualShock-style rumble pack and some comfy, rubberised palm rests. Apart from looking a tad ugly the only real fault you could level at the stick is that the layout of the buttons can be a bit awkward for certain games. It's great for Capcom-style beat-'em-ups but because the four main action buttons are laid out in two horizontal lines instead of the usual diamond configuration, reaching for the right button in a hurry can be difficult. That shouldn't be nearly enough to put you off getting this though. --David Jenkins