Belkin Nostromo n45 Dual Analog USB GamePad Review
Date : Monday 10 March 2003
By : Stygian
Provided By : Belkin
Introduction
While no one can dispute the power of the keyboard and mouse combination when it comes to FPSs, sometimes, an alternative is needed for other types of games, especially sports games. Games such as Tony Hawk 3 will be nearly unplayable with just a keyboard and/or mouse, and games like NHL 2003 just won't be as enjoyable. Additionally, for those of you (like me) who enjoy playing old console games via emulators like ZSNES, a keyboard just won't cut it. The ideal control option for these games would be a gamepad. There are many gamepads out on the market for the PC now, from basic models to wireless ones with many features. But the main goals of a gamepad remain the same: It must be comfortable and easy to use. Today, we take a look at the Belkin n45 gamepad - a controller with dual analog sticks and a control layout similar to that of a playstation dual shock 2 controller.
Specifications
While the button layout of the n45 is similar to that of a PS2 controller, the look is almost completely unlike one. Let's face it: The n45 won't win any contests based purely on appearances. The huge silver-coloured bar extending from one handle to the other is the most obvious feature, and one wonders what it could be for; Belkin claims this bar stabilizes the gamepad, but does it really? In any event, we all know that looks can be deceiving; you're not likely to be spending your time looking at this gamepad while you're using it.
The n45 gamepad came packaged in a plastic box-type enclosure - the kind most of you probably detest. It's usually hard to get into these things without having to break out a pair of scissors or a knife. You then have to literally destroy the packaging to get at the product. I realize these things are nice for displaying a product in the store while it's on the shelf, but I would've liked it to be just in a regular cardboard box, one that doesn't require much work to get into. But enough of my gripes about the packaging.
 Plastic packaging... ugh! |
 Manual and driver CD. |
 The n45 gamepad. |
Also included is a short manual/installation guide that most of us won't need. Contained within, is the driver and software CD, which also contains the programming software for the n45 gamepad. The installation guide provides basic instructions on installing the drivers and software, and also explains all of the features of the gamepad. In the third picture above you'll notice the "Stabilizer" bar which runs between the large grips. The bar is made of a very light plastic, and I seriously doubt that it helps to "stabilize" the n45 during gameplay. Perhaps it helps to keep the two grips in place, but other than that, I think it's there merely for aesthetic reasons.
 Top view. |
 Underside view. |
 Side view. |
On the face of the gamepad you can see four buttons, the d-pad, the two analog sticks and three other buttons grouped in a row, while on the top are the four triggers. The side view of the gamepad really shows how big the grips are. In practice it was not uncomfortable to hold on to them, but I will admit that it took some time to get used to them. One thing to note is that while many controllers are including a rumble/vibration function, the n45 does not have such ability. This can be looked at from two different viewpoints: Firstly, it allows Belkin to keep the price down, but secondly, it leaves out a feature that many may like. Personally, I don't mind the absence of a vibration function, but others may differ in their opinion. It's just something to keep in mind.
 Another view. |
 Yet another view. |
The mini-sticks have a nice rubberized-texture on top of them providing for a nice grip. All of the buttons and the D-pad provide a nice tactile feedback, to let you know when they've been engaged. The triggers felt a bit "loose" in that they had a lot of play in them, but they still provided feedback when depressed. I would have liked the amount of play in them to be reduced, but I think this is more of a personal preference and by no means did the current setup of the triggers impede their functionality.
Installation
Installation is fairly easy, and the manual clearly explains the procedure. With the n45 being a USB device, you won't have to shutdown your computer to plug the controller in but you'll have to reboot after installing the drivers. The driver/software version that was included on the CD was v2.00, and while it installed without any problems in Windows 2000, the gamepad had functional problems working under these drivers. In some games, the gamepad's buttons wouldn't be detected at all, and I could only use the gamepad unless keystrokes were programmed into the gamepad using the profile editing software. In other games, the use of the n45 would cause a lockup. However, with a download of the latest n45 software and drivers, v2.60 as of the time of this writing, all problems for me were solved. The software is made up of two parts; the profile editor, which allows you to assign different functions to each button for a specific game, and loadout manager, which tells the gamepad which profile to use.
 Control panel view. |
 Profile Editor software. |
 Loadout manager. |
 Options. |
The profile editor software is fairly easy to use. When a button is pressed or a stick is moved on the n45, the corresponding control lights up in the software, telling you which button it is you want to program. For buttons, you can program in single keystrokes, macros, mouse buttons, or even movement along an axis, including a scrolling of the mouse wheel! The plethora of options available may overwhelm you initially, but you'll soon get the hang of it. You can even re-map buttons, for example, a button might be "Button 01" by default Direct Input, but you can change it to "Button 06".
The analog sticks are by default configured as joystick axes, but these can be reconfigured as mouse axes. This allows the mini-sticks to control the movement of the mouse cursor! This is a feature I've never seen in a gamepad, and may help you get that "console" feeling if you're playing a game that requires the mouse. Up to three different shift keys can be defined, so each non-shift button can have up to four functions. This is, of course, overkill, as you'll likely not be able to use every single button depending on which buttons are the shift keys. By default, the middle button labeled "mouse" above the mini-sticks, when depressed as the "green" shift key, allows you to use the left analog stick to control the mouse cursor. All of this, of course, can be reconfigured to your liking.
The loadout manager software sits in your tray, by default, and can work in one of two modes: Automatic or Manual. In Automatic mode, you pick a gamepad profile (either one you've made through the profile editor or one that's included) and an associated game executable program. When loadout manager detects that this executable is being run, it'll automatically load the associated profile. In Manual mode, you select a profile, and that profile is in effect constantly, until you choose to load another or clear the loadout. Another interesting feature of loadout manager is that the last used profile remains in effect even after you exit out of loadout manager. This means you can close the tray app, and still have a profile in effect. This is useful if you really play only one game. The "Clear Loadout" option simply removes any profile that is in effect, resetting the all of the n45's functions to their defaults. Lastly, another interesting point was the "Swap D-pad and Stick" option was included in the software rather than on the gamepad. This feature allows you to switch between the D-pad and the left mini-stick as your main choice of directional control, and on some other gamepads I've seen the option controlled by a button on the gamepad itself. Having the option on the gamepad itself would allow you switch in the middle of a game, and could be a better alternative to Belkin's implementation, but for me, it wasn't a big deal.
Testing
I've wanted a decent gamepad ever since getting into emulator like ZSNES. For me, while playing SNES ROMs, I have to use the D-pad and this means I can't settle for a gamepad whose D-pad was an afterthought. Many gamepads I've used have had horrible D-pads; You simply could not push in one direction accurately. For example, when you tried to just push left, you would end up instead moving on one of the diagonals that was adjacent to the left direction. Many of these gamepads had the analog mini-sticks so I assumed the manufacturer just thought you'd be using the mini-sticks all the time, but for me, there are times when a D-pad is in order. Having said that, I'm happy to report that the n45's D-pad suffered no such troubles. While it could have been a bit better in terms of accurately pushing in one direction, it was nowhere near as bad as other gamepads I've used. Additionally, having only four buttons above the right-hand grip tends to simplify things as then you don't have too many buttons lumped in one spot. So, for you SNES ROM fans I'm happy to report my experience with the n45 was great!
The next game I got into with the n45 was Battlefield 1942. I mainly wanted to use this gamepad to fly the planes, so I configured the mini-sticks to act as a throttle and joystick and then I set up one pair of triggers to be the rudders. At first, flying was tricky, but I got the hang of it slowly after a few hours of playing. Yes, it is true that the n45 could not beat a joystick solution even in a game like BF1942, but the n45 was far ahead of the keyboard and mouse for flying. If you don't have a joystick, the n45 is probably a pretty good option for BF1942 and other non-hardcore flight sims. Configuring one of the mini-sticks to act as mouse axes provided limited functionality when in FPS in BF1942, and I'd readily recommend the mouse and keyboard over the n45 in any FPS situation.
Onto NHL 2003... being a sports game, the n45 is at home here. The mini-sticks worked especially well, though you could use the D-pad as well if that's your thing. One friend has told me that after he started using mini-sticks for control in sports games, he'd never go back. I'll have to concur with him on this one! Control in NHL 2003 was easy with the n45 and the number of buttons on the gamepad made sure you'd never have too many functions for the gamepad to handle. I liked having only four buttons on the face of the gamepad, and then four triggers; I feel this layout makes it easier to press each button more accurately.
Conclusion
I'll admit I had doubts about this controller, as it certainly (IMO) doesn't look like a high quality unit; the "Stabilizer Bar" especially makes it look weird. However, after testing I've found that this is the best gamepad I've used to date. A D-pad that actually works and a layout that is similar to the PS2 controllers makes it very attractive. The rubberized mini-sticks feel nice under your thumbs and none of the buttons are mushy. Adding to that, a great software suite that allows for many functions, including mouse control to be programmed into the n45 make this gamepad something worthwhile to look at. Lastly, its price is not hard to stomach at all!
Pros
Cons
Lastly, I want to thank Belkin for sending this review unit over to me in a timely manner. This review would not have been possible without them, so be sure to check them out especially if you're interested in the n45 gamepad.