Mad Catz Universal MC2 review

In all but the most sensitive of modes, the Universal MC2 has vast regions of dead range. Even with the sensitivity cranked up, the wheel doesn't feel very tight or responsive. At the slightest turns or course corrections, we were left to second-guess ourselves, forcing us to countersteer on numerous occasions. Simply put, we never felt comfortable driving with the wheel.

We weren't expecting very much in terms of feedback vibration from the Universal MC2 racing wheel, as it has no external power source. Powered only by the wire connecting it to the console, the provided electrical current doesn't have enough juice to give the jarring shakes we expect from a properly equipped force-feedback wheel. The sensation is more akin to a Dual Shock controller on its last legs--enough to let you know that something happened, but not enough to really make a difference.

Because of the lack of a motorized force-feedback mechanism or a recentering mechanism, letting the wheel slip through your fingers to recenter will result in a springy back-and-forth motion. In turn, the onscreen car veers from left to right, matching the wheel reverberations until it finally comes to a complete stop.

The pedals looked to be more promising, as the unit actually features a lighted display that shows you how far the pedal has been depressed. We were delighted when the correct number of lights lit up upon pressing the pedal halfway down. Unfortunately, the smiles were wiped from our faces when we realized that in most games, the pedal needs to be only a quarter of the way down in order to redline. The tachometers on the wheel and the screen never matched up at all. Even though we had a great range of pedal motion left, we had to lightly tap on the pedals in order to stop from peeling out at every corner.

In the end, regardless of the comfort, stability, and wide console compatibility of the Universal MC2 racing wheel, we at times wished for any other kind of input device, even a keyboard, to drive with. Driving wheels are supposed to be responsive, and above all, predictable; we found these elements to be decidedly lacking in the Mad Catz Universal MC2 racing wheel.