Saitek ST90 Score: 90% Developer: Saitek

Function: I haven't always been into flight sims or combat sims, but after reviewing the Saitek ST90, I attribute this mostly to the fact that I have never really tried them with a joystick. In the past, I have played games like Star Wars Rebel Assault I and II and the Wing Commander series with the keyboard and mouse, but after the experience I had with the ST90, I don't think I will ever be able to go back to the old way. The ST90 is a good joystick to use with any flight or combat sim and is great for any beginner who hopes to delve into the genre more (but doesn't have the big bucks or skill to buy the larger controllers).

Performance: All in all, I'd say that the Saitek ST90 is a good, solid joystick. It wasn't hard to get used to the buttons or control setup of the joystick and the placement of the buttons felt really natural. I thought the ability to unlock and fold the tripod legs up for storage was a nice feature that made this product more than just another joystick. The ST90's digital throttle was another good and very noticeable feature. The plus and minus throttle buttons are arranged just above the thumb and are good for when you need to speed up in a hurry. The throttle has 5 positions and clicking the plus button raises the throttle to the next position (indicated by 4 green LED's above the throttle), or you can hold it down to increase the throttle at a slower (though constant) rate. I picked up a few sims when Psibabe handed me the ST90 to review. I figured I had better try this joystick out on some of the more modern games out there. I found its response was good for games like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002, Jet Fighter III and IV and even made a game like Hot Wheels Jets (one that I found to be a bear to control with the keyboard) easier to tolerate.

Features: Fast-Action Trigger 2 Fire Buttons Digital Throttle Ideal for left- and right-handed gamers Retractable Tripod Legs for maximum stability and easy storage

Drawbacks & Problems:: There isn't much to say in the way of drawbacks with the Saitek ST90. The only thing I can really think of is that the performance of the joystick would be better if the throttle was analog and allowed you a little more control over your speed. The ST90 is a good controller for any flight (or combat) sim beginner, but if you are a veteran of the genre, you might want to look for something a little more comprehensive. Basically, this isn't the controller you want if you are one of those people who are planning on getting their FAA license by mastering MS Flight Sim, but it is fine for the general gamer.

-J.R. Nip, GameVortex Communications AKA Chris Meyer

Minimum System Requirements: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP; 166 MHz processor with 32 MB RAM and SUB Ports   Test System: Windows 98; 1.2 MHz Celeron Processor; 256 MB RAM; DirectX 8.1; 3dfx Vodoo 3; 24X CD-ROM. Toshiba Satellite series laptop; Windows XP Home Ed.; 512 MB RAM; 24X DVD/CD ROM.