Video summary

Fear the Mad Catz - The Worst Video Game Controllers Ever

Main summary

Key takeaways

Gaming

Storyline / Premise

  • The video is framed as a “great hunt” across multiple console generations to find and test Mad Catz controllers and peripherals that the creator believes caused widespread frustration and ruined gaming experiences.
  • The narrator begins with a personal childhood story—being handed bad Mad Catz gear, especially around the Nintendo 64 era—then expands into a broader history:
    • how Mad Catz became widely available through mainstream retailers in the 1990s–2000s,
    • how the brand’s reputation formed around “cheap third-party” controllers,
    • and why players eventually distrusted the company.
  • The “plot” culminates in later years where repeated failures and risky business/investment decisions allegedly lead to bankruptcy, followed by a reported brand “resurrection” by CNET.

Gameplay / Product Test Highlights (What Was Demonstrated)

The creator repeatedly compares Mad Catz devices against first-party controllers (and sometimes other brands) using real games that stress:

  • controller accuracy,
  • pressure/analog behavior,
  • and peripheral integration.

Many Mad Catz items are shown to be:

  • broken or unreliable right out of the box (even when “sealed”),
  • incompatible with certain accessories (such as rumble),
  • poorly designed (ergonomics, button travel, responsiveness),
  • or not supported by games that normally work with comparable first-party/compatible hardware.

Key Controllers / Peripherals Reviewed (and What Went Wrong)

Early Mad Catz (SNES/Genesis Era)

  • Genesis controller (turbo/rapid-fire + auto/slow modes)
    • Surprisingly described as well-built and responsive relative to later reputation.
    • Includes:
      • turbo/rapid-fire switch,
      • auto mode (constant input),
      • a simulated slow-motion concept.
    • Treated as a “surprise” early example before the brand allegedly declined.

Nintendo 64 Era (Major Turning Point for Reputation)

  • Mad Catz N64 controller (import game testing)

    • Rumble pack incompatibility: allegedly doesn’t work with rumble, breaking a key gameplay tension mechanic.
    • Analog stick quality: compared to an original Nintendo controller, the stick is described as worse/less precise, especially noticeable in analog-dependent timing/maze gameplay.
    • Trigger/button feel issues
      • ZT trigger described as wobbly/spongy
      • shoulder buttons described as usable only near the center, not effectively near edges
      • A/B buttons unresponsive, to the point the creator can’t accelerate properly in Mario Kart 64
    • Extra modes (turbo/slowmo) are treated as irrelevant because the baseline inputs are unreliable.

  • Nintendo 64 racing wheel (steering wheel peripheral)

    • Described as failing about half the time:
      • random disconnects or warning behavior even when wired
      • turns that feel like digital snaps instead of smooth analog control
      • mentions of control lockups into fixed directions
    • Criticisms include:
      • flimsy stick shift/polishing/ports
      • vibration motor allegedly getting stuck

PlayStation Light Gun (Phaser)

  • Mad Catz Phaser arcade-style light gun
    • Compatibility issue: some games don’t work, especially Namco-branded light gun titles, because games must be specifically programmed for each gun type.
    • Better compatibility is claimed only for specific titles like Die Hard Trilogy 2: Viva Las Vegas (as the one the creator says supports the controller type).
    • Ergonomics criticized: the start button placement forces awkward finger use.

Rebranded / “Camouflage” Mad Catz

The creator argues Mad Catz didn’t only sell under their own name—they were frequently rebranded by other retailers/brands:

  • Example: “High Frequency” controllers (described as identical to earlier Mad Catz units) sold via Toys R Us.
  • Example: GameStop branding on a later wireless GameCube controller that the creator claims is still Mad Catz-made.

PlayStation 2 Era (Mass Market + Widespread Failures)

Context

  • PS2 launched with only one controller, increasing demand for third-party pads.
  • The creator alleges Mad Catz flooded the market with multiple PS2 models.

Test Game

  • Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
    • Emphasis on pressure-sensitive buttons needed for nuanced walking/aiming behavior.

Four PS2 Mad Catz Offerings Tested

All reportedly fail in different ways:

  • 200 Series pad
    • broken start button
  • Dual Force 2 Pro Microcon
    • left d-pad direction doesn’t work
  • Retrocon
    • thumb stick “jumps” automatically; core controls unusable
  • Full-size Dual Force 2 Pro
    • thumb sticks too sensitive, making precision actions extremely difficult

Additional note:

  • Mad Catz PS2 memory card reportedly doesn’t work at all (no registration).

Creator’s Takeaway

  • PS2-era Mad Catz controllers are presented as consistently unreliable compared to original hardware.

PS2 Multitap

  • The creator praises a Mad Catz 4-port multitap adapter as functionally working—arguing that not everything was broken.

Dance Peripherals (PS2)

  • Mad Catz beat pad vs. Konami official DDR pad
    • Mad Catz pad lacks:
      • a non-slip underside
      • claimed moisture resistance
    • Criticized for absorbing moisture while cleaning.
    • Responsiveness is described as worse, potentially harming performance and implying hygiene/technical degradation.
    • The creator emphasizes they paid more for the “inferior” pad, reinforcing the “overpay = ripped off” theme.

Universal Steering Wheel (Premium “New/Boxed” Claim)

  • The creator tests a sealed Mad Catz Universal MC2 steering wheel for Gran Turismo 4:
    • wheel/controls allegedly don’t respond correctly out of the box
    • requires manual calibration steps
    • the creator can’t get it to work properly
  • Historical reviews are cited as also complaining about similar steering problems.

Xbox 360 Era (and “Licensed” Claims)

  • Xbox 360 Microcon
    • left stick registers constant jitter/movement even without touching
  • Arcade Game Stick
    • spinner described as essentially a disguised d-pad, causing stuttery/unresponsive input
    • breakout is cited as unplayable due to controller behavior
  • The creator emphasizes both are “officially licensed,” arguing licensing didn’t guarantee quality.

Dreamcast Era (Multiple Controllers + Panther Trackball)

  • Mad Catz Dream Pad
    • expansion slot fit issues (VMU doesn’t fit properly; forcing contact described as risky)
    • d-pad/buttons criticized
    • A button fails to register consistently, framed as gamebreaking in fighting games
  • Panther (trackball + flight stick hybrid)
    • largely useless in most games because few support Panther’s full control scheme
    • trackball aiming described as imprecise and inconsistent (stuttering/incorrect directions)
    • even when games offer Panther options, accuracy is claimed to remain poor versus stock Dreamcast controller and/or keyboard-mouse

How Mad Catz “Got Away With It” (Author’s Explanation)

The creator alleges Mad Catz could avoid licensing friction by:

  • reverse engineering controller designs,
  • and avoiding first-party logos/branding on packaging.

Their business model is framed as quantity over quality, producing cheaper devices that later became difficult to preserve because they often failed or were discarded.

Business Arc / Ending (Why the Brand Died)

The video claims Mad Catz diversified into risky ventures, including:

  • Android micro console attempts (e.g., Mojo, the Ouya everywhere initiative)
  • overpriced mobile hardware (e.g., Lynx 9)
  • major peripheral investments tied to rhythm games

Rhythm-Game Strategy, According to the Creator

  • Allegedly backed out of early Guitar Hero deals due to a Konami lawsuit/patent issue (paid to back out).
  • Later heavily involved with Rock Band plastics.
  • Allegedly attempted a comeback with Rock Band 4 using adapters for old instruments, described as failing due to:
    • platform churn (PS3 → PS4; fewer Xbox One players)
    • obsolescence of older instruments
    • lack of existing user hardware compatibility

Reported Outcome

  • Mad Catz bankruptcy/liquidation after Rock Band 4.

“Afterlife” Plot Twist

  • In January 2018, CNET reports a holding company made up of former factory workers purchased Mad Catz assets and resurrected the brand for PC peripherals.
  • The creator insists the old company’s reputation is still deservedly remembered.

Key Strategies / Tips (Implicit in the Tests)

  • Avoid Mad Catz labeled items—especially older controllers and memory cards—due to frequent failures and incompatibilities.
  • For retro use:
    • prioritize controllers/peripherals from developers/brands that maintain compatibility with original accessories (like rumble),
    • avoid unverified third-party “replicas” that may map inputs incorrectly or register actions unreliably.
  • Be cautious with trackball/hybrid controllers:
    • they typically require specific game support
    • they may demand ongoing maintenance/cleaning

Gamers / Sources Featured

People Mentioned (By Name in Narration/Subtitles)

  • Shane (narrator)
  • Alex Ver (global PR and Communications manager for Mad Catz)
  • Mike Fahey (Kotaku)
  • Darren Richardson (Mad Catz president and CEO)
  • Brian (Kotaku contributor; appears as “Brian centi” in subtitles)
  • Phil Spencer (Xbox; quoted via IGN)
  • Mario Drey (quoted on a product box; appears as “Mario Drey” in subtitles)

Sources / Publications Cited

  • Kotaku
  • IGN
  • CNET
  • Gamespot (steering wheel review mentioned)
  • eBay (referenced for controller listings)

Games Used as Test Examples

  • Sonic 3
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 3
  • Mario Kart 64
  • Street Fighter III: Second Impact
  • Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
  • Point Blank
  • Die Hard Trilogy 2: Viva Las Vegas
  • DDR series / Konami DDR entries (including “Crazy/DDR”)
  • Gran Turismo 4
  • Quake 3
  • Unreal Tournament
  • Half-Life (mentioned as not released on Dreamcast)
  • Breakout (Atari’s Breakout)
  • Rock Band / Guitar Hero / Rock Band 4
  • MC Grooves Dance Dance Revolution tie-in (MC Grooves dance craze mentioned)

Summary

The video is a “controller horror” documentary-style hunt claiming Mad Catz became notorious for building unreliable, incompatible, and poorly designed controllers and peripherals across many consoles—especially Nintendo 64, PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, and Xbox 360. It frequently shows broken inputs, bad ergonomics, accessory incompatibilities (like rumble and memory cards), and electronics that behave unreliably even when supposedly new.

The video attributes the rise to third-party accessory demand (single-controller console launches) and a business model focused on cheap quantity. It then claims Mad Catz collapsed after risky investments and failed rhythm-game strategy. The “brand story” ends with a 2018 CNET report that Mad Catz assets were bought and the brand was revived for PC peripherals, though the creator argues the old company’s reputation remains justified.

Original video