Mad Catz has done some interesting things in the world of console controllers, but the just-released $99.99 MLG controller may be the apex of what can be done with third-party peripherals even if the company quietly claims that this controller does many things better than the first party options. By giving the player the ability to mod the controller at will, people who have always wanted to game in specific ways will finally have those wishes granted.

I was able to take a look at the 360 version of the controller, and was shown how you can switch the position of each of the analog or digital pads. The controller will recognize what's plugged in where, and then adjusts the functions accordingly. If you prefer a convex analog stick to a concave one, just swap it out. If you want the analog stick to switch places with the digital pad, you can do that as well. I noticed that the controller felt heavy in my hand, only to discover that heft is caused by weights that clip neatly to the back of the controller, and can be removed if you want something lighter.

Each controller also comes with a carrying case lined in foam to keep the hardware and all the bits and pieces safe and in one place. The controller's wire—and yes, both the 360 and PS3 versions are wired to comply with Microsoft's licensing and Major League Gaming's rules—can be removed for easy packing.

Mad Catz calls this the last controller you'll ever need, and I was impressed with the feel of the controller, buttons, and the amount of options given to players. You can even swap out the face plates to make the controller glossy or matte. This is your chance to have a PS3-style 360 controller, or vice versa. You can even hit two buttons on the PS3 version of the controller to swap the functions of the trigger buttons without changing anything in the options of the game.

It may be a little more expensive than a standard controller, but the features justify the price, and the 360 version of the controller will even work on the PC. Better than first party? Those are bold words, but this may be the rare third-party controller that comes close.