Microsoft Wireless Speed Wheel Review

I really do enjoy playing racing games with an actual wheel rather than a controller. Don’t get me wrong, games such as GT5 and Forza 4 are perfectly playable with a conventional pad, but nothing beats the immersion of sitting there shifting through the gears and mashing the pedal into the ground.

[boxout] But, and this is a fairly big but (ooh err!) as a father of two I have found my once cherished gaming space taken over by stuffed toys, Matchbox cars and Thomas the Tank Engine. There is just no storage room, and my lovely PS3 wheel is currently sitting out in the garage.

This is why the Wireless Speed Wheel caught my eye. Costing about £45, which is a bit more than I wanted to pay, the wheel promises the accuracy of a proper set up, with the convenience of being able to be slotted into a drawer at the end of a session. Bold claims indeed.

The first thing you notice after unboxing it is just how solid the wheel is. Sporting a ¾ design, it looks like a premium product and, crucially, it feels like premium product with a nice weight to it. The only other type of wireless wheel I have come across is the Wii Wheel, but the Speed Wheel is in a totally different league (albeit at a much higher price).

The prongs on the wheel house the face buttons and d-pad, with the Xbox Guide, Start and Back buttons in the centre. There are also triggers on the back for acceleration and braking. These triggers are fantastic, with a much longer throw than on a control pad, and offer greater precision. There is also rumble feedback.

To top it all off there is a light strip at the top of each prong which flashes when you change gear, brake heavily or get involved in a little accident. A nice feature, but I wish the colour wasn’t luminous green; it’s like being back in a 90s rave.

[drop2] This would all be useless if the Speed Wheel didn’t work properly, but thankfully it’s a brilliant bit of kit. After spending a few minutes on Forza 4 getting myself used to the steering, I set up the Top Gear Test Track and immediately knocked two seconds on my previous best time. Turning seems to be lag free, and I noticed myself getting more and more ‘perfect turn’ awards whilst correcting the tail of the car when it stepped out.

As mentioned above, the triggers allow for much greater control over acceleration and braking, meaning you can dive into a corner slightly later, gaining a time advantage.

An interesting little sentence also crops up in the instructions, mentioning the fact that the wheel recognises pitch, yaw and roll, and will work with games supporting these motions (thanks, Push-Start).

However, there are a couple of downsides. The L and R shoulder buttons have been left off, making up and down gear changes impossible. It is also pretty difficult to hold for long periods of time due to the weight, although it is possible to find a comfortable position balancing your arms on your knees.

Overall I am more than happy with my purchase. Whilst it can’t match a full set up with pedals and gears, the actual control is spot on and when I’m done it fits in my drawer, out of sight and away from curious toddlers.