Installation and Software

With USB connectivity, installation of the Wingman Strike Force 3D was completely painless.  The Logitech software included with the stick is extremely easy to use, and allows gamers to create or download profiles for different titles.  The current version we tested that shipped with the stick contained a profile for just about every game released in recent history, making life simple for the plug and play crowd.  I prefer to create my own profiles, call me obsessive or deranged, it’s just me.  Thankfully, gone are the days of DOS programming and arcane button mapping, Logitech’s drivers are fairly intuitive, and don’t require a degree in computer programming to understand.  Button mapping is a matter of selecting the button or axis on the stick, and pressing the keys to assign.  If you prefer, buttons can still be mapped in game, using the controls option menu of the title.  Either way, it works, and we had zero problems with the stick during installation.

The Strike Force 3D uses Immersion Touch Sense Technology for the Force Feedback, and has sliders in the driver menu for adjusting the strength of the forces, as well as selecting the amount of centering force.  I like to use full-time centering force, as it aids in returning the stick to center, I use 35% for those that care to try it.  Logitech has also included the option of 150% for the force feedback effects, and being the gamer I am, I instantly went for the maximum power.  Note to self:  When they say 150%, they mean it.  The first game I played was Mechwarrior 4, and at 150%, I was fighting the stick every time an enemy shot me, the stick was that strong.  After a quick adjustment back to 100%, things returned to normal. 

Game Time

Of course, all the fancy buttons and flashy colors are wasted if the stick sucks when playing games, so we loaded up three titles, each from different genres, to put the Strike Force 3D to the test.  All of the games were tested with the force feedback on and off, to check performance in non-supported titles as well as force effect titles.

First up was Mechwarrior 4, which sees the most stick time here in our secret testing lab.  When people think joystick, flight sims are normally what come to mind, but Mechwarrior 4 was made for the Strike Force 3D.  The forces are very well done in the game, down to the rocking motion of the Mech walking, and even the direction of incoming fire.  While it does take some getting used to, since a barrage of rockets will knock your stick from side to side, the game feels very plain without it.  When we switched the forces off, the game felt like it was missing something.  If you are a Mechwarrior fan, you owe it to yourself to get this stick.

Hardcore racing fans are will likely own a force feedback steering wheel, so we opted to test a more casual racer, Midtown Madness 2.  Here again, the force effects truly add fun to the game, since the stick is able to convey not only the side to side forces like a steering wheel, but it can also model frontal impact, something no wheel I know of can do.  In a game like Midtown Madness 2, there is a lot of wall-smashing and curb jumping, and the Strike Force 3D excels at this.  

Fly! is another of our favorites here, and it has some decent force effects for the general aviation flight sim.  One thing that really shines with a force feedback stick is the tires on the runway, both during take-off, and landing.  Judging altitude through a 2D monitor is very hard, and the slight bump as the wheels touch down is a very cool effect, and realistic.  Of course, that little bump can be more like a brick if you fly like I do at times…

After several days using the Strike Force 3D as my primary stick, with force feedback on and off, I found it to be a decent all-around stick.  When force feedback is not present, the stick is an average performer, precise and comfortable, but the force motors are not as smooth as the springs used in normal joysticks.  But that is to be expected; the reason for spending $90 on a stick like this is to feel the ground shake and weapons fire, and that my friends, is where the Strike Force 3D excels.  With the full set of features, comfortable grip, and extremely powerful force motors, the Force 3D has knocked our long standing King of Force Feedback Sticks from the throne.