How does it score?

Performance:

The Top Gun Platinum doesn’t claim to be the greatest joystick ever made, but it’s performance well exceeds that of many others in it’s price range. The action was smooth, and the buttons were well placed, giving it the feel of much more expensive stick.

Quality:

Thrustmaster is known for making excellent controllers, and the Platinum is no exception. The grip feels totally solid, and the heavy base makes an excellent platform for intense gaming.

Innovation:

Well, there is nothing new at all about the Platinum. It is the old Top Gun Stick, mated to a larger base with a throttle added. Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn’t forge any new ground, either. A USB connector would have been outstanding.

Price:

With a retail price of $29, and a street price of around $25, you could do a lot worse. I have a stick that cost me nearly twice as much, but it doesn’t see as much flight time because it feels cheap, and has a light weight base that slides all over my desk.