Logitech G25 Racing Wheel
If you're a serious fan of PC racing games, then you're probably familiar with Logitech's line of racing wheels. While they've released quite a few over many years, they really hit it big with their MOMO wheel a few years back, and the Driving Force Pro brought a full 900 degree turn to the wheel a few years later. It's been a long time coming, but Logitech has finally released a new piece of hardware that should put any previous racing wheel to shame: the G25. With all of the DFP's major features plus a true six-speed shifter, powerful force feedback, and an excellent set of pedals including a clutch, Logitech has put plenty of effort into this wheel. But was it enough?
The first thing you'll likely notice on the G25 is the 11" steel steering wheel. It's sturdy yet comfortable with its leather wrapping, and the size of the base is not really any bigger than many past wheels. The shifter is a separate unit and can be switched, via a knob, from a true H-pattern, six-speed design to a sequential style where you just flick up or flick down. Both of these feel great and while they are just a little bit loose, it only takes a few minutes to get used to. Next, the pedals come out of the box, and these things are great. The pedals are steel (all three, including the clutch) while the base is plastic. In fact, there's plenty of plastic still here in the G25, but Logitech made sure to put steel where it's needed most for long life. The pedal base also has the little plate with spikes on it that can be flipped down to keep everything in place on carpet, and it works great.
Setting up the G25 involves both good and bad experiences. The number of cords and potential for a huge rat's nest of cabling is pretty big with the G25, as the pedals, power supply, and shifter all send cords to the main wheel. Then a fourth USB cable extends from the wheel and plugs into your PC. The USB cable's very long so it should easily accommodate most desk setups, but I found that the cord going from the pedals to the wheel was a bit short for my desk setup. There's a nifty little place to wrap excess cable on the underside of the wheel, but I think you'll find that even with this there will still be plenty of black cabling on your desk. If you like your racing setup to be as spartan and clean as possible, then be prepared to get creative if you really want the G25 to look slick on your desk.
Software installation is a breeze, and Logitech includes a no-nonsense driver and utility to help you calibrate and set up the wheel. There is some other junk on the driver disc that can be installed, but if you just want to go race in your favorite game, then the basic package is all you need. You can even simulate, with the utility, various racing catastrophes like a blowout or an explosion. One thing you'll notice early on is that unless you're ready for it, the wheel is very powerful. Honestly, it's possible it could hurt someone who's playing and unprepared for the power of the G25. Ok, maybe not, but it sure seems like it.
Unfortunately, the G25 retail box doesn't include any games or demos to test the wheel out on. Luckily, there are a couple of games and demos that support the G25 fully which you can grab: rFactor and Live for Speed. The full games can be purchased and include G25 support themselves, of course, and other known games that support the G25 are GTR2 and Need for Speed: Carbon. More are sure to follow in the coming months.
The G25 also supports the PS2 and the full 900-degree wheel works in Gran Turismo 4 and every game that previously worked with the Driving Force Pro - unfortunately, the six-speed shifter is not supported by any current PS2 game, so the best you'll get out of the shifter is if you use it in sequential mode. The PS3 can use it as well in games that support it, like Need for Speed Carbon; hopefully more support in more "serious" games comes along soon. One major issue with using this wheel on a PS2 is that it's not made for use in one's lap on a couch at all. You'll really need to attach this thing to a hard surface to get the most out of it.
The rFactor demo I tried had full G25 support built-in and no configuring was necessary - at least, on one computer. Another computer refused to see the G25, even with the specific profile for Logitech's wheel loaded. Manual configuration of each axis and button did work in its place, and either way, I have a feeling this is the fault of that game rather than the wheel.
So, how is it like when actually racing? Brilliant. The wheel, while still smaller than what we get in most cars, feels great with its full 900-degree range. The force feedback effects from driving on gravel or grass are spot-on. The shifter and clutch work together nicely for a full manual transmission - very nice for those racing sims that include more down-to-earth cars rather than the ones with shifter paddles. But if you still would rather have the paddles behind the wheel, they're included as well, along with several buttons and even a D-pad on the shifter attachment for various in-game functions.
I've racked up a few small disappointments here and there with the G25 so far, but the biggest one might just be the price tag. The G25 retails for just under $300, which is a really hefty sum for someone who's not totally dedicated to their racing games. That's well over double the price of Logitech's last wheel, the Driving Force Pro, and while you do get the separate six-speed shifter, most of the money seems to have gone into build quality rather than additional hardware. Aside from some ridiculously expensive professional setups, this is the best and most expensive racing wheel ever made for gamers. It's going to be up to you to decide whether your dedication to the racing genre merits the hit on your wallet.
Logitech really hit one out of the park with the G25. Sure, it's got a hefty price tag that only the most serious of racing fans will be willing to deal with. But just like Eric Stoltz said in Pulp Fiction, when you try the G25, "you'll know where that extra money went." Its sturdy construction and great feel work great in games, and while I am hoping to see better support for the G25 in the future (more PC games as well as Xbox 360 support for Forza Motorsport 2 and full shifter-enabled PS3 support for Gran Turismo HD, maybe?), what's here is excellent. If you've already read the part where I mentioned $300 and haven't closed your browser in disgust yet, then this is probably the steering wheel for you.
