The first thought I had when picking up the Genius MaxFire Pandora Pro folding game pad was that it looked really cool and small, but that it wasn't going to be fun to use, because it'd likely make my hands hurt.

That was a fair assumption, given the fact that the directional pad is so close to the gaming buttons, but after spending a half hour or so reliving my gaming childhood with ID Software's Commander Keen (now available via Steam for $5), my hands were pretty happy; If you're a casual gamer on the go, this pad could be just what you're looking for. Folded up, it's small enough to fit in any pocket of bag pocket. And with no fewer than eight buttons on its tiny body, turbo, and vibration, it's quite capable of controlling most any game you'd want to use a game pad for.

While the pad itself seems pretty well thought out, the included accessories are hit-and-miss. For starters, the retractable mini USB cable seems like a good idea, but at less than three feet, it's simply not long enough. Worse still, when you accidentally pull on the cable (and you will) while gaming, it begins to retract. If you're not holding tight to the controller, it might be yanked right out of your hand. But the solution is simple: Extend the cable fully, then slide the retractor down to the end of the cable. That solves one problem but won't give you any more length, which is sorely needed.

Then there's the carrying case the company decided to ship this thing in. It does a good job of holding the controller and cable, and even has a small space for a memory card. But because the case holds the controller open and surrounds it snugly with lots of black foam, the case winds up being way bigger than it should be. This is a device whose main feature is its small size and foldability. Do I have to ask what "genius" decided to ship it with a case that stores it open? There's no need for that much foam padding, either.: This is a tiny gaming peripheral, not a Fabergé egg. I think a little zip-up pouch would have been a better idea.

Still, if you do a fair amount of platform gaming, have smallish hands, and need ultimate portability, this game pad is the way to go. Pairing this controller with something like Gametap and a laptop should keep any gamer entertained on a few business trips. This would also be a nice casual holiday gift for your friendly neighborhood geeks. Even if they aren't hardcore gamers, they'll appreciate the novelty and innovative design. The MaxFire Pandora Pro is available now at a handful of online retailers for $15 to 20.

Post by Matt Safford