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Gravis Firebird 2

Advanced Gravis · 1999 · Joystick
Big base, big ambitions, but the buttons hold it back.
2.0
Average
POCG VERDICT
A promising stick sabotaged by poor button design and a manual that barely tries.
Great trigger, terrible button placement. The Firebird2 packs programmability but frustrates with a crowded base and mushy keys. For $45, it's a letdown.
About This Hardware

The Gravis Firebird 2 is a programmable PC joystick released by Advanced Gravis in 1999. It targets DOS and early Windows flight sim and action gamers who want to map keyboard shortcuts directly to the stick. Its defining physical feature is a massive, multi-angled base that occupies roughly 9 by 11 inches of desk space. The right-handed pistol grip carries four face buttons and a hat switch, connected to the base by a spiral telephone-style cord. The base itself houses nine programmable buttons crammed into a 1.5-by-1.75-inch cluster, flanked by a throttle dial and trim controls. Underneath, four spring-tension sliders offer six positive click-stops each for adjusting resistance. The trigger and thumb buttons use crisp mechanical switches, while the nine base buttons are membrane pads integrated directly into the circuit board. Installation is simple: the base plugs into a gameport with keyboard passthrough, though the DOS-based configuration software occasionally caused monitor sync issues during setup. A twenty-page manual devotes only five pages to English and frequently redirects users to an online help file. Bundled shareware titles like Terminal Velocity round out the package. At a suggested retail price of $44.99, the Firebird 2 sits in the mid-range programmable controller segment against competitors from CH Products and Microsoft.

Specifications
InterfaceGameport (DB-15) with keyboard passthrough
Stick Buttons4 face buttons + hat switch
Base Buttons9 programmable (membrane)
ControlsThrottle dial, trim dial
Tension Adjustment4 underside sliders, 6 settings each (mechanical click-stops)
GripRight-handed pistol grip
CableSpiral cord (stick to base), main cable with strain relief
Base DimensionsApprox. 9 × 11 in (irregular shape)
SoftwareDOS-based config utility, button profiles
Bundled GamesShareware versions (Terminal Velocity, etc.)
Hardware Info
ManufacturerAdvanced Gravis
CategoryJoystick
Released1999
MSRP$44.99
ReviewedJune 14, 2026
How to Get One Today
Price
MSRP: $44.99
Notes & Warnings
The Firebird 2 is a vintage controller. Expect to find used units on eBay or retro hardware forums. Verify both the spiral stick cord and the base membrane buttons work before buying; the membrane switches can wear out and are not user-serviceable. The original software requires DOS or a DOS emulation environment to program buttons, so factor that into your setup.
Editor's Note
Restored from the POCG archive and rewritten in the Maniac voice. The original review gave the Gravis Firebird 2 an overall score of 4.5 out of 10, converted here to 2.0 on the POCG 5-point scale.