The Best Arcade Fighting Sticks for Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2, Injustice 2, and Tekken 7
A guide to the best arcade fighting sticks available for major 2017 fighting games, covering budget, mid-range, and premium options for PS4 and Xbox One.
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The second quarter of 2017 was a significant period for the fighting game community, marked by the releases of Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2, Injustice 2, and Tekken 7. For players looking to replicate the authentic arcade experience at home, an arcade fighting stick is an essential piece of hardware. These controllers offer a distinct feel and control scheme that many find superior to standard gamepads for executing complex combos and precise movements. The market offered a wide range of options catering to different budgets and preferences.
Budget Arcade Sticks
For newcomers or players on a tight budget, several affordable yet capable fight sticks provided an excellent entry point into the world of arcade-style controls.
Hori Fighting Stick Mini 4
An officially licensed product by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the Hori Fighting Stick Mini 4 was a popular choice for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 owners. Its main characteristic was its compact size, measuring approximately eight inches wide by six inches long. This small footprint made it highly portable and easy to store, though players with larger hands might have found the layout somewhat cramped during intense sessions. Despite its size, it featured a full eight-button layout, mirroring the standard arcade configuration. For stability, the stick was equipped with rubberized feet to prevent it from sliding on a tabletop. It also included the essential Options and Share buttons from the DualShock 4, ensuring full system navigation. In addition to its console compatibility, the Fighting Stick Mini 4 also worked with PC.
Mayflash F300 Arcade Fight Stick
The Mayflash F300 stood out as a versatile and highly regarded budget option, particularly for its broad compatibility. It supported PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC through both D-input and X-input APIs, making it a flexible choice for players across multiple systems. A significant feature for a stick at this price point was its use of authentic Sanwa Denshi parts for its buttons and joystick. Sanwa components are the standard in Japanese arcade cabinets, prized for their durability, responsiveness, and tactile feedback. The inclusion of these high-quality parts gave the F300 a premium feel that belied its cost. The controller also came equipped with turbo functionality, allowing a button to register repeated inputs when held down.
Mid-Range Arcade Sticks
For players ready to invest more in their hardware, the mid-range market offered sticks with better build quality, proprietary high-performance parts, and more features.
Hori Real Arcade Pro Kai Series
The Hori Real Arcade Pro (RAP) Kai series represented a substantial step up in quality. Hori produced officially licensed versions for both major consoles: one for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, and another for Xbox One and Xbox 360. Both models were also compatible with PC. Instead of Sanwa parts, these sticks utilized Hori’s own high-end components: the Hayabusa joystick and Hayabusa buttons. The Hayabusa stick was known for its short throw and quick engagement, while the buttons featured a unique matte finish and low-profile design for swift actuation. This gave the RAP Kai a distinct feel that many competitive players preferred. The controllers included assignable buttons for custom layouts, and the PlayStation 4 version was equipped with a turbo function and a fully functional touch panel, matching the features of a standard DualShock 4 controller.
The Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai for PlayStation 4 was available in several color variations, including black, blue, red, and white, allowing for a degree of personalization. Hori also released special editions themed around Tekken 7. The PlayStation version of the Tekken 7 stick featured artwork of the game’s male fighters, while the Xbox One edition was decorated with the female cast, making them collector’s items for fans of the series.
Premium Arcade Sticks
At the high end of the market, premium arcade sticks offered uncompromising build quality, tournament-grade components, and designs focused on authenticity and customization for the most dedicated players.
Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Premium VLX KURO
For PlayStation enthusiasts, the Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Premium VLX KURO was a top-tier option. This stick was designed as a faithful replica of the control panel on the Taito Vewlix arcade cabinet, a popular modern cabinet in Japanese arcades. This commitment to authenticity provided an unparalleled arcade experience at home. It was officially licensed by both Taito and Sony for use with the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. The VLX KURO featured a Hayabusa stick lever paired with Hori’s Kuro push buttons, which were known for their quiet operation and responsiveness. The controller was also built with modding in mind; its case could be opened easily by removing just three screws, giving players simple access to the internal components for customization or repairs. It also included a functional touch pad and programmable buttons.
Razer Atrox Arcade Stick
On the Xbox One side, the Razer Atrox Arcade Stick was a leading premium choice. Built from the ground up for serious fighting game players, the Atrox came standard with high-quality Sanwa hardware for both the joystick and the buttons. This made it a go-to for those who wanted the arcade-standard feel right out of the box. The Atrox’s defining feature was its extreme emphasis on customization. The top panel opened with the press of a button, revealing the internal wiring and dedicated storage compartments for an included screwdriver, a detachable cable, and extra buttons. This design made it incredibly simple for users to swap components and change the top-panel artwork. The Razer Atrox was compatible with Xbox One and PC systems running Windows 8 or Windows 10, making it a versatile weapon for competitive play.
Frequently asked questions
Are arcade sticks better than gamepads for fighting games?
Whether an arcade stick is 'better' is a matter of personal preference. Many players find that the stick allows for more precise directional inputs and that the large button layout makes it easier to execute complex combos. However, many professional players achieve top-level results using standard gamepads. It often comes down to what the player is most comfortable with.
What are Sanwa parts in a fight stick?
Sanwa Denshi is a Japanese company that manufactures high-quality arcade components. Their joysticks and buttons are considered the industry standard and are used in the majority of official arcade cabinets in Japan. They are known for their extreme durability, responsiveness, and distinct tactile feel, making them a preferred choice for serious fighting game enthusiasts.
Can a PlayStation 4 fight stick be used on a PC?
Most modern PlayStation 4 fight sticks, especially officially licensed ones like those from Hori, offer PC compatibility. They typically connect via USB and are recognized by Windows as a standard game controller, often using the D-input or X-input protocols. This allows them to function with a wide variety of games on platforms like Steam without requiring special drivers.
What does a Vewlix style arcade stick mean?
A 'Vewlix style' arcade stick refers to a controller that mimics the layout and design of the Taito Vewlix arcade cabinet, a popular modern cabinet in Japan. This style is characterized by a specific button layout, a sloped wrist-rest area, and a wide body. These sticks aim to replicate the authentic feel of playing in a Japanese arcade, which is highly desirable for many dedicated players.