The Nintendo Switch has amassed a great selection of fighting games in its short lifespan, including the wonderful Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, which will bring a smile to any retrogaming brawlers face.
Of course, if you want to be a fighting champion, then trying to win battles online with Joy-Con is a fool's errand. You need a proper arcade stick, and HORI has partnered with Capcom to bring a budget option for Switch gamers, along with a full-fat (and very expensive) option.
Fan of classic Street Fighter brawlers Ryu and Chun-Li will need deep pockets as the Real Arcade Pro fight sticks featuring their designs will set you back a whopping $159.99. There is also a retro-styled "classic" version which you might fancy too. These tournament-ready steel-based arcade sticks feature HORI original Hayabusa parts designed for extreme speed and accuracy. The 10-foot USB cable hides away in an ample storage compartment so you can easily take your skills on the road.
If you don't fancy spending quite that much, then the Fighting Stick Mini might be more your speed, priced at $59.99. These designs have a bold look and come in Ryu and Ken, or Chun-Li and Cammy flavours. This arcade stick features a full 8-button layout and a proper micro-switch-activated joystick, yet is small enough (approximately 8” x 6”) to easily store and transport. This wired controller features a long cable, a Share button, and other convenient functions.
Both of these lovely variations of arcade sticks will be available on 15th October, let us know if you plan to pick one up with a comment below.
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Comments (24)
just a touch expensive.
I’m a sucker for a fancy looking fight stick. I have the 8BitDo/NES one which is enough for me in terms of performance/casual play. I do like the look of these minis though. Obviously the more expensive versions would be my preference if money were no object, but the minis look fancy enough. Might dabble if they get to a lower price point, but with vanilla versions now just a shade over 30 quid, I might end up getting one those instead.
An honest question from someone who sucks at fighting games:
What makes an arcade stick preferable to a regular controller? Is it just nostalgia or do they offer more control/precision? What do the pros use?
They look cheap and naff, poor art choices and design. They should of just made a series with the original arcde C.P graphics.
I've already spent $115+ for the Hori Dragon Quest Slime controller. So spending $160 on another controller is sadly out of the question for me at the moment.
Already have Hori RAP Stick for the switch; so buying another seems too much
Have two Tatsunoko vs Capcom fightsticks for Wii which works perfectly on my Wii, Wii U, PS3, PC and Switch, thanks to MayFlash adapter.
I prefer playing on a controller, with a d-pad, for Street Fighter games. I don't like using the Analog sticks on controllers, and I don't like using Arcade Sticks. I'm not good at them. I can't pull everything off all of the time on them, and it costs me matches that way. But with a controller with a D-pad, I can play much better. So much easier, and more accurate, to play that way, for me. I can quickly pull everything off I want/need to. But, for whatever reason, I can't do that on a analog stick or arcade stick.
@Ooccoo_Jr Yeah, I can't play Dead or Alive or Virtua Fighter with a pad. With all the P+K and P+G button combo's that are impossible to press with just one thumb. Also, you're just quicker with a stick. There is a bit of a learning curve using a fightstick, but in the end it really is worth it. Be sure to get a good stick though. Cheap sticks lead to frustration and less then perfect accuracy.
I literally just bought my pro Hayabusa v stick last week!! I love it
@oji can ask how this works as I have that fightstick but it has the wii feed rather than usb - the mayflash on amazon doesnt mention wii
@RedderRugfish Used to be almost all pros used stick. But that was because the tournament scene for fighting games came directly from the arcades. The only advantage a stick offers is finger rolls, which are almost unused in fighting games in current tournaments.
These days its a pretty mixed feild, and arcade sticks don't seem to be offering any real advantage as people with regular controllers are winning tournaments all the time.
Probably the controllers with the most edge, are hitboxes, but a lot of people don't want to use them as they are awkward to learn at first.
@dazza why didn't you post the link and picture to the coolest Hori stick? https://www.amazon.com/HORI-Nintendo-Switch-Real-Arcade-Pro/dp/B07STLTNR5/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=hori+switch+arcade+stick&qid=1564413533&s=gateway&sprefix=hori+switch+ar&sr=8-4
The original hayabusa stick is excellent and for me well the worth the money
Yooo the one on the bottom left with the 3rd Strike Art looks so good
Now you can main Ryu with the control style God intended.
@Ooccoo_Jr It's 100% personal preference. Some actions are theoretically easier depending on device (multi button presses on stick, instant air dash on pad) but it isn't anything that can't be overcome with practice. Just use what feels comfortable or fun.
Expensive but I was hoping there would actually be a holder for the switch in portable mode. It makes more sense if you're playing on the go. Securing your switch in place on the arcade stick.
@Sakura7 Since firmware version 1.25 it supports Wii Remotes + Classic controllers. Just update your stick, sync with a WiiMote, and attach your TvC to the latter one.
@R-L-A-George You know, that'd be a cool idea. They could even put a back-up battery into the pad since fight sticks are just buttons and a tiny board with a weight and a shell. Just swap out the weight for a battery and a plug.
@chickje @RedderRugfish @Zochmenos Thanks all, interesting stuff. It's a world I know nothing about. I'll just be sticking with casual Smash Bros for now as that's more my level.
NOT WIRELESS yet again. I think I'll just "stick" with my X-Arcade stick, which still has support for current AND previous consoles (bundled adapters). Plus it doesn't cost much more than this one-console thing 😒
@R-L-A-George You can use the Stick in portable mode. Just get a USB-A (female) to USB-C plug and stick the Switch on a Hori stand. Kinda weird to have a stick that is twice the size of the screen, but cool none-the-less.
@chickje I mean have a stand on the stick securely in place.
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