The recent release of Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics will have had many Switch owners pondering the robustness of their control setup; as much as we like the console's Joy-Con and Pro Controller offerings, they're not exactly ideal for the intense nature of one-on-one fighting games.
That's where Hori's Fighting Commander for Nintendo Switch comes in. The latest in a long line of similar pads created by the Japanese company, this controller has been designed with competitive brawlers in mind.
It removes analogue control completely, focusing solely on digital input via its cross-shaped D-pad. It also places six buttons on the face of the controller, conforming to a layout established by Capcom with the original Street Fighter back in the late '80s.
But is it any good? Let's find out...
Hori Fighting Commander for Nintendo Switch Review: Design
The Hori Fighting Commander has an appealing ergonomic design, with curves in all of the right places and good button placement. In addition to the aforementioned six-button layout, you've got four shoulder buttons mapped to 'L', 'ZL', left-stick button, and right-stick button.
The latter two might seem unnecessary, as you rarely click on the analogue sticks in games for vital commands, but by mapping these inputs to physical buttons, the pad allows you to configure them in unique ways – such as performing a special move or button combination, for example.
This is actually more useful than you might think, as it gives you more input options than usual. There's a switch on the top edge of the controller which allows you to swap the mappings of these shoulder buttons.
Another switch can be found on the front of the controller which toggles the D-pad input. 'DP' maps it to the default digital pad (well, duh), while 'LS' and 'RS' map it to the left and right analogue stick, respectively. This is handy for those games which don't use the D-pad for movement, but the drawback is that you lose the subtlety of analogue input.
The Hori Fighting Commander can only be used wired, but it comes with a generous 3-metre cable which means you don't have to sit too close to your TV in order to use it.
Hori Fighting Commander for Nintendo Switch Review: Performance
As any fighting game fan will tell you, a controller lives or dies by the quality of its D-pad. With the Fighting Commander, you've got an excellent cross-shaped pad, which is great for pulling off special moves like Dragon Punches and fireballs but isn't quite the best-in-show as far as the market goes.
I'd have preferred to see a 'rolling' D-pad, like the one used on the legendary Sega Saturn controller. While this is very much down to personal taste, this type of pad is the absolute best for fighting games in my opinion, and while cross-shaped pads are still perfectly fine, they don't offer the same scope for smooth inputs when rolling the pad around under your thumb.
Before this sounds like I'm dunking on this pad, let me stress that I was still able to pull off complex moves successfully with the Hori Fighting Commander – for the most part. There were a few times when it felt like the pad lacked sufficient travel, but on the whole, I did feel that this controller helped elevate my game considerably, especially when compared to using a Joy-Con or Pro Controller. (It's also worth noting that a rolling D-pad doesn't automatically guarantee quality, as PowerA's Fight Pad proves).
The six-button layout is fantastic, with large buttons and good placement. When playing Capcom's fighting games, having quick access to all three punch and kick strengths is essential – especially when playing at high levels – and in that respect, this pad absolutely nails it.
It's worth noting that the Hori Fighting Commander is also great for non-fighting games, especially those which are built around digital input, like 2D platformers, shmups, or side-scrolling beat 'em ups. You might have to tinker with the button layout in the settings to get things configured how you want them, but this isn't a massive issue.
Hori Fighting Commander for Nintendo Switch Review: Conclusion
While its D-pad could arguably have been better, the Hori Fighting Commander is one of the best options for Switch owners who desire a good joypad for their combat exploits.
The lack of wireless control is a shame, but many fighting game fans will prefer the low-latency wired connection, even if it does mean sitting a little closer to the TV than usual.
If you're looking for a pad to raise your game with one-on-one fighters, then this is a solid option.
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Comments 37
Both those cons are pros for me, so i might grab this depending on the price cuz i need a new pad anyways.
Great review!
Semi off-topic: How does the Marvel vs. Capcom collection plays with the Hori Fighting Stick Mini?
I love the MD pad I picked up for Capcom fighters because of that roll, so maybe I don’t need to get this. Looks the part though!
@HammerGalladeBro much better I'd say. I use the Real Arcade Pro V Hayabusa myself for my Shmups and fighting / arcade games, and it seems the way to go for me.
I definitely understand that being wired is con for a lot of people, but the reduced input lag from wired vs wireless is a major pro for big fighting game fans.
The 8-bit do M30 has a quality rolling dpad , which is ideal for Hadoukens but I find it hard to pull off Shorykens on demand. No problem with the SF30 dpad though. I actually bought it specifically for fighting games , as I assumed the rolling dpad would be better but I play better with the SF30.
Damn I was hoping it would be at least 2.4ghz wireless but wired it's just unreliable for me. Keep trying Hori you're almost there like always. For now 8BitDo M30 and the Retro-Bit wireless Sega Genesis controllers are the way to go for 6-button fighting games to me.
@SilentBluntman Agreed. I don't play a lot of fighting games but that is my preferred controller for them.
I have to say, the no rolling d-pad is a pretty big con. I'm no fighting game expert, but that seems to be a big miss.
So this pad as zero cons. A feature that was never part of the product isn't a con. You'd have to add that it also doesn't have rumble, motion controls, or analog sticks in that case.
If you're reviewing a product you should review what product is, not what it isn't.
Full stop: If you are a fighting game fan and want to play fighting games on the Switch (especially online), and you want/prefer to use a pad, then the Fighting Commander is the best pad available on Switch.
I have owned this for the Switch for about 5 years and put in a ton of hours on mine playing fighting games such as Ultra Street Fighter 2, SF30th Collection, MK11, MK1, Capcom Fighting Collection, and now MvC Collection. It still works just fine after 5 years pretty heavy usage. I love the big face buttons on the front of the controller as they make hitting the right button very easy. The big D pad is actually a HUGE plus for me because the pad is big and you are less likely to get a wrong direction. I prefer this style over a rolling one because each direction feels distinct to press.
I moved on from pad to the HORI RAP V fight stick for the Switch, but any pad lovers will love this pad. I still go back to it once in a while just for fun, but it is definitely the best fight pad you can buy on the Switch (I have tried two others and the Fighting Commander is still the best to me).
I don’t even know why they’d put out a controller like that without a rolling d-pad.
the m30's rolling d-pad causes more problems imo
I have the Japanese Sega controller for my switch and it works with pretty much every game I've tried it on
İ must say the controller looks beautiful but it is for fighting games. İt is not wireless. İt is with a long cable. Maybe you can use it for Super Smash Bros Ultimate game too. There is no left and right analog stick it is maybe hard to play adventure 3D games like Super Mario Odyssey and Tears of the kingdom. Or maybe you can not play it. You can not move the camera with the right analog stick.
@Rentaro Glad to hear it. I have one of those myself, looking forward to using it when the physical edition of MvC comes out.
@HammerGalladeBro i got one, it’s for children, too small, very uncomfortable for adult.
@TheBoilerman @SalvorHardin
some people don't prefer rolling d pads 👋
@WiltonRoots
What is a MD pad?
You use this on Switch, or other consoles?
Always looking forma better controller for fighters.
What is a "rolling D-Pad"?
@msvt It's a retrobit USB controller, based on the design of the old Megadrive/Genesis 6 button pad. Instead of having the four directions the pad can tilt slightly into the movements, giving it a slightly more natural circular movement.
https://retro-bit.com/sega-genesis-6-button-arcade-pad-with-usb-black.html
The Hori Split Pad Pro felt a little light weight and Fisher Price, if you know what I mean. Saturn Pads are still the standard, imo.
I play fighting games on switch with a HITBOX CONTROLLER, Full Sanwa.
The best U$200 I´ve ever paid!
The same controller is ps5, ps4 and Steam compatible.
I have 400+ Fighting Games in 32 videogames + Steam, and this kind of game is 90% of my game time.
@LikelySatan
Yes Saturn D-pad is the best. The 8bitdo M30 controller is "saturn style" and I like it. I have the M30 2,4Ghz. The BT version = delay.
@HammerGalladeBro This arcade stick is TERRIBLE. So small.
It has no stability, and the control wanders and even "flips" during an intense gameplay. An arcade controller must be at least 40cm x 18cm in size, and must be heavy. I have this small stick controller and today it is a paperweight.
@Rykdrew I would use it a lot more if the buttons were correctly labeled. Pretty strange decision to label them with Saturn buttons, considering it is one of the least emulated consoles out there.
This Hori pad is an indictment on the Nintendo Pro Controller and its horrific d-pad. Criticism is insufficient about it, mostly because the d-pad is rarely used, so let's hope Nintendo return to the classic SNES style one over this clunky, imprecise and unresponsive catastrophe they gave us for the Switch. There'd be no real reason for the Hori to emerge without that failure.
@LikelySatan Saturn controller is for fighting games.
Saturn was an amazing fighting game console! One of the best ever.
But, today i prefer my HITBOX controller. Its the new best way to play fighting games.
@Rykdrew I had an import Saturn wayyyyy back when, mostly for fighters and 2D games. Like I said above, the Saturn still has the best fighting pad.
What's a rolling pad?
@Mommar It's one like on the Saturn controller where the d-pad is an attached part of circular base that pivots.
https://i0.wp.com/www.segasaturnshiro.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/20190307_230836s.jpg?w=807&ssl=1
Fighting game fans seem to prefer it for pulling off special moves that require circular movements of the d-pad. But for other genres like I prefer, it doesn't seem to be of any benefit that I've ever ascertained (nor is it a detriment).
This reads like a great review for the 8BitDo controller.
One of thes days, someone will make a wireless controller with six face buttons, two thumbsticks, and analogue triggers. Retrobit came so close with the Saturn pro edition, but the triggers are digital and the thumbsticks apparently suck.
and works great in Super Mario Maker 2. That's what I use every time I play. It's got a great d-pad and none of those unneeded sticks to get in the way. And there's a toggle so you can make the d-pad act like a stick, which can be cool for some games.
@HammerGalladeBro when it comes to fighting games like Skullgirls or Dragon Ball FighterZ, my preferences is a Fight Stick because I actually played those two games using that type of controller. Though when it comes to Smash Bros series the GCN controller is the choice for me.
@judaspete Nintendo Switch is not analog trigger compatible.
@Rykdrew I mean as an all purpose controller for Switch, PC or whatever. But after the Gamecube adapter came out for Smash Bros, a few games have had analogue trigger support.
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