Tekken, Streetfighter and the countless other fighting games are a genre rich in tradition that was mainly played in arcades. Unfortunately, this culture never really existed in Germany. In order to be able to recreate what it was like to play in arcades, MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes bought a controller a year ago.
Why did I buy the controller? If you watch professional matches in Tekken or Street Fighter, you’ll see that the players don’t always play with a classic pad. Often the pros have a bulky box with a stick and lots of buttons. This is called an arcade controller or stick.
A year ago I bought one of these because I wanted to know how it would play and whether it would change the experience. With Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, the time was perfect anyway. This year I realized how bad I am at these games, but also how much fun it is to use a controller like this.
The most important game for the controller for me was Tekken 8:
Tekken 8 Gameplay – Game Awards Trailer
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As if I were learning to play again
What makes arcade sticks so special? An arcade stick is significantly larger than a pad. It is a large box with a large stick on the left and many buttons on the right. Most of the time you have the controller on your lap or on the table, depending on your preference. Since there is only one stick, you can usually only use the controller for arcade games such as fighting games, special shooters or jump and runs.
The controller aims to replicate as best as possible the arcade experience that was never really available in Germany. In Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, there are still arcades where adapted versions of the games are played.
Playing with the stick for the first time felt really strange. I not only have to learn how a game works, but also how to hold the controller correctly. The arcade stick doesn’t make this easy because there are several different grips and you have to find one that suits you.
With Street Fighter 6 and later Tekken 8 there were also two different ways of moving. In Street Fighter you fight exclusively in 2D, in Tekken also in 3D, with movements in depth. That was difficult and to this day I haven’t found the right way to grip the stick. The disadvantage of the stick is that you have to learn the game and the controller. As a result, I often lost.
The sounds are a dream for me and a nightmare for those around me
The thing that’s fun about an arcade stick from the start is the sound of the buttons. It’s a completely different feeling to hear the constant clicking. Almost like a rhythm. The volume helped me move away from the classic button mashing. You can tell by the beat whether you’re playing with purpose or panicking.
But this can be annoying for those around you. If you prefer to play quietly or even have to, you’ll have to get an arcade stick that has quiet buttons or make one yourself.
Arcade stick, pad or hitbox?
Does the arcade stick make you better at fighting games? In my opinion, not. You do look like a terrible sweaty person to your friends with the clunky stick. But the skill only improves with your own training. The big advantage of the stick is that you can press the buttons faster and the way you hold it makes key combinations easier.
On the pad, you have to assign combinations to the shoulder buttons for certain characters. However, you can move your character faster and more precisely using the control pad. There are also games that are more comfortable with the pad. An example would be Mortal Kombat 1.
I personally don’t notice that the stick gives me any advantages. As with the pad, I had to train with my character to get better. Ultimately, it’s your own preference that decides. Both are used at tournaments too.
With a hitbox controller, one could argue whether it is better than other options. You have a bulky box again, but the stick on the left side is replaced by buttons. This means you can move and attack faster. But I’ve never played with a controller like this, so I can’t say anything about it personally.
You can find an assessment from a professional on the YouTube channel of Maximilian Dood, a content creator for fighting games.
Arcade sticks are just fun
Personally, I find gaming with the stick much more fun than with the pad. It’s a change not to have to use the same controller for every game. It just feels a bit like you’re in an arcade, but without having to put a lot of change into the machine.
What happens next? I started with a cheap model. There are countless models of arcade sticks with different prices. You can buy sticks from official brands or even ones made by users online. If you’re good at DIY, you can even order individual parts and build a stick with your own design. There are countless tutorials for this.
If you buy a stick, you should know that it is only suitable for certain games. You won’t be able to play an action adventure or a shooter with it. At least you’ll look a little more professional to your friends with a stick. Provided you don’t get bullied. I myself have even been defeated by my grandma in the past: My game of the year 2024 is coming out next week and reminds me of how I fought with my grandma virtually