Tekken, Street Fighter, and countless other fighting games are a traditional genre that primarily took place in arcades. Unfortunately, this culture never really existed in Germany. To experience arcade gaming, MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes bought a suitable controller a year ago.
Why did I buy the controller? When you watch professional matches in Tekken or Street Fighter, you see that players don’t always use a classic pad. Often, the pros have a bulky box with a stick and many buttons. This is called an arcade controller or stick.
A year ago, I also bought one because I wanted to see how it feels to play with it and whether it changes the experience. With Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, the timing was perfect. This year, I realized how bad I am at these games, but also how much fun it is to use such a controller.
The most important game for the controller for me was Tekken 8:
It feels like I’m learning to play again
What makes arcade sticks so special? An arcade stick is significantly larger than a pad. It’s a big box with a large stick on the left and many buttons on the right. Usually, you have the controller on your lap or on the table, depending on your preference. Since there is only one stick, you can typically only use the controller for arcade games like fighting games, specific shooters, or platformers.
The controller tries to replicate the arcade experience that one never truly had in Germany. In Asian countries like Japan or South Korea, there are still arcades where correspondingly adapted versions of games are played.
Playing with the stick for the first time felt very unfamiliar. I not only have to learn how a game works, but also how to hold the controller properly. The arcade stick doesn’t make this easy, as there are several grip styles, and you have to find one that suits you.
With Street Fighter 6 and later Tekken 8, there were also two different ways of movement. In Street Fighter, you fight exclusively in 2D, while in Tekken, movements go into 3D depth. That was difficult, and to this day, I haven’t found the right grip style. The downside of the stick is that you have to learn both the game and the controller. Accordingly, I often lost.
The sounds are a dream for me and a nightmare for those around me
What is fun about an arcade stick from the beginning 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 classic button-mashing. You can tell by the timing if you’re playing deliberately or panicking.
However, this can become annoying for those around you. If you prefer to play quietly or have to, then you need to get an arcade stick with quiet buttons or modify one yourself.
Arcade Stick, Pad, or Hitbox?
Does using an arcade stick make you better at fighting games? In my estimation, no. You might look like a total sweat with the bulky stick among your friends. However, skill is only improved through personal training. The big advantage of the stick is that you can press the buttons faster, and due to the grip style, combination moves become easier.
With the pad, on the other hand, you have to assign combinations to the shoulder buttons for specific characters. However, you are faster and more precise in moving your own character with the D-pad. There are also games that are more enjoyable with a pad. An example would be Mortal Kombat 1.
I personally don’t notice that the stick gives me any advantages. Just like with the pad, I had to train with my character to get better. Ultimately, it’s your personal preference that decides here. Both are also used in tournaments.
With a hitbox controller, one could argue that it’s better than other options. You again have a bulky box, but the stick on the left side is replaced by buttons. This makes you faster in movement and attacks. However, I have never played with such a controller, so personally, I can’t say anything about it.
A professional’s assessment can be found on Maximilian Dood’s YouTube channel, a content creator for fighting games.
Arcade sticks are just fun
Personally, I find playing with the stick much more enjoyable than with the pad. It’s just a change to not have to use the same controller for every game. You feel a bit like you’re in an arcade hall, just without having to throw in a lot of coins into the machines.
What’s next? I started with an inexpensive model. There are countless models of arcade sticks with various prices. Online, you can buy sticks from official brands or even custom-built ones from users. If you are handy, you can even order individual parts and build a stick with your own design. There are countless tutorials for that.
If you buy a stick, you should know that it is only suitable for specific games. You won’t be able to play an action-adventure or a shooter with it. At least you look a bit more professional than your friends with a stick—assuming you’re not getting wrecked. I myself was even defeated in the past by my grandmother: My game of the year 2024 is coming out next week and reminds me of how I virtually fought my grandma
