- Japanese-style joystick & buttons
- 8-button layout with additional multi-speed Turbo functionality
- Genuine arcade layout
- Wired Cable – 4 M (13 FT) length
- Connect to console via USB
Product Description
The official Street Fighter IV FightStick controller for the Microsoft Xbox 360 was designed for fighting game fans to recreate the quality, gameplay and precision found in arcades. Using an arcade-style joystick and 30mm quick connect buttons along with realistic spacing and an eight-button layout, the Street Fighter IV FightStick brings the arcade experience right into your home. With separate turbo settings for each button and great ergonomics, prepare yourself … More >>
Xbox 360 Street Fighter IV FightStick
Just so everyone knows — these sticks are not Limited Edition or anything of the sort. They are being made according to the limits of production in relation to demand. Madcatz has never stopped making these sticks. This is perhaps the most unbiased review you will read… so listen up.
Oh, and don’t bother paying anything more than retail. That’s a joke.
Anyways, to the review…
If you pay anything more than $90 for this stick, you will be severely disappointed. Not only will you be required to void the warranty on the controller to prevent the joystick from breaking — but replacing it with a new one will bring the cost up to near ‘Tournament Edition (149.99)’ prices.
What you are paying for is labor and an arcade stick box — REMEMBER THAT. Quality arcade controllers run from $100 to $200 because of the labor involved, the inner circuitry/wiring, and the cost of the parts. For $80 you are getting a stupidly good deal on a box, controller functionality, and labor. A control pad for any system will run you about $50, so you are only paying $30 for the cost of high quality wiring, additional materials (obviously, the stick is big) and additional labor. It is a fantastic deal.
Here’s what you are getting pretty much for free: The joystick and buttons. The parts inside are good for anyone new, but they will not last without your help. I’m talking a month or so max without personal modifications; with the joystick itself lasting you from a day to a few weeks(they are defective, check Madcatz’ official site for info. They mention a small amount only, but I can guarantee you will not be risking it with $80 worth of equipment or more). IF YOU CAN FIX IT YOURSELF, AND DON’T FEAR OPENING IT UP AND VOIDING THE WARRANTY — THE PARTS ARE REASONABLE. THE FIX IS EASY.
I have fixed about 20 sticks for people since these have been released all with the same problem (more have brought them in after it was too late to fix). Don’t get shafted.
Replacing the parts inside is quick and easy however slightly costly. I don’t recommend this unless you are absolutely sure you need to. This controller however, was built and sold for you to replace the parts inside. The craftsmanship and wiring are all 100% newbie friendly. You can know nothing about electronics and replace the parts — all you need is the ability to turn some screws and pull some plugs. At best you will be paying $50 in addition as well as waiting weeks for the stores to restock their parts.
Like I said earlier, remember that you are buying a BOX and LABOR not a reliable Arcade Controller. That means that whatever you tack on above the price of this controller is simply giving it away to the seller, and a Box and Labor are definitely not worth anything more than what the retail on this controller is! The box is beautiful and is designed well. The quality of the wiring and the actual controller functionality for your specific system are fantastic. The actual buttons and joystick are DEFECTIVE!
Rating: 4 / 5
If you’re looking for a great arcade stick box to mod this is the thing you need. You don’t need to solder anything due to everything being quick disconnects.
But for the regular consumer this product… well at least mine… was a piece of crap.
Defects:
-Joystick sticking to the right due to loose washer
-5 out of the 8 buttons stopped registering more than %50 of the time before my sanwa parts came in
-Screws holding the stick were stripped and the stick fell through the box the first day I recieved it.
For $80 a controller should not do that, no matter what you’re buying it for. I was never rough with it or slammed the buttons. I’m a very light tapper and I’m very relaxed on the joystick. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m technically savvy when it comes to arcade sticks this would have been a nightmare purchase for me.
Edit: Raised the rating a bit due to being mod friendly.
Rating: 3 / 5
This stick is an excellent choice for anyone looking for the upperhand in Street Fighter IV or any other 2-D style fighting game. The casing is great quality and its size makes it very portable. The standard buttons and joystick are decent quality and are a fine choice to play with.
However, those willing to go the extra mile are apt to find this stick’s true potential. While doing so will void the warranty, if you open the stick up you will find that it is very customizable. For mine, I ordered all Sanwa replacement buttons and a Sanwa joystick with an octagonal restrictor plate (the square restrictor late is standard). It is a bit risky to do this kind of thing if you are not familiar with how to do it but it’s also quite easy to figure out if you are patient and have a bit of technical savy.
With all the replacement parts, my stick is equal to the Tournament stick in every way accept for the empty area to store my cord. Since that’s a feature I don’t even use on my Tournament Stick (yes, I have both) it’s a moot point.
If you are looking for a stick that will let you compete properly, this stick is a fine choice. If you are looking for a Tournament Stick and can’t find one or can’t afford one, the customizing options open to you on this stick are a great alternative. I can’t recommend it enough!
Rating: 5 / 5
The raised plastic border around the Street Fighter IV art was very abrasive when resting my wrist on it while playing (right hand, button pushing).
In addition, the medium kick button (B) stopped working after about 4 fights (8 rounds total). I had a choice, wait another week for a different controller (faster than 2 week replacement) or void the warranty and fix it myself. Through other reviews I read, I discovered that this joystick quickly develops other functionality issues, namely the joystick stops working or gets stuck.
SO, I decided to make the best of this opportunity to rid myself of this cheaply made product and go for the Tournament Edition (with the ‘arcade’ parts).
The reason I gave this 2 stars instead of 1 is because I was having a lot of fun with it for 5 minutes before it stopped working.
Conclusion: Don’t buy this product, ever. Any positive reviews for this product were most likely made shortly before the product broke down or by sales representatives.
Rating: 2 / 5
This stick had some nice features, such as a well thought out button layout, and apparently it’s easy to mod.
Unfortunately, two of my buttons stopped responding after about two weeks of play (average playtime of about two hours a night). I looked into replacing the buttons myself, but once I added in the cost of ordering extra buttons, it looked like I would soon be spending as much as the tournament edition. For me, it wasn’t worth $130 or more for a video game controller, so I returned this and bought an EX2, which I would highly recommend.
Xbox360 Fighting Stick EX 2
Rating: 2 / 5