Customer Reviews

Sony PS3 Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Wasn't going to leave a review, but seeing as how the first guy to review it doesn't even own one and gave it 1 star for the most retarded reason ever (because people are paying 400 on ebay?), I thought I should give some balance as someone who does actually own one.

I have to say- I was not expecting this stick to be as nice as all the hype built it up to be, but I have to eat my words and admit I was wrong. I got the lucky opportunity to pick one of these up for not much more than retail even though I never pre-ordered it, so I did because I wanted to see what the fuss was about and get a good comparison to the HRAP 3 SA. So far, it's been a great playing experience. It's got some really good weight to it, and obviously the sanwa components are top quality. Feels good on your lap, and very easy to play with in general. I'm not a huge fan of the start/select buttons all the way on the back of the stick...maybe on the right side would have been more convenient IMO, but that's the only complaint I can come up with...

I originally said that I didn't think this stick would be better than the HRAP3 SA, and I still stand by that though. I don't think it's better, BUT I don't think it's worse either. Both sticks have a solid arcade feel to them, and both use genuine sanwa parts. The color scheme of this one is growing on me more, but I might end up doing some kind of art mod later...

Anyway- I'm eating my words, Mad Catz actually made a good controller for once, haha. The fact that Mad Catz made something on par with what I consider the best arcade stick hori has to offer is absolutely crazy to me, but it seems to be true. Don't know how this stick came out so well and the SE version is so full of issues....

This fightstick is amazing, but certainly not worth anything over the original price. It's made with quality japanese parts, making it far superior to the Standard Edition stick.

Mad Catz promised to make more of these fightsticks and they also stated that their goal is for everyone who wants one to have one. Don't be dumb, and don't get ripped off. Be patient, these sticks are not limited edition. More are coming in stock as time goes by.

This is my first fighting stick, and so far I haven't had any problems whatsoever. The fight stick should be used for fighting games, such as, MK vs DC Universe, Soul Calibur 4, and of course with any Street Fighter game. I feel relieved that I don't have to use PS3 controllers anymore, because it's easier to do combos and my thumb doesn't hurt anymore.

FYI, when you insert the Street Fighter 4 disc into your PS3 make sure you go to -> "Options" -> "System Settings" -> "Install. This will improve load times and online play.

I was fortunate to get this FightStick at retail price($149), because I pre-order this product in early December. However, it's unfortunate when third party sellers are trying to sell the Street Fighter IV tournament FightStick at triple or quadruple from the original price. If MadCatz decide not to make anymore I recommend to look elsewhere. For example, I believe Hori came out with the Playstation 3 Real Arcade Pro. 3 Fighting Stick, or a company called, Arcade-in-a-box. I heard both of these company's fight sticks are well made--do a Google search.

Having said that, this is a top quality stick and you won't be disappointed.

I'm not going to try to "reinvent the wheel" per say, but rather reinforce the positive reviews already out there. If you haven't already read IGN's review (note: it's for the 360, but the product is 99% similar so you'll get the idea) there is plenty of reading material out there. All you have to do is search for "Tournament Fightstick Review."

Anyways I just had the chance to sit down and finally see what all the hype was all about for this joystick. Please keep in mind this is my first joystick so while I may not have the experience of others in knowing what's good or bad I have the common sense to tell what's quality and what's not. Here's what you need to know: the buttons and stick ooze quality. They feel and sound great. This is arcade perfect of the Viewlix cabinet so quality parts are a given. Since it has Sanwa parts you don't have to worry about modification. The plastic shell case doesn't have a real high end feel to it, but does the job just fine. My biggest gripe in terms of quality has to do with USB cable storage door. Granted I only opened the door 2 times but I was nervous both times to not break anything off. I would advise owners to handle the storage door with care.

For PSX/PS2/PC compatibility I haven't tried it with PSX/PS2 games so I can't say, though I think I remember people saying it doesn't work with PS2 games. PSX might be okay, but don't quote me on that. As for PC I plugged it in (Vista 64-bit on an Intel-based system) and after a short driver installation period I was good to go. This is great for MAME or Mugen or whatever else fits in those gaming categories.

If you're looking for a quality joystick and if you can get your hands on one I recommend you get one of these.

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Update June 11, 2009:

I've used this joystick for 2 weeks now and I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoy playing games with it. There is an intial learning curve for people who have strictly used console controllers all their lives, but it is most certainly worth it.

A little warning about this joystick: expect scratches on the clear plastic that sits on the art! From one angle the joystick looks clean, glossy, and smooth. From another angle you can spot hundreds of micro-scratches running across the face. Also I have found the black ring at the base of the stick rubs against the clear plastic the wrong way and will leave a circle of scratches surrounding it. All these cosmetic issues do not affect gameplay in any way. If you want you can always apply something smooth underneath the black ring to prevent this from happening before you start using the stick. Avoid using rubber or anything that would restrict the stick from moving freely.

I'm still not a big fan of the cable storage door, but I have gotten used to opening and closing it so hopefully it doesn't snap on me right after my 90-day warranty is up.

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Update August 14, 2009:

I decided to void the warranty a little more than a week away from its expiration for the sake of testing how easy it would be to install new buttons and a new ball top especially since I just got them from Japan (yes I'm bragging a little). Some of the quick disconnects can be difficult to remove with your fingers so I recommend you use a flathead to loosen the connector at the base and gently tug on the metal portion to remove it or use pliers, again on the metal portion. DO NOT pull on the wires! I ended up replacing the white buttons and white ball top with red counterparts (same Sanwa models: OSBF buttons and LB-35 ball top) and replaced the two black buttons with white ones All in all it was purely for aesthetics. Hopefully I'll get around to posting a picture. I did happen to buy another JLF joystick, but it's only for backup.

Modification isn't bad at all, but as I said before it's not necessary since you have top quality parts. If you are looking to modify your fightstick make sure you do some searches on guides in case you've never done this type of thing before.

With Amazon's new $130 price tag I don't see how you can turn this down.

For the first time this decade, MadCatz teamed up with Capcom to bring us a HIGH-QUALITY product, with expensive imported parts from Japan for that "Authentic Arcade Feeling". First off, all parts are infact 100% authentic Sanwa Denshi products, from the joystick to the pushbuttons which round up about $70 by itself if you were to purchase the parts. not to mention the PCboard which woudl cost your another $25~$30 normally is included with a beautifully constructed case with grade A Artwork encased in plexiglass or lexon, which would round up another $60 if you would have tried to contruct everything yourself. For the price of ONLY $100 as opposed to the new SSFIV Fight Stick for the original price of $150, BOTH which have exactly the same parts in a rehashed case and new art, this FightStick is a STEAL at this price. have fun and SRK.

It's a really great controller. Joystick and button placement are the way they should be... Exactly like a arcade cabinet. I've honestly been really disappointed recently with hori sticks because they've been trying to make the button layout ergonomic by introducing a curve to their layout. it's non-intuitive, and make your wrists hurt.
The parts on this stick are all sanwa, and honestly the feel of it is about as close to a Japanese arcade cabinet as you're gonna get. The stick is really big and heavy, which makes it ideal for people who want to play with the stick on their lap. Bolting it down to a table is also a great idea if you don't mind doing that sort of thing. This stick was made to be modded, and I've done just that. I prefer bat top handles, and Octagonal restrictor plates because I do Hadokens all day long. Installation was a snap. Only remove the top metal panel to access the internals of the joystick and buttons. This will not destroy the warranty sticker, as the seal is on the bottom of the case... a little tip there for you.
The price of this stick is absolutely worth every penny, although I cannot say the same for any of their (madcatz) other products, including their less expensive stick.

This Fightstick works like a charm. If your not used to the arcade style controller its a little hard to get used to. Know that this is probably the best fightstick on the market but don't take my word for it. Google this thing and there is nothing but praise.

When I saw the big price drop on this stick recently, I finally gave in and ordered it. I kept thinking about getting one for when Super Street Fighter 4 comes out, but I'd keep changing my mind at the last minute. With the 2 newer models, maybe this one wasn't as good as those? After reading that they're essentially the same but with different looks, it just sealed the deal along with the price drop. If you're sick of having trouble doing special moves thanks to the ps3's d-pad with its separate buttons for each direction, this will definitely help.

Right out of the box, everything worked perfectly (and smelled good too). The stick isn't as heavy as some wusses made it sound, and won't shift around when you set it down on a table or in your lap. The button layout is perfect, though I'm sure with a couple of games (like SSF2HDR), you'll need to change the button configuration in-game to make everything work best for you. Playing HD Remix with the stick was MUCH easier than with the controller, though I thought it'd take some time since I rarely got to play games in arcades over the years. The buttons have rounded tops, and I prefer them that way over buttons that kind of go inward. The cable's a good length too, and unless you have a massive tv far away from your couch, I don't see anyone having complaints about it being too short.

There have been some complaints about the stick using a square gate, and how an octagon or rounded one is better for certain characters (ones that use circular commands for special moves instead of charging ones). I noticed the square gate immediately when I moved the stick around, and was a bit concerned that it could ruin special moves, but of course there weren't any issues. Wouldn't these FightSticks have lower ratings if that were the case? I was pulling off Hurricane Kicks and Dragon Punches right off the bat. My only gripe is a small one, and it's that I don't like how clicky everything is. That's probably just because I don't play at arcades very much, but even the stick clicks, and that's not something I remember hearing on any cabinet. 'no big deal though, and since you'll be focused on playing the game, I doubt anyone else will notice.

What else is there to say? While the newer models might look cooler, and they -are- a little smaller, this FightStick is excellent and since you're saving a good amount of money, you might as well go with it since it's a little heavier. You can always customize it too since it was made with the super hardcore arcade stick fans in mind, and opening it up is easy. But for those who just plain want to buy an arcade stick and play upon opening it, it's hard to recommend any others over this for the price. Good job Mad Catz. And here I was thinking the only good thing they did was the light gun for House of the Dead 3.

This Fight Stick is Excellent. I've had a Hori Fighting Stick 2 for PS2 for a number of years and this is way superior to that and the Fighting Stick 3. I bought this because my ps2 to ps3 converter wouldn't work anymore after the 3.5 update. I've had it for a few weeks already.

Pros:
- It's very large, and quite heavy, which great as it wont move around if you place it on your table.
- The Rubber feet are really nice and grippy and will prevent sliding (wipe them before putting them on the surface)
- Real Sanwa buttons and Stick, feels just like the arcade stuff because it is the arcade stuff
- Really long cable! with cable storage
- Works with my macbook in either OSX or Windows XP bootcamp using MAME Tunes
- Extremely good build quality (except for the compartment cover), Madcatz surprised me here.

Cons:
- Cheap cable compartment cover, it's made from really thin plastic, and i'm always scared of breaking it off.


Bottom Line:
Really expensive for the casual gamer, DON'T get it unless you find it for less than $100, it's not worth the occasional gaming session. But if you want a high quality arcade stick, this is one of the great ones to get, you won't regret it.

Hi everyone! Well first of all I gave it 4 stars because I can not use the stick on my computer. MadCatz you are mean!!! But, anyways on my ps3 is perfect; and this is coming from a person that is playing street fighter since the snes with a gamepad. I am not used to arcade sticks whatsoever but the truth is that with this one I play better. And it is so pretty!!! AWWW!!! Err, well, if you have the money buy it, you will not get disappointed. By the way, you have to give some love to it before you get used to. Cheers!!!