Reviewed: April 2, 2005
Reviewed by: Mark Smith

Manufacturer
Redoctane

Type: Arcade Stick
System: PS2/PS1/Xbox/USB

Rating: 8.5

Features

RedOctane has brought that feeling home with their new Arcade Stick, a full-sized replica of an arcade coin-op machine, or at least the control surface. Constructed from real wood and coated with a black matte finish, and highlighted with a clear plastic surface, eight red action buttons, two white Start and Select buttons, and a highly responsive joystick knob that feels just like the “real thing”, you can close your eyes and pretend you are back in the golden era of arcades.

While the Arcade Stick will work with just about any game out there it’s no secret that this unique device was targeted to those who play fighting games. To that end we tested this stick extensively with games like Tekken 5, Mortal Kombat: Deception, and Guilty Gear X2. I even broke out my Namco Museum for a trip down memory lane with some classic Pac Man and Dig Dug. The Arcade Stick is the perfect complement to any of the retro game bundles coming out these days. After all, this is how they were originally played.

I guess the biggest obstacle gamers will have to overcome is learning how to play their favorite fighting games using a series of eight buttons, all on the same surface. Fighting with the Arcade Stick is like learning to play a piano with only eight keys. If you are an arcade veteran of Mortal Kombat then this shouldn’t be a problem, but if you have mastered the fine art of ass-kicking with a Dual Shock then you have a major learning curve ahead of you, as your right thumb is now replaced by every finger on that hand.

The stick worked like a champ with great response from the joystick, and the raised buttons offered a depth of “plunging” that is far beyond the Dual Shock and just like an arcade machine. The bottom of the Arcade Stick is flat with a rubber mat for a no-slip grip on any smooth surface you set it down on. It’s not that heavy so you could even put it on your lap.

The top plastic surface gives the unit a glossy finish but be careful about the sharp edges where this plastic was cut to fit the base design. Some of these edges extend out beyond the wood ever so slightly, and if you catch them the wrong way they can cut you.

The overall look of Arcade Stick is simple, almost to the point of being a bit boring. The large flat surface begs for some customization, and I can only hope Gamer Graffix is working on some skins. It would be great to have the authentic artwork from any of the hundreds of arcade cabinets from the 80’s and 90’s adorning this unit.

My one and only complaint with the Arcade Stick is the length of the cord. Having only 64-inches of controller cord is very…ahem…shortsighted of the designers. I have a 50” HDTV and I really don’t like sitting 5-feet in front of it. Fortunately, I had a controller extension cable lying around from my Pelican Sniper Rifle and was able to extend the cable and return to my favorite gaming seat.

RedOctane claims the Arcade Stick works with Xbox with the appropriate adapter. The Arcade Stick also supports a USB adapter indicating it might actually be able to work with some PC games. We had neither of these adapters on hand for our tests so we can’t go into any details on how well this works.

A lot of you probably won’t want to drop $60 for a joystick, but then again, I’m sure there are a select group of you out there who grew up playing Tekken and Mortal Kombat in the arcades, and continue to play the latest versions at home. For you, purchasing this excellent controller is a no-brainer. The Arcade Stick is the perfect controller to enhance these games and bring that arcade feeling and style of gameplay right into your home.