Combat King Update

Well it's good to hear that some readers are enjoying their Combat King arcade sticks. One of my main issues is that I have a Hori arcade stick and a Combat King. The button layout is different on both controllers and that's slightly annoying when I'm hanging out with friends. Instead of getting right down to the action you have to map out the buttons for both controllers and do that for every game. That's not really a flaw with the controllers, it just means that it might be a good idea to have two of the same kind of controller if you're going to play with two players.

The main reason I wanted to give an update on the Combat King is because someone left a comment the other day saying they were glad to hear that the protective cover on the controller comes off because they want to draw their own Ninja Turtles cover on it. Well the plastic doesn't come off that easily but it's also not impossible to get rid of. I've been rubbing the plastic and the graphic off a little bit at a time with each use. Once a bit of the cover came off I figured I'd just let the whole thing go. Here's a picture of what it looks like at the moment.

As you can see, a lot of the original picture has come off where I usually rest my hands while playing. If you were actually trying to get rid of the entire picture then I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard. You'll also notice that I had to label the 4 buttons on the left side so that they show the PS3 buttons. If you're familiar with PS3 controllers then you can see that they layout isn't the same as on a typical controller. This is one of the things that makes having a Combat King and a Hori stick kind of annoying. The 4 buttons on the right are a little more straight forward with L1 and R1 at the top and L2 and R2 at the bottom.

I'd love to hear more feedback from anyone else who owns a Combat King, I've been having lots of fun with mine.

I'm off to put this controller to good use now with some Marvel vs Capcom 3, thanks for reading.

Fight Stick Review Part 3 - Hori Fighting Stick 3

After using my arcade sticks on different fighting games (SFIV, MK, Marvel vs Capcom, and MK vs DC) I've decided that the Hori Fighting Stick 3 is the one I like best. It may not be pretty, but it gets the job done easily and with no hassles. The joystick and buttons are more loose on my Hori stick than they are on the Combat King controller that I also purchased. When I reviewed the Combat King controller I mentioned that I preferred the tight feel of the buttons on the Combat King. This is still true but the fact that the controls are a little more loose on the Hori stick is only a minor detail. I also mentioned in a different post that a friend of mine preferred the Hori stick from the beginning because it was a little more loose, I guess it's all about your personal preference with that kind of thing. 

I got my Hori stick used. I'm not sure how long the previous owner had it but it works great and I have no problems with it at all. In a few ways the Combat King feels like the more professional joystick. The Combat King both looks and feels a little more like the sticks that you see people using at tournaments. The Hori Stick 3 doesn't have a macro setting, but it does have a turbo button and the R3 and L3 buttons. When I first got my fight sticks I liked the Combat King a little better than the Hori 3, now that some time has gone by I actually prefer the Hori 3. This is really just because of convenience. I use the sticks on a PS3 and (rarely) sometimes also on a PC. For me, choosing the Hori stick is just a matter of convenience, the buttons are laid out more or less like they are on a PS3 controller so it feels a little bit easier most of the time to get right to the action. People using the controllers are usually familiar with the standard PS3 controllers already and the layout of the buttons, it's just more intuitive.

Recap:

Although I originally preferred the Combat King over the Hori Fighting Stick 3, I know like the Hori 3 just a little more than the Combat King. I still use my Combat King and they are definitely both well made sticks, they do their job like they're supposed to and are fun to use. The edge now goes to the Hori 3 mainly as a matter of convenience for a PS3 user.

Fight Stick Review Part 2: Combat King

Click here for our review of the Hyperkin joystick.

I ordered the Combat King Joystick from Ebay when I was looking around for fighting sticks. The Combat King Joystick seemed like a decent quality stick and the price was affordable. This particular stick was shipped to me from China and the delivery was quick and reliable. The joystick and buttons on the Combat King controller felt very tight to me and I liked that. I mentioned that the Hyperkin fight stick I bought felt very loose, the opposite is true for the Combat King. Everything felt very tight and in place. The quality of the parts is very good. I originally thought that this fight stick was the best of the three that I tried and this was mainly because of how tight the controller feels. I later realized that this is only a matter of preference when a friend mentioned that he actually prefers a loose stick and that the Combat King felt a bit stiff.  I thought the stick and buttons felt great when they were nice and tight but my friend preferred the loose controls of the Hori Fighting Stick 3 which I will be reviewing as well.

Another reason I chose the Combat King when shopping online was because it came with a cool Street Fighter IV picture on it. Most higher quality joysticks that I've wished for have those graphics so when I saw that I could get something like that myself at a low price I just had to get it. Unfortunately this backfired on me a little because the graphic and the plastic cover protecting the picture were'nt very well made. After only a short while playing, the protective plastic on the Combat King started peeling off. It started with only one of the corners at first so I put a bit of duct tape on it; then a while later I more started peeling off on the side. I had to duct tape a big section of that as well and the picture is still in tact but the tape ruined the original esthetic and it was dissappointing to have to patch up an otherwise good arcade stick. 


There are some things worth considering if you're thinking of buying a Combat King. It looks like a decent arcade stick, something you would take to a tournament. There are turbo and macro settings on it but they are located on the front panel facing you, not on the face of the controller like they are on the Hyperkin and Hori sticks. This could be a good thing if you're always playing on a table top. The suction cups are pretty good too and they really stick well to plastic surfaces. The downside to having these buttons located there is that if you're playing with the controller on your lap in a more casual setting then there is a risk of accidentally pushing these buttons. This has happened to me and my friends while we're battling each other. The button that functions as the PS button is also located there so funny things can happen in the middle of a fight. You could accidentally hit the macro button on the joystick and program a set of moves to one button without even knowing it.

The Combat King fight stick I ordered is the same model as the one below. That's the graphic that it comes with. The plastic cover on graphic is hardly noticeable in the picture. Mine first started peeling off at the corner where it says SSFIV and then it happened again along the side where you see Cammy and Vega. Notice the 3 buttons on the front panel and that none of the buttons (start, select, square, triangle etc...) are labelled.

The last thing worth mentioning with the Combat King is that the buttons are not laid out in the standard way for PS3 users. Both the Hyperkin controller and the Hori 3 controller are clearly laid out. You know exactly where L1, R1 and all the other buttons are and should be. The Combat King is the only stick out of the 3 controllers that does not have the button layout of a typical PS3 controller. This isn't really a huge deal and you get to know the controller with a little time but it can be annoying. Getting the buttons to match the kicks and punches where you want them isn't as straight forward as with the other two sticks and I have to fully customize my settings in Street Fighter IV instead of choosing premade arcade stick settings that are in the game.


You can order the Combat King with an extended joystick for the same price as the regular sized stick so if you prefer the longer controller then this is something worth considering. I'm happy with my Combat King controller. It has a stick on the side that says professional fighting joystick. Is it a professional fight stick? I say yes, but it's certainly not perfect and it has it's a  little quircky. I was looking for something good, something professional, but I was also on a budget and looking for something affordable. The Combat King is what I was looking for, even if it's not perfect.


Overall:


Responsive controlls with good quality parts
Controlls feel tight when it is new
Comes with turbo and macro settings
Comes with a Super Street Figther IV logo
Plastic cover peels easily but it this can be prevented easily with some tape
The controller can be ordered with a regular sized or extended joystick
The buttons are not laid out in the standard way for PS3 users

Fight Stick Review Part 1: Hyperkin

Click here for our review of the Combat King fight stick.

I really think arcade sticks are the way to go when you're playing fighting games. I know there are probably a lot of great players who use console style controllers but for me playing with a stick is kind of a tradition. These were arcade games in the beginning and that's the way they were originally meant to be played and that's the way I like to play them. Call me old fashioned!

I recently had a chance to test 3 arcade sticks: the Hori Fighting Stick 3, the Combat King Joystick and the K.O. Fighting Stick by Hyperkin. I was pleased with all of them. They work absolutely fine and they instantly brought back memories of playing these games at the arcade. When I was shopping around for a fight stick I was worried about buying a lower end stick like the one by Hyperkin because I read some reviews saying they're not as good as other more expensive sticks. While it's true that the Hyperkin wasn't as good as the others, this was only because the base was a little bit smaller and the stick control felt a little more loose than on my other two sticks. This didn't prevent me from playing the same way and it only reminded me of the worked in cabinets in arcades. While the stick control was a little loose on the Hyperkin controller, the buttons were absolutely normal and very responsive. I would recommend the Hyperkin controller for anyone with a smaller budget or a beginning interest in fight sticks. Aside from the size and fancier cosmetic features, it plays in the same league as the others.

The Street Fighter Web Series

I've been really excited about fighting games recently. My collection of them for the PS3 has grown recently with the addition of Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, and an upgrade from Super Street Fighter IV to Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition. I have enough fighting games to keep me busy for a while and I plan on getting my hands on the new Mortal Kombat soon also.

With so many fighting games on my mind I was doing a YouTube search under Street Fighter thinking that I would come across a review of the game or something like that. What I ended up finding was even better! I found a YouTube web series called The Street Fighter. It's still rather new so I'll try not to spoil it for everyone by giving too much away. Basically, it's about an average Joe with a penchant for Street Fighter IV and fight sticks. The show is very well made and was very entertaining to watch. I read a ton of positive reviews for the little series and it even left me wanting more so I actually checked out a "making of" segment afterwards. The acting, directing, plot and camera work were all great. The Street Fighter was very entertaining and has something for almost everyone, even if you're not a big fan of Street Fighter video games. There's even a nerdy but sexy gamer chick that works in a comic book store (a nerd's dream come true!) who is one of the main characters. Judging by the YouTube comments, she already has quite a few fans. The Game Station did a great job making this project, be sure to check out their YouTube channel.

Here's The Street Fighter Episode 1. Enjoy!

Arcade Fighting Sticks

If you're new to the world of fighting games you may not have realized that there are arcade sticks out there for gamers who love tournament fighters like the Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat series. Not only are arcade style sticks available, they are a must if you want to get the full experience of a fighting game.

Street Fighter II and its later editions along with Mortal Kombat 1 and 2 came out when I was in grade school and high school. I remember being a kid at lunch time saving a quarter or two from my lunch money, waiting for a trip to the arcade after school so I could go a couple of rounds with some friends. I recently ordered my first fighting stick for the PS3 and these memories came back. I still enjoy playing Street Fighter IV on the regular PS3 controller like I enjoyed Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat on the SNES but I firmly believe (and I'm sure others agree) that these games were made for and are played best on arcade fighting sticks. I've never participated in a tournament or attended one but as far as I can tell from what I read online, serious players are using arcade style controllers like the ones made by HORI and Mad Catz.

It seems like there was an arcade in every neighborhood a few decades ago but times have changed. I used to discover new games at the arcade as a kid and now most people are introduced to fighting games on home consoles like the Xbox 360 or through PC emulators. If you're just getting into fighting games like Street Fighter IV I have two suggestions. Play the classics Street Fighter II, SF II Turbo, Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II and also try playing them on a decent fighting stick. I think the early games are great for teaching beginners the basics and with a fight stick you'll be mixing combos full of hadokens and shoryukens in no time.