Are the SF Anniversary Controllers Any Good?

[Yeton]

I noticed that the SF Anniversary pads have gotten themselves a UK release, and I was wondering if they were any good? Are the D-Pads good, accurate and responsive, and how's the general durability of these things? The PS2 pads are bearable for Virtua Fighter, but bloody hell, it's torture doing any special moves in KOF2K/2K1! Another option is of course waiting for the release of the PS2 Sega Saturn pads. I've gone a little cold on the idea of an arcade Joystick for the time being at any rate!

[MitchMF]

I've seen those, they look lovely  

I made the monkeys behind the counter get them all down for me to have a look at ;D

They feel pretty good, but I'm gonna have a play with them on Saturday, I'll let you know what they're like matey

[Kazuya_UK]

For Neo Geo games... Neo Geo Fighter Stick pls... . It's hands down the best for Neo Geo ports and shoot 'em ups in my opinion, although I've tried it with Street Fighter and a few others, and obviously it's not so good cos of the button layout (especially with games needing 6 buttons). I wouldn't be without it though now...

The SF pads look great... Mitch was it Another World/Forbidden Planet you saw them in? I had a look at them in there and was tempted, but decided on the stick instead because of how used I am to the classic Neo sticks and because I mainly wanted to play KOF and Metal Slug. If you like the Saturn pads though you should like them...

Kaz

[MitchMF]

Kazuya_UK said:

The SF pads look great... Mitch was it Another World/Forbidden Planet you saw them in?

It was Game Station matey, they only had about 6, so they had best not be all sold by the weekend otherwise I'll be swearing in the shop quite loudly

[flan_man]

I am pleased with mine. Controls are very responsive, and the button setup is perfect for Street Fighter (doh!). I tried it with Capcom Fighting Jam and pulling off special moves worked like a charm, certainly better than with the regular ps2 pad. I cannot comment on durability yet.

I tried to use these anniversary pads on Xbox too with a converter, but that totally messes up the d-pad control.

[Yeton]

Mitch/Flanman: Thanks, much appreciated!

Kaz: A slight u-turn (Fickle little idiot, aren't I?). The Neo Geo stick might still be a good alternative, as Virtua Fighter/Tekken require 3/4 buttons respectively, but ironically, I am too used to playing KOF with a Street Fighter layout - i.e. punches on the top row, kicks on the bottom, instead of the in a line ABCD layout expected of SNK games! Of course, I could just break a bad habit and play it the way it's meant to be played on the NG stick. I've given up on the idea of modding my PS2 just for SF3 (and I most definately am NOT picking up that joke of a game called Capcom Fighting Jam), so 6 buttons are not an issue any more . How good do you reckon the NG stick is for a 3D fighting game? I often hear complaints that so-and-so stick isn't suitable for VF4 because of a square base instead of an octagonal base for the joystick to move in and stuff. What do you think when using it on a game like Tekken 5? Well, whatever my choice, I most definately need a new controller: I am sick of trying to do a crouch dash into attack on VF4 (like Akira's double palm, that can be done df.df,b,f +Punch instead of having to crouch first) and fluffing it because my PS2 controller is so inaccurate with diagonals! My ultra cheap Logic 3 controller is actually way more accurate with diagonal down button presses, but for some reason can be inaccurate with diagonal ups!

I'll see what Mitch's opinion is before I have a good sit down and chin scratch.

And Kaz, I saw the SF Anni pads in, of all places, HMV!

[Kazuya_UK]

I think the stick is great, although I'm not 100% sure I would use it with Tekken... me and crag used it for a while on T4/T5 and although it seemed ok I really don't like the Neo style button layout... the stick itself seems ok though. but I dunno if real high level players would be more picky about it. All I can say though is that the really picky Neo Geo players never had any fault with the classic Neo stick for Neo Geo games, and this seems to be as good quality as the originals were, so it should be ok. It would be better to try before you buy, but I suppose that might be difficult seeing as the Neo sticks are not available in the UK officially

I'd still like an X-Arcade I must admit... ;D

Btw flan, too bad about the pads not working through the Xbox adaptor, that's a shame

Kaz

[Daaren]

The pads are great for CVS 2
The d-pad is fine, the motion are easily done and you don't have to kill your finguers like you would exemple on a dreamcast pad
The Gouk-pad is the greatest

[flan_man]

Kazuya_UK said:

Btw flan, too bad about the pads not working through the Xbox adaptor, that's a shame

Yes, major bummer. I was dying to use that pad on the Street Fighter Anniversary collection on Xbox, but alas...

There still is some hope though...
www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/63B35535-0C0F-4F61-8298-F035043308B9.htm

[MitchMF]

Cheers for the news flan, they sound brill  

[Kazuya_UK]

Cool news that Xbox owners are getting them, but still a shame cos it means splashing out another £20 or so for another pad... better than nothing though, and it won't worry people who only have an Xbox or Ps2 and not both

Kaz

[Yeton]

The SF Anniversary pad's shoulder buttons are perfectly responsive too, aren't they? Strongly looking at picking one up from Lik Sang now (reckon it will work out cheaper than the £20-£25 asked for in some shops in the UK). I like the red and white colour scheme of the Ryu version ... but on the other hand people who know me from way back will recall I used to be a Ryu scrub and say that was really predictable of me. Doh!

[Kazuya_UK]

Ryu one looks nice - hopefully even with shipping on top it will still work out cheaper from lik-sang. I don't think the pads are that heavy, so shipping shouldn't be too bad even from HK with any luck.

Be a pal and use my lik-sang affiliate link if you order from them will ya . Only kidding, no biggie either way but I'd appreciate a couple of $'s

</spammage>

Kaz

[flan_man]

In spite of their size, they aren't that heavy indeed. No force feedback device installed in them either. Less than 2 kilos so no worry for expensive shipping costs if you order at Lik-Sang.

I'll keep that affiliate link in mind for future orders.

[Yeton]

Kazuya_UK said:

Be a pal and use my lik-sang affiliate link if you order from them will ya .

No probs, will do!