Playstation 3 Soul Calibur IV Arcade Stick

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I own both sticks and each are made as a limited edition for their respective games. Both sticks have a beautifully design faceplate representing each game. Both sticks are made by HORI, a well known maker of peripherals from Japan, and have that HORI quality throughout. The typical 8 way clicking lollipop joystick and the durable convex buttons are featured and is typical of HORI parts. This is where the similarities end.

Availability: The Tekken 5 stick is not in production any longer but you can find many on auction at the typical auction websites. SCIV stick obviously is brand new and features SCIV artwork on the face.

SIZE: The SCIV stick is about 1/2 the size and girth of the Tekken 5 stick. Your hands will not completely rest on SCIV stick as it would on the massive Tekken 5 stick. Also it is important to note that the Tekken 5 stick is similar in size as HORI's arcade pro series sticks. SCIV stick is similar to the smaller namco fighting stick for PS1 and the DEAD OR ALIVE 4 stick for XBOX 360 released with the game both made by HORI.

Compatibility: THIS IS IMPORTANT. IF you read nothing else, make sure you read this part. The Tekken 5 stick is made for PS2. The SCIV stick is made for PS3.

SCIV stick will work on SCIV, Soul Blade (PS1), SCII and SCIII (PS2), TEKKEN 5 DR (PS3), TEKKEN 1,2,3,4 TAG,5 (PS2) and most importantly it features turbo functions and a PS HOME button as well.

The Tekken 5 Stick was originally made for PS2 and WILL NOT work with the PS3 UNLESS you get the right adapter. NOT JUST ANY ADAPTER, the right adapter!!! This goes for any and all HORI sticks made for PS2. What's the right adapter?

Not many are available anymore, but one that works but with a small lag input and no PS home button is the ANTCOMMANDOS guitar hero adapter. Specifically designed for the guitar hero controller but works with the stick. I am an average player at best and even I notice a lag. But for most button mashers and hackers this maybe a good choice for you. And it is the most readily available and least expensive.

The one you want if it ever becomes available again is the REAL ps2 to PS3 adapter from China. It was sold on Amazon by mycarryingcase but has since been unavailable.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00116SUUO

If it comes available again, do not hesitate, get it. It has no lag and features a PS3 home button. It works great with SCIV as well as Tekken 5 DR and all the previous editions of each. It even works with Virtua 5!!!! It is avialable through others sellers but they are expensive and inflated because of the rarity of such an item. And don't even waste your money on the other products---> THEY DO NOT WORK. Period.

So how does it work for Soul Calibur IV? Hands down (no pun intended) better than using a dual shock 3.

The button lay out is similar to the Hori Real Arcade Pro 3 (HRAP3), in which the buttons curve from left to right.However on the SCIV stick the button layout differs in that the top row is L1 [](A) /\(B) R1 and the bottom row is L2 X(G) O(K) R2. Already there is a built in advantage to this configuration versus a controller, because many of the moves require simultaneous button presses and sequences. Example: Darth Vader's Force Grip into Force Hang then Saber Strike, which requires B+G,A+B then A+B. This is so much harder to do on a controller, but you can easily hit this 9/10 times on the SCIV stick. Yes, some of you can probably do this easily on the controller but it takes much less skill to pull off when your fingers are covering all the necessary buttons on the SCIV stick. There are many moves and combos like this with ALL the characters, some are even more complicated. I used darth vader as an example because, well, everyone will try him at least once. I did. I usually play Taki ever since Soul Blade and I used a Hori fighting PS1 back then and have never used anything else but a Hori Branded stick since.

In addition, you can configure the buttons on SCIV any way you want so can actually set it up just like the arcade where the main buttons are closest to the stick.

Despite true stick enthusiatist saying that HORI isnt as good as real arcade parts like Sanwa, that is an unfair comparsion. This stick was not intended for public use and abuse. I look at it this way. HORI parts are not arcade quality, BUT are quality parts. This is NOT Madcatz or Nyko cheap quality at all. The weight, feel, and quality are evident once you unwrap and use this stick. The joystick clicks in every direction and buttons are resposive, the top is steel, and the artwork will not fade from normal use. And for many of you that don't feel like spending over 140.00 on a HRAP3, this will serve you just fine. Just get it already!

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I got this joystick so that I can practice my skills on Soul Calibur 4. When I received it in the mail from Amazon, I was surprise of the quality of it. It seems to be just like a real arcade stick. It is a very good weight, metal base and the design of SC4 is nicely done on the controller, something you will see in a real arcade.

Let get to the facts.

It is wired. I had a problem with this, but the cord is very long, which was necessary for my setup in my basement. I have my PS3 on a top shelf to keep it away from the kids, yet the cord is long enough for me to sit back on my futon and play.

It is PS1 PS2 compatible. I believe this was done with a firmware update, but I had no problems playing Street Fighter Alpha Anthologies.

It is accurate. I played Tekken 5 DR on it and everything works great. I practiced Heihachi's move set and now I realized how people are able to do the combos that they do online, it is because of having such a joystick. The real test was playing Street Fighter. I was concerned when I read reviews about the joystick having a square base and some people complaining about it. To me, it makes things a bit better than a Circle base. It is not as tight as you will feel in the Street Fighter Arcade Joystick, nevertheless it is in no way sloppy, it is just a preference.

It Clicks. Yes the controller clicks, but the clicking can work in your favor if you make it work. Each time it clicks, the joystick is making a command. If you are seeking accuracy, then you can time it based on the audible clicks the joystick makes. It clicks just enough to make the sound, yet it doesn't get in the way of performance.

The eight buttons are layered in a downward arc. I read that it is an unnatural position to keep your fingers on all the buttons. I agree with that. If you are one of those players who likes to keep all of your fingers on the buttons, this controller may not work for you. But if you can train yourself to use certain buttons steps at a time, then it is no problem.

If you are new to a joystick and a pro with the control pad, then it may be a bit hard to adjust, but the rewards are there. I am more practiced at a control pad and I had to refresh myself with doing a Dragon Puch facing the right. My left hand isn't conditioned as well as I like so I spent the night just practicing the Sho Ryu Ken. Turns out I benefited from it. Just had to get adjusted.

I like quality products and this doesn't feel like a cheap toy. I only paid around $40 for it, but I honestly feel it could be worth much more.

Buy Playstation 3 Soul Calibur IV Arcade Stick Now

When I decided to start playing fighting games again, I looked for some joysticks that would work well with a PS3. On the stock side, this is pretty much the only thing that I could find outside of importing something from play-asia.

I liked it a lot at first, even though I wish the layout of the buttons could be rotated about 20 degrees counterclockwise. Oh well!

As I use it more and more, it really seems like the buttons are getting unresponsive at times. Even while playing in training mode, often times while performing attacks in SC that are are easy to do (such as BB) it will only input the first command. This makes things such as Taki's WR,BKB extremely risky to do, because the move is not performed a lot.

I had zero problem with this move when I first got it.

It is hard to say, but I've only logged about 70 hours into the game so far, and I'm already looking to buy another stick.

I think I'm going to end up investing in a custom made stick, but I will cringe at what that is going to cost me. Oh well!

In short? Consider these a stop gap product. If you are not sure you would prefer using a joystick, pick up one of these to try it out. If you like it, and stick with the game, invest in something custom made.

If you are sure, skip this thing altogether.

By the way, the 'PS' button on this stick does not turn your PS3 on, you have to turn it on with a standard controller or by pressing the button on the console. It works as it should once the unit is powered on though.

Read Best Reviews of Playstation 3 Soul Calibur IV Arcade Stick Here

I bought this back in 2008 from Amazon.

I also wanted to say, as I have seen other people post similar things on Amazon that it asks you to "Rate This Game" and "How much fun is this game" this is not a game but an accessory. I would give and do give Soul Calibur IV 5 Stars!

However while this is a good design and works well, this controller does have a few shortcomings. It would have been nice if the controller would have had a built in rechargeable battery so you could charge it with any PS3 controller charging cable....and then not have to rely on having it plugged into your console to use it.

The design of the controller is also a lacking from an aesthetic perspective. The Picture on the base (under the buttons and stick) is really just a heavy duty sticker. Of course it would have raised the cost but it would have been nice to see a better design such as how the surface of the Mortal Kombat 2011 controller was done......that controller is much bigger than this one would have ever been but the surface under the stick and buttons is great.

The stick and buttons do feel great and respond very well....though they were a lighter than perhaps they should have and could have been.

One good thing about this stick is it's a SOUL CALIBUR controller! If you are any kind of a Soul Calibur fan....you really should have at least one of these!

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This PS3 Hori Soul Calibur IV Arcade Fighting Stick is great... I've heard that this is the best out there for the price....