"This is a great arcade stick. I am very please and it was well worth the money."
Xbox 360 Real Arcade Pro. EX (Xbox 360)
Xbox 360 Real Arcade Pro. EX (Xbox 360) Reviews
You might balk at spending $130 on a joystick, but you shouldn't. Not when it's this good. Hori has been making great stuff for years, and this is simply a great joystick. Big, sturdy, and responsive, this is just the ticket for fighting games (Street Fighter IV anyone?) and action games of assorted varieties. It's also worth noting that this joystick works on Windows (not Macs, unfortunately), so that's another way to get some extra bang for your buck.
Overall: simply great and worth the money.
I was fortunate enough to order one of these while they were still in stock, and I must say, I could not be happier with my purchase. Out of the box the stick is solid and really feels like it can take some abuse. The joystick (Sanwa JLF) is extremely responsive and the Hori buttons are nice as well. Another great thing about this stick is the sheer size of the cabinet. It allows for plenty of space to rest your hands on and it works well wether you place it on the coffee table or in your lap. I've used this exclusively since getting SF4, and even with the amount of use it's gotten already, it still feels solid. My friends say the same when I take it with me to video game nights. They love it as well.
With regards to customization - as others have said, this stick comes with great parts that will perform to most standards and types of playing. With that said though, some may choose to customize the HRAP, and it is very easy to do so. The buttons are all snap in, and it's easy to disconnect the wires since they use quick disconnects. The stick itself is also easy to customize. Sanwa offers many solutions for restrictor gates and bat tops. I myself, wanting the feel of an American arcade stick, swapped out the standard square gate for an octagonal one and put a bat top on the stick in place of the bubble top. I am extremely happy with the feel. A quick google search on-line will take you to a couple suppliers where parts can be ordered if you choose to go the custom route (I ordered my stuff from lizard lick amusements), and a visit to the forums on srk has plenty of info for everything. The only other thing I may do is add some weight inside the cabinet. It's pretty hefty already, but a little bit more wouldn't hurt. It's a personal perference.
All in all, this is a great stick. I am extrememly happy with my purchase and love using it with SF4. 30 years and I've finally realized my dream of having an arcade in my living room - no quarters required!
This is a real gaming console. It's like having the best part of the
arcade machine on your lap. Very comfortable and natural to use. The
actual size of this console is large compared to the xbox standard
control, about 14" x 9" x 3" (w,l,h). The joystick is superb, overall
construction excellent - very sturdy. Makes playing SF4 just like the
old days. 10 out of 10 rating for this console. Worth the investment.




