The final say in what is the best joystick!

[Tighe]

This is just my opinion, but if anyone is looking for advice on which joystick to get for their cabinet, this should be helpful.

I review the following arcade joysticks:

• HAPP Super Joystick
• HAPP Ultimate Joystick
• HAPP Competition Joystick
• iL 8-Way Eurojoystick
• Perfect 360 Mated to a Wico Leaf Spring Joystick

If you don't care to watch, the newest revision of the HAPP Competition and the iL 8-Way Eurojoystick are in a tie, with the iL winning because of the matching dust washer.

Before everyone starts jumping down my throat about how the iLs are so much better, try ordering a new HAPP Competition from Lizard Lick or GroovyGameGear and tell me if you can notice the difference. HAPP has improved their product. If you can notice a difference, then just spend the $.50 to get the white actuator for the HAPP.

 

[AllenBomber]

Interesting review. I wish he would have had the sticks he was reviewing cleaned up and a bit better lit (hard to see some of the motions he's talking about) but very informative. I knew the opticals had a lot going on, but I never realized there was so little difference between the "super" and the "comp" sticks. I've been buying the crap ones becasue they're easy to convert for 4-way use, but I'm not huge into fighting games either. Maybe I'll invest in a better set for my new Neo Geo cab.

 

[Tighe]

Interesting review. I wish he would have had the sticks he was reviewing cleaned up and a bit better lit (hard to see some of the motions he's talking about) but very informative. I knew the opticals had a lot going on, but I never realized there was so little difference between the "super" and the "comp" sticks. I've been buying the crap ones becasue they're easy to convert for 4-way use, but I'm not huge into fighting games either. Maybe I'll invest in a better set for my new Neo Geo cab.

The Competitions are $7.95/each from LL so you really can't go wrong with them. Supers are just so horrible. I wouldn't even use them in 4-way applications.

Sorry about the lighting in the video.

Also I didn't clean the old sticks because I am not using them.

 

[Tighe]

I never realized there was so little difference between the "super" and the "comp" sticks.

The supers have round rubber actuators and the Competitions have square actuators, huge difference when using them. Supers are like playing with mush.

 

[Tighe]

Perfect 360

What I didn'lt know until I did this review was the the perfect 360 was originaly an add-on for Wico leaf joysticks. I wonder if the new HAPP ones are better. Anyone have one?

 

[Tighe]

Have: Mappy, Breakout, Tetris, AmeriDarts, Cyber Sled, Sente w/ Mini Golf and Gimme a Break, NEO GEO w/ AoF, KoF 98 and 10th Anniversary, Surf Planet, and a MAME.
Want: Super Off Road, Arkanoid, Asteroids, Simpsons, Killer Instinct, MVS 150 in 1

If you get a KI please don't put supers in it

 

[Stuffmonger]

My biggest problem with the ultimate sticks is the square actuator. Sometimes, the shaft twists, and you end up hitting two switches when you should only hit one... Thought a circle actuator would be vastly better, but I don't know if they make one.

 

[Tighe]

You want a 4-way

My biggest problem with the comp sticks is the square actuator. Sometimes, the shaft twists, and you end up hitting two switches when you should only hit one... Thought a circle actuator would be vastly better, but I don't know if they make one.

Ahh, what you want is a 4-way stick. The Ultimate sick can be had with a round actuator. To be honest, I would not use any HAPP stick in a 4-way application (like pac-man) I would get the Sanwa JLF-TP-8T Ball Handle Joystick, 4 & 8-Way Adjustable stick. Those are closer to the feeling to the old style sticks from the 80's. But really if I were restoring a Pac, I would use and old stick, those old leaf spring sticks can easily be repaired.

I should have explained that the stick review I did was geared more towards games from the 90's.

 

[gamefixer]

but I never realized there was so little difference between the "super" and the "comp" sticks.

One thing that might deter you from buying Supers...

The metal blades that actuate the switches on the joystick get slightly bent in towards the switches after a period of time. When they do the timing is off enough so that you can pull special moves in fighting games like fireballs and all that other crap. They will still work great for normal movement and always will be fine for games like Raiden but any game that you have to execute a constant sweep of the joystick will get effected.

The comps and ultimates dont have this problem.

I personally like the supers best and dont care about fighting games.

Matt

 

[gamefixer]

What I didn'lt know until I did this review was the the perfect 360 was originaly an add-on for Wico leaf joysticks. I wonder if the new HAPP ones are better. Anyone have one?

You might find this interesting.

I have a Multi-WMS that I originally put a pair of Happ Ultimates on. I've got Robotron set to skill level 10 for a more challenging game. With the Ultimates I can reach a little over 1,000,000 points. I installed a pair of Happ 360's and my FIRST game was over 2 million points! In a game like Robotron timing is the key to good game play. Obviously the 360's are more responsive then the Ultimates.

Matt

 

[Tighe]

I personally like the supers best and dont care about fighting games.

What advantage does the Super have? Even if it isn't a fighting game the Competitions are still better and still $8. Why not just get the competition?

Of course like I said above, I wouldn't put any of them in a game like Pac, Galaga, DK, etc.

 

[Stuffmonger]

Ahh, what you want is a 4-way stick. The Ultimate sick can be had with a round actuator. To be honest, I would not use any HAPP stick in a 4-way application (like pac-man) I would get the Sanwa JLF-TP-8T Ball Handle Joystick, 4 & 8-Way Adjustable stick. Those are closer to the feeling to the old style sticks from the 80's. But really if I were restoring a Pac, I would use and old stick, those old leaf spring sticks can easily be repaired.

I should have explained that the stick review I did was geared more towards games from the 90's.

I wanted it for 8-way, but I just didn't like the square actuators. The best stick I've used had a very small round actuator with microswitches with actuators. Those sticks were responsive in any direction, and didn't give any erroneous movements. I don't know who made them though.

 

[Tighe]

You might find this interesting.

I have a Multi-WMS that I originally put a pair of Happ Ultimates on. I've got Robotron set to skill level 10 for a more challenging game. With the Ultimates I can reach a little over 1,000,000 points. I installed a pair of Happ 360's and my FIRST game was over 2 million points! In a game like Robotron timing is the key to good game play. Obviously the 360's are more responsive then the Ultimates.

Matt

Now I really want to try the newer Perfect 360 sticks! What about double-tapping? I know you don't double-tap in Robotron, but will it register as two distinct taps? The Wicos with the 360 kit don't.

 

[gamefixer]

What advantage does the Super have? Even if it isn't a fighting game the Competitions are still better and still $8. Why not just get the competition?

Of course like I said above, I wouldn't put any of them in a game like Pac, Galaga, DK, etc.

The supers have a more "fluid" movement. When using the Ultimates and comps I can feel the corners in the base. Not a deal killer just my preference. I also like the fatter bat on the Supers.

But, as you mentioned, none of these joysticks (including the 360) would be a good stick on a 4 way game.

Matt

 

[Tighe]

The supers have a more "fluid" movement. When using the Ultimates and comps I can feel the corners in the base. Not a deal killer just my preference. I also like the fatter bat on the Supers.

But, as you mentioned, none of these joysticks (including the 360) would be a good stick on a 4 way game.

Matt

Interesting, because that is what I hate about the Seimitsu sticks with the default square restrictor plate. in comparison, the Competitions are very fluid. You can get a round and octagonal plate for those Sanwa sticks to make them more fluid too.

I do find that Ultimates are prone to feel not fluid, but I never really noticed any jerkiness with the Competitions. Circle motions feel fluid to me.

 

[gamefixer]

What it really boils down to is personal oppinion. There is no "perfect" joystick because were all going to feel different about them.

When I sold car stereo and was asked "whats the best 10 inch sub" I had to preface my answer by explaining that we dont all hear the same. What some people might think is the "best" isnt going to be that for them.

As far as those crappy Japanese/Chinese/Asian joysticks go... THEY ALL SUCK!

Matt

 

[Tighe]

What it really boils down to is personal oppinion. There is no "perfect" joystick because were all going to feel different about them.

When I sold car stereo and was asked "whats the best 10 inch sub" I had to preface my answer by explaining that we dont all hear the same. What some people might think is the "best" isnt going to be that for them.

As far as those crappy Japanese/Chinese/Asian joysticks go... THEY ALL SUCK!

Matt

What!? Not everyone shares my opinion!? I figure I can be the most helpful by expressing my opinions, doesn't mean you have to agree.

Yah I don't have any Asian sticks, except for the one in my Dreamcast controller.

 

[AllenBomber]

Alright enough ranking on me for my crappy sticks. I mean what do I really have that requires a good quality stick? I'm still working on my Neo cab, so that's not done yet, Tetris can be played with buttons if you want, MAME isn't super precise anways, and most everything else is a track-ball or a 1-off control setup. Yeah, don't worry about a KI. If I ever came across one, I'd do it right.

It's not the precision of the stick, it's what you do with it... right?

 

[Tighe]

Alright enough ranking on me for my crappy sticks. I mean what do I really have that requires a good quality stick? I'm still working on my Neo cab, so that's not done yet, Tetris can be played with buttons if you want, MAME isn't super precise anways, and most everything else is a track-ball or a 1-off control setup. Yeah, don't worry about a KI. If I ever came across one, I'd do it right.

It's not the precision of the stick, it's what you do with it... right?

I am sorry if I made you feel that I was ranking on you. It is just that the price is so cheap on the comps. If you are playing a Shoot'm up it doesn't matter at all.

My poor opinion of the super comes from playing fighting games in arcades where the operators didn't care and would replace a comp with a super, but only one, so whoever got that side was at a huge disadvantage.

 

[AllenBomber]

alright well at least everything I own is a matched set, so the disadvantage is even across the board.