So you wanna start playing a fighting game. Perhaps you’re excited to enter EVO2020 and wreck some n00bs with your favorite character. But first, how the heck are you gonna play the game? Let’s cut to brass tacks: what controller should you use? You have quite a few options, but let’s cut it down to just two: the DualShock 4/Xbox Elite Controller and an Arcade Stick.
First: The DualShock 4/Xbox Controller. Yes, these are two controllers in the same category, but that’s because they are virtually the same controller with only one major, but nearly negligible difference: The left analogue stick and directional pad placements are swapped. This controller will come with your console and will cost you virtually nothing, since everything will already come with your console.
The placement of the left analogue stick and directional pad is negligible because it’s possible to obtain an adapter to use a DualShock 4 on an Xbox, and vice versa. Most games will be run using a PlayStation 4, so if you would like to use an Xbox Controller, you will likely need an adapter if you want to play at tournaments.
On the other hand, if you’ve played in arcades as a kid and would like to recreate that feel, you could buy an arcade stick. These controllers are typically larger and meant to be placed on your lap or a table. However, nicer arcade sticks are also rather expensive, reaching $150 to even $300 for arcade sticks of higher quality. Lower quality arcade sticks also exist from companies like HORI and Mayflash, and while they don’t perfectly replicate the arcade feel, they’re certainly serviceable to play on.
However, these are controllers meant for traditional fighting games. There is one fighting game that’s wildly different from traditional fighting games, being Super Smash Brothers, which only exists on Nintendo platforms.
Officially, only two controllers are supported for Smash, being the Nintendo Pro Controller and the Nintendo GameCube Controller. The Pro Controller uses the same layout as the Xbox Elite controller, while the GameCube Controller has a rather unorthodox button layout. Both of these are completely fine for competitive use, but there are people who get hand pains for using these controllers due to how quickly you have to input commands in Smash.
That’s why Aziz Al-Yami, better known as Hax$, created the B0XX, an arcade stick created for Smash Bros. that was constructed with ergonomics in mind. Previously, Smash was not compatible with any arcade sticks, but the B0XX allowed people with hand problems to compete with a controller that won’t cause hand pains. More information can be found below.
Now that you have this information, what kind of controller do you use and why? Let me know down below!
Alex's Competitive Game Corner 