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X-Arcade 2-Player Controller Review - Page 3 of 4 |
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For $20 apiece, you can buy each of the additional adapters for your favorite console. However, purchasing one comes with one caveat, as mentioned above. The X-Arcade is currently non-programmable with consoles and you'll have to use its default configuration, which means that any games will either need to have their own built-in button mapping (as several do), or you'll be stuck with how Xgaming laid them out, which is not altogether bad but is unchangeable. While this should be acceptable most of the time, there are a few modern games where it can be a hindrance, such as with Viewtiful Joe for GameCube and its multiple buttons. In Joe, you're often required to hit two buttons at or near the same time that are spaced apart on the X-Arcade and it can siphon some of the phun. Getting used to these games is a matter of time, however, and you could find it well worth it. The joystick, by default, is usually laid out perfectly for fighting or older games.
Speaking of older games, I tried out Midway's Arcade Treasures on the Xbox. While the joystick worked beautifully with some games in the collection (I didn't try them all), it failed to work properly with others such as Paperboy, so there's no guarantee that the joystick will work with every mini-game in a collection like this. This is likely no fault of Xgaming or the X-Arcade, but is simply the way the game was programmed, with the X-Arcade prospect almost surely not even on the drawing board. Consider these console collections, in other words, icing on the cake if they work correctly for your X-Arcade, but not as the main determinant for buying one.
Though I have utmost respect for this joystick right now, there was one more unfortunate circumstance (now remedied) that occurred during my testing. I first connected the X-Arcade to my PC using the optional ($30) USB adapter cord. The first game I tried it on was naturally, Ms. Pac-man. I had to start simple, as my expectations were extremely high. The joystick worked flawlessly over a few games, and I was one happy camper, trying out a few other oldies next and having no problems. Then I tried out my favorite fighting series of all time, Street Fighter II, and something went wrong. I could not for the life in me pull out a fireball (down-downright-right), and though I could land a dragon punch with near 100% accuracy in the arcade, could not pull one off in 20 tries, with either joystick. Something was definitely wrong and I began to be worried. Were all the other reviews I read about this thing working beautifully with fighting games correct? Did the reviewers know about this problem? The problem as it turns out, was that with the USB adapter, any circular motion was nullified after going from any diagonal position to a nearby straight position. Instead, the game would treat the joystick as if it returned to the neutral position. Therefore, the staple move of many a fighting game, with the USB adapter, was rendered useless....
I fired off an e-mail to my contact at Xgaming, and he promptly suggested that I try using the serial adapter instead. Well, naturally he was spot on, and I should mention that tech support came back with an e-mail answer the same day as well. The serial adapter was the panacea that fixed all my problems (including a sluggish keyboard typing response with the USB). With Street Fighter II, I was immediately able to cast off a fireball, the more complicated uppercut and any other move with ease using the included serial adapter. The defining moment came when I used Zangief the wrestler, and performed his full 360 degree pile driver move with near 100% accuracy whenever I wanted. It's been about 8 years since I've used Zangief and I made it to the second to last guy without dying... a modest accomplishment considering I probably could never have done that with the keyboard. Yes, that clinched it. I was in retro heaven and began testing out all my other games.
I had no other problems. Maze games, action games, fighting games, and especially shooters (vertical and horizontal) worked superbly with this joystick, exactly as they did in the arcade. Every game is a whole different experience with the X-Arcade - the real experience - and I almost feel guilty not spending quarters when "Insert Coin" flashes on screen... almost.
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| Article Details |
| Reviewed X-Arcade 2-Player Controller
Reviewer Tyson McCann
Published 06.06.04
Pros Arcade quality parts, programmable (for PC), works with MAME, works with consoles, plenty of buttons, pinball buttons included, delivers arcade experience
Cons Cannot be re-mapped with consoles, USB adapter has control issues |
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