Author: Zavian "mushin_Z" Sildra

A joystick that can provide exactly the amount of resistance you want.

When it comes to controller modification, aesthetics get a lot of attention — but what primarily matters to the player is, as Arcade Shock puts it, “user experience.” The levers that are most predominant in factory-made arcade sticks today are the ubiquitous Sanwa Denshi JLF (used in Razer and Qanba’s products, and any stick that is marketed as “professional” quality) and the HORI Hayabusa (the automatic inclusion in all of HORI’s full-size fightsticks). These levers share a great deal in common: at stock specs, both are square-gated, ball-topped, and offer about the same degree of spring resistance — with the Hayabusa being marginally looser than a standard Sanwa JLF. This is the typical Japanese arcade-style model.

For those players that didn’t start their fighting game training on Japanese sticks, they may have grown used to the significantly higher-tension levers used in North American arcade units, or the Korean Crown models renowned for being the sticks to play Tekken on. For those that crave some more “oomph” in their lever, Arcade Shock commissioned this lever kit from Seimitsu. It is at first glance a very typical Japanese lever, but by including five different springs to modify the lever’s resistance, a user can dramatically alter the feel of playing on this stick. Arcade Shock provided us one to try out exactly that.

Custom springs aren’t anything new, but the Seimitsu LS-56-01-AS kit makes the process easier by shipping with five different springs of various stiffness, ready to go. This streamlines the process significantly, as rather than hunting down different tensions to try, you have a wide range of resistance available to try out for yourself immediately, and see what suits your taste.

You can see the range data on the scale above; Arcade Shock includes the comparable tensions of other Seimitsu models. The softest is 0.4 lbf (pounds of force), ranging through 0.9 lbf (the default spring, already installed in the lever), and 1.12 lbf, up to a some really stiff ranges : 2 lbf and 4 lbf, well above typical for Japanese levers. The stick comes packed with a basic black shaft cover, dust cover, and balltop (but Sanwa Denshi/HORI balltops are also compatible, if you want to swap colors), and a very ordinary square gate (that can also be replaced by a differently-shaped restrictor, if desired). They also include some extra C-clips because — you know it — these things are bound to break or go missing when they fly across the room.

To swap the springs out, you need to pop that C-clip off the shaft (a flat-tipped screwdriver or a pair of pliers usually serves that purpose well) and pull the shaft assembly apart, just like on most levers. That takes a bit of caution and practice — you want to be careful to not damage the C-clip while making sure the shaft assembly doesn’t just spill apart on you. The spring sits around the shaft itself right in the middle of the assembly.

Because there isn’t an “easy” way to swap springs, finding the tension you actually like can prove a bit of a chore, as you need to extract the spring from this assembly each time you want to try something else. The joystick will mount perfectly into the bracket used by a Sanwa or HORI lever with no modification, but because of how tricky it can be to get that spring in/out, I recommend deciding what tension you want to use before you mount the lever in your fightstick case.

Installation note: while the five-pin connector is reversed from the HORI/Sanwa setting, the lever should still be oriented facing the same way to ensure the switch directions are still matched up.

So, installation aside, how does it feel? In my (highly subjective!) comparisons, the softer tensions are comparable to most Japanese sticks; 0.4 lbf feels as loose or even a little lighter than a stock Hayabusa, while 0.9-1.12 lbf covers the Sanwa Denshi JLF range, and slightly stiffer. The 2 lbf and 4 lbf springs are the really interesting ones. The 2 lbf feels comparable to those solid bat-topped arcade sticks I grew up with before Mad Catz brought the JLF to North America, or a Crown; while the 4 lbf is a monster, however — definitely a spring for players that really want their stick to feel solid. I found the 4 lbf spring actually tiring to manipulate and play on (and a bit tricky to install, too!).

Is this lever kit for you? It has a lot going for it: even before the swappable springs, it’s a solid and comfortable Seimitsu lever. When you factor in the extra springs and the reasonable cost — $29.95 USD — this is a very attractive package if you’re in the market for a new lever. Head over to Arcade Shock to check it out. The tension your lever provides can make a big difference in your game — one of the reasons stiffer joysticks are preferred by many for Tekken titles, due to their quick return-to-neutral-position response. This lever kit accomplishes exactly what it was intended for, and is definitely worth a look.

Pros:

• Included spring selection provides a great range of different tensions
• Immediately compatible with any five-pin fightstick setting and other brands’ accessories
• Reasonable price

Cons:

• Spring installation/swapping isn’t any easier than a regular lever

HORI’s latest fightstick brings arcade-quality control to Nintendo’s little console.

Leaked well before being confirmed for retail release, the HORI Real Arcade Pro V Hayabusa arcade stick aims to deliver a fightstick with arcade-quality components to Nintendo’s fledgling Switch system. (It even inadvertently led to an early reveal of Pokkén Tournament DX!) HORI provided SRK with a review model to try out this latest in the RAP line; does it succeed in its mandate? The quick and easy answer: yes — by not deviating from their already successful Hayabusa parts and RAP design. If you like HORI’s sticks, there’s little that can go wrong here.

If it ain’t broke…

The RAP V for Switch is exactly what it appears to be: a Real Arcade Pro fightstick, ready to plug and play on the Switch console. (It is also PC-compatible using XInput.) It uses HORI’s Hayabusa lever, and the short-throw, matte-finished Hayabusa pushbuttons — so it will feel immediately familiar to anyone who’s spent play time on one of HORI’s other recent RAP iterations.

I’ve written about my thoughts on these components in prior reviews; to recap, I’m generally satisfied with the Hayabusa lever (it’s a reliable, standard square-gated joystick, just a bit on the looser side of what I prefer), while I really enjoy the snappy, shallow, matte-topped Hayabusa buttons. Both perform quite well, and are really comfortable to play on. However, as this is an RAP and it retains the same case design as prior models, modding this stick to put in a Sanwa Denshi or Seimitsu lever or pushbuttons is very easy — while not Razer Panthera/Qanba Dragon easy — RAPs are so widespread in part because of how easy to mod they are. This stick is no different.

The case is the same as the pre-RAP.N series RAPs, back to the flatter and more angular design. Some players prefer the slope on the front of this case as a wrist-rest, so that will be a positive for those put off by the RAP.N’s boxy case. The pushbuttons are also arranged in the more-common Vewlix spread, rather than the RAP.N. The color scheme of the stick — black, red, and dark grey/silver — is very striking in its simplicity. Sometimes the basics work; it is very immediately identifiable as a Nintendo-styled accessory.

With friction pads on the base, the stick is well-suited for play on your lap, or on a tabletop. It uses the same cord compartment design as the RAP 4/V models that preceded it, with a plenty of cord (over nine feet). Note that you need to plug this controller into the Switch dock; you’d need a USB to USB-C adapter to connect this directly to this console itself, if you felt so inclined.

 

New (and missing) features

A notable absence on this RAP V model is the headphone jack that made it onto both the Tekken 7 Edition and regular releases of the RAP.N, and the prior RAP V for other consoles. As this is becoming a more common feature on arcade sticks in general, it’s an unfortunate omission — one that likely has a lot to do with how the Nintendo Switch handles voice chat (reportedly, fairly poorly). However, this model does now include a “T-switch” that allows a tournament mode, deactivating those buttons that can interrupt a match and earn a DQ.

Otherwise, this stick is loaded with all the RAP regulars: button reassignment, turbo settings, and the ability to switch the stick between the digital/analog controller inputs. As on its predecessors, these functions are located not on the top panel, but on the right side, under the lip of the case. A strip on the top panel marks what buttons are lined up underneath — but frankly, you’re better off getting used to where the buttons you use regularly are just by feel.

A great stick — with no great games?

This stick is essentially ahead of its time — as there aren’t really any standout titles on the Switch to make use of it, yet. To be fair, Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers (regardless of complaints about how broken that game is) was a lot of fun on this stick, feeling much more like the classic arcade title that it’s based on. There are a few other classic titles showing up on the eShop, and you can use this stick with the upcoming Pokkén Tournament DX, too — I can see that being attractive to arcade stick fans, while I much prefer Pokkén on a pad, myself.

This stick brings back the low entry-level cost that the RAP line is known for: it retails for $149.99 USD (check it out on Amazon, or HORI’s website), making it an easier investment for any of Nintendo’s new fighting game fans. If you’re a fighting gamer that plans to only dabble in an occasional Switch title, a converter might be more up your alley, though. This is (so far) the only fightstick of this caliber on Nintendo’s console, so if you enjoy the older titles that are currently available on the Switch, I’d call this a must-have for Switch-based fighting devotees. Hopefully, we will see more titles that can take advantage of it in the future.

Pros:

• Hayabusa lever and pushbuttons deliver arcade-quality feel and performance
• Low cost compared to other arcade stick models
• Mod-friendly design
• Tournament mode switch to prevent accidental “+” button presses

Cons:

• No headset support

Welcome to the Rollback: a frame-by-frame look back at our past week’s most notable news — and our favorite SRK articles — from September 8 to September 14, 2017!

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Zavian “mushin_Z” Sildra, Editor-in-Chief:

Frame 1:
The Pokkén Tournament DX demo is a glorified Empoleon preview — and that’s fine

With the full game for Nintendo Switch just around the corner, Crow_Spaceboy describes what formerly arcade-exclusive Empoleon can do in the downloadable demo.

Frame 2:
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT closed beta impressions: This arena fighter is more “arena” than “fighter”

Some thoughts on how this game plays — and how likely it is to see widespread FGC acceptance — based on Square Enix’s recent closed beta test. Personally: I’m looking forward to more time with it in the future.

Frame 3:
The ban expands: Fight of Gods is now banned in Thailand as well as Malaysia

Another nation has taken exception with Fight of Gods’ cartoonish deity-on-deity violence. Whatever the developers’ intentions, it’s hard to get better publicity than this — at least for the regions where the game remains available.

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Sam “Trilby” Foxall, Assistant Editor:

Frame 1:
Alt Lab demonstrates the latest build of their Smash Stick

As someone who is now struggling to play Smash on a standard controller, Alt Lab’s Smash Stick looks perfect for avoiding future hand/wrist issues. Let’s hope it doesn’t cause as much controversy at the Smash Box and B0xx.

Frame 2:
Resurrection! New leak hints at the identities of the four upcoming Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite DLC characters

Already making an appearance within the General Story Mode for Street Fighter V, it looks like Gill could be coming to MvC:I in its first DLC pack. Fingers crossed that he isn’t as OP as he is in 3rd Strike.

Frame 3:
Smash 4 is getting its own $10,000 invitational with VGBC’s Smash 4 Boot Camp

Just as Melee is gearing up for its fifth Summit invitational, Smash 4 is finally getting its own invitational event, courtesy of VGBootCamp. With eight invited players, two wildcards and six fan voted entrants, it should make for a great weekend’s viewing.

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Keegan “Interrobang!?” Spindler, Features Editor:

Frame 1:
PSA: If you’re in the Dragon Ball FighterZ beta, be sure to take note of this testing schedule

This one is important! We’re all very excited to get our hands on DBFZ, but since the servers are only on for a few brief hours at a time, check the schedule to maximize your time with your testing team. Me? I’m looking forward to Frieza…

Frame 2:
Indie title OKINAWA RUSH aims to combine fighting game mechanics with classic platforming/RPG elements

It might not be a fighting game per se, but it’s certainly an exciting take on the skills you need for fighters. I guess I’m just feeling the rush?

Frame 3:
UDON reprinting their original Street Fighter stories with new bonus content as STREET FIGHTER RELOADED

As someone who owns the original run of these stories, they’re well worth picking up for any Street Fighter fan. It’s exciting that UDON Entertainment are making it available to more people than ever.

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Extra Frame:
Prepare for Samurai Shodown V Special’s release with this special combat guide

Renowned as the high point of the series, after being showcased back at Evo 2017 this title is now available on PlayStation 4. Use this video guide to prepare for battle.