Product Description:
Officially licenced by Microsoft. This is a Special Edition version of high-end next generation arcade style controller. Recommended for fighting, action, shooting, FPS, and classic games that are available through xbox live.
Product Details:
- Seimitsu parts used for stick lever and all buttons.
- The 8 main buttons are designed and placed on same layout as the arcades.
- Expansion port allows you to attach your headset so that you can chat while playing online.
- Wide body and heavy weight gives added stability for better gameplay.
Customer Reviews:
Personal preference By Donovan
I own two MadCatz Tournament Edition Fight Sticks with Sanwa parts for the PlayStation 3. I bought this stick for 2 reasons: it's easier to dual mod when you start with 360 and go to PlayStation and because I had no experience with Seimitsu controls before. At first I was very underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, the construction of the HRAP is top notch, and always has been. The Seimitsu buttons looked cheap and seemed weird. However, playing is believing.
The Seimitsu joystick is much tighter than a Sanwa, as it has less movement in any direction. I actually prefer this, especially for quick and difficult movements in Street Fighter IV. The buttons also turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise. Sanwa buttons register very quickly, but continue to travel downward, which always seemed a little mushy to me - especially after growing up playing American arcade cabinets with clicky concave Cherry micro-switches. The Seimitsu buttons are a nice middle ground between the Sanwa and the American-style buttons: they're a little clicky and don't seem to travel as far, resulting in a much firmer, precise feeling.
All of this is just personal preference. The Hori Real Arcade Pros are very well built, and I prefer the overall case construction to the MadCatz Tournament Edition. If you're going to end up swapping out a "lesser" HRAP with Seimitsu buttons, this version sames you time, and definitely money. Even if you're thinking of replacing with Sanwa, give this a try if you've never touched Seimitsu before (and are curious): it's more cost effective in the long run.
I've even toyed with the idea of replacing the Sanwa parts in my MadCatz TE. I have been converted.The best stick I've ever owned By yyr
I've been playing video games for almost all of my 30 years of existence. This obsession started in arcades, and even now, I spend a significant amount of time both playing and creating arcade-style games for my Xbox 360. Street Fighter 4, Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion, Mushihime-sama Futari, Raiden Fighters Aces, BlazBlue, etc. Can't wait for Espgaluda II. All of these games have something in common (besides being awesome): they suck on the 360 controller's terrible D-Pad, and they demand the precision of digital control.
I'd been using the Hori Fighting Stick EX2 for two years to play these sorts of games (even Pac-Man was terrible without a joystick!). But when one of the buttons busted during Marvel vs. Capcom 2, I learned that while adequate for the job, that stick was just not built to last. When a friend attempted to repair the EX2, the way that stick was put together made the repair extremely difficult, and he wasn't able to pull it off.
I took the plunge on the HRAP EX-SE and I will never look back. Playing Futari with this stick is one of the most intense, engrossing and unforgettable experiences I will ever have while video gaming. For fighters, the stick almost felt too sensitive as first, because I was used to lesser products. I gave it a few hours and a lighter touch, and now it feels perfect.
Playing with this stick is the most natural thing imaginable; it feels like an extension of yourself. There is nothing between you and your character, nothing holding you back. You will be able to play shmups to the best of your abilities. Need to quickly move one or two pixels diagonally to avoid something? Piece of cake...if you think it, it happens. In fighting games, once you learn a move or combo properly, you'll be able to pull it off every time, unless YOU mess it up (or online lag does). You won't ever blame your controller for a botched combo again.
The stick is heavy and sturdy, so you won't have to worry about it moving around. It works with PCs and Macs just as well as it does with the 360. And, if at some point the stick or a button dies, you will be able to easily replace the dead part because that's the way this stick was constructed.
To sum up: if you play these kinds of games seriously, and you own an Xbox 360, and you are willing to spend the money, you should buy this stick. Amazon's got the best price on it that I know of, as well. Are there better sticks out there? Is the SFIV TE stick better? Now that I own this, I honestly don't know, but it makes no difference to me. I got better than what I wanted--or even imagined--with the HRAP EX-SE. If you take the plunge also, you will not be disappointed.A great stick (Written by a first time stick user). By C. Thompson
I've not used a fighting stick in may be 8-9 years and that was in the arcades playing Tekken Tag Tournament, a very different experience than a console stick, so I'd consider myself a complete arcade stick noob. I've always liked fighting games but they are extremely difficult to play with the Xbox 360 controller. I tried the XFPS with a PS2 controller and didn't like it at all, so I sold it off and bought a new Hori Real Arcade Pro EX-SE.
I'll start with opening the box, the unit is heavy. Not bad heavy, but "solidly built" heavy, a big plus. I don't want some little chincy toy that's going to slide all over the place or break with use. There is nothing in the box except the stick, no instructions, no warranty info, just a stick. The stick is wired and the cord is maybe 6 feet long, plenty long for me.
I fired up Tekken 6 and the game instantly recognized that I was using an arcade stick and modified the controls accordingly. I don't know if it's because it's a Hori product (Hori also makes the official Tekken 6 stick) or if this would be true for a Mad Catz stick as well. You can modify the layout of the buttons or map the other 4 buttons not needed for Tekken, I left it stock though.
I started off in practice mode knowing that I was going to be bad. The stick certainly takes some getting used to. Thankfully there is not a wide range of motion, something you don't want when trying to pull off quick move inputs. Circular motions are actually the most difficult thing for me to pull off, I think it's because of the square gate. Arcade sticks use either square or octagonal gates to limit the range of motion of the stick. With an octagonal gate you have a stop at your NW, NE, SW, SE directions that makes the range of motion more of a circle. With a square those directions are open so it takes some getting used to.
After practicing and starting to get the hang of it (or so I thought) I decided to take it online and try the stick against other people. While I didn't to overly fantastic (granted, I'd only been using a stick for 30 minutes) it is an absolute blast to use. You've got the mic hookup so you can talk to people, the buttons are well laid out, it was just alot of fun and playing in a public lobby on Tekken felt like being back in an arcade again.
To wrap up my first evening with the stick I threw on the XBLA game Frogger (which I won for free in a contest) and played it with the stick. Even it's alot more fun with the stick...as much fun as Frogger can be.
I only have a few hours of experience with the stick and I will update my review as I go, but thus far I am very happy with my purchase. It adds alot to the whole gaming experience, like playing a racing game with a steering wheel or a flight game with a joystick.
If you are a serious fighting game lover or just want a fun way to play the games give this a whirl.
*Update 1/29 - Street Fighter IV*
I ordered Street Fighter IV off of Amazon after getting the stick. Technically this is the second time I purchased the game...I bought it right after it was released but the controls were so awful with the Xbox 360 pad that I gave up and sold it soon after. It arrived today and I anxiously threw it in the 360 so I could try it with the Hori stick.
Let me start off by saying there is night and day difference between the control schemes. Controlling your character is easy and quick movements are a snap. I think that as a whole Street Fighter is much more forgiving with move inputs because half circle motions didn't give me any issues at all. Button layout is good although it still takes alot of getting used to (with Tekken you've only go 4 buttons to worry about which you can cover at all times, with SFIV you have 6 buttons and have to move your fingers to hit 'em all).
Once again the enjoyment factor of using the stick is there, it feels like I'm in an arcade. I went from having bad memories of a mediocre game to really enjoying my experience (although I'll always be a Tekken fan first and foremost).
My solid recommendation of this stick stands firm, a fantastic product.
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