I’ll be honest. I was pretty hesitant to try out the Dark Matter Arcade Fighting Stick. I like to think that I have a pretty good grasp on the capabilities of most arcade sticks, but the thing is… I’m just not that good at using them.
Back in my prime during the ’90s and early 2000s, when arcades were still very much alive (and dinosaurs ruled the earth), I was actually good at games like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct, Virtua Fighter... you name it. Unfortunately, arcades have pretty much long since disappeared (despite some valiant attempts at nostalgically restoring the all-but-dead industry), so I’ve grown out of gaming with a joystick.
I’ve also never been a big fan of home arcade pads, preferring to stick with the more traditional and user-friendly controllers. But, I eventually decided to give the Dark Matter Arcade Fighting Stick a shot. And you know what? It’s actually really, really cool!
An Arcade In The Palm Of Your Hands
The Dark Matter Arcade Fight Stick is a high-quality arcade controller that supports PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Android. The eight-button Vewlix-style layout is easily customizable to each gamer’s playing style, while the directional input toggle switches and buttons allow you to make adjustments on the fly.
The best part? The Dark Matter Arcade Fight Stick is moddable, so you can reconfigure the arcade buttons and joystick to create a truly unique gaming experience. Even better — you can actually swap out the panel artwork, resulting in an arcade controller that is truly your own.
I actually had a blast testing out the Dark Matter Arcade Fight Stick. It was easy to set up and use with my PC and Xbox Series S, and I loved being able to customize the look of the controller. The buttons and joystick are extremely responsive.
PREVIOUSLY: REVIEW: PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller
The controller also feels durable and well-made. I don’t really care for playing with it on my lap (just a personal preference), but I adore putting the controller on my desk and emulating the feeling of playing at a stand-up arcade machine. Talk about a major sense of nostalgia!
In terms of performance, the Dark Matter Arcade Fight Stick controller lives up to the hype. The buttons are highly responsive and the joystick is very precise. I was able to easily execute all of the moves I wanted without any lag or hiccups, even while playing non-fighting games like Rocket League. I couldn’t believe how much control I had, even though it was a wildly different way of playing the game.
And because the directional input toggle switches and buttons are so easy to use, I was able to quickly adjust the settings to best fit my play style. This is a great feature for those who like to experiment with different control schemes, especially when switching between different characters or fighting styles.
The Verdict
The Dark Matter Arcade Fight Stick feels like the ultimate arcade gaming experience for anyone playing at home. With its moddable design, precision joystick, and responsive buttons, this controller will let you take your gaming to the next level. If you’re looking for a great way to simulate the arcade experience at home, be sure to check out the Dark Matter Arcade Fight Stick controller.
