XGaming X-Arcade Stick Review (PS2, Xbox, GC, +)

Performance

Once you get everything set up the way you like it and get to playing, the X-Arcade handles like a dream. It was made from real arcade components, so it is no surprise that it performs with arcade precision. I used it with a ton of games for the Xbox, GameCube, and PS2/PS1, and it performed flawlessly with all of them. Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Street Fighter 3: Third Strike, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Tekken 5, Soul Calibur II, Dead or Alive Ultimate, Super Smash Bros Melee, Guilty Gear X2, Mortal Kombat Deception– every single fighter was rock solid with the X-Arcade. Once you get used to using it (and I admit it is a pretty big change from using a standard controller), you’ll be fighting like a champion in no time. Arcade sticks really do make you a better fighting game player since the stick is more precise and it is easier to tap out button combinations than on a controller, so if you are serious about fighters you need this stick.

You can also play more than just fighters with the X-Arcade. Not every game will work with it, obviously, but the arcade game compilations that have been coming out as well as some arcade-friendly sports games all play like a dream with the X-Arcade.

Construction

From a construction standpoint, the X-Arcade is built like a tank. The dual stick measures a foot deep by over two feet wide and weighs in at about fifteen pounds. It is made with real wood with a laminate covering that is exactly like you’ll find in the arcade. It seems so simple and obvious that in order to get the same feel at home as in the arcade you have to use actual arcade parts, but up to now no one has really done it. That is what sets the X-Arcade apart. It feels and performs just like an arcade unit because it IS an arcade unit. The unit is also very solid and can take a beating. You don’t have to baby it like you do some other arcade sticks. If it does ever break, it is covered by a lifetime warranty where XGaming will send you replacement parts (it is super easy to take apart the unit and replace buttons and even tweak a few settings) or even send you a completely new unit for free. Their commitment to quality and service is outstanding and really puts you at ease.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for an arcade stick, the X-Arcade is hands down the best stick you can buy for PS2, Xbox, and GameCube. Nothing even comes close to delivering the same performance and build quality and since adapters are in the works for Xbox 360, PS3, and Revolution, you can buy an X-Arcade now and get many, many years of use out of it. The quality, longevity, and impressive lifetime warranty come at a price, but if you are serious about getting the arcade experience at home, it is worth it. A single-player unit runs at around $80 while a dual stick unit is $150 and they come with an adapter of your choice. Additional adapters cost $20 each. It seems a bit pricey, but you are getting potentially years of use across multiple systems for that initial investment, so it all balances out in the end. I highly recommend the X-Arcade for a purchase. This is the best arcade stick you can buy. Period.

You can buy the X-Arcade stick at the official XGaming and X-Arcade website.