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What are the best fighting sticks for PS3?

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4 Options Considered

4 Options ConsideredPriceWeightCable
Mad Catz Arcade Fightstick TE2+
5 pounds 3m
HORI Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai
2.2kg9.8ft / 3m (non detachable)
Razer Panthera
7.4 pounds 13ft
Qanba Drone
1.6kg7.5ft / 2.3m (non detachable)
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Mad Catz Arcade Fightstick TE2+

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Francisco
Top Pro

Full PS4 and PS3 compatibility

•••
The TE2+ is one of the few controllers that supports complete functionality on Playstation consoles. A button lets you switch between PS3 and PS4 modes. There is a touchpad for the PS4 screen menus and separate L3 and R3 buttons on the analog sticks.
Francisco
Top Pro

Joystick can be used as a d-pad or as an analog stick

•••
The joystick can be set to act as a d-pad, or as the left/right analog stick.
Francisco
Top Pro

Responsive, durable components

•••
Mad Catz didn’t compromise in terms of this controller’s build quality. It uses Sanwa parts that are well-known for their excellent sensitivity, response and durability. The case itself is built to withstand heavy and intensive use.
Francisco
Top Pro

Modding-friendly

•••
This controller is easy to mod. You can open the case with a push of a button without using a screwdriver. The buttons are easy to swap and the wiring is color-coded.
Francisco
Top Pro

Detachable USB cable

•••
This sticks's included 10 ft long USB cable is detachable, but also has a lock to prevent it from being detached by accident.
Francisco
Top Pro

Artwork is easy to replace

•••
The artwork is easy to replace, with no need to remove the buttons.
Francisco
Top Con

PC compatibility is limited

•••
Although it is possible to use this with a PC, a third party software needs to be used, and this doesn't offer the best experience.
See 5 more ProsSee 5 more Pros

HORI Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai

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Francisco
Top Pro

PC/PS3/PS4 compatibility

•••
As a stick that's officially licensed, it is PS3 and PS4 compatible. There's even a touchpad on the back of the controller for PS4 functionality. It’s also PC compatible, using an Xinput standard.
Francisco
Top Pro

Additional side buttons for improved gaming experience

•••
HORI has included a lot of additional buttons on the right side of the controller, such as L3, R3, turbo switch or joystick trigger (to change joystick behaviour).
Francisco
Top Pro

Joystick can be used both as a D-pad or as an analog stick

•••
The joystick toggle lets you set the joystick to act as a D-pad or one of the analog sticks.
Francisco
Top Pro

Ergonomic, comfortable layout

•••
The solid and responsive buttons are arranged in a Taito Vewlix-style configuration. This layout is used on most fighting sticks and is quite comfortable for gaming. The space between the stick and the buttons is wide enough to be ergonomic for most users hand size.
Francisco
Top Pro

Color-coded wiring

•••
The wiring is conveniently color-coded.
Francisco
Top Pro

Has metal parts, which are durable and resistant

•••
The metal parts of the controller feel solid and can withstand abuse well.
Francisco
Top Pro

Customizable Option button

•••
The Option button, located near the main buttons, can be reassigned or disabled using the Assign button.
Francisco
Top Pro

Precise and durable joystick and buttons

•••
HORI uses in-house manufactured joystick and buttons for their controllers. In this case, the very precise and durable original HORI Hayabusa Joystick and HORI Kuro Buttons are the ones that are used.
Francisco
Top Pro

Buttons can be replaced

•••
The standard buttons can be replaced for Sanwa buttons, if that's preferred. However, this process requires applying some force, so you’ll have to take extra caution.
Francisco
Top Pro

Light and portable

•••
Weighing 2.2 kg, this stick feels quite light compared to other alternatives, which makes it more portable than some of its competitors.
Francisco
Top Pro

Turbo button can be set to 3 different levels

•••
The Turbo button can be set to 5, 12, or 20 attacks per second.
Francisco
Top Con

Working on the inside hardware can be a bit of a hassle

•••
Unlike other fighting sticks, which have buttons or latches, the 4 Kai requires a screwdriver to remove its backplate screws and access its internal components. Even though internal components can be swapped with ease, it feels like they are a bit crammed inside.
Francisco
Top Con

USB cable is not detachable and it's not breakaway

•••
The 4 Kai's 3 meter USB cable is not detachable. It's also not a breakaway cable, so there is a risk of pulling out the console if someone trips over the cable.
Francisco
Top Con

Replacing the artwork is likely to break the protective cover

•••
The 4 Kai's artwork can be changed, but there is a high risk that the plexiglass will break while doing so. Therefore, be prepared for the need to get a spare.
Francisco
Top Con

Button stifness may take some getting used to

•••
Some people find that the HORI buttons are excessively stiffer than those found on other fighting sticks, so it may take some getting used to their feel.
Francisco
Top Con

Slightly unstable

•••
This stick's light 2.2 kg weight tends to make it slightly unstable. As an attempt to mitigate this effect, the bottom surface has two rubbery patches to prevent the controller from sliding around.
Francisco
Top Con

Noisy lever

•••
The 4 Kai's lever is somewhat noisy, especially when compared to its Sanwa counterpart.
Francisco
Top Con

Modifying this stick voids the warranty

•••
Users should keep in mind that making modifications on this stick will void its warranty.
Francisco
Top Con

Not very suitable for big hands

•••
The Kai 4's wrists area may be too small for gamers with big hands.
Francisco
Top Con

Plastic parts feel cheap

•••
The 4 Kai's plastic parts feel a bit cheap. An example of this is the compartment door for the USB cable, which comes off easily.
See 18 more Pros & ConsSee 18 more Pros & Cons

Razer Panthera

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Qanba Drone

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Francisco
Top Pro

PS3/PS4/PC compatible

•••
This stick is officially licensed by Sony and compatible with the PS4 and the PS3 (there’s a dedicated switch to toggle between the two platforms.). It can also be used on a PC, using the DirectInput standard, but third party software may be needed to get it to work with some games, like Street Fig...
Francisco
Top Pro

Comfortable and ergonomic

•••
The Drone is much smaller than most high-end models. However, the cleverly positioned buttons and joystick creates a big enough surface for your palms to rest. The additional control buttons are placed on the top of the control and can be easily accessed.
Francisco
Top Pro

Improved stability with padded surface grip

•••
The bottom has an anti-slip padding that prevents surface slipping.
Francisco
Top Pro

Comfortable to use on lap

•••
This controller weighs only 1.6 kg which makes its comfortable to use on a lap.
Francisco
Top Pro

Turbo can be manual or automatic

•••
The Turbo button can be set to manual mode or automatic mode.
Francisco
Top Pro

Extra functionality buttons can be disabled

•••
There is a lock switch that disables the extra functionality buttons.
Francisco
Top Pro

Decent build quality for its price range

•••
This is a stick that can withstand some bashing quite well, even if the plastic used is not as sturdy as the one used on more expensive models. It feels better than most similarly priced alternatives.
Francisco
Top Pro

Internal wiring work is easy

•••
This device's internal wiring is conveniently color-coded, making wiring changes quite easy.
Francisco
Top Con

The artwork can not be replaced

•••
The Drone's artwork is directly printed on the upper surface, so it cannot be swapped.
Francisco
Top Con

No closed compartment

•••
There is no closed compartment for spare parts or cable storage, only a hollow space for the USB cable.
Francisco
Top Con

Lever and buttons feel loose

•••
The Drone uses cheap buttons that perform reasonably well, but sometime they feel loose. The lever suffers from the same problem, making it hard to determine its neutral position.
Francisco
Top Con

Modding voids the warranty

•••
If used mod this controller, its warranty becomes void.
Francisco
Top Con

Modding is not easy (but at least it's possible)

•••
While it is possible to mod this controller, doing so is much more complicated that with most premium controllers. The buttons are relatively easy to replace, but you will need to swap the wiring harness if you want to replace the joystick. Despite these difficulties, it is worth noting that other...
Francisco
Top Con

Does not have a PS4 touchpad

•••
Though this stick is PS4 compatible, it does not have the touchpad that's needed for some PS4 games.
Francisco
Top Con

Somewhat unstable when positioned on a desk

•••
This controller weighs only 1.6 kg which makes somewhat unstable when positioned on a hard surface, such as a desk.
Francisco
Top Con

Cable is not detachable

•••
The Drone's USB cable is not detachable.
See 14 more Pros & ConsSee 14 more Pros & Cons

30 Community Recommendations

Onze
Izem Lavrenti
Francisco
Aubrey
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