Hori Fighting Stick EX2 Review!

yeah i would take the agetec green goblin any day over a stock hori stick just on the fact that the agetec uses omron microswitches like those found in sanwa jlf joysticks.

i'd even take an ascii ft over the agetec just on the fact that it uses an optical stick for the cost of either hori or agetec.

as far as ex2 goes, they are fine sticks. they use the same parts found in sticks like the tekken 5 and sc3. i saw alex valle use a stock t5 stick at evo this year and he was able to place 3rd in 3s. daigo was able to parry the full chun sa2 super against justin wong with a stock sc2 stick. so yeah they are good enough.

 

Leonard you must be kidding me. For one, before the VSHG came out my all time favorite console stick was the Agetec for DC.

The Agetec uses the same microswitches as Sanwa, had a fairly sturdy build, and the buttons were wired and not freaking soldered to the damn board like the POS sticks Hori makes.

The Agetec was significantly easier to mod to, hell many people used the guts to make another stick cause it was just a good design.

People played HIGH LEVEL Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on the freakin agetec stick, no question it was a decent stick.

Hori EX2 is not a decent stick, it's a passable stick. It's tolerable. That is all.

 

how is it for low level players. basicly noobs such as myself. I never had a arcade stick before and I won't eb that demanding.

It's hard getting a stick over here (the Netherlands) and this looks like the only option.

 

At low levels of play the stick works fine, and will do it's job. However the parts are cheap, the design is cheap, and if you ever want to mod it it's going to be a pain in the ass.

But it's not a horrible investment for a beginner, just annoying for all of us who want to play on Sanwa grade arcade sticks.

 

Alright, I've not played a Virtua Fighter game since VF2 for the Sega Saturn. However, I'm pretty pumped about this and went out and got the EX2 today.

Can anyone tell me about the proper way to grip the stick, finger placement, etc? I don't even know if I should be using the green punch button at the bottom or the yellow one on the far right. Any advice is appreciated, thanks.

 

You can cup it between index/middle and thumb or you can scoop under it (OG Japanese style) like a wine glass with the shaft between your middle and ring finger.

Those are the popular methods. But you can also just find what works for you.

 

I've been experimenting with the stick while playing the VF5 demo. I'll definitely give those both a try. Thanks for the tips.

I've been fairly comfortable so far, except when I try playing as player 2. Everything I do feels really unnatural, even with relatively simple moves while on the right side. I guess I'll just have to keep at it and hopefully it'll become second nature.

Overall, I'm enjoying the stick a lot though. I've found that doing complex moves are much easier to do consistently.

 

I've decided I'm gonna get the hori stick, now just to find a place that has em in stock.

 

If it helps, I went to the local Gamestop. They didn't have them visible in the store, but they did have some behind the counter when I asked about it.

 

Just a question, how do you guys have your buttons configured?

 

No gamestop here in the Netherlands

 

Ha, thank god. I hate Gamestop. They have the pushiest employees who'll not let you leave until you've bought the worthless game guide, signed up for a few magazine subscriptions, got your membership card and every other damn thing.

Eh, I guess what I meant was that for some reason they didn't have the package out on the floor, but they did have it. I wouldn't be too suprised if your local brick 'n mortar store has one, it just might not be on display. Hope you find one.

 

For those of you guys who want to know the traditional arcade layout for VF buttons.

It's

(P)(K)(X)
(G)(X)(X)

Where
G = Guard
P = Punch
K = Kick
X = No use/none assigned


DoA players might use macros which is alright but usually if people play stick they only use 3 buttons and also usually make the other three unassigned.

Common style is the "arc" that I just showed where people usually use their thumb, index, and middle fingers for the buttons. However some use the index, middle, and ring finger (like Sin#) which is not bad either.

 

^^^
That's interesting. Any idea why the default buttons for the EX2 pad is...
(K)(G)(P)
(P)(X)(X)
?
It's very disconcerting being that it's pretty much the opposite of every fighting game I've every played.

I'll try the
(P)(K)(X)
(G)(X)(X)

It at least makes a lot more sense.

 

By macros do you mean assigning /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif to a button?

 

I think the word "macro" has a bit dualistic meaning in fighting games and Id avoid using the term. Some people use the word "macro" for assigning multiple buttons to one button, and some use it to denote a programmable controller where you could assign a sequence of commands to a button. Obviously the latter would be broken in fighting games. Luckily I havent come across people using that.

 

I see. Do people look down upon asigning multiple buttons to one button. like /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif and /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif?

*edit*

I just odered the stick, an employee of the store told me I can expect it to arrive on wednesday, if not then thursday.

 

I assume people aren't dicks with programmable buttons and I use Macro as in assigning combinations.

Nobody looks down on anyone for their preference of controllers, layouts, set ups. (Well maybe we do when we have to change that back to the right layout.)

Just it's unusual for people to assign macros on a Stick since the whole point of using a stick is being able to get the arcade feel and use your fingers for precision of pressing two/three buttons at once that you can't do very reliably with just your thumb.

 

Translation:

Yes, you'll be pummeled by geeks bearing Pai Chan and Sarah Bryant VF posters if you use macros on a stick at a tournament.

You've been warned.

 

lol no tournaments for me. I was asking because I'm used to using controllers that usually have macros assigned to shoulder buttons and triggers.