Virtua Stick High Grade Review

I'm an old fart from back in the VF1 days so I’m pretty familiar with what makes a good VF stick. I got my two VFHG sticks today and played a bunch of versus matches with a friend.

One of my litmus tests for a VF stick is the motion /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif or similar motion. If I can do this without any problem I consider that a good sign. My next test is reversal moves. Aoi or whoever has a good array of reversals, especially the common /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/db.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif one, is tested to see if I can catch people’s moves. I think a good stick should have a short precise throw, I don’t know how much this helps *my* timing but I feel I can be a little later frame-wise on a short throw stick and still get the reversal. (Does this make sense?) Other moves like HCF, 270’s and combo's also factor into my consideration.

I can truly say the sticks are pretty damn sweet. I don’t know what most of you like in a good VF stick but these have what I consider a short and solid throw, nice buttons and great layout. I control the stick with my left thumb and index finger primarily. (as opposed to the ‘champagne flute’ style of holding the stick some prefer). For me, though, the stick is right on. I double tap with my left thumb and index finger so having a light action stick is essential for most of my moves. The stick has a solid feel and a great spring to it.

As for the buttons; I play VF using the first three fingers on my right hand (I do not use my right thumb) and the buttons are great but *slightly* soft for my tastes. (I also use the top row of buttons ) I am *not* complaining since they work perfectly and all my button presses were registered perfectly but my own taste leans toward a light button action with a hint of clickity-clack (if you know what I mean). This is really minor quibble. My friend plays using his right thumb and first two fingers in the more traditional ‘drop button’ layout found on arcade machines. He proclaimed the stick was a huge improvement over the old PS2 Hori Tekken sticks we had been using for Evo (while proceeding to wipe the floor with me in VF5).

The whole unit is heavy and sturdy. The stick itself is pretty central to the top so you have a lot of hand room to rest your left palm.

If you are serious about VF5 on the PS3 you would not be disappointed in these sticks. I will be heading over to a friend who owns a Hori Real Arcade Pro 3 this weekend so I can compare the two side by side.

Thanks for listening and I will answer any questions I can.

-Tim

 

they rock, only one thing bothering me with the VSHG. Its too loose :1

Bah, just found out another thing that really bothered me!! it wont work with PS2 games :\
I thought previously that it was broken & they fixed all it's issues :\

 

if you play fighting games long enough, you'll appreciate loose sticks that need no breakin period. All sticks eventually become loose, better get used to it. If you even ever think of visiting the arcade mecca of japan, be prepared to grip some sticks that feel like they're floating on air.

 

I find the stick itself feels very similar to the stick on my SC2 hori. If this is a sanwa I didn't realize how close they were.

I need to test it properly though to see the difference.

 

To be honest to me no two sticks feel the same,
My HG is a bit tight and needs a bit of loosening up,
as an overall package I would say it's the best home stick commerically available ever, just beating the original dreamcast sticks with the black logo which also used sanwa's.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I find the stick itself feels very similar to the stick on my SC2 hori. If this is a sanwa I didn't realize how close they were.</div></div>
yeah the main difference is the switches you can feel they are of better quality and more precise,
like i mentioned before no 2 sticks are the same, I'm still after that golden sanwa I once played on where everything felt right, but thats probably a combination of spring tightness, the way it's housed and nostalgia /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

I should clarify the VSHG is a very light action stick, *very* light. To some (or most) people that will make it seem spongy or loose. It is not really either of those. The action is clicky and precise it just takes very little effort to toss the stick around. This is a good thing as far as I’m concerned since a lot of the moves in VF use some sort of /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif or /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif motion. It makes life a lot easier for me to have an light action stick. Your preferences may vary so be aware before you buy these.

_optimus_ mentions the OG Dreamcast stick and the VSHG is very similar to that. I also agree this stick might be a slight bit better. Really, if you are reading this and thinking of buying either the Hori RAP3 or this you probably would be very happy with the VSHG. Cost-wise for the VSHG you are also looking at an approximately $200 investment (with shipping) for two joysticks which, as far I I know, do *not* work with PS2 games.

Regardless, if you are on this forum you probably like VF enough to go out and buy sticks for your console. Any stick will be a monstrous improvement over the pad but the VSHG (and the RAP3’s I would guess) will help you bring your VF game to the next level if you really want.

 

Probably posted already, buy the VSHG innards for those interested:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20070305/ggl.htm

 

I notice if I push the stick to the right and let it snap back to place it'll register a left movement. Is that normal? I don't think it's affected my play so far cause my hand is always on it but does that happen with anyone else?

 

I don't know if that is happening for me but I will check. Technically releasing the stick and letting it spring to neutral shouldn't cause an opposite movement but it is possible since the springs are so light. Really though, you wouldn't want that to happen. Personally, I don't *feel* like that is happening for me but I will verify in training.

I played a couple hours tonight and really like the feel of the game. It's fast and some of the new characters (like El Blaze) are quick as hell even with what I perceive as a game speed increase from Evo.

All in all the sticks held up well and I still think they are the some of the best you can buy for VF. If these worked with PS2 games on the PS3 I would say this is a no-brainer must buy.

 

The backwards compatability wasn't ever the issue of the stick.

Can't you just tighten the spring on the stick if you want it to be more stiff?