« Review: Etokki Omni Arcade Stick Version 3 »

During NCR 2011, the now Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition Ver. 2012 EVO 2012 champion Infiltration used a prototype stick that looked like an offshoot of Sega's out-of-production yet legendary Virtua Stick High Grade. It was soon revealed that the stick would be coming out from Korean arcade part distributor Etokki, owned by Infiltration's partner Laugh.

Titled the Omni, the arcade stick was made not only to be compatible on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 like some arcade sticks today, but also allow easy installation of many different arcade parts from Japan and Korea. Following the victories from Laugh and Infiltration at EVO 2012, Laugh began work on the third iteration of the Omni Arcade Stick. Main draws since the original release back in 2011 are still present with some more minor yet welcoming additions and improvements to make this one hell of a solid arcade stick.

Most if not all commercial arcade sticks are made mostly using ABS plastic. While efficient in terms of production and durability, it's very common. For the Etokki Omni, Laugh took a different direction by using an all steel body that is more associated with custom stick building. The body is basically composed of two parts that are attached together by multiple small yet sturdy bottom screws. The simplicity of the overall frame makes part of the modding process very easy.

As mentioned earlier, the Omni body is influenced by the Virtua Stick High Grade so you can expect the small grooves on the side as well as the smooth blackened powdered coat finish. While not a direct replica of the VSHG, the Omni body's attention to detail has enough qualities to evoke thoughts and memories about it.

At approximately 7.3 pounds, the Omni is hefty and heavy duty. It feels like a tank in some cases which is a good thing. When playing, there is somewhat of a hollow feel which can be a turn-off to some but it isn't too apparent when playing.

When placed on a desk or another flat surface, the stick stays put thanks to the simple yet effective rubber feet. It would have been welcoming if the bottom corner screws were placed deeper in the panel to install custom rubber feet in case the stock feet wore out. On a slanted lap, the Omni can sometimes slip a bit unfortunately much like other sticks with a metal bottom. You will have to keep your laps straightened as much as possible. That's the biggest problem I really had with the Omni overall. It would have been good to see some form of anti-slip material like what Qanba and Hori done for their latest sticks but there is enough room on the bottom to add a simple and cheap felt adhesive sheet.

A notable update for the Omni is the main playing layout. Gone the psuedo Taito Vewlix layout now replaced with the Namco Noir layout. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 in South Korea are usually played on Namco Noir cabinets so it makes sense to have a stick from the country to have a layout that players are familiar with. It's the next best thing to a Sega Astro City layout. The space between the buttons and the lever found in Noir layouts allows unobstructed play. This is really good for Tekken players since it requires extensive use of lever movement.

One of the Omni's draws ever since the original is the versatility for Japanese and Korean parts. The inner body features a universal joystick lever mounting system where you can equip levers from Sanwa, Seimitsu, or the various companies that make Korean Fanta levers; Hori's Hayabusa lever available in their Fighting Edge models work too! Due to the size differences between Japanese and Korean lever and button sizes (Korean has a larger joystick hole with smaller buttons holes), a smooth and comfortable plexi is needed to properly mount the parts. It's either you are using Japanese parts or Korean parts with their respective plexi glasses, no mix of both unfortunately. If there is demand for hybrid plexis, then it could happen in the near future.

The part replacement/modding process tries to be as easy as possible. You start with removing the main body screws on the bottom of the stick and then separating the body's pieces. At this point if you want to switch from Korean to Japanese and vice versa, you will have to remove the buttons and the lever and then switch plexi glasses which is pretty effortless. After properly mounting the necessary parts, just reverse the process and you are set. If you want to use a custom PCB, you will have to make sure to find some room for it. For custom artwork, you will have to follow most of the steps which can be a bit annoying but due to the body's design, it's not much of a problem.

I am glad Laugh went with a somewhat throwback approach to the Etokki Omni. Since Sega will unlikely remanufacture their Virtua Stick High Grade, this is the next best thing. Laugh should even try selling the cases only since they are so appealing.

The Etokki website offers two different versions of the Omni, Japanese (Sanwa) or Korean. Whatever version you pay, you will recieve a bonus plexi opposite (example: Get the Japanese version and you will also get a bonus Korean plexi) in case you want to migrate. It's good that Laugh provides the bonus for owners who might want to experiment in the future.

Most of us stick users know more or less about what Japanese parts, especially Sanwa, perform like but what about the Korean side? While there have been Korean sticks in the market for a while, the Omni is probably the first major attempt to present the capabilities of the parts to the world. The Korean version comes with the Myoungshin's Fanta lever and 28mm buttons from Crown. The parts are all in black, a change from the previous version featuring a green lever and white/black buttons in reference to South Korea's Green Arcade, a major Tekken spot. While I would have preferred that color scheme, the all black approach looks good too. Ever since receiving the Omni in the mail, I have been extensively using the Korean parts to see how it performs in fighters such as Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition Ver. 2012, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, and Tekken Tag Tournament 2.

If there is a way to best describe the feel of the Fanta lever, think of a mix between American levers and Japanese levers. Instead of a ball top, Fanta levers uses a bat top similar American levers or Sanwa's own interpretation. The tension (using a rubber grommet instead of a spring) is akin to that of American levers so it will feel heavy but unlike its western counterpart, it's not as hard to move with and will get easier when using it more often and will probably feel closer to Japanese sticks. Fanta levers have circular restriction instead of the more common square gates. Unlike Japanese circle gates where I struggled with diagonals, I never really had that issue on the Myoungshin Fanta. Players who use circle gates won't have much of a problem either. The lever has been a standard for Tekken play in Korea because it's able to precisely go to neutral position very fast. Mishima players will be in heaven when using this. Testing Electric Wind God Fists and wave dashes felt so smooth and easy where I might consider learning the Mishima-type character.

The buttons from Crown do have a unique feeling compared to its counterparts. When pressed, they have a deep operating travel yet engages midway, sort of like solid color Seimitsu buttons. There is sort of a faux-springy feel like American buttons but you don't hear a microswitch. Double tapping or other special button pressing techniques will work fine on these buttons.

All in all, the parts feel pretty good to use. It's just adjusting to the nuances that's the hard part. I could perform combos and other inputs with not much issue. I would recommend those interested in getting the Omni to go get the Korean version to at least give the parts a try and get Japanese parts elsewhere in case.

Another trait found in the Omni is that it's multi-console out of the box. It uses the Joytron Paewang Revolution which allows compatibility on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It's not auto-detectable so switching consoles requires holding onto the turbo button before and during the plug-in process. Due to the Paewang's limitations, there is no support for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 headsets so you will have to communicate with your online friends through wireless types. The limitation isn't too much of a big deal when being compatible on both major consoles is fine enough.

For $195 USD, the Etokki Omni has enough bang for its buck. There are some downsides to the Omni but it's highly overshadowed by the positives. The overall quality justifies its premium price. There is sort of a deal breaker though: Shipping. International shipping from South Korea varies depending on region and combined price can near the $300 range for some. If the shipping isn't much of an issue, go for it and you will love the Omni.

Created by an independent dealer/top-level player, Laugh definitely succeeded in making a really good and professional-looking arcade stick that can rival that of many others in the market. The Omni is one of the best sticks I ever used.

The Etokki Omni, Sanwa or Korean editions, are priced at $195 with a bonus plexi. As of this review, the next cycle of Omni sticks will be available soon after New Years so make sure to stay tuned! Laugh and Infiltration will be at the Street Fighter 25th Anniversary World Finals this weekend!