« Review: EightArc Fusion Ivory Arcade Joystick »

The market for fighting sticks is certainly more crowded than it was only four years ago. Where once gamers only chose imported sticks from Hori, Sega and the like or homegrown stick makers in the US—MAS comes to mind—suddenly players have the support of a major gaming company in the US, Mad Catz, along with stateside support from Hori in addition to all the independents out there. And recently another company, EightArc, with its line of dual-modded Fusion sticks, is looking to take a place among the upper tier of peripheral makers.

Many people discuss sticks from a solely technical basis: the stick, buttons, PCB and mod-ability. However, I decided to look at the EightArc Fusion Ivory from a strictly gaming perspective. That is, without knowing what the difference between Sanwa and Seimitsu is, would a player find enough value in the stick to justify the price-point? And after months of use, I think several features make the Fusion Ivory a stick for both longtime players and beginners just starting out. 

The first, most obvious feature that will attract many players to the product is its out-of-the-box functionality with Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PCs. While certainly not the only selling point of the stick, this usability not only forgoes the need for another stick but also saves players from a sometimes costly independent modding service. While prices on the service and components needed may indeed vary, accessibility to such services is sometimes a problem, and the Fusion does away with any of these issues. In the several months I have used the stick, I have had no problems using the stick for different formats. The only small hitch I have encountered is that the 360 does not always immediately recognize the stick; however, simply unplugging and replugging in the controller fixes the problem.

Another feature that makes a big difference to me is the weight of the stick. As a player that grew up playing on American arcade cabinets, I do not have the cleanest or most precise inputs of almost anyone I have met since playing games. And because of that some of the newer arcade sticks, most notably the Mad Catz Street Fighter x Tekken FighStick Pro, are simply too light and slide around on my lap thus making my spotty execution even worse. The Fusion, meanwhile, has more heft to it and feels solid while playing with it on your lap. It is certainly nowhere near the weight-training regime that the Hori VLX provides, but it still offers good stability for even those of us who put way too much force behind each of our joystick movements.

The presentation of the stick is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The front panel is designed so that players can play in long sessions without enduring wrist pain, and the plastic has enough give that players don't feel like they are resting their hands on cement. I was worried that the white casing of the controller would be a magnet for dirt and sweat, but after months of gameplay by myself and others the case is still pristine. Almost every bit of grime can easily be wiped off. And the felt bottom of the stick is another nice addition for those of us who worry about the stick moving as much as our characters do in the game.

Lastly, it feels like the Fusion is built to last. I cannot speak for every stick made available to the general populace, but after more than three months of use the stick has not had even a hiccup in terms of button or stick responsiveness. This should go without saying for every major stick maker, but I feel it is worth reiterating here. 

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As for the stick's failings, I think they tend to fall on personal preference. The stick is expensive, and people with access to cheap modders or stick makers may simply see no point in paying the $185 price tag. Also, Sanwa buttons can be a divisive feature to some in the community, and I find them a little too sensitive for my mash-happy hands. Too often have I barely grazed a button only to get normal or HD activation in KOF XIII that I simply did not want. Finally, the plexiglass cover on the Fusion was slightly bowed when I took the stick out of the box. EightArc offered to send me another stick to remedy the issue, but as the bowing doesn't affect my gameplay I declined and kept my original. However, more picky gamers would do well to look out for this issue and make sure they are not left unhappy with their product.

With all this in mind I think the EightArc Fusion is solid stick choice for newcomers and fighting game community veterans alike. The stick provides both possible console options for tournaments, arcade-quality parts and is sturdy and stable enough to take the abuse of several gamers while making sure to stay exactly where you need it to when performing combos or moving around the screen. Mad Catz and Hori have some good competition.