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Samurai Shodown Sen shows up March 30
When XSEED announced that it had picked up SNK's latest Samurai Shodown game, Samurai Shodown Sen, we didn't know just how soon it would bring the 3D samurai combat to us. And after waiting a couple of years for this game to show up -- and after seeing it at E3 last year with no word of a release date -- we're kind of shocked to see the game coming out so soon, on March 30. There's a weird kind of parallelism in the design and the premise of the game: Sen is about the period when Western culture began to enter Japan, bringing foreigners in contact with samurai -- and the game is a high-definition 3D version of an SNK classic. So, if we were going to overthink this (and we are), we could see the game's samurai as a metaphor for classic 2D fighters, with the Vikings and other foreign elements representing the unstoppable influence of 3D. Then they all hit each other with swords. %Gallery-83694%
Overstocked and underpriced: Hori Fighting Stick
Despite Hori's reputation for producing quality arcade joysticks for consoles, its $50 Fighting Stick Wii is just too expensive for many gamers. If you're one of those people seeking an arcade alternative to the Classic Controller, but not looking to pay any more than two Jacksons, thank your lucky stars that you loaded Nintendo Wii Fanboy today -- Overstock.com has Hori's "Wii Digital Arcade Stick" temporarily listed for $38.95.We can't guarantee that this deal will stay up for long, so swoop in fast and snatch your prize, like a hawk, while the sale lasts. Make sure to throw a free shipping coupon onto your order, too.Update: Apparently, the free shipping coupon doesn't work on video game-related items. That is some straight-up malarkey. Thanks, Garu.[Via NeoGAF]
Hori Fighting Stick, unboxed and in the nude
Japanese site Game Watch got a hold of Hori's Fighting Stick Wii, posting photos of the arcade controller out of its box and in use at their office. They might as well have put up pictures of themselves caressing its white casing, smirking at the camera with a "you wish your life was as good as ours" look, shirt half unbuttoned to suggest the night ahead, for all the jealousy they've aroused in us. Quarter circle forward past the post break break to see a couple of those images. The Wii remote dangling off of the arcade stick, unfortunately, isn't very attractive. We prefer not having to hook anything on for wireless controls, but we wouldn't have minded the Classic-Controller-styled setup if there was at least a way to unobtrusively attach the remote; it's not like there isn't any room inside the arcade stick's mostly empty shell.
Hori Fighting Stick replaces the Classic Controller in our hearts
Hori's official Fighting Stick Wii product page is up, and with it are new pictures for us to stare at dreamily, imagining Hadoukens and Shoryukens pulled off with clicky aplomb. It's official: this thing is delicious. Deliciously, the page confirms it to be functionally interchangeable with the Classic Controller, meaning that VC games and Smash Bros. are a go. Like the Classic Controller, this joystick requires the Wiimote to be connected. But most of us are used to being semi-tethered to our Wiimotes by now. Unlike the now-boring Classic Controller, the Fighting Stick Wii has an individual turbo switch for each button, which enables super-Takahashi Meijin button pressing at 20 times per second.
Now we just need some fighting games
It's no Real Arcade Pro, but Hori's Fighting Stick Wii is still better than any US-marketed joystick, if previous Fighting Sticks are any indication. Wii owners, of course, will prefer this to the RAP for the simple fact that it works on the Wii. Also, as far as we can tell, it's either wireless or near-wireless. It's got the Home button on it, so it's unlikely to be a rebranded Gamecube controller. Therefore we expect that it either plugs into the Wiimote in the manner of the Classic Controller, or plugs into nothing in the manner of something awesomely convenient. (There's also the USB option, but let's not even talk about that.) Gamestop is taking preorders for this stick in anticipation of a November 6th release, at a price of $49.99. Trust us, that's extraordinarily reasonable for an arcade stick of any quality. Surprisingly, Europe seems to be getting this peripheral before the US: Amazon.co.uk lists the item as shipping on the 17th of this month! That's in line with the estimated Japanese release date provided by Play-Asia; however, neither Amazon.co.jp nor Hori's own website make any mention of this stick.We suppose there's Metal Slug, but it seems like a shame to have such a nice arcade stick for a system with no major fighting games (unless Guilty Gear XX Accent Core actually comes out). Not that the SNES Street Fighter II ports aren't great! It would just feel a bit weird buying a $50 joystick for $8 games.
Hori's Fighting Stick Wii joystick to head stateside
Sure hope you didn't spend too much in a bidding war over that homegrown Wii joystick back in December, as it looks like accessory maker extraordinaire Hori is planning to unveil something mighty similar real soon. According to Play-Asia, the firm's Fighting Stick Wii controller will be hitting the Japanese market in August, giving virtual console gamers a swank alternative to the Wii Classic Controller. Additionally, IGN has supposedly confirmed that an American release "is planned," and while a US pricetag has yet to emerge, those overseas can get their order in now for $52.90.[Via IGN]
Hori supplies Wii with fighting stick
Just in time for Guilty Gear XX: Accent Core comes the Fighting Stick Wii by Hori. Not only is Hori the name in consumer level sticks, but they've also developed quite a reputation over the years with their decidedly niche products such as the Game Boy Player and Dragon Quest Slime controllers. This should come as a relief to not only Guilty Gear fans who fear the new "waggle controls," (Aksys words, not ours) but to fans of the Virtual Console as well. It's not going to magically imbue those ports with arcade perfection, but at least it'll make playing Zangief a whole lot easier in SF2 Turbo.The Fighting Stick Wii ships in August with no word yet on a US release, though we wouldn't hold our breath.[Via Wii Fanboy]
Hori PS3 Fighting Stick: get your Virtua Fighter on in style
First the 360, then the Wii, now the PS3 is getting its own shot at arcade glory. With Virtua Fighter 5 on all those Sony fanboy wishlists, it's only natural to have a shiny controller like this Hori PS3 Fighting Stick number to pull off those nifty-keen combos with Akira Yuki and company. You can pick up one of these wired and turbo-filled controllers for about $50.
