I was able to "mod" the actuation points shortening the throw. I used 2 layers of simple blue masking tape wrapped around the Dpad shaft on the lower end where white micro switches are. Also used Shinitsu grease on the contact points. This VASTLY improves the diagonals! And takes care of the dead space, there's some but it's definitely better. It's a simple mod cheap and fixes both of the controllers main issues. Hope that helps. Oh, also testing this on SHMUPS/Shooters where diagonals are very important proves it worked great! This controller is a SHMUP monster now.

Note: Amazon had these on sale for $20 for early Black Friday. Personally, I’m not a fan of it for modern fighting games, especially 6-button games. What it’s perfect for is old NeoGeo games, which I love to play.

8bitdo regularly put out firmware updates to fix issues like these. Pretty much every complaint I've had about the M30, SN30 and Pro 2 have since been addressed and fixed by these updates, so I'd imagine they'd do the same here.

I really wished you actually mentioned kof gameplay but I took the chance and found out for myself. For those who wanna know my experience I'll be honest I play as heidern on kof 15 and iv been a lil off playing kof cos they put a patch where the gun stinger to super combo can only be done with the input short cut but I was happy without it along with making the stinger animation faster so less input time. i tried the controller a minute ago and I was able to do the special to super in a combo effortlessly. Hope it helps but yeah.... I wanted a input of this controller for a snk gameplay perspective and though im a fan of the channel was a lil annoyed you never mentioned it

The Neo Geo Pocket Color d-pad was always the better SNK d-pad because it was this but smaller and with more sensible micro-switches. Hopefully we'll soon rediscover that ancient technology and never miss an input again.

NEO GEO CD owner since the 90's, I can tell that this controller is what I was waiting for. Sensations are back. The only thing that isn't ergonomic is the bluetooth button on the back. It's much too high and can be accidentally deactivated. Plus, the receiver is sold separately for Nintendo Switch. Else, it's a GO! GO! GO! ->

The sweet spot for the click stick's size would be between what's seen here and that on the Neo Geo Pocket Color. I loved playing SNK Vs. CAPCOM on that handheld specifically because the click stick was so perfect. I could pull off 360s and pretzel motions with ease.It's better than a d-pad at that size! It's great that they're finally putting it on a modern pad, but along with two more shoulder buttons, it also needs the click stick to be just a bit smaller. They're almost there!

I absolutely love your videos man. You’re always the person who has my back when I want to either discover cool new controllers/sticks that may be out of the public eye or hear input on the ones I’m already interested in. Keep up the good work!!

Since I never owned or played a Neo Geo CD I was dying to try this one out with Neo Geo games and bought one maybe 2 or 3 weeks after it was released in August or September. I'm the type of gamer where I don't always like to use an Xbox controller for everything especially classic games so I collect old controllers like the Master System, NES, Genesis, Saturn, Gamecube, PC Engine, etc that's USB either by design or with USB adapters. Everything you pointed out was spot on and exactly my same sentiments to where after the first day of when it arrived and tried it out I literally put it back in the box and haven't reopened it back up since. If this is anything like the original Neo Geo CD controller then it's not optimal for anything to be brutally honest. Pulling off special moves consistently was hit or miss and the deadzone issue becomes apparent especially with precision based games like Last Resort and Neo Bomberman. I still have love and respect for 8bitdo though and if they happen to create an updated model with a better deadzone and extend the face buttons from 4 to 6 then I think it would be more ideal even if it's no longer a replica of the original. 😀

It's definitely a fun controller but I'm noticeably worst when using it! It requires a lot of effort to move around. Its fairly stiff and the long travel makes it tiring... But it is fun! I'd really like a controller to come out like this but smaller and less travel like the NGPC which I love.

I'd love for 8bitdo to come out with a modified version of this controller with better joypad and clicky six-button setup. Also have all the buttons the same size; that's my gripe with the m30. Extra pair of shoulder buttons as well. If they made those changes, I'd get it in a heartbeat. Have you heard of the Betop controller? Ive been hearing great things about it, but you need a converter to use it on the more modern consoles.

I’m glad this replica version exists for the sake of nostalgia, but now that this is out, I hope they take the tech, refine it, and implement it into more modernized controllers like you said (I also feel the same about the M30) I think my dream pad would actually be a combination of this and the M30. The M30 is already my favorite pad for fighting games but I would love essentially a version with the same or similar button layout (six face preferable), but a stick/dpad (“stickpad”?) that is essentially a combination of the instantaneous nature of a dpad like the M30 (also just as big, ergonomic, and comfortable to use) and the clicky responsiveness of a joystick like this one. I’m not very knowledgeable when it comes to hardware, but I think I’m either asking for an M30 dpad with microswitches or a new version of this pad’s stick where it’s resting right on top of the microswitches so there’s virtually no dead zone and you’ve pressed the microswitch down almost as soon as you begin pushing your thumb, similar to what would happen with a dpad. Idk if that’s hard to do but years ago, my dream controller was the M30 and then 8BitDo LITERALLY MADE IT, so I’m hopeful that someday this new dream of mine will come into existence. If anyone can do it, they can (but I just hope SOMEONE does)

The Neo Geo came with a proper arcade stick, a very large controller. You're referring to the Neo Geo CD, which came with these smaller controllers with the microswitched D-Pad.

I think there may be a quality control/consistency issue with these. I have two of them and both have very different sound to the clickiness and feel of the directional inputs. It also is very different depending on where I plug it in. I felt it was one of the best controllers I have ever used for SF3 on PC but when I use it with the Neo geo mini I find I cannot go straight to the diagonals to jump in or out I have to start with the toward/away direction then go up, which ironically is the opposite of what was experienced in the video.

This controller is how I found your channel even though I ultimately ended up getting a leverless (fightbox B1) for Tekken 8 and loved it cross referencing it with your other leverless reviews. That being said I came back to this video a few days ago because I was looking for something a little bit more "traditional" after picking up SF6 and GBF:VR, but wasn't too fond of how much I'd need to move arcade sticks so this fit the bill nicely. Can say that it's performing well for my needs so far, I just need to develop the muscle memory for hitting diagonal inputs because quarter circles are hard for me (on every controller). You provide an awesome resource not just for prospecting buyers, but also for those who like the hardware side of fighting games.

Great in-depth review I was curious about this style of controller thanks for the showcase! I'm really used to d-pad controls, currently having difficulty adjusting to a new controller. I like using a Switch pro controller for fighting games. The d-pad on Switch Pro controller kind of has a problem of registering diagonals too easily but in SF6 I actually think this is a plus.

its the smaller tactiles and longer travel that ruins this. The genuine pad and pad2 is superb and works perfect.The 8bitdo one is just gathering dust here

I haven’t had any of the input problems you had here on my copy when used with a neo geo mini… however as much as I was looking forward to this controller I still think the sega Saturn pad is the best fighting game pad of all time

So people who are interested in reliving an snk experience will get it to play sf6? I get that it's the biggest game out there, maybe show some garou, metal slug or KoF next time?

I've got a lot of 8bitdo controllers and usually in X-input mode the star button is for setting turbo to other buttons.

It reminds me of my PDP Fightpad. It’s got the same microswitch dpad but it has 8 buttons instead of 6. It’s basically a handheld fight stick. I love it still 😂

I first played Street Fighter 2 back on the SNES... the left finger for hard kick is what I grew up with! Still, I see your point about giving each hand a distinct task; I may have been spoiled by modern controllers.

I didn't like the long travel and I also had problems with diagonals so I placed some very small painters tape on the shaft and now feels much better, it´s an easy mod, it took me about 15 minutes.

Make with with 2 shoulder buttons and I’m sold

This may be good for me when learning to use characters with full/half rotation inputs without needing arcade stick. I hope I can 3D print a slightly bigger pivot to reduce the deadzone. 🤷‍♂

I picked one up in Hong Kong two months ago. Aside from using it on Neo Geo Mini, I don't have anything else to play this on. I got it to connect to my PC, Android phone and tablet but nothing to play with. Will buy a New Geo game to test it out on.

I would've loved to see it used for an SNK game like Garou or KoFXIII

I bought the character printed version. It didn't have the left up issue for some reason, but I do agree they should make another version with two more shoulder buttons to fit in modern controls. This is great for their neogeo mini and snk games say like KOF15? But I also wish it supports more platforms other than PC, neogeo mini series, and Nintendo Switch(you actually need a different dongle for it).

I haven't been using the controller for fighting games. I've been using it for other genres of old 8-bit to 32-bit games, and even in those games I've noticed issues with the diagonally movement not always registering and sometimes having to press it just right or with a lot of force. These are far more forgiving games than fighting games, but even then it's been frustrating. So my experience with this controller has been the same as yours, and someone else I know returned their controller because of the same issues. Maybe it's just a quality control issue, but it seems to be an overly common issue if that's the case.

I have had it for almost two months and the issue of diagonals improves over time due to my adaptation and I do everything very consistently My advice is to run like on an arcade stick and not like on a d-pad Circular movements help a lot, for example, instead of super jumping with 259, do it with 369

I don't know if anyone has already mentioned it, but the star-button on 8BitDo-controllers are to program a "turbo"-function to buttons. As in, I believe you can press the star-button, then hit another button (not sure if you have to press it in a certain fashion to indicate what you want it to do or anything), and then either it's already programmed to act with a turbo-function (that is, repeating the input as you hold it down) or you have to press the star-button again to finalize it. - But in any case, that's what it's supposedly for. - Now, I'm not sure how useful this is. I know it used to be on some alternative controllers, at least gamepads, as a feature they tried to sell. But then, it could also be considered "cheating", especially if you'd be playing competitively. - And yea, you could probably program it anyway, but still, having it immediately accessibly is another thing. - And again, I don't know how useful it is, or even how much it's utilized by owners of these peripherals, and perhaps they could cut some costs by leaving it out. - Then again, I suppose it's a "nice to have" kind of thing, especially as a kind of nod to those old gamepads or controllers that had it.

i want the thumbstick from the NeoGeo Pocket (Color)

Now I just need this with 6 face buttons lol

I've been using the m30 myself for a while, pretty cool stuff.

How they don't include a dongle to connect it to your original Neo Geo AES console via Bluetooth is beyond me.

I love this controller. It also makes more complicated inputs easier to pull off(compared to the d-pad). I think this is excellent for retro fighters, sprite based fighters, and arcade games(not bullet hell). I haven't tried it out with more modern fighters(yet). I would love an updated version. I wish that I bought this controller at launch instead of waiting a few months after it came out.

My unit does not seem to have that left to upleft issue. That said the huge travel is definitely an issue. If they had made it with the same travel as the NGPC's little nub it woulda been much better. Seriously, play on an actual NGPC and you'll see the difference immediately. It's night and day.

I’m probably an odd-man-out with this opinion, but since silent or tactile switches exist, why can’t we get those switches in our D-pads? I made the tough decision to move from arcade stick to fightpad to reduce noise and save space, but when I moved to the Razer Raion, the idea of being quieter went to the window because of the loud (yet extremely accurate) switches. I thought about modding the D-Pad switches, but I don’t have a budget for the equipment.

You're the ONLY one that tried this controller with SF6. Props. I hope you review the Saturn Controller Pro when it comes out.

I really wanted this to be good because it looks fun, i hope they refine the switches and smooth out the inputs and release a new revision.

3:40 What I do is the reverse. Dreamcast and SNES fighting games prefer to have Heavy Punch as the L button by default. Eventually I made the bumpers my heavy attack inputs starting on the PS3 era. This was done to avoid wear and tear of the triggers.

Did you try the controller in other games? I had the directional input failure in SF6 before on keyboard, and when I emulated a controller with the same keys using ReWASD the problem was gone, which makes me think SF6 has some input issues.

I would kill for a controller with that "pad" on a playstation format. Specially if it was the Neo Geo pocket version which has a much smaller deadzone

Sega Saturn pad/style pad to me is best pad for fighters period.

The only problem I have with it is the deadzone, and I think that it happens because it mimics a Square Gate and not a Octagonal Gate like regular dpads do. In a Square gate you have to go farther to press the diagonals, while on a octagonal gate you have all the 8 directions on equal range.

Always loved these pads for Metal Slug. Wish they made a wired and 15-pin version for Neo Geos.

gonna have to try this as I already fell in love with the Fighting Commander Octa

Other than having 6 face buttons, this seems to be exactly what I want. Now if only I could get a micro switch fight pad with the modularity of a fight stick.

Have only briefly tried a NG Pocket a long time ago, but my favorite d-pad remains the Sega Saturn (Jpn/U.S. 2nd gen) or Genesis 6-button ones. I wish those had become standard, or I could plug in a Retro-Bit USB Saturn controller into PS4 and PS5.

Ha yes my favorite snk game street fighter 6

Man, I would love a native Switch version without an adapter. If we’re lucky, maybe we can get NEO GEO on NSO with an officially licensed controller too

Why couldn't they put like 6 buttons on the front of some extras on the back or shoulders? I would've loved to try this but it doesn't cover anywhere near all the functions.

Recently bought this pad and its for fighting games , but your execution must be very precise. Other than that that its great for 2D platform games too.

Without those deadzones, dashing would be a nightmare to execute. The deadzone guarantees you to be input neutral without having to return the joystick too much to the center when you have to do rapid input on the same direction. It's like using an oversized actuator that is too big that it touches the microswitches just in neutral position, it's good for shmups, but it's abysmal for fighting games. You'll end up just walking normal when you input dash or run most of the time. So, deadzones are good for fighting games, they are useful, you just don't want them too big. It was meant to be played by imitating "rolling on the gate" like in arcade joystick. To be honest, i'm quite shocked by the amount of people saying that you shouldn't be riding the gate nowadays, because those gates on your joystick are meant to be rolled on, they're not that fragile. you know you can execute faster inputs by riding the gate too right? It's the other end of the spectrum of how you use a joystick where you don't hold back your hand movement to do a precise input, but by slamming the joystick to hit certain side or corner of the gate faster. and trust me, using it this way is much less tiring than controlling it precisely without hitting the gate too much. (I'm talking about arcade joysticks)

For that issue of hitting the corners of the... whatever, switches, inputs, all that... I bet you could improve it by putting something around the stem that actually hits the switches. - I mean, I saw what it looks like inside in a different video, and if there's such a "deadzone", it just means the stem is not hitting the switches soon enough. So putting something like a rubber ring around it could probably solve or at least improve that. - Oh, it seems that someone else mentioned something similar, so there's that... Guess I was thinking along the right line.

Should’ve used kof15 not sf6 for the demonstration

Apparently after watching a tear down video, it's not the switches that click but more the actuator travel.

Your complaints seem to be on-par with everyone else's. Massive deadzone with a long throw, which causes diagonal issues. Everyone seems to have some kind of issue related with the up-direction switch, yours seems to be with movement from left to up with up-left, others have had issues discretely with up itself. The weird clicking with up is due to the mechanism, not the switch itself, the switch is silent but the mech has a clicker, everyone has pointed this out; the issue here is that you can get a click without actuation, actuation without a click, and a delayed click. I don't know about a fix for the clicker, but I do know some people have experimented with shimming the interior plastics to make the deadzone smaller, though this won't entirely fix issues with switches not actuating properly. I'm not sure when you received your unit, but if it's from a recent batch then 8BD hasn't fixed their issues, as complaints of this have existed since reviews originally dropped, hopefully the issues are fixed going forward and this doesn't become one-off abandonware, though I wouldn't be surprised if this is also just a QC issue that'll forever plague the product. Though I will say, for how much work 8BD allegedly put into recreating the dstick, it seems like just an original dstick with modern switches, and I'm a bit disappointed they didn't use the Pocket Color's revision of the dstick assembly, further I'm a bit disappointed that they didn't modernize the dstick in any way. Which is why I think this will ultimately become a one-off, and eventually abandonware, it's just a clone with the only modernization being wireless and the two extra system buttons (heart and star), there's no actual new development; it just seems to be a product primarily made for the NG Mini, hence the SNK co-branding, and secondarily for FGC, hence the special editions and main viable market. Hopefully I'm wrong and there'll eventually be a v2, a NGPC-inspired revision, a 'pro' variant with sticks and handles, a six-button variant, etc. I just don't know how I feel, because supposedly 8BD worked on the dstick from the ground up, just for it to be a clone of the original with some fairly hefty downsides, it feels more like 'there's no supplier (of the assembly) so we have to be the supplier' rather than actually producing a modern mechanism with some actual thought put into it. I really wish someone would actually develop the dstick to its fuller potential, as we've only seen one developer (SNK) with two variants (NG and NGPC), with only one modern clone (8BD), yet nobody else is attempting to do anything with it, when it's the supposed golden middle ground of both a stick and a pad. Though at the same time, the Nintendo-style dpad has taken over everything, with little development elsewhere, so alternatives will probably never have the development time put into them when the Nintendo-derived pad just works.

Looks neat! Thanks for the review! I wonder how it would feel with Melty Blood . . .

I wouldn't use a pad for fighting games, but I could see using this for portability in the many other 2D games I play. I wish they had a wired version of this to get rid of the battery.

I feel like that's a very measured take from someone who's pad performance *matters* ...I own 4 of these and still appreciate how you've characterized the pads. I also feel lucky that someone in your comments section provided some *very* useful mod tips for boosting the performace amazingly of these pads, so I'm very happy to have spent this time here today. Thanks!😸

bought this as a novelty since I can use it as a 2P for my neo geo mini, feel the same way about the unfortunate dead zone. Still an ok controller for $20, and wish I didn't have to buy a separate adapter for switch compatibility.

already got it and my god the clicky analog in that controller feels good~

I have a couple of these and I absolutely love them. I find them to be perfect for playing neo geo games. But I also don't play Fighting games. Mostly shooters beat em ups and run and guns.

The MVC3 controller has this and is wired (Or at least the Xbox360 version was). It also has 6 clicky face buttons

I'll stick with my PDP Versus. Clicky D-pad and built for 6 button fighters.

They should make this D-Pad with the M30 buttons on the right. They always nail a perfect controller but then mess up on most trivial stuff.

Does this work on the PS5 with a brook converter some how? Or is it only for PC and android for now?

Talking about fight pads, you should review the Flydigi Vader 3 and 3 Pro. It has six face buttons (although they're on the "wrong" layout by default) and the best D-pad I've played with in my life. Just tweak the face buttons and bam, instant fight pad for SF6

8bitdo makes some stuff that you never knew you needed kinda like their MO now

Such an excellent and honest review.

The best clicky thumbstick ever is actually on the Neo Geo Pocket Color as the a much virtually no dead zone. Shame is that we will never see that in a controller.

I have the PS2 version and the deadzone is more comfortable; not nearly as close to the edge as this one. Never had the original SNK controller to compare. PS2 version also has 6 face buttons, so it would be a nicer controller to remake but certainly not as iconic as the original.

i had the diagonal issue on my controller. the stick hit the corner on down back before it actuated the down switch on my controller, i ordered 2 when they came out so i decided to take out the second one and it’s completely fine and is my main controller right now

God This is really taking me back

It would be nice to have the same controller but 6 buttons, similar to Sega but buttons size something between Sega and this one. I know it has buttons at the back, I want those too.

What is your opinion of the Xbox Series X controller? In my opinion I honest to god think it has one of, if not the best d-pads. I personally wish it were placed in primary position, but that's not going to happen for Xbox. Love your opinion on controllers. Would really like to know yours on this very accessible controller, especially in regards to fighting games.

I use mine for Garou and all Neo Geo games...it's perfect for them. Not sure about modern games. As stated would need trigger buttons to be fully compatible for modern titles.

It reminds me of my old PDP versus controller but with only 4 face buttons.

The Neo Geo Pocket Color Joystick is the perfect thumb joystick with clicky switches, if it could be taken out of a NGPC and put in a controller pad it would be the best controller ever, maby with enough engeneering / electrican skills it can be done.

I was so excited about it, because I had one NEO GEO CD and the joystick was ultra perfect for fighting games. Added to that, there is no decent mechanical dpads in the market right now. I loved the size, big buttons etc,. but the dpad, even its also mechanical, IS NOT EVEN CLOSE to the original. Repeated moviments are a problem because it takes to long to the dpad returns from the previous moviment, not good.

Tried to use this during the Granblue beta weekend and it disconnected in the middle of a match for no clear reason.

>they could have really price gouged us bro what are you saying, do you want them to charge more lmao

Is the issue with the back diagonal maybe a USB encoding / polling issue? 🤔

I looked forward to this and got one as soon as they opened orders on Amazon... And mine has a tendency to detect Up when I'm not intending to press Up. I use it exclusively for Neo Geo games on my PC, and this is exceedingly obnoxious when playing Metal Slug. I stopped bothering with the vehicles because I would unintentionally eject from them at inopportune times. Many disappoint!

neo geo pocket have the same stick, played SNK vs Capcom was so smooth.

I waited a couple of weeks after these came out to check reviews and then picked up two of them because I liked what I heard. I can only speak for myself, but the two I got have been absolutely fantastic so far. And they are both consistent. I've noticed no issues with directional inputs. The dead zone is what it is, but I prefer to have a bit more of a dead zone than too little. I notice it in games that require a quick change of direction, but for fighting games with typical inputs and double taps to dash, I find it to be excellent. Another commenter has made an excellent case for dead zones that I agree with. Overall, it only took a short while for me to get used to the pad and I definitely felt an improvement in precision in the fighting games I like to play. So my experience with these has been great which I wanted to share. I would love to see them continue with the thumb stick with more full-featured controllers and also to further refine it if there are issues beyond just normal defects that happen with any product. But I'm thrilled with mine.

As a former Neo Geo CD owner, I can confirm: this D-Pad is one of the best, if not the best I have ever used in my entire life. Play fighting games in the late 90s with this little beauty there was marvelous.

what I don't like about analogues is dashing in combobs or neutral how does it fell when inputing dash during those situation, also what about ga,es that use air dashes.

This guy probably owns an entire warehouse just to store all his thousands of controllers 😂

The best clicky stick pad is the one from the Neogeo Pocket Colour. It is tiny and has all the clicky benefits. It must be done!

you know there is a mod on the game gear to add a thumbstick. i wonder how it compares to the SNK on lol. not for me though i love the D pad. there is also microswitch mods for d-oads too if you just want hte clicks

This for tekken must be wonders

7:50 Thats every single 8bit do product. They all do this sadly.

Got a ultimate C, has the same problem with diagonals really frustrating

Seems like the throw is way too large on this thing for it to actually do the job. Damn I love 8bitdo, but I sometimes wonder if they test these out at the design level. I really do love their pricing however.

great review

How good would this be for anime fighters, such as blazblue or Guilty Gear? Do the four buttons hinder gameplay?

I don`t like to play fighting games on this tbh, but it works great for old beat`em ups like ninja turtles.

...and again, it's not compatible with the Neo Geo ASP. But for the Neo Geo Mini it works, and the (bad) Neo Geo Mini controller is also compatible with the stick. Why? I don't understand it, I would love to play two play FTGs with a second player on my ASP. Original microswitched Neo Geo CD controllers aren't comparable either. SNK (it's a licenced product) flawed so many times in the recent past, could they make finally anything right? Obviously not, and that's very sad. Maybe I buy it for my PC, but it still sucks. I still hope for some firmware update...🙄