Whats the advantage of having a PS2 arcade stick?

[Daniel Primed]

I've been thinking a lot about 2D fighters recently and I've been thinking about why I would need a PS2 arcade stick. You see I used the standard PS2 controller for all of my fighting games, I use the analogue stick for movement and the buttons for everything else.

I'm a little unsure of the benefits of using an arcade stick if my current combnation works fine. I'd only see myself buying an arcade sick for a console with no analogue stick (or at least one that works well) because the d-pad would obviously give me too many blisters.

So, is there much advantage of using a PS2 arcade stick. Obviously you get the more arcade like experience but in terms of control is it much better. And also, what arcade sticks would you recommend?

[racketboy]

I guess it depends on what you're used to.
Also, most people like to have the standard 6-button layout.

[Gamerforlife]

I've always found certain controllers to work okay for 2-d fighters, like the S-NES pad, and both the PS 1 and PS 2 controllers. I used to play Street Fighter Alpha 2 and Darkstalker 3 on the PS 1 with the regular PS 1 controller and had a lot of fun(Yes, with the d-pad. Playing Street Fighter 2 over and over again back during the S-NES era has made my thumb blister proof). When you start obsessing about pulling off advanced techniques and combos though, you typically need either some kind of high quality arcade stick or just a really, really, good gamepad(like the model 2 Sega Saturn controller).

I guess it really does depend on what you want to get out of your game. The PS 2 pad is fine for just regular play, but I don't know if it would cut it if you were playing high level players in a tournament. I've heard some people say otherwise though.

In my experience only one gamepad is as good as an arcade stick. I've been recently playing some 2-d fighters on the Saturn and that model 2 controller is just fricking sweet. The six button layout, the shoulder buttons with the programmed three button imput, plus the very, very accurate d-pad. It's godly. I really do feel like it is completely my own fault now when I mess up a combo or anything else.

It probably goes without saying, but the worse controllers for fighters would probably be the Xbox, Xbox 360, Dreamcast and pretty much anything by Nintendo after the S-NES era. I'll give Sony credit, their controllers aren't perfect for fighters(in my opinion)but they certainly are adequate.

[Daniel Primed]

Thanks for that Gamerforlife. It gives me a much clearer idea. I think that I'll have to play some more fighters until I can make up my mind. I'm finding that the PS2 analogue stick is actually giving me a few blisters because of its grip. I'm also finding it a little tricky to pull of some more complex moves in KoF XI. I'll have to try ome other games first though, build up my skills.