MadCatz RetroCon - Or alternatives.

[MrEco]

So I have the Megaman and Megaman X collections on PS2, but there's a tiny problem. It feels really weird playing those games with a PS2 controller.

So I'm looking around for a PS2 compatible NES/SNES style controller. The only thing I've been able to find so far is the MadCats RetroCon:

So, if anyone here has used this, can you tell me what your experience was like? Is the controller sturdy and well made? How are the buttons, kinda squishy like a regular PS2 controller or more "clicky?"

And if anyone knows any other brand controllers like this, feel free to let me know.

[samsonlonghair]

I bought this controller. I thought it was a great idea for retro gaming. I was mistaken.

The retrocon is a poorly made mess. The blue lights are distracting. Even when it does work, the input is mushy. Mine broke in about six months. I don't really miss it.

[samsonlonghair]

After thinking about this for an hour, I realized that I did not offer you any alternatives to the RetroCon. Allow me to correct that mistake.

I really enjoy Capcom's street fighter pad for PS2:

This comes in Ken, Ryu, or Chun-Li variants. It feels a little bit like a Saturn or Genesis six-button controller with less resistance. The "floaty" d-pad is especially nice.

I don't have the Mega Man compilations, but I do play a lot of retro compilations on this controller.

[nightrnr]

to MrEco:
Buy this RIGHT NOW!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Sega-Satu ... 3cd8cd91c2

or better yet, his controller Converter (but you'll need a Saturn game pad too):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sega-Saturn-Pad ... 3cd9156319

I have one from him and I absolutely LOVE it. Truly the best way to play 2D Fighters (and 2D games in general).
In fact, get 2 of them, so that you can invite a friend to enjoy the same bliss (2-player permitting).

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I really enjoy Capcom's street fighter pad for PS2:

I actually have and like this controller...
...however, the D-pad is not very durable at all. I'm not even all that abusive to my controllers, but the D-pad tends to wear out quickly, making it get "stuck" in a direction for a split second after pushing it. In fighters, this means death.
I've had 3 of those controllers do this to me, so I've given up on them.

[Ghegs]

So I have the Megaman and Megaman X collections on PS2, but there's a tiny problem. It feels really weird playing those games with a PS2 controller.

Worth noting that the Megaman collection requires the controller to have an analog stick for some unfathomable reason. If you try to play it with a pad offering only digital controls it will simply present an error message prompting you to plug Dual Shock 2 in.

The X collection works just fine with a digital-only controller, though.

[nightrnr]

Too bad about the Mega Man Collection. I guess they made odd controller decisions for both the Gamecube and PS2 releases.
For MM1-6, there's always emulators (for freemcboot). The emulation is pretty good, assuming an occasional sound hiccup won't bother you. 2D pads work well for it.

For me the PS2 controller works beautifully on Megaman. But I have played through a couple MMX games on the original Playstation and I'm quite used to it.
Still, nothing beats a good Saturn controller for 2D gaming.

About the Retrocon:

I have one, but I dislike the D-pad, which is too deep into the controller. It just doesn't feel right.

It's all about the D-pad.

[MrEco]

That Saturn controller looks like a good choice honestly, I'm very tempted by it. However it sucks about the Megaman Collection not supporting controllers which lack analog sticks. If that's true then I guess my only option is to buy a sturdy third party controller? The main problem I have with the first party PS2 controller is that the face buttons and d-pad feel too squishy to me. Either that or get the Saturn controller and begrudgingly play the original collection with just the plain PS2 controller.


Then again, maybe it's also possible that my PS2 controller is starting to feel it's age? Can someone with a better memory than me (Or a recently purchased first party PS2 controller) say whether they think the face buttons/d-pad are as squishy as they feel to me?

[Ziggy]

I bought this controller. I thought it was a great idea for retro gaming. I was mistaken.

The retrocon is a poorly made mess. The blue lights are distracting. Even when it does work, the input is mushy. Mine broke in about six months. I don't really miss it.

I have one, and while I never used it a whole lot, I didn't see any problems with it. I got it when I had a soft mod oXbox, with a PS2-Xbox controller adapter, for use with NES emulation.

The blue lights are annoying, but I didn't find them distracting (I guess they would be in a dark room). I didn't find any problems with the functionality though.

For MM1-6, there's always emulators (for freemcboot). The emulation is pretty good, assuming an occasional sound hiccup won't bother you. 2D pads work well for it.

Which NES emulator are you using for the PS2? I remember trying one back when I first got Free MCboot and wasn't too impressed compared to emulators on other consoles.

[Hobie-wan]

Remember that the dualshock 2 face buttons are actually analog, though not many if any games support that at. So they'd have to be a little squishy in order to produce a range of output.

[nightrnr]

Which NES emulator are you using for the PS2? I remember trying one back when I first got Free MCboot and wasn't too impressed compared to emulators on other consoles.

I use FCEU_90i
http://psx-scene.com/forums/f176/fceultra-ps2-51658/

...but there's a newer version out:
http://psx-scene.com/forums/f176/fceu-m ... on-118166/

I still use version 90i, but I can't remember why I didn't like the newer version. All I remember is that the new one works with Dragon Warrior IV, and that's why I keep it (and it has a 480p option, I think, but that's not useful to me presently).

There's still a few games that don't work (Punch-Out is a no-go )
Anyways, try them out and see what you think.

Remember that the dualshock 2 face buttons are actually analog, though not many if any games support that at. So they'd have to be a little squishy in order to produce a range of output.

So, an original PS1 dualshock controller might be a viable solution (and maybe the reason I never had an issue with the MMX games I've played).