The humble video game controller is one of the most important elements of interactive entertainment; it is your interface to an immersive virtual world and any shortcomings it may have (Kinect, we're looking at you) impact massively on your overall enjoyment. It's equally true, however, that not all controllers are created equal, and as gaming as matured we've seen a proliferation of different interface options to cater for the growing number of genres on offer.
Despite this evolution, one controller type has remained constant almost since the inception of the industry: the arcade stick. Long before D-Pads and fancy analogue wands became commonplace, gamers grew up with this iconic coin-op control system, comprising of a ball-topped stick and big, friendly buttons – both elements built to withstand the incredible amounts of punishment they would receive at the hands of rabid arcade patrons. While the industry has adopted analogue control as standard today – the Switch doesn't even come with a traditional digital pad – old-school arcade sticks still exist, with demand partly fuelled by the resurgence of the one-on-one fighting game. It's not uncommon to see truly committed players spend well over £100 on the very best arcade stick option from companies like Hori, but even that level of dedication pales in comparison to the courage (and deep pockets) required to invest in the first product from UK-based start-up Shika Arcades.
Shika founder Ed Taylor gave himself one mission: to create the best arcade stick controller for the Super Nintendo. The result is the SOZU.S1, named after a bamboo "scaredeer" device used in Japan. It has taken him 18 months to realise this vision, and we've been lucky enough to get access to one of these incredible controllers for review.
Right from the moment you open the packaging, the SOZU.S1 is unique. Shika Arcades ship each one in its own wooden box with a slide-off lid, so it can be stored away and protected when it's not in use. Included with each unit is a certificate of authenticity, a set of card instructions and a rather fetching limited edition T-Shirt showcasing an exploded engineering drawing of the SOZU.S1 itself. There's also a brass token which matches the exact size of a 100 Yen coin – the currency of choice for old-school Japanese arcade-goers. Our unit also shipped with a drinks coaster made of slate, emblazoned with the Shika Arcades logo – the company clearly likes giving you cool free items when you buy one of its products.
Once you've extracted the controller from its gorgeous packaging and screwed the ball onto the top of the stick (it's detached when in transit) you get some time to appreciate just how incredibly well-build this thing is. The model you see here is the Duotone edition, but a 'Natural' finish version is planned for the next production batch. Precision machined and hand-finished from architectural-grade bamboo, the SOZU.S1 boasts an oiled hard-wax coating which is resistant to moisture (and who doesn't get a little sweaty when playing Street Fighter II, right?). Perhaps more importantly, it feels robust and solid without being too heavy or awkward to use, even when it's resting on your knees. The internals are all Sanwa-made parts – a name which will be familiar to anyone who is a keen follower of arcade gaming. The Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT ball-top stick is present alongside Sanwa OBS-30B/24B buttons, selected for their reliable OMRON pin plunger microswitches. Practically every single input on the SOZU.S1 emits a reassuring click when used, something which will make veteran arcade players feel particularly nostalgic.
In terms of interesting extras, the SOZU.S1 has an adjustable turbo dial – perfect for shooters which lack an auto-fire option – and three switches above the buttons. These high-quality switches allow you to instantly re-map the configuration for that column of buttons; the included instructions do a good job of explaining this process. Elsewhere, there's an inlaid token (like the one which comes in the box) and the lead is covered in thick, wear-resistant red braiding to ensure longevity. Even the plug which connects to the SNES itself is protected by a '1st Edition' end support to prevent wear and tear on the joint.
In action, the SOZU.S1 is a dream to use. Clicky controls may be an acquired taste for some, but there's something joyfully tactile about using microswitched sticks and buttons when compared to the comparatively dull and lifeless contact-based inputs on other pads. On a modern system an arcade stick like this would be limited in scope as it lacks analogue control, but on the SNES – which is from the days of digital control – it's not an issue; we tested every possible genre – from shooters to platformers to fighting games – and the SOZU.S1 performed admirably. Our only complaint is that the plug feels a little bit tight when inserted into the SNES' controller port; it sometimes feels like you're going to break it if you force it too much. It's also a shame that the SOZU.S1 is only compatible with the SNES – it would have been welcome to have multiple controller plugs included so it could be used on systems like the Neo Geo, Mega Drive and PC Engine; this would have obviously increased the overall cost, however.
The other sticking point is the price. At £395 / $550 (the original price was £450 / $630, but Shika Arcades was able to secure more favourable terms with its suppliers and reduced the cost, refunding anyone who had purchased a stick up to that point the difference) the SOZU.S1 isn't an impulse purchase, and there are much cheaper alternatives available on the secondary market should you only be after the 'arcade' experience on your SNES. However, if money is no object and you want the best possible control option for your beloved 16-bit console, then the SOZU.S1 is essential. It's so much more than just a controller; it's a work of art into which Shika Arcades has poured 18 months of love, care and attention. It won't be within every SNES owner's price range, but if you can afford it, it's well worth considering.
Comments 29
This is truly beautiful!
Roll on LABO SWITCH CONTROLLERS! ( so we can all customise some lovely controllers - not necessarily play Cardboard Pro controllers lol)
This is fine and I don't need it...
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Apart from the absurd price, this really is an incredible piece. It seemed odd to be designed specifically for the SNES - I know there were some great fighting games, but it's not like Neo Geo where the system was known pretty much solely for its fighting games. If there were adapters/interchangeable cables that allowed something like this to be used with multiple consoles, I would almost consider it. Though, it would need a 4 (or 7) button layout to work for Neo Geo.
That price tho
@Shiryu Superb gif deployment.
Bizarre that this wouldn't come with a whole suite of cables for connecting to various devices.
Looks great but i dont have the money.
@Pod Yes it seems like if they included a USB cable they would sell a lot more.
@Kanbei Not saying Pod doesn't have a point, but that made me laugh
Oh no, the latest SFC firmware update has disabled it!
@bluesdance God, I miss the pre-internet days. Remember when you used to really own the electronics gear you bought?
@Pod or, just bluetooth? I could see, a genuine cable hook up for the SFC/SNES, since the die-hards could claim ultimate fidelity, but also bluetooth so we could connect it to just about anything modern.
So want. So not gonna be able to get. (And they missed a trick not making it for Switch which is basically a Neo Geo arcade).
Looks great but I don't know why they couldn't make one for the Switch
$550? I don’t care how nice it is, no joystick is worth half a grand. That being said, it appears very nice and well built, but the price is outrageous.
They need to make it compatible with other devices. Why stick to the SNES?
Beautiful piece but way too limited in use considering the price. It’s hard to justify a purchase.
@Lone_Beagle Issue with blue tooth is that the device would then need to be self-powered as well. Not that that's an absolute deal breaker, mind you, but if would need to contain both a bluetooth radio and lithium batteries - further adding to cost and heft. Though, clearly they aren't against absurdly high prices, so maybe they should have just included a battery + bluetooth.
Maybe I'm alone here, but I pumped quarters into many machines growing up and never felt like I just HAD to have an arcade stick at the house (aside from pondering building my own Switch arcade cabinet, of course). I get the nostalgic aspect of it. Are there advantages to using it for certain games? Or is it just for authenticity's sake? Just curious.
Why didn't they include a usb connector? If I could use this with switch, pc and ps3 I'd definitely be tempted, but even as a collector of snes games I would never consider this at that price. Still, it's a really beautiful piece of kit.
It really needs to be compatible with more retro systems as the article stated. Not enough good arcade style games on SNES to justify a stick of this cost. Beautiful though!
@Agent721 Yeah you can usually get a really nice hand built arcade stick off someone on ebay for at least half that price.
Not even close to enough arcade games on SNES to justify ever purchasing this, for me. Even if I had the money to burn!
I'd say the Kinect at the very least led a much better life than the Virtual Boy in terms of which one had the most shortcomings. At least the Kinect is being used in different applications, whereas the Virtual Boy sits in a pile of shame.
A work of art is right, and it sure looks nice, but is clearly only for the most wealthy, die-hard enthusiasts! As someone who did not have an arcade in town and grew up with Game Boy, N64 and later PS1 and Gamecube/GBA I have never quite understood the appeal of this style of control over a more traditional controller.
Though I wont lie, if I were a wealthy man building my ultimate retro game room, I would like to have one of these. But alas, I am an average Joe and could never justify such a purchase.
I’m not sure I would consider any of the extra stuff that comes with a $550 controller as “freebies” haha. Looks amazing though
Awesome bit of kit! I would have preferred rocker switches over toggles, though. Toggles are a bad look when it comes to gaming peripherals, and should only be used in super high-end retro style hi-fi gear, IMHO.
@RedMageLanakyn One is an interface, the other is a console. I was talking specifically about interfaces (the VB's controls were actually pretty decent - dual D-pads!)
@Damo Honestly I thought about that, and remembered the VB controller wasn't very good either! I'm still kinda iffy calling VB an actual console, i like to think of it more as a failed experiment
I don’t even like arcade sticks and I want one....
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