As a fighting game fan, I still fondly remember the adrenaline rush of battling opponents at the arcade. But trying to recapture that aggressive, percussive button-mashing experience at home often left me disappointed. Standard controllers cramped my hands and lacked tactile joy. Cheap fight sticks felt unstable and imprecise. High-end models carried outrageous price tags, costing an arm and a leg!
Luckily, the Monoprice Dark Matter delivers smooth, customizable arcade action at a cost leaving you with both arms intact. Hungry to share my enthusiasm, I dove into testing. After hours of reliving classics on retro collections and wrestling modern marvels like Street Fighter V, I emerged thrilled. This fight stick scratches that nostalgic itch without burning a hole in your wallet. Let’s break down what makes it so special.
Dark Matter Arcade Fighting Stick with Sanwa joystick and Vewlix style buttons for Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Android
Built For Brawls
The Dark Matter means business at first glance. Hefting nearly 8 pounds thanks to a rugged aluminum frame, it won’t budge during frenzied matches. A spacious layout accommodates furious button mashing without hand cramps. The acrylic top panel frames the battleground: a classic Sanwa joystick and eight oversized buttons primed for combat.
These top-notch Sanwa Denshi components deliver ultra-responsive precision beloved by fighting aficionados. While cheaper sticks may save money using flimsier buttons and joysticks, such corner cutting leaves their performance bruised and battered. The Dark Matter pulls no punches, loaded with premium parts ready for quick reactions and special move combinations galore straight from the arcade.
While competitively focused, convenient extras also appeal to the retro fan in me. The removable top layer can be easily customized with decals and artwork reflecting your favourite fighting franchise. Under a glossy facade lies a brave new world, with the Dark Matter encouraging tinkerers to tailor its internals via an intelligently wired, colour-coded system. Sanwa buttons and joystick are simple to reconfigure or replace.
No matter your needs, the versatile Dark Matter has you covered with multi-platform support. Connect it to PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and Android devices out of the box, or plug it into a PC with default Xbox/Windows layouts. Three swappable controller cables eliminate hunting for the right one, stashed in a handy rear compartment alongside tools for personalization. This fight sticks flexible enough to battle on your terms.
Price That Packs A Punch
While stuffed with customization and quality components demanding responsiveness, the Dark Matter’s reasonable $120 price tag remains its most impressive KO. How? Monoprice cut out the middleman, bringing this premium fight stick directly to consumers without fancy brand markups. Just cold, hard savings passed down.
By comparison, major manufacturers like Hori and Razer charge $175 or more for fight sticks sporting similar Sanwa parts. Some cost nearly twice as much! Yet the featured-packed Dark Matter equals or outclasses them all while keeping dollars in your wallet. That’s a valuable victory by TKO.
The Thrill of Arcade Action, Revived
Dark Matter Arcade Fighting Stick with Sanwa joystick and Vewlix style buttons for Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Android
After hours of testing titles from Street Fighter V to TMNT: Cowabunga Collection, the Monoprice Dark Matter Arcade Stick delivered a riveting rush of nostalgic fun. Each special move and combo flowed freely from my fingers, executing with satisfying speed and precision. No lag or jittery response foiled the action. This fight stick punches well above its weight with performance-challenging costlier competitors.
For retro warriors longing to recapture their arcade glory days or curious newcomers seeking a responsive, affordable vessel for honing their skills, the Monoprice Dark Matter lands a roundhouse kick to the competition. Pick it up and feel that intense button-slamming bliss once again. Your inner world warrior awaits.
The featured-packed Dark Matter equals or outclasses premium fight sticks while keeping dollars in your wallet. That’s a valuable victory by TKO.
