Arcade sticks have always been popular in the gaming scene. Whether they are used to fighting games or shmups, they are mostly utilized by hardcore gamers who want to get more out of the game than a standard controller provides. Companies like Hori, Qanba, Razer, Nacon, and Mad Catz have all contributed to the offerings in recent years, supporting the leading consoles. The levels of offerings vary, from introductory, budget friendly models like the Hori Fighting Stick Mini, to the high end, with the Victrix Pro.
Going all the way back to the 8-bit generation, the NES Advantage was the first arcade stick that I recall being for sale for home consoles. Even at the time, it felt like a premium experience with it's precise lever, large buttons, and turbo fire options. Each subsequent generation had a line of arcade sticks. The Sega Genesis had the Arcade Power Sticks, the Super Nintendo had the Super Advantage, the Turbo Grafx-16 had the Turbo Stick, and so on. As hardware ages and fails, using original controllers and arcade sticks becomes more difficult. The company Brook has been making adapters allowing for modern arcade sticks and controllers to be used on legacy hardware, and they do a great job. I have several, and I reviewed some here a few years back. They have adapters for nearly every mainstream console, retro and modern. Brook also makes pcb controller boards, that can be installed into arcade sticks, increasing the number of consoles that arcade stick is compatible with. These require some minimal modding. They also make the Retro Board pcb, which focuses primarily on a plethora of retro consoles, making for a vast value proposition. Unfortunately, it is not compatible with is the Sega Genesis or Neo Geo, otherwise I would have one already.
New on the scene is the Octopus, a preorder only premium arcade stick made by TR Fightstick. This is made from all premium components, like an aluminum shell, custom VMU (virtual memory unit) for Dreamcast enthusiasts, Sanwa lever and buttons, and a custom pcb that is compatible with almost every retro and modern console. The compatibility listing is: NES, Super NES, Genesis, PC-Engine (TG-16), Neo Geo, PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5 (fighting games only), Saturn, Dreamcast, N64, Gamecube, Switch, Xbox 360, PC, Steam Deck, MISTer FPGA, Analog Pocket Dock, Genesis Mini, and Playstation Classic Mini. This is the most compatible arcade stick ever made, and a hardcore Retro Gamer's dream come true.
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| Three input ports covers all potential consoles |
Compatibility is offered through a custom Brook pcb, and console specific, detachable cords. The Octopus has three ports: USB-C (for modern consoles), Jamma (for Neo Geo and Sega Genesis), and RJ45 (for nearly everything else). Included is a reference sheet for startup button combinations to activate the various console compatibility modes. For example, holding 2P and 4P while powering the console puts the stick into PC Engine mode. With so much compatibility, it is necessary to have the guide nearby and double check the button combinations. In addition, certain consoles have different modes depending on controller configuration, like the 3 or 6 button Genesis controllers, 2 or 6 button PC Engine controllers.
The stick comes in three base colors: natural aluminum, white, and black. The artwork can be selected, and is interchangeable. I chose the Sega Astro City artwork, as I always do when it comes to arcade sticks. I do believe there are other third party vendors that will customize artwork as well. Changing our the artwork is intuitive.
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| Gen X'ers may remember these as phone line connectors |
Each console has a unique cord (obviously) that needs to be purchased separately. I recommend ordering all the cords that you might possibly want to use at the time of preorder. My order included NES, SNES, Genesis, Neo Geo, Playstation 1/2, PC Engine, Saturn, and Dreamcast. The stick comes with a USB cord for Switch, PS3/4/5, and Xbox 360. The cords are braided and about 8 feet long. The RJ45 connections are a sturdy fit, with a satisfying click. USB is USB. The Neo Geo/Geneis cords use a Jamma connection that is a firm, tight fit on the arcade stick side, but the Genesis fit is a tad loose for my taste. If you are sitting close enough where there is some cord slack it is not an issue.
The one thing I see a potential problem with is the start button. It is a membrane button that is incorporated into the body of the panel, underneath a plastic layer, kinda like a microwave button. With the frequency of use for a start button, I think that a standard action button, like a 24mm OBS button would have been a better choice. I get that the turbo, VMU switching, select, and menu buttons are relatively low use buttons, and for those this kind of button is fine, but a start button is used often. I think that this will be worn out fairly quickly, and it is not replaceable as it is integrated into the entire surface of the stick panel.
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| I am a slightly worried about the longevity of the start button. |
As far as latency, it performs just as well as any of the past Brook tech, which is to say, very good. I do not have a technical setup that can determine frame data, but I consider myself a seasoned hardcore gamer, and I do not detect any lag. I should mention that I am not really a fighting game player, I primarily play shooters on retro consoles. The fast response and latency are just as, if not more important in those older shmups as they are in fighting games, so I think that my opinion still carries water.
The last thing to discuss is price. $450 for the base stick, and $18 for each console cord other than USB can be an expensive proposition. People will definitely balk at this price. The thing to consider is that this a boutique item, and not something that you can buy off of Amazon. It's compatibility range is unmatched, there is no stick that offers what this does. Imagine what it would cost you to build one of these yourself, and then consider the level of quality offered. Or, imagine if you had purchased a stick of similar quality for all the consoles. Either way, this comes out ahead in terms of value, even if it does not appear so at the onset. I have many arcade sticks, at least one for each console, retro and modern, that I am considering downsizing as many of those are now made redundant.
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| The glass top makes this stick stand out |
Overall, the TR Octopus fightstick is a fantastic premium level arcade stick, with unmatched console compatibility. Even if you do not have an interest compatibility with retro consoles, it is the only out of the box arcade stick compatible with current Switch and Playstation consoles. It truly is one stick to rule them all.
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