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Stick vs Hitbox vs Mixbox for beginners, today I’ll give my opinion on this debate after owning and experimenting with each for several years now. I’m not a pro player, but I enjoy fighting games to the point of wanting to invest in an arcade controller and try different options.
With this said, I’ll be guiding you through the choices I’ve made over the years while stating the pros and cons. And hopefully, by the end, you’ll have a consolidated opinion.
So, without further ado, let’s start with the Arcade Stick.
Disclaimer: This post contains several affiliate links
Arcade Stick
In 2018, I bought Dragon Ball FighterZ, and playing it with a controller was uncomfortable. My thumbs were sore all the time, and I felt like I wasn’t as consistent with my inputs since I only played using the analog stick (the d-pad made my thumb very sore too).
Enter the Mayflash F300, where some of my problems were fixed while others worsened, and new ones surfaced. The feeling of hitting the buttons was amazing compared to the controller, and it felt even better after purchasing Sanwa buttons.
As for the lever, it made my combos more precise, but again, I modded it with an octagon gate instead of a square so I could feel every corner properly.
At this point, I was in Arcade Stick Heaven and even upgraded to a Mayflash F500 since it’s easier to customize its looks. However, not everything was great, compared to a controller, this thing is very loud.
I didn’t have a problem pre-COVID, but when my girlfriend no longer had to go to the office, it was difficult to find time alone to play comfortably without annoying her.
But the biggest problem was the lever. Just like the controller, my left hand would get sore after playing for a couple of hours. At this point, I started looking into other options and found the Mixbox.
Arcade Stick Pros:
- Improved button responsiveness and feel compared to a controller.
- Enhanced precision in executing combos with the lever, especially after modifying it with an octagon gate.
- Perfect if you want a customized controller.
Arcade Stick Cons:
- Increased noise level compared to using a controller, which can be disruptive, especially in shared living spaces.
- Ergonomic issues especially with the lever. It may leave your hand sore.
MixBox
A mixbox works just like your standard arcade stick but instead of a lever, it has WASD or Arrow Keys that you can find on any keyboard. However, as eager as I was to purchase one, the price was too much for me to commit.
Side Note: Luckily for you, there’s a cheap alternative option available today if you want to purchase your first MixBox. The PXN Arcade Stick it’s a great entry point from what I’ve gathered!
So I went with the cheapest route and decided to mod my existing arcade controller. There were two compatible options for my Mayflash F500, the Odin and the T-Spin, both made by Omni Arcade.
I decided to purchase the T-Spin since the Odin wasn’t available. After a couple of weeks of waiting and with the help of great customer support, I had successfully modded my arcade stick into a Mixbox.
My thoughts? Well, it met almost all of my expectations. Although it wasn’t the prettiest to look at, functionally it was perfect. Now I was sure I wasn’t missing any inputs and wasn’t as loud when playing.
However, the keys were still a bit too loud, and ergonomically it wasn’t perfect either, despite being leaps better than the stick, based on my not-so-sore hands.
Still, I wasn’t 100% happy with it and was craving something more compact. I was aware of products like the Snackbox, which is essentially a Hitbox but smaller. But at the time, Hitbox options were either too expensive or outright unavailable in Europe.
Mixbox Pros:
- Precise directional inputs similar to a keyboard, enhancing accuracy in gameplay.
- Easier to perform motion inputs such as Dragon Punches and many others.
- Offers an alternative to traditional arcade sticks, catering to players who prefer keyboard-style controls.
- Just like the arcade stick you can customize it to your liking.
MixBox Cons:
- Higher price point compared to standard arcade sticks, making it less accessible for some players.
- Potential for loud keystrokes, which can be disruptive, particularly in shared living spaces.
- Still some ergonomics issues for your left hand but it’s better than playing with a stick.
Hitbox
Flash forward to today, and I now own the perfect little arcade controller that I’ve wanted for a year, a Flatbox, which I got from Etsy.
The Flatbox is essentially a Hitbox but more compact, and easier to carry around. It’s ergonomically excellent, feeling like I’m effortlessly typing away on my keyboard. And, just like the Mixbox, your directional inputs are always perfect.
Also, I chose to use Linear Buttons, which don’t require much pressure. It was weird at first, but now I can’t go back!
Not all was good though, this small controller was very loud. So I decided to take my advice and modded it to make it a bit quieter, and now it’s perfect.
But, with this controller, it took a couple of days for my brain to adjust to the fact that the up button was placed down near my thumb! But, after some weeks of playing, I can now perform some more intricate combos without pressing the wrong button.
When it comes to customizing it there are a few available options but you need to be careful with what you’re purchasing.
First, let’s talk about the switches. The Flatbox comes with hot-swap switches meaning you can replace the keys for any of your choosing. As I’ve mentioned I chose Linear Keys which have no clicky sound when pressing it.
I also got some Tactil to experiment and although the response and cliky sound you get when purchasing is great it still requires more pressure for the input to register. In the end, it all comes down to preference and you can always purchase a couple of each type to experiment!
Then there’s the case and buttons. Almost everything you’ll find will be 3D printed.
In my case, I went on Etsy and despite everything being 3D printed the quality is solid. But, if I wasn’t as impulsive I probably would’ve gone with Ultra Arcade Europe where I could’ve bought a Flatbox with an acrylic case and a custom artwork!
For more details about the Flabox Read my Review!
This would be where I’d stop talking about Hitbox-style controllers, but while writing this I bought a Haute42 G16 which has the same processor.. and my first impressions are amazing.
I bought it on a whim because I wanted a Flatbox but with more buttons. And, for now, I can safely say the only thing the Flatbox has better than the Haute42 G16 is the size of the buttons and button distance. Because of this, it loses in terms of ergonomics.
And that’s all I have to say about it, once I have more time with it I’ll post my review here, but for now, it’s a great controller to contemplate, you can buy it cheap here.
Flatbox Pros:
- Compact and portable design, making it easy to carry around.
- Ergonomically excellent, providing a comfortable typing-like feel.
- Accurate directional inputs, akin to the Mixbox.
- Customizable switches with Hot-swap functionality
- Good quality, even with 3D-printed components.
- Suitable for intricate combos after a brief adjustment period.
Flatbox Cons:
- The Flatbox is very loud.
- Up button placement may take time to adjust to for some users.
- Limited options for customization compared to other controllers.
- Dependence on 3D printing for case and buttons may affect overall quality and aesthetics.
Conclusion
And these were all the Arcade Controller options I’ve experimented with over the years!
In the end, it’s all about finding the controller that feels right for you and allows you to play your favorite games comfortably Whether you’re executing complex combos or pulling off precise movements, the controller that suits your style best is the one you’ll want by your side in the heat of battle.
As for me, I’ll probably keep going down the Hitbox Route and potentially invest in a Razer Kitsune in the future! A very distant future based on that price tag though.
How about, you? Which one is your controller of choice?
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