Is an arcade stick necessary for fighting games?

[T1tan45]

I've played a lot of fighting games in the time I've had my xbox, and I have always used a standard xbox controller to play them. Lately, I've been getting comments about how it's weird that I'm really good at fighting games like MvC3 and Mortal Kombat, but not use an arcade stick to play them.

Should I go buy an arcade stick? Or should I just keep using a regular controller?

If yes, then is there a certain arcade stick you would recommend?

 

[LiberalSquirrel]

I've never used an arcade stick, and I play quite a few fighting games, and am quite good at them myself. As long as you're comfortable using a standard controller, there's no reason to get an arcade stick.

 

[sapphireofthesea]

I would say no, depending on how far you wish to go with it. I know most of the world champions use it (I say most because I am not 100% up on that side of things).
However I have seen some super ace Street Fighter players who only use the controller.
I personally think it is down to preferance. I could never get the hang of a stick but with a controller I can at least stand up to the best (I am upper class player myself).

 

[Hosker]

I play DOA4 perfectly fine with a controller. I don't see how arcade sticks would improve your ability to play.

 

[Wuffykins]

Depends how nitpicky you want to get about it, as for the most part I figure it is a personal preference based on habits and comfort level. As for myself, I ended up buying an arcade stick mainly for the Shoot 'em Up genre (much better to use than a keyboard for PC ones). After trying a few fighting games with it I will admit it feels more responsive and much more comfortable after extended amounts of play, as my hands tend to cramp up on a controller (sidenote: I am a button masher for the record, a side effect from playing Shmups all the time).

That said, you're going to get some arguments on how a Arcade stick modded with Sanwa parts definitely beats a controller in responsiveness, but that's usually for the uber hardcore tournament crowd. Again it is just a matter of personal preference in the end.

Summary: Not required, but can be more enjoyable to play with. As for recommendations, I'd take a look at the Hori wireless stick bundled with Tekken 6 (360 & PS3), it'll be cheap if you can find it and it's a good entry point to get a general feel of using a stick.

[Edited for "Holy Run-On Sentences Wuffy!"]

 

[Tanakh]

Should I go buy an arcade stick? Or should I just keep using a regular controller?

Yes, no. You need an arcade stick. As said before it kinda depends how high you wanna go though.

I ended up buying an arcade stick mainly for the Shoot 'em Up genre (much better to use than a keyboard for PC ones)

Ohhh yeah! Do-Don-Pachi and Jamestown!

 

[Ordinaryundone]

Depends. There are a lot of bad players with sticks, and a lot of good players who use controllers. However, on the average, the best players all use sticks. So it stands to reason that using a stick confers a certain type of advantage that a controller simply does not.

To me, its the joystick itself. The D-Pad is simply unable to keep up in modern fighting games and blisters the hell out of your thumb to boot. Controller analog sticks are too small to grip comfortably.

 

[Dchao]

It isn't necessary but neither is showering. Think about it.

 

[Halo Fanboy]

for some characters or games it is necessary though for most it really isn't. It's usually the best thing to use though.

Edit: actually the Hitbox is on par with a stick if you would rather go with that.

 

[Fishyash]

My opinion:

For stick motions? not really. Some people find using a stick more comfortable. You can do your QCFs and DP motions fine regardless on an analog stick, d-pad or arcade stick.

Now, for button pressing, I find sticks superior (at least for street fighter), because you can plink, double tap, piano and slide (for stuff like honda's hundred hand slap or chun li's legs). It is also easier to grab, focus attack and taunt on a stick (letting you do FADCs more easily).

I decided to get a £20 fightstick for my street fighter playing . I dunno, I don't really play competetively so I don't need those £100 high quality arcade sticks.

You can play at a decent level on pretty much any fighting game with a controller. You ARE handicapped physically when using it but it doesn't make anything really IMPOSSIBLE, just harder. You will probably be able to pull off your moves and more complex or more difficult combos easier with a fightstick, but you don't need it to do decently. I've seen some MvC streams where very good players go to and there are some people with playstation/xbox controllers or fightpads.

 

[The Rockerfly]

I played one for Marvel vs Capcom 3 and when you get used to it, holy crap it's easy to make combos. Skill and timing still does a better job but you have a lot more control but it is less comfortable than a controller (personally at least)

 

[Legion IV]

Should I go buy an arcade stick? Or should I just keep using a regular controller?

Yes, no. You need an arcade stick. As said before it kinda depends how high you wanna go though.

I ended up buying an arcade stick mainly for the Shoot 'em Up genre (much better to use than a keyboard for PC ones)

Ohhh yeah! Do-Don-Pachi and Jamestown!

I really wanna dispel this myth.

ITS ALL COMFORT. Using a stick dosent make you better at all. Heres some perspective, some of the best North american players use pad. The guy who got 2nd place in the biggest fighting game tournament for SFF4 uses pad.

Its all comfort thats it.

Am tired of people saying"f you really wanna be good you need them. I grew up in the arcade playing all the best fighting games there s i had to use stick. So of course am gonna have like 6 Arcade sticks but thats my preference.

 

[T1tan45]

Am tired of people saying"f you really wanna be good you need them".

That's the reason why I made this thread, because I hear that all the time. But either way, Everyone that replied to this thread gave good advice, so I guess I'll just have to try one out for myself.

 

[hoboman29]

I know its not on topic but where can i get a good stick for as low a price as possible I want to try one out

 

[Manji187]

There's also an option in between..."specialized" pad. At least I know they exist for SF4 (Xbox and PS3) but I'm sure they could be used for other fighting games as well

Spoiler: Looks like this...