Can you comment on whether the 24mm plungers are identical to those on the Mini 3? As I recall, it’s possible to install Sanwa/Seimitsu button switches in place of the Hori switches using the original Hori plungers (after desoldering), but it wasn’t possible to use Seimitsu or Sanwa 24mm plungers because the guides were rotated 90 degrees. Wondering if the Mini 4 has been updated at all in regards to the 90 degree plunger difference, and whether Sanwa/Seimitsu plunger faces can now be used for a little extra customization?
Update: After watching Jasen’s video again more closely, it appears the microswitch does seem to run horizontally just as they did on the Mini 3, so not looking like it would accommodate Sanwa or Seimitsu plungers initially.
I got a the new Fighting Commander yesterday and put it through the paces with Ultra last night. I have to say, I disagree with you there. I’m a fan of the FC4, but the simple fact is the thing is a little too large for my small hands and wasn’t that comfortable, but I loved it because it was one of the few pads I could play a fighter on and still have great execution. The new Fighting Commander is mostly the same, but the slightly smaller symmetrical shape did the trick for me and is a lot more comfortable. I would prefer it to be slightly smaller, but that’s nitpicking.
As far as the dpad being average, I’ve got mixed feelings on that one. When feeling it in your hands, it just feels like another dpad, nothing great, nothing bad, certainly no Saturn pad. But I can’t argue with results, I’m not having any problems getting the moves out and my thumb doesn’t take a beating after several hours like some pads I’ve used in the past.
I got big hands lol, I would’ve wanted the left side to be slightly longer like the Mad Catz Fightpad Pro, PDP MKX and FC4. I can feel my palms getting tired faster.
After playing with it some more, I do prefer its dpad over the FC4’s, but it still no Snes/Saturn quality, that’s why I call it an average dpad.
I’d take the Hori dpad over the SNES one, but the Saturn rules all. The only reason I looked into the Hori pads over using a Saturn pad is because I can’t do the multiple button presses that SF4 (and probably SF5) require to do Ultras, throws, focus attacks, etc due to the different shaped buttons. With the hori pad I can do the throws and focus attacks with no problem and can map all three attack buttons to the shoulders.
If you’ve got big hands I can definitely see why our opinions differ. It reminds me of the original Xbox controllers, some people swore by the old Duke controllers, I could barely get my hands around one and didn’t get a system until the Controller S came out. Damn tiny t-rex claws.
So i got an Update on the new Fighting Commander Japanese Pad. I imported one from playasia and I can confirm that xinput works flawlessly on PC.
All steam games work and so does street fighter 5 beta. And also a very nice bonus: the xbox one streaming app works with it under windows 10.
So my guess is that the new Hayabusa 5 PS4 Stick from Japan with xinput does the same.
In comparison the Fighting Commander 4 Pad wich i also have does not work as Xinput, nor under street Fighter nor the xbox streaming app. So that is a pleasant change.
The dpad is just as nice as the one on the fc4 and the symetrical form is a nice change to. All in all i would prefer the new japanese one.
I got the newest Fighting Commander from Play Asia yesterday. Here’s a little mini review =
Pros -
Absolutely love the buttons, both on the face and the shoulders. Very responsive (comparable to a T.E stick).
The cord is very long.
Very light in your hands but doesn’t feel cheap either.
Switchable shoulder buttons (R1/2 can be made into L1/2, L1/2 will then become R3/L3)
Dpad doesn’t destroy your thumb. Could play for hours without feeling any kind of fatigue (which is definitely not true for PS3/PS4 official controllers).
Cons -
Dpad isn’t 10/10 like I expected it to be on a dedicated fight pad. It’s not bad (I was doing flash kick, fadc, sonic hurricane on it in about 5 mins) but it’s not great. I can’t put my finger on exactly what’s wrong with it but it could be better.
I personally don’t like the 6 face buttons for SF4 (I usually go for pads with 4 face buttons and 2 shoulder buttons so I can plink). The 2 extra buttons just felt like they are in the way no matter what input setup I had running, so I think for that game I’m better off using the PS4 pad.
However, now that SF4 is dead and there’s no need to plink anymore, I will attempt to get used to using 6 face buttons, along with using the switch to assign L1 and L2 to R1 and R2. I’ll try this on the first week of SF5’s launch and see how well I get on with it.
Conclusion -
Overall I like it and I think it’s worth the price but I still feel like I prefer the SNES and PS1 controllers over this pad. Not a bad pad though by any means. I think I’ll also buy the new Madcatz one too and see if that’s any better.
Thank you Wikum very much for the review!! I currently use a SNES-style (The iBuffalo) for USF4, and was debating on making the leap to the new Fighting Commander. It is $79 in Canada, which isn’t quite worth it.
To back up @C-Sword you have very much heard wrong with regards to the DS4 d-pad. I wouldn’t even say that it’s the pad itself that’s the problem but rather (and this is what I have on hand for comparison) that the space between the left side of the d-pad and the edge of the controller is ~1/2 the same distance as is found on the Dualshock 2 which means that depending on how you hold the controller and how large your fingers are that prolonged usage of the d-pad is likely to be phenomenally uncomfortable. I also found that the curve under the triggers (the design of the underside of the controller) to be quit uncomfortable for extended play (wasn’t even a fighting game but rather Arkham Knight). With regards to the HFC4Pro vs. the new HFC I have used both a prefer the latter. The d-pad is IMO a bit better, there aren’t any superfluous features (rotating d-pad, adjustable sensitivity) that are likely to wear out prematurely and the underside of the controller is better contoured for on the knee play. It also features an xinput setting which for the PC version of SFV is, for the moment, looking like a necessity because Capcom is being dumb and/or lazy.
I definitely prefer the new HFC to the HFC4Pro. Also running the numbers through a currency converter (assuming shipping from Play-Asia to USA is ~the same as shipping to Canada) but I’m seeing a number more like $52 Canadian assuming standard shipping is chosen.
Yep, plus any additional expenses if customs/duty charges (taxes, processing fees) are slapped on it…which could be a hit or miss if that happens. Might not equal $75, but would be more than $52
Is the xinput mode enabled automatically when using it on pc or is it a switch you have to manually slide? Also wondering how it is for ps3 and ps4, is it actually plug n play on all three? (No toggle switch?) Thanks for insight.
