Ever since I have been taking part in video video games, I have been taking part in them on a pad. The lovable Xbox 360 pad. The sensible PS4 pad. Lately, the cumbersome and boisterous PS5 pad. I’ve by no means owned an arcade stick. This was not for lack of need – an arcade stick even in the present day is an indication of gaming status as a Ferrari is for driving. Think about my shock when earlier this yr this all modified with the Vitrix Professional FS. In my late 20’s, with out children nor mortgage, an ever-expanding waistline and ever-receding hairline, I’m in concept the perfect marketplace for such a product. It felt pure on my lap.
Vitrix is the esports / aggressive branding of Efficiency Designed Merchandise, or PDP. Whereas the corporate has numerous traces aimed in the direction of several types of gaming fanatics, Vitrix is unabashedly focused in the direction of those that worth excessive efficiency, excessive talent, and even perhaps skilled play. At Evo earlier this month – Vitrix had a giant sales space, and you might see folks sporting sponsored jerseys stroll round with Vitrix sticks. Vitrix sticks are the present king of the aggressive scene. This makes them inherently fascinating for the aspirational and esports impressed. However how good are they for you, the impassioned gamer?
Earlier than I leap into the assorted options of this stick, I might like to notice that this product is clearly focused in the direction of preventing video games, reasonably than different arcade video games. It clearly can be utilized by retro-heads on the lookout for a nasty Pacman session, and it will most likely be useless helpful, however this stick is clearly constructed for taking part in preventing video games each at dwelling and overseas. If you would like a retro sport stick you might purchase a Vitrix Professional, however you might most likely save some huge cash and get a extra acceptable product elsewhere.
Onto the stick itself! Within the field you get the Vitrix stick itself, a pleasant little carry bag, the braided USB-C cable, and the joystick packed individually. You additionally get a spare joystick included contained in the stick itself, which snaps into place reasonably than jiggling round. The stick additionally comes with a mud cap over the stick slot, permitting for simpler packing and making it method tougher to spill Monster Power into the sticks’ guts. The joystick is connected through a steel shaft on its exterior, which you merely carry up earlier than inserting, then launch for straightforward attachment. All in all it takes a couple of minutes at most to unpack and get the Vitrix able to go.
As for its appropriate platforms, you possibly can plug this child into your PC, PS5, or PS4 and it will work simply wonderful. All it takes is for the consumer to pop open the hatch in the back of the Vitrix Professional and toggle a little bit swap over to their chosen platform. Then, simply plug and play. Straightforward.
The stick itself is a hefty factor. It weighs round 3.5 KG, so you possibly can knock the hair off somebody with this factor and a large enough swing. It is not too heavy to hold round however is heavy sufficient to cease it from shifting round when you play. That is very true courtesy of the froth lap pad constructed into the hatch at its base. You possibly can play with this stick in your lap, in your desk, on the ground or on a chair and it will not budge except you actually attempt to throw this factor round. That foam additionally goes a good distance for consolation – it is no cushion – however you possibly can go away it on naked legs for prolonged play periods with out irritation.
Talking of consolation, a variety of effort has gone into making this stick painless to make use of for brief and lengthy intervals. The fabric round its shell is constructed of a single piece of aluminium, which suggests no gaps to catch your fats and / or saggy fingers in. This clean materials is angled in such a technique to permit to your palms to put in a cushty resting place. Being in my late twenties, I can not write sufficient on the significance of holding your wrists comfy, and this stick makes it straightforward! Previous man authorised.
The stick itself is roughly 41cm x 28cm x 6cm in measurement, so it is a huge boy. As such, you do have to think about correct storage for such a product. I’ve spent the previous couple of weeks throwing it in my wardrobe on a stack of shirts, however tucking it below your mattress or straight up leaving it on the ground work too. The stick truly comes with this plastic hooks, screwed into its entrance. These are meant for wrapping your cable round, however you might set up a wall-mount with these in thoughts and showcase to your zero IRL mates. Once more, in case you’re shopping for an costly arcade stick, you are most likely a fully-grown grownup with the DIY means to do such a factor. Not me!
However above all else, if you put your palms on this stick you possibly can really feel the standard. As it is best to! For the value level, the Vitrix Professional ought to really feel like one of the best of one of the best. It definitely appears to be like the half, with a glossy end that virtually glows out the field. I am glad to report the Vitrix Professional is a real pleasure to play with. All the pieces feels sturdy and clean, no wobbly elements, not unfastened elements. The sound of the joystick and its bounce because it resets to impartial, the proper plastic crack of the Sanwa buttons. It is all prime tier high quality. You possibly can really feel it in your chest, it is the form of product you wish to showcase to of us. If you pull it out your bag it is like, yeah that is proper, I am critical about this sh!t.
One huge constructive to this stick that’s marketed closely on its official retailer web page is customization, and it is a honest advantage to boast about so long as you are speaking about swapping out elements. If you wish to change buttons or joysticks, then it is easy to do. All it’s worthwhile to do is seize a screwdriver and pop open the hatch on the backside and you’ll combine issues up. Nonetheless, for individuals who wish to customise the aesthetics of their stick, wishing to swap out the shell for numerous memes and favorite characters, you are largely out of luck. As an alternative, various fashions of Vitrix sticks exist with characters from Tekken 8, however in case you’re hoping for a Blazblue or Artwork of Preventing Vitrix good luck buddy you may be ready eternally.
Sturdiness is one other key facet of the Vitrix Professional, as you’d anticipate for a product of this measurement that is meant for the travelling participant. I put this to the take a look at a number of instances. I began small, slamming my fist down on the buttons and Vitrix shell. I pushed it from my desk onto the ground, I dropped it face-down, facet down, with the hatch open. None of this left a lot of a mark in any respect, and not one of the elements had been noticeably broken. With that mentioned, I would not slam it (a la Sanford Kelly The Freshmaker), however for the same old bumps and bruises the Vitrix Professional can deal with itself simply wonderful.
So, the stick is nice. Okay cool, but it surely’s not simply an arcade stick is it? That is the arcade stick for the tippidy prime, one of the best of one of the best. The travelling gamer, coming into tournaments and successful video games. It isn’t finest reviewed whereas sat in my darkish room, taking part in on-line matches of Avenue Fighter 6 in opposition to unemployed Spanish dudes. To essentially take a look at this out I needed to take it on the street, which is why I took it to Evo 2024.
The primary and most obvious observe in terms of truly travelling tournaments with the Vitrix Professional is its measurement. You see at dwelling, it is nice to have a stick this measurement. If you’re touring throughout the globe, and strolling throughout a conference centre all day, a few of its perks have the potential to turn into cons. For one, it doesn’t match contained in the backpack I sometimes use for my quick journeys. If I wished to hold this round a match all day, I might want a brand new bag too. So far as taking this on a aircraft, I threw it into my cargo bag and prayed British Airways did not ship it to South Korea.
The stick fortunately turned up in Vegas with me and survived the journey unscathed. Normally for tech in cargo baggage, I wrap it in a towel or bundle it in a protecting case, however with the Vitrix and its sturdiness, I simply threw it within the bag and it was simply wonderful. Whereas a Starbucks reward mug can be shattered into 1,000,000 items, the Vitrix Professional will have the ability to survive such trials. In terms of hauling it across the match, that is the place the Vitrix Professional’s in-built handles are available in. On both facet of the stick there are massive gaps to your palms, permitting you to hold it in your palms with ease. Even with these, I might suggest a backpack for something apart from the smallest treks.
Being at Evo I used to be in a position to see the actual competitor to the Vitrix Professional within the palms of many, and it is price bringing it up as some extent of comparability. Whereas the Vitrix Professional is a giant ol’ field with a shiny joystick, the opposite major killer within the preventing sport peripheral house is the Hitbox, or alternatively, Junkfood Customized’s Snackbox. These are smaller, lighter, stickless opponents to the Vitrix and for travelling and competitors they’re arguably extra handy. They’re simpler to hold round, and simpler to personalize with custom-made face plates. Certain, you might most likely break it over your knee, and an overarm throw into the pavement will most likely spell the top to your tiny hitbox, however that is a commerce many a prepared to take.
I imply it as a praise once I say the Vitrix Professional’s major opponents aren’t different arcade sticks, it is smaller hitboxes. It is price noting that there’s a hitbox variant of the Vitrix Professional, but it surely retains the identical measurement and presentation because the common mannequin. In the end it is a choice you as the customer should make based mostly on desire, and what you worth most. For those who worth high quality really feel, wonderful presentation, and the best high quality elements then I can not suggest the Vitrix Professional fightstick sufficient. For those who choose ease of journey, staying light-weight, and the power to stylize your controller, then chances are you’ll wish to take a look at different hitboxes available on the market.
Personally, I like the Vitrix Professional battle stick. You’d have to tug me kicking and screaming again to the PS5 pad when taking part in preventing video games. The best way it feels, the best way it appears to be like… It is precisely what I assumed a top-of-the-line arcade stick can be like once I was a youngster. I completely suggest it to any preventing sport fan with some money tucked away and a want to take their interest to the following degree.
You should buy the Vitrix Professional Fightstick proper now for $399 / £300 / €399.99