| Price | Hit Box Arcade |
| Release | March 22, 2021 |
| Compatibility | PS4 / NS / PC |
| Dimensions | 16.8″ x 8.6″ x 2.4″ |
| Cable | 3 m |
Quick Facts
- The USB cable is detachable for convenience.
- Also featured are a touchpad and Nunchuk port.
- Full button remapping is possible.
- Hit Box Arcade claims that players will likely use the joystick 90% of the time.
- Evo attendees can be assured that the Cross|Up is legal.
Performance
The Cross|Up is a powerhouse in the performance department. Needless to say, the Sanwa joystick and buttons are as crisp as they are expected to be.
Where the controller truly shines is its star feature of adding directional buttons above and below the standard eight buttons. The goal is to use the joystick and directional buttons simultaneously to make difficult inputs easier.
While the applications are next to infinite, a game that seems to benefit from this feature the most is Tekken with its wave dashing and electrics. Besides that, the width of the controller is satisfying, and the bottom of the controller is foam, which provides grip.
If there is one minor issue with this controller, it is that those who simply want to use it as an all-buttons controller will likely struggle to overlap their hands to use both the directional and action buttons, but that is not how the controller is supposed to be used anyway, so such criticism would be unfair.
Hardware
This controller emits quality from its every crevice. From the metallic-plexiglass shell to the weight, this controller is a class act.
The icing on the cake is the nifty switch on the side that changes the directional mode depending on what game you want to play. All the screws are easily visible should you want to take the controller apart and mod it.
Appearance
The controller looks elegant enough to belong to an art gallery of sophisticated electronics. It is easy to create a black controller that would blend in with its counterparts, but this controller stands out with its glossy black finish, tasteful branding, and distinguished button colors to avoid confusion.
Would you like custom art for your Cross|Up? You can order some from our artist, Carlos Martinez. Check out the Dragon Ball Super art he once put together for the Cross|Up:
Conclusion
This controller is perhaps the only mainstream one that combines a joystick with directional buttons, and it does that well. Hit Box Arcade has simply become synonymous with quality.
- Revolutionary concept
- Sanwa parts
- Metal-plexiglass combo
- Easy-to-see screws
- Detachable cable
- Nunchuk port
- Satisfying width
- Elegant look
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐