Mad Catz Ego Review – The Arcade Stick

Price	Amazon
Release	August 6, 2020
Platforms	PS4 / XBO / NS / PC
Size	15.8″ x 9.8″ x 5.2″
Cable	3 m
Weight	7.72 lbs

Quick Facts

The joystick and buttons are Sanwa.
The joystick features an octagonal gate.
Turbo mode can be activated.
Secondary buttons can be locked.
This is a clone of the DragonSlay Universal, GameSir C2, Gorilla Gaming Pro, and Sparkfox Universal.

Performance

Sanwa parts mean that the performance and durability of the Ego Arcade Fight Stick are on par. The eight directional joystick facilitates movement, and the precise buttons complete the package. There is plenty of space for comfort, and the heavy weight and rubber feet provide stability. The menu lock prevents one from disrupting important matches by pausing and so on. On the PlayStation 4, for instance, you can avoid hitting the options button accidentally.

Hardware

This quality product is heavy, but that is justifiable since the parts are quite hefty. That said, the unit might be too heavy for some players. The spacious top panel needed the unit to be made bigger. As a result, it became heavier, but it is not a big concern. Actually, most would likely see it as a good thing, especially table players. The biggest bummer, though, is that you would need to connect the arcade stick to a native controller to play on consoles.

Aesthetics

Mad Catz gave us a new aesthetical design that has surely succeeded. Sophisticated geometric shapes engulfed in a warm color result in a piece of art that is to be remembered. There is enough nuance to add some spice to the design, but it is not overdone to the point of distracting you during play. In case you dislike the artwork, modding this arcade stick is not the easiest.

Price

The price on Gorilla Gaming is through the roof and simply unacceptable. There is no denying that this is a quality fightstick, but the fact that it is a clone will likely upset many even if the price was midrange. Perhaps Mad Catz is dwelling too much on its former glories and expecting its legacy as a brand to justify its potential greed. On the contrary, the Victrix Pro FS actually tries to balance out its considerable price tag.