| Price | Amazon |
| Release | May 16, 2023 |
| Compatibility | NS / PS4 / PS3 / PC |
| Dimensions | 13.8″ x 9.4″ x 1.9″ |
| Weight | 5.67 lbs |
Introduction
The Sonicon TitanStrike Arcade Fight Stick is a metallic controller with a Sanwa joystick and Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons in the Vewlix layout.
Select and start buttons can be found on the upper right of the top panel. The USB-A port can be found in the center back. There are four feet per bottom corner for stability.
Peformance
The Sanwa joystick and buttons of the TitanStrike mean that you can enjoy responsivity and durability as well as optimal travel distance.
You should not activate any inputs by mistake, but you should also not put in too much effort to press a button fully, for example. That is the beauty of Sanwa parts.
The option buttons, however, are not Sanwa. They are louder and require a bit more effort to press, partially because they sit taller. Though, this is a blessing in disguise as accidental presses become less likely.
Otherwise, there are two option buttons on the upper right of the top panel, and there are four more on the right side. They should be remappable to your taste.
That said, the latency is a mere 0.86 ms. There is turbo support for 1 to 30 presses a second. There is an OLED screen on the upper left of the top panel, which allows you to see:
- Input mode
- Turbo mode
- Directional mode
- SOCD mode
One thing worth noting is that there are two dust washers beneath the joystick lever as opposed to having one dust washer under the top panel.
Otherwise, there are four rubber feet at the bottom that you can unscrew with just your fingers for convenience. They provide stability during hectic play.
Steam Deck testing went fine. In fact, lab testing was fine in general, and that includes from input testing to using the TitanStrike in game.
The slightly wider gap between the joystick and buttons can be a blessing in disguise to avoid your hands colliding during intense play.
Hardware
The TitanStrike has a medium-large size. It has a sturdy and weighty build. The metal is thinner than average but good nonetheless. Slight malleability might only be experienced in the center of the top panel, and that is only when you deliberately press on it, so that does not count.
The bottom panel has six screws, and the internals are organized. In addition, there is space for replacing the Sanwa buttons with other buttons from compatible brands. Also, you may be glad to know that the TitanStrike’s GP2040 firmware is upgradeable.
Appearance
With six screws on the top panel as well as an acrylic layer, the TitanStrike’s artwork is customizable, and we at The Arcade Stick have a custom artwork service. The stock artwork is still nice with cloud-like figures in different colors, although it may have creases.
Acrylic smudges are a necessary evil, so you can have a cloth on hand. The joystick and button outlines may be hit or miss, especially because the button outlines overlap. Also, there might be minor paint blemishes on the bottom panel.
By the way, the TitanStrike does not have button labels, but that is not a good nor a bad thing. It is good because the look is minimalistic, and remapping should not cause you confusion.
Now, you do miss out on knowing which button does what without referring to documentation or using common sense. For example, the upper left attack button will likely result in a jab in Street Fighter.
Conclusion
The Sonicon TitanStrike is a metallic fightstick with solid parts, speedy firmware, and correctable shortcomings.
- Sanwa parts
- Button customization
- Low latency
- Solid & weighty
- Rubber feet
- Display screen
- Customizable art
- Ball-top comes off
- Two dust washers
- Minor blemishes
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐