In this post i’ll do a quick review of the controllers i often use with my shmup gaming sessions.

IMO to be a good choice for shmups a controller should have: short-travel 8-way d-pad, turbo feature, and should be lightweight to hold. Digital triggers and rumble support are also nice to have.

The controllers i currently use are:

• 8BitDo M30 Bluetooth
  • pros: comfy, can be used wired via USB-C for lower latency
  • cons: scratchy d-pad when pressed hard, no rumble
• PXN-2901
  • pros: cheap, Saturn-like d-pad with short travel, rumble, digital triggers, switchable XInput/DInput/digital modes
  • cons: low-rate autofire, short cable
• RetroBit USB Saturn controller + Official Sega Saturn Control Pad HSS-0101 buttons swap
  • pros: XInput/DInput support, long cable
  • cons: no turbo, no rumble
• Official Sega Mega Drive Control Pad MK-1650, NEC Avenue Pad 3 + Bliss-Box/4-Play/Gamer Pro USB adapter
  • pros: turbo combo with firmware 3.0. Some of these controllers were still manufactured in Japan and have a better build quality.
  • cons: no native XInput support, no rumble, used controllers in good conditions for sale are rare.
• custom-build arcade joystick with Seimitsu LS-40 + PS-14-GN + Arduino Pro Micro + DaemonBite-Arcade-Encoder
  • pro: good arcade parts quality, low latency
  • con: no turbo and no rumble (but i’m planning to add both via firmware edits)

Controllers i am no longer using:

• Takumi Fujiwork Analog Rensya DS2 Pad
• Hori Turbo Controller for PC Engine Coregrafx Mini
  • pros: cheap, lightweight, small d-pad, individual turbo switches
  • cons: only 2 fire buttons, lacks rumble, lower build quality than the original
• Cyber Gadget Rensha Controller  PS3:
  • pros: comfy grip, adjustable rumble strength
  • cons: misfiring d-pad, glossy buttons, annoying turbo blinking led
• Sega Saturn USB SLS Fukkokuban ISS-5001-01
  • cons: lacks turbo and rumble, DirectInput only, inferior build quality than the original
• original SNK NEO GEO AES controller + Arduino Leonardo + DaemonBite-Retro-Controllers-USB adapter
  • con: feels cheaper than other joysticks with regular arcade parts
• original SNK NEO GEO CD controller + Arduino Leonardo + DaemonBite-Retro-Controllers-USB adapter
• Sega Genesis MegaFire 1657
  • cons: has only 3 buttons, short cable
• Logitech RumblePad 2
  • pros:  comfy
  • cons: long travel d-pad, d-input only, no turbo