The Nacon Daija Arcade Stick is one of the best arcade sticks I've ever used
Nacon's entry into the Arcade stick market comes in the form of the Nacon Daija Arcade Stick, and it's quite simply one of the best sticks on the market, despite the high price point and some minor comfort issues holding it back.
The Nacon Daija Arcade Stick is available in two different editions. You have the PS4 and PS5 edition of the stick (which I'm reviewing), and the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S edition. Both versions have compatibility with PC however, so if you're playing there on that platform, it doesn't make a difference as the sticks are functionally the same outside of the console-specific buttons.
The Nacon Daija Arcade Stick was created in collaboration with fighting game pro Kayane (best known for playing the Soul Calibur series) and it shows through in its design and functionality. The stick is a bit of a beast, with a box-like form with all of the buttons you'll need during a given match on top, while the likes of the Touchpad, L3 / R3 and Options / Share buttons are handily down the side of the stick to avoid accidentally getting yourself disqualified mid-tourney by pausing.
The Nacon Daija Arcade Stick comes in at £249.99 / $249.99 / AU$499.95 making it a pricey investment. As far as arcade sticks go, however, it backs up the price with the quality. Although Arcade Stick newbies may want to try out a budget arcade stick like Mayflash F300 or Hori Fighting Stick Mini to get to grips with the control scheme before jumping in on a premium stick like this.
Nacon Daija Arcade Stick design
The standard PlayStation edition of the Nacon Daija Arcade stick comes in a white case, with black adorning the bottom, sides and bottom of the stick itself. It comes with white artwork adorning the Nacon logo, however, you're able to replace the art with your own custom art (the box also comes with the black artwork found on the Xbox version of the stick). The arcade stick has two buttons on the side that allow you to open up the case with ease, this is where the USB cable is stored, and also includes a very handy screwdriver to take the plastic off the top to replace the artwork.
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One of my biggest faults with the Nacon Daija Arcade Stick is how boxy it is, it's heavier than other popular sticks like the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha, which isn't a major issue for those who are just playing on a desk at home, but it does make travelling with it a pain. However, the biggest flaw is that the edge of the stick is straight, unlike the ramp-style sticks such as the aforementioned Hori Fighting Stick Alpha and the PDP Victrix Pro FS which can lead to some wrist pains after long sessions.
The Nacon Daija Arcade Stick uses Sanwa parts, which are my arcade stick buttons of choice. These buttons are just clicky enough but have good travel and feedback. As for the stick itself, it comes with a square gate, and you have the option of a ball top and a paddle stick – so if you're a sicko who prefers the paddle stick you don't need to go out and buy extra parts to customise it. However, if you don't like Sanwa buttons, or prefer an octagonal gate, the Nacon Daija is fairly simple to take apart and customise to your liking.
Nacon Daija Arcade Stick Features
The Nacon Daija Arcade Stick is wired only, which means you don't need to worry about batteries. The stick uses a USB-C to USB-A connection, this isn't an issue for most people considering USB-A is still standard, but the PS5 Slim has made this a pain in the ass due to it only featuring USB-C ports on the front. However, The Nacon Daija Arcade Stick's USB isn't hard-wired into the unit, which means you can easily swap it out for a USB-C to USB-C. The stick also includes a 3.5mm jack allowing you to plug headsets into it.
While the Nacon Daija Arcade Stick does have it's own software to customise inputs with, but using this isn't necessary at all. The Nacon Daija Arcade Stick has two switches on the side, one to set the platform between PS5, PS4, and PC, with another letting you switch the stick input between the left and right analogue sticks, as well as the D-Pad at ease (something the Hori Fighting Stick Alpha required the use of the software for).
Overall thoughts on Nacon Daija Arcade Stick
I've been using the Nacon Daija Arcade Stick for around a month and, so far, it's been smooth sailing. In the time since I've been converted from a pad player in Tekken 8, to an arcade stick player, and how good this stick is has undoubtedly played a part in this decision.
That being said, the price is undoubtedly going to be an issue for most players. For those of you who are already accustomed to arcade sticks and are keen to upgrade, the Nacon Daija Arcade Stick is a fantastic option. But it's harder to recommend to newbies. Then again, if you have the cash to spare and want to invest in a solid arcade stick that will undoubtedly carry you for years, you can't go wrong here.
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