RetroFighters Dreamcast Controllers - Are They Worth It?

[@cd5sircoupe]

I've got two wired Striker DCs, a black & white one. I have no complaints about them whatsoever. I also happen to have both the DreamPSU & Dreamconn mods, so I have that bluetooth original controller mentioned as well. I paid extra for mine to be in the clear grey OEM shell back when the dude still offered it. It was way over 200 bucks, probably more like 350 all said and done, and the non standard color cost me an extra 60 over the base price. These days you have to supply your own controller to him, but the price is reduced to reflect that afair. I'll put it this way, I made a completely custom DC, with the only original parts being basically the motherboard, the controller board (aside from the battery mod), and the internals of the BBA. Everything else is aftermarket. Probably cost all told about 1100-1200$, before the prices went crazy around late 2020-2021. The unit in question was my original I got back in like 01 that had the GDrom die, I have about 10 other ones... it was the perfect candidate to mod. Personally, I wouldn't buy the Wireless Striker. The VMU dock is kind of a deal breaker to me. If they got the form factor of the original Striker to work wirelessly, that would be the tits... but unfortunately that isn't what happened. Oh, I also have a blacklit modded VMU to match my controller from the same guy that does the BT mods, oh and the controller has a built in virtual VMU. The neat thing about the Strikers that doesn't get brought up often is the 10ft controller cord. I'm assuming the trigger buttons broke on that wired Striker because of rough usage... we don't like to admit it but we do fuck up controllers in regular use. Both of my Strikers are still mint, if super dusty right now since I haven't messed with my DC in awhile. I have had them for about 2 years though so take that for what you will.

[@Kakeen]

While I didn't mind the overall redesign of the DC controllers, that D pad needs a major upgrade. I bought both the wired and wireless controllers thinking the D pad would be better than the original. Bought the wired controller first and thought it was an improvement over the original but not by much. Then when they released the wireless ones I thought maybe the D pad was better. It wasn't, it was almost the same. I just hope their next iteration, or better yet they come out with a D pad replacement that improves on their original design.

[@travisbowmanmusic]

I know it man! I'm not sure how things are with patents and copyrights regarding the original Sega D pad, but all they had to do was mimic it and it would have been SO much better.

[@ReinMixTape]

Thanks for the review. I've never really felt the need to go out of my way to get custom controllers for my Sega consoles, but this one does look interesting. Ofc the one you mentioned being expensive looked much more preferable to me.

[@travisbowmanmusic]

For me, it's all about the convience of them being wireless. I like to play multiple consoles sometimes, and having all of those wires hanging out is messy and a pain to keep up with.

[@ReinMixTape]

@@travisbowmanmusic That's true, it can get kind of messy. One way I look at it is... my younger self could only dream of having so many Sega consoles hooked up to one T.V. So I see it as a dream come true / luxury for them to be all there, with a controller dangling from every available port. My younger self never had more than two consoles at once and only a handful of games for each. But now I've got that console setup and hundreds of CiB Sega games, total dream come true for me.

[@BenW83]

I look after my controllers. Yellowed and falling apart 😂. I enjoyed the review. That made me laugh though.

[@axi0matic]

Be good if someone could implement a built-in VMU in a controller, with a modern OLED screen and microSD storage (so saves can be backed up easily). Then power the whole thing off a modern LiPo cell. That dongle is a kludge, and I don't have a convenient space for it either. I'd rather it had a _longer_ cable, actually, so it can be stashed out of the way.

[@shattered-reflection8045]

I appreciate all the nitpicking because it allows the person viewing the video to decide if that's specific thing is going to bother them. Considering it's 2024, it's pretty easy to have expectations for newer controllers, even if they are for older generations of consoles. I bought the 8-Bit do just because all truck controller for the switch based on mad little pixels review stating that it replaces even than Nintendo pro controller in his opinion. After owning it I completely disagree. The buttons are clicky and the paddle buttons on the handles are so accidentally triggered that they are completely useless. And then there's the d-pad which has the same flaw that the Nintendo switch pro controller d-pad has with accidental down presses. so nitpick away

[@travisbowmanmusic]

Yeah, it's hard to get these 3rd party controllers right, I suppose.

[@DJ239]

It's weird cause the StrikerDC wireless is great for everything BUT fighting games LOL If I was gonna play MVC2 or CVSNK I would use a Saturn controller or Dreamcast arcade stick. I like to play RE 2 & 3 and PowerStone 1 & 2 with the SrikerDC wireless.

[@skyedogg]

I play a lot of shmups on my dreamcast so I don't really want the wireless latency. I'd like if they updated the wired model with some of the improvements of the new one. And also the d-pad could be improved a lot imo

[@travisbowmanmusic]

The 2.4GHz really doesn't add much lag in my opinion. I haven't ever had any issues with lag while using this controller.

[@cheeto5899]

I got mine recently but it doesn't pair at all and I have no idea why

[@MrLaserpowered]

I think a 3d printed holder that hangs on the wire rack would resolve the issue of dongle dangling. 😂

[@EmuNext]

I like it but I'd rather see a second stick, Rainbow six on the DC would greatly benefit.

[@McRDR]

So im stuck on yr 10 sega rally 2 using dpad on an original controller, are the dpads any more responsive or atleast give less blisters on my thumb?😂

[@travisbowmanmusic]

Yeah, these D pads are a little less harsh on the thumbs I think. The original was just too raised off of the controller. These are a little more recessed.

[@Hookedlightning]

Are the bumpers better than the original ??? Kuz they are really easily broken on the original

[@travisbowmanmusic]

So far I haven't broken them from normal gameplay like I did with the original, so that's a good sign.

[@JMLRetroRoom]

So what happened on your wired controller is the posts that hold the triggers in place broke off. The reason they broke off is because they’re plastic. I had one with about 6hrs use and R trigger broke. Exchanged it and about 6hrs of use again the L trigger broke on the other one. I just refunded it. I would hope they fixed this on the wireless version yet I no longer want one since I just use the Brook Wingman.

[@travisbowmanmusic]

I've heard that later iterations of this wired controller fixed that issue, but I was one of the early adopters.

[@travisbowmanmusic]

Grab your Striker DC wireless here: stoneagegamer.com/strikerdc-wireless-controller-for-sega-dreamcast-retro-fighters.html?afmc=tbm

[@TheRealGara]

I couldn't get into this controller. It's just too far removed from the original. For fighters and any game that is dpad heavy I use a Sega Saturn controller adapter. I'm hoping someday someone pulls off a wireless pcb replacement for original controllers.

[@travisbowmanmusic]

I use something similar that I'm going to do a video about soon. That Saturn pad is just too damn perfect.

[@ReinMixTape]

@@travisbowmanmusic You can get such a DC adapter like that? Now that is something I would buy. Saturn controller wise.. are you referring to the model 1 or model 2? I lean towards finding the model 1 controller because of comfortable it is to hold for long play sessions and general use. Plus I think it looks cooler.

[@Zetchzie]

Thats the problem with most their controllers they dont look like the controllers they trying to improve

[@TheRealGara]

@@Zetchzie yeah it feels like they are just recycling a generic controller at this point. I guess it's good that people who loathe the original designs have an option, but once it gets so far removed I may as well just be picking whatever Bluetooth controller I like and using adapters.

[@blooddumpster3427]

God no. The controller was something I lived with not something I sought out lol

[@travisbowmanmusic]

If you're talking about the wired one, then yeah, I totally agree with that statement lol. But they really did improve the wireless one quite a bit, I wouldn't write that one off because of the bad experiences with the wired one.