Nacon Daija review: A fight stick that makes me want to play more
Nacon has updated their Daija arcade stick for modern consoles and promises higher levels of quality in the controller. We had a look, and here is what we thought.
The debate around which kind of controller is best for fighting games has been ongoing for years now, with players of all games and disciplines weighing in on the issue. There was a time when it was "stick or nothing", but controller-focused games have helped to mellow that extreme belief. Regardless of your preference, if you want to play at your best, you will want the best hardware. To find out if it stacks up, we took a look at the Nacon Daija arcade stick.
Time for an upgrade
The Nacon Daija has made the jump to modern systems, with two new models. One for Xbox and PC, and the other for PS5/PS4 and PC. PC players really do get all the choices, don't they? The stick was developed in collaboration with Kayane, a fighting game legend with a long history in fighting games.
The controller has all the primary buttons on the face, with all other buttons on the right side of the unit. The PlayStation version even includes the trackpad, so you'll never be left guessing, or in a situation where the controller simply doesn't have the button it's supposed to. There is a lock button that disables the side buttons to prevent accidental presses, and a button to cycle through various button presets.
The main hardware is all Sanwa, generally considered to be the best provider of arcade joysticks and buttons. It isn't uncommon for players to buy arcade sticks, and then swap out the hardware for Sanwa gear. With the Daija, you won't even need to. That said, if you want to alter the Daija, you can do so quite easily.
Clever changes
The main face opens up to an inside compartment, in which you will get easy access to the internals. The buttons and the stick are easily removed and swapped around, and there is even a handy diagram inside telling you which wire goes where. Also inside this compartment is the 3-metre USB cable you need to connect it to your console or PC, as well as an alternate joystick and tools for removing the hardware.
The detachable cable is a great thing to have in an arcade stick. The handful of arcade sticks I have owned have all had attached cables that you needed to fold up into a tiny compartment. Considering the thought of a wireless arcade stick is enough to make many fighting game players faint, having a detachable cable that is easy to store and easy to replace is a master stroke.
Speaking of good ideas, the Daija is practically covered in rubber grips. There is a strip of rubber on the front for you to rest your palms on, and a big, very grippy piece of rubber on the back. Stick players will know that the worst thing an arcade stick can do is move about while you are playing. The satisfying weight of the Daija coupled with this grip pad will make sure this thing never leaves your lap.
Not for everyone
This is a premium arcade stick, and that comes at a premium price. That price is €279.90, which converts to £245.78, or $305.45. Those prices may vary with time, but that 279.90 price tag in Euro is what the Daija costs. This likely puts it outside of most players' budgets, but does that mean it isn't worth the price?
It reminds me of when I bought my first guitar. Something I was told at the time that rings true now is that many guitars may look the same, but a great guitar is one that inspires you to play it more and more. The Nacon Daija is the third arcade stick I have had, and even as just an amateur fighting game fan, it makes me want to play more.
It isn't something that is easily described, but I have played fighting games with arcade sticks for years, and none of them drove me to continue playing as the Daija did. I have an awful habit of trying to convince myself that every new fighting game that comes out is the one I'm going to really put the work into, and get good at. I definitely have not done that, I am only okay at most fighting games, but I cannot deny the pull of the Daija.
The Verdict
With Street Fighter 6 just around the corner, with Tekken 8 on the way, and with a potential Mortal Kombat 12 coming soon, it feels like a good year to get good at fighting games. With the Daija, my misplaced confidence that I can actually get good has been refilled and is probably higher than ever. Seriously, I am again convinced that I will put dozens if not hundreds of hours into SF6, knowing full well that I haven't so much as looked at Street Fighter 5 in years.
The Daija is not the only arcade stick that charges big money, and there are many that will cost you much less. It is hard to recommend it to anyone who isn't serious about playing fighting games. This is a big investment, but if you love your fighting games and want to get the most out of them, it is absolutely a worthwhile investment. There is an intangible quality to the Nacon Daija that makes me want to become a serious player, and I absolutely love it for that.
4/5
Product provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.
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