Little known in France, even among players, the Etokki brand is more known to fans of fighting games. Indeed, the South Korean has been producing an arcade stick for a few years now which has convinced the most curious and which, little by little, is making a name for itself in France. We are taking advantage of the release of a PlayStation 5 compatible version to look into this Omni Arcade Stick.
As we said, the base of this stick is not really new and to be more precise, we have personally had a model for more than five years now. A model which, despite fairly violent treatment, is aging very well and encourages us to place almost total trust in Etokki. This new version of the Omni Arcade Stick does not change anything in the formula of the peripheral which however now has a certain number of versions depending on whether you opt for a Sanwa joystick or a Taeyoung Fanta, a “standard” or “universal” connection. .
Heavy, massive, ultra-stable
Shipped from South Korea, the Omni Arcade Stick forces us to start this test with a little criticism: in fact, the product is not officially available in France and does not have CE certification. In fact, nothing dramatic and our “old” model is there to attest to the manufacturing quality of the product. Still, this kind of “limitations” cannot be ignored, especially since it is accompanied by the absence of instructions and can lead to customs clearance after purchase: passage which will not be free, you don’t doubt.
That said, when you open the box, you quickly forget these few inconveniences. At first glance, we are indeed struck by the impression of solidity that emerges from the product. So, inevitably, the Omni Arcade Stick is probably not the most shimmering of controllers. Her all-black dress and the absence of any fancy or decorative element are not to give her a “sexy” look. Still, the level of finish is impeccable and the whole exudes work, certainly a little “industrial”, but also very serious.
The only two fantasies that the South Korean allowed himself are the presence of a transparent plexiglass plate on the top and four yellow buttons on the front edge. This first “extravagance” can be disassembled quite easily to possibly allow the beast to be personalized. A personalization which will however pass more readily by the modification of the components, if you wish. For this, we obviously take advantage of the ease of access to the various internal elements of the stick: the opening could not be simpler and everything is easily identifiable.
Basically, the Omni Arcade Stick can be ordered in a “Korean” or “Japanese” version. In the first case, it is equipped with a Taeyoung Fanta stick (pear shape) while in the second case, it is a model signed Sanwa (ball shape) for a significantly different experience. In both cases, however, the buttons are designed by Sanwa: OBSF-30 for the top buttons and OBSF-24 for those on the front edge. No other button or switch is to be reported, no turbo function or headphone jack are thus offered by Etokki. Shame.
Let’s end this quick owner tour by commenting a bit on the construction of this Omni Arcade Stick. We will not go back on the impression of robustness it gives off, but rather on its shape: with dimensions of 350 x 240 x 60 mm, it is indeed imposing and is perfectly suitable for large hands. It can easily be placed on the knees, but we regret at this level the absence of a non-slip pad under the structure. Note however that with its 3.3 kg, it never tends to slip, but it would have been a little more.
Precision, ergonomics and comfort
We have mentioned the two “Korean” and “Japanese” versions of the stick, we must now mention a particularly comfortable point: Etokki does indeed offer a “universal” version of the product. This is compatible with all current platforms from the old PS3 / WiiU to the PS5 / XSeries, of course via the Switch or the PC (X-Input and D-Input!). This universality is to the credit of Etokki which offers – for 60 dollars less – a “standard” version which is limited to PC, PS3 and PS4 while waiting for the imminent PS5 version.
Question stick accuracy, Etokki definitely fears no one, it’s not for nothing that the Omni Arcade Stick is a reference – even if it is not alone – in South Korea. The precision of the controls, the feedback and the sensations felt do not suffer any criticism, it is absolutely perfect at all levels. We take a crazy pleasure from the first moments and even after sessions of several hours, this first impression is never contradicted. As we said in the preamble, the robustness of the controller is another of its assets.
In reality, it’s quite simple, even after several years with the stick – here in its Korean version – we don’t detect any play, any slightly loose movement. The controls always respond with the same accuracy and the buttons remain impeccable. Of course, Etokki is not the only one to congratulate for this remarkable performance over time, but it is the South Korean manufacturer who decided to turn to Sanwa components for the buttons. He is also the one who gives the choice between Taeyoung Fanta or Sanwa on the stick. Again, for the best.
Let’s remember the two main differences between these sticks: the Sanwa adopts a ball shape and, inside, it rests on a square-shaped “frame” which limits the movements of the stick. Such a frame constrains the stroke of the stick a little, but also makes it easier to find the diagonals for example. In the case of the Taeyoung Fanta, things are different: the stick is pear-shaped and does not have any restrictor gate as such, the movements of the stick are no longer limited and making “quarter circles” may seem more simple.
For experienced players, the differences between these two types of stick is fundamental. On the other hand, with newcomers, it is difficult to say which one will be your preference. We can say that there are two “schools”, two ways of approaching the fighting game. However, it is important to be able to test before you decide… even if Etokki does not limit you in the least since it is still possible to modify everything in the Omni Arcade Stick: it is neither very long nor very complicated , but involves repurchasing the components to be modified.
In use, Etokki really can’t be faulted for the precision or ergonomics of its Arcade Stick. The size of the baby could make it suitable for larger, more adult players, but in reality, it is sufficiently well thought out that even children’s hands – not too young all the same – naturally find their place. The size is even an asset here insofar as children can easily place their wrists on the Arcade Stick without feeling the slightest discomfort and even the absence of non-slip pads is not too noticeable.
Technical sheet
- Price : around 220 euros
- Weight : 3.3kg
- Dimensions : 350 x 240 x 60 mm (not including the joystick)
- Login : wired (USB 2.0, 3m)
- joystick : Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT-SK
- Buttons : Sanwa OBSF-30 and Without OBSF-24
- Compatibility : PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, XOne, XSeries, Switch, Wii U…
- Guarantee : 2 years