Product Reviews
Parts and product reviews to assist in your decision making with a project direction and creating your ultimate setup/s.
We utilise a scorecard rating system out of five (5) Dolph Lundgrens - a system coined by the late DUS Cub (a fighting game afficionado + all round great guy).
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ENTH KRM pushbutton 2024 version: by KingGregg, October 2024
ENTH Creations are pioneers in custom arcade parts products, based in Italy. They continue to make a huge impact on the fighting game community with carefully crafted fightstick enclosures and pushbuttons. ENTH are makers of industrial style products and as such, their pushbuttons only come in black. They do offer both 30mm and 24mm sizes in the KRM and for this review, I used the 30mm version.
I am very familiar with a wide swathe of arcade parts having used several other buttons in arcade sticks in the past, including Sanwa, Crown, Qanba, Seimitsu, and Gamerfingers.
The first impression of these buttons was honestly very surprising. Hearing about 3D printed buttons had me worried about build quality and how the product would handle the multiple moving parts. Upon opening the bag, the quality of these buttons was very impressive with the printing process being refined and without any marks or scuffs. The nut used to hold the buttons in place was perfectly capable of smoothly moving around the button and then holding its place within the chassis after installation (something even the biggest brands still suffer with). The included nut bolt also made installation a breeze, reaching the hard-to-reach spots that often occur when handling installation of arcade parts. The textured finish also gives an added grip you won’t find in other buttons from competitors, and the initial button checks showed no signs of the plungers getting stuck. The sound profile is noticeably quieter than other options on the market, unless you often finding yourself slamming your fingers down on the buttons while playing.
Personally, I am a big fan of the matte black finish on the buttons. There are not many options in the market due to most buttons being injection moulded and having to either be glossy solid colours or clear colour options.
During performance testing, initially, I had to become more accustomed to the different texture and size of the plunger when pressing the buttons during games. It only took about an hour or so to retrain my muscles memory
Unfortunately, while I did eventually get used to the size of the plunger, I often felt after an hour or so of use that my fingers would strain and fully activating the switch would be cumbersome. I used other buttons during the time I was testing the buttons to see if similar results were occurring, and I was not finding any such difficulties. I do think that this will definitely be a matter of preference from user to user, and the ability to change out the microswitches to something that will better suit everyday use.
Overall, the numerous positives of these buttons outweigh the very few negatives. Offering people a new look and feel than the standard button at a very high build quality really needs to be commended by the team at Enth. I cannot fully endorse the product because of the buttons still causing some discomfort even after weeks of using them. I will add that I didn’t have the opportunity to mess around with the option to change the mechanical switch to something I may have been more comfortable with.
4/5 Dolph Lundgrens
ENTH Creations KRM arcade pushbutton – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
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Sunmulon SS-1SDR-MG 30mm pushbutton: by NFG WORLD, August 2024
When I was offered a chance to try SunMulon’s microswitch buttons, I leapt at it. I’m a big fan of microswitches, I love the tactility of them, and they remind me of the old arcade days with heavy HAPP joysticks and clicky buttons. When I lived in Japan, I bought a handful of Sanwa’s microswitch buttons, and I liked them well enough, but they felt a bit heavy. I mostly play shmups and microswitch buttons are harder to press. In a rapid-fire shoot ’em up game, your hand gets tired fast.
And so, the SunMulon buttons - they’re as compact as possible, with a concave button surface and a very thin above-panel presence. They have a crazily strong metal 4-way clasp that holds them in the panel more securely than any other clip-in button could dream of. And probably better than most screw type buttons too.
They feature SunMulon’s own switches, and they’re noticeably lighter to press than the Yamatake-Honeywell switches used in the Sanwa buttons. They also feel different. The Sanwas have a sort of tactile bump when pressed. They resist a lot then relax as they are pressed all the way down. The SunMulon buttons are more linear, and there’s not a lot of change in the resistance from top to bottom. The SunMulon buttons also have about 20% less travel (2mm vs 1.6mm), so the resulting feel is easier and faster.
It surprised me then, when I installed them in my arcade panel, that I felt like I was hammering a hard surface when I pressed them. They didn’t seem to go far enough, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was bottoming them out too early. The advantage from the lighter feel was lost when I was trying to press them through the panel. It must be said that I am perhaps not the least excitable player, and frantic button mashing is sort of my MO.
But after a while I got more used to it. No doubt with extended play I’d fully acclimate, but as I say, I play shmups. Even though they’re lighter than the Sanwa buttons, they’re still about twice as heavy as the normal Sanwa or Seimitsu buttons, which are in turn a lot heavier than Hori’s Kuro buttons.
So there’s a shmupping hierarchy, for me. I like my buttons to be light and have enough travel. A little tactility is nice, because without the microswitch click it’s the little bump on the way down lets you know that you’ve pressed it far enough. Hori > Sanwa & Seimitsu > SunMulon > Sanwa microswitch.
But if you play other games, you might find the math is entirely different. In a fighting or platform game the player isn’t asked to mash the same button repeatedly, or as quickly. The action is spread over several buttons, and fingers, and fatigue isn’t an issue. And that’s where the SunMulon buttons start to shine. With less frequent pressing, they feel perfectly smooth and easy to press. And with that tactile, audible click, they feel extra responsive compared to the quiet normality of standard Sanwa or Seimitsu buttons.
The result is a button that feels more immediate, and if I dare say it, enjoyable. The SunMulon button is a modern microswitch button, in an age where most people have forgotten what that feels like.
I really thought I’d prefer the Sanwa buttons. When you are holding them in your hand, that tactile bump feels better. When you’re pressing them after installing them in the panel, the Sanwa buttons feel better. But I’ve made that mistake before, buying joysticks and controllers that are ergonomic and feel great, but play terribly. I thought the Sanwa was better, until I played games with them both.
SunMulon wins.
It feels good.
Bottom Line: If the idea of a short travel, precisely clicky button appeals to you, the SunMulon is the best you can get. It feels like the old days but made anew.
4.5/5 Dolph Lundgrens
I did a little experimenting, a totally unreliable, unscientific pressure test, of five different buttons. Holding them upside down against a kitchen scale, I pushed down as slowly as I could until the buttons activated. I did this a dozen or more times until I had a healthy average result. Here’s what I found:
Button Activation Pressure
Hori Kuro 35 grams
Sanwa OBSF-30 60 grams
Seimitsu PS-14-G 60 grams
Sunmulon 130 grams
Sanwa legacy microswitch 170 grams
Products link - Sunmulon SS-1SDR-MG 30mm push button – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
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Seimitsu Alutimo SSPS-30N pushbutton: by NFG WORLD, July 2024
First up, I think the translation should be Ultimo, but Seimitsu used the more literal transliteration Alutimo, so that’s what they are.
Second up, these buttons feel fantastic. They’re just dreamy, the best I’ve ever used.
Third up, they are fiddly as f**k if you try to swap out the default switches.
And now, the long version.
For a while, I wasn’t sure why these buttons exist. It seems clear that Seimitsu thought it was a good idea at some point, but players were already awash with excellent button choices. What were they trying to achieve?
And then I figured it out. These are buttons for players who need precision they can trust.
They are incredibly well made, with smaller tolerances compared to their normal buttons. As a ready-to-use product, they’re wonderful. They cost twice as much as Seimitsu’s normal buttons, even the limited edition ones. And no wonder, along with this new precision comes a more complicated construction.
Once assembled, the Alutimo buttons are effectively the same three part button as all the rest: bucket, switch, cap, but made of nine parts instead of three. I don’t have any fears for a reduction in lifespan as a result of the new build, the complication is only in the dis/assembly.
In use, these buttons feel great. Better than great. I wanted to put them to a thorough test, so I played my favourites: a bit of Tekken 8, Devils Blade Reboot, R-Type LEO, Vampire Hunter. These buttons feel polished, solid and smooth, like marble, a cool solidity that other buttons absolutely can’t match. They are very much a premium product, an absolute joy to touch.
Every arcade button has a different feel. Seimitsu’s Keikou buttons can grind a bit when you press the edges of the button at horizontal angles, where their Holo buttons don’t grind, but they can feel a little bit loose and rattley. Sanwa’s buttons feel a bit sandy, not quite smooth in their descent. These Alutimo buttons have the most incredible, polished feel. They are a whole new class above the rest.
I am surprised, and delighted, in equal measure. If you buy these as a ready-to-go button, you won’t be disappointed. The Cherry MX Speed switches are a perfect fit for these buttons. They’re laser precise.
It’s weird to describe a button with a word like crisp, but these feel crisp. They activate early, but not accidentally like Hori’s Hayabusa/Kuro buttons did. They feel solid, but not heavy like Sanwa’s microswitch buttons can. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, maybe it’s post-purchase rationalization, but these buttons make me feel better when I play. When I go back to other buttons, it takes a while to trust them again because I never noticed how cheap they feel.
Winning a game, any game is a matter of variables: you and your opponent, your strategy, and your controls. These buttons turn one variable into a guarantee. The reaction and timing are on you, the precision and reliability are on the Alutimo.
My next build will have them. They’re that good.
One of the main selling points for these buttons is the ability to swap the switches. If you don’t like the bundled Cherry MX Speed switches, you’re invited to replace them with the Cherry MX switch you do like. Raid your keyboard for different switches, and plonk ’em in your buttons.
But it must be said that plonk is doing some very heavy lifting here. There is nothing at all simple about the swtich swapping process. But a look at Seimitsu’s optional accessory list would make that clear before you even ordered the buttons. There are four different products available alongside the Alutimo buttons themselves.
A special tool is required to eject the switch from the button, tiny brass rollers to replace the ones you shoot across the room during the switch removal, and two different shims, of different thicknesses, to help with the fact that there’s so much variance in the MX switches you install that you might need to make adjustments in steps of 0.2mm (that’s 3 hundredths of a quarter cubit, for American readers) in order to make the new switch actually work.
I had to try it, for a thorough review, so the first thing I did was pull the button apart. Things are tight in this button, and it wasn’t by any means difficult but it wasn’t as breezy as the normal buttons. So I ejected the switch with the special tool, and immediately discovered the two brass rollers.
And then I spent some time looking for them. They’re held in place by the switch, so when the switch is removed, they leap for freedom. In order to put the new switch in, you must first put the rollers back where they belong, and that is just not easy to do. Seimitsu says you should have tweezers for the job, and that is not suggestion so much as requirement.
Even using precision tweezers, I found it incredibly difficult to get them into position. If they weren’t falling out the hole in the switch cup, then they were falling into their sockets vertically instead of horizontally. I tell you, gentle reader, I started to despair after a few minutes of fiddling with the fiddly thing. You may replace ‘fiddle’ with another f word if you like.
And then I discovered that the switches in my keyboard, an 8BitDo unit, uses Kailh Box hot swappable switches. They aren’t compatible with the Seimitsu buttons. While the cap fits the switch, the bottom of the switch has two posts to help align things during installation. There’s no hole in the Seimitsu button. Not all Kailh switches have these, so other versions may fit just fine.
Seimitsu didn’t say they’d work, they only promise Cherry compatibility (with as many or few shims required to make them actually work). They do suggest other brands will work, at your own risk. But, the sort of person who’s going to tinker with the switch is exactly the sort of person who’s going to accept that risk with their tinker.
Just be sure to get the tool and some replacement brass rollers and two bags of shims if you plan to go this route. They’re not really optional.
5/5 Dolph Lundgrens
Product links - Seimitsu Alutimo SSPS-30N (30mm) pushbutton – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
Seimitsu Alutimo SSPS-24N (24mm) pushbutton – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
Seimitsu Alutimo pushbutton accessories (collated) – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
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Seimitsu 0.13N, 0.25N, 0.50N button springs: by NFG WORLD, February 2024
Most people who play arcade games start to tinker with the controls after a while. Whipping up the perfect interface for your favourite games is immensely satisfying. When I was building the ultimate control panel for my Astro City cabinet I opted for Seimitsu buttons. Generally speaking arcade buttons have weak return springs, so when pressed they can feel a little lifeless.
So when I found out Seimitsu offer stiffer buttons with the addition of springs, I ordered a stack for my panel. They had two options, 25% stiffer than normal, and 50% stiffer. I went for the 50% option, which they measure as 0.5 Newtons. I figured 150% would feel like the microswitch buttons I loved in the old days.
Once installed however I found them to be too stiff for most of the games I play. I like my shooters and rapid-fire games, and my hands and wrists would quickly tire with the 0.5N springs.
So I decided these heavier springs weren’t for me. But I recently received a bag of Seimitsu’s HORO (hologram) buttons, which use a .13N spring, making them 113% stiffer than the standard. And now I have the whole range, 13%, 25% and 50%. Time for science!
The 13% springs are awesome. Buttons feel a little less rattle, more “thunk”. It gives the impression of precision; you know you pressed ’em. And for non-rapid games, they’re quite satisfying.
The 25% springs are much easier to use than the 150% springs. It still takes some additional effort and so I don’t like them on my primary shooty button, however on special or bomb they are excellent. They make the button sound more satisfying when pressed.
As for the 50% buttons… I can absolutely see them being great for fighting games – the idea of increasingly stronger springs for weak, medium and strong attacks is very appealing. But they’ll also be great for games where a special attack or other less-used button benefits from feeling a little different. You’re also much less likely to activate them accidentally.
The heavier springs are really fun to experiment with. I feel like the 13% buttons make everything feel just a little bit more solid. The 25% buttons are very satisfying for any game where rapid fire isn’t required. The 50%… They’re a slightly more difficult recommendation. Absolutely great for special buttons, but I think anyone who installs them will want to think about how often they mash it during a game. It doesn’t sound like a lot but after a few minutes of frantic button mashing, you can feel the difference.
Aside the springs, the HORO buttons look gorgeous. The holograms catch the light differently from every angle, changing pattern and colour constantly. They use a clear outer shell, and a unique lightly smoked inner button, under which is the hologram panel.
But if they’re not your jam, the springs can be easily removed and put inside most of the other buttons that uses the same switch.
Swapping springs is easy. There are two tabs on either side of the buttons which, when pressed, allow the button to slide out of the housing. The spring can be pulled out and placed in another button in seconds.
A numerical score is a tricky thing because it’s gotta be based on the use: Fighters – 4, Shmups – 2, everything else – personal preference.
A solid 3.5/5 Dolph Lundgrens.
Product links - Seimitsu MM9-3 spring for push button (0.13N tension) – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
Seimitsu MM9-3 spring for push button (0.25N tension) – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
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KDiT ALU Aluminium bat top: by NFG WORLD, January 2024
I love me some novelty items on my control panel. I’ve always had a few Sanwa bat tops in my knob sack, and I’ll throw them on from time to time to recapture that oldschool feel. When I found CQB Arcade had some KDiT aluminium bat tops in stock, I immediately picked up a pair.
They’re gorgeous, anodized aluminium bats that are roughly the same size as the Sanwa product, and about 25% taller than the Seimitsu Bullet tops. Some of that height extends below the bottom of the shaft thread though, so they’re only about 10% taller overall.
The KDiT also includes a thread size adaptor, much like the Sanwa bat, and I have NFI why they do this instead of just making it the right size. No one’s used the larger thread for a millennia, maybe two. Did they just do it because Sanwa did? Weird choice. It makes installation slightly more involved, and I can never remove the bat top without leaving the adaptor behind.
But they’re made of metal, and that’s an important thing to remember for two reasons.
First up, aluminium is a soft metal, and the anodized coating is slippery. So, when you tear open the bag they arrive in, and you immediately drop it onto the tile floor, it’ll bounce with some enthusiasm and become permanently flattened where it hit the floor. It’s not a big flat spot by any means, but where a plastic bat might get a mark but not deform, the metal wears this impact forever.
Second, it’s much heavier than the Sanwa or Seimitsu plastic bats. At 60g it’s damn near double the 32-34g weight of the plastic bats. And that has a very noticeable effect on the performance.
I picked up one of Sanwa’s newest sticks, the JLX, and put it into my arcade machine along with the KDiT bat top. It was… Weighty! It felt good, it felt smooth. The mass of the bat means the stick floats and flows, it doesn’t bump and bounce.
But that lack of bounce means it’s not returning to centre as enthusiastically as I’m used to. I suppose I might get used to it, but I felt like it was slowing me down a smidge.
The JLX is compatible with Sanwa’s modding widgets, so I threw their red max-stiff spring in, and the problem was immediately solved. With a stiff spring the return speed of the heavy KDiT bat is similar enough to the normal spring and half-the-weight knobs that I didn’t notice any difference at all.
The slippery coating is matched well by the mass, where I think if a lightweight knob used this coating it would squip right out of the player’s hand. The heavy KDiT bat slaps into place with enthusiasm.
Ultimately, I love it, but I think it absolutely must be matched with a heavier spring.
If installed with a heavier spring, I give it a 4/5 Dolph Lundgrens.
Product link - KDiT ALU Aluminium bat top – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
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Seimitsu SELS-70X-01 Joystick lever: by TJamma, December 2023
With Seimitsu’s LS-5X/6X series having become firm favourites of mine, the release of the SELS-70X series had me all weak at the knees. Could it compete with, or indeed best, my treasured LSH-56-01 for SHMUPS? Only the points tally would bear it out! Well… that and build quality/feel, insomnia levels, the weather, annoying neighbours... Anyway, I grabbed one and these and here are my short term findings:
Right off, what a great looking lever! Nicely turned out, compact body in semi-opaque white, nicer quality finish on the flat mounting plate than the LS-5X/6X series and came with a very tidy white Special Edition ball top, with a classy lookin’ foil Seimitsu logo atop. The non-rotating pivot, inspired by the NOBI sticks was the next thing I noticed. A high level of precision to be sure, and certainly feels tight and reassuring. The adjustable height shaft comes standard with the SELS sticks and I took few mm off the top right away. One thing I will mention, is that the spanner flats on the spacers and base of the upper shaft are two to three mm in width and may require a very thin spanner to properly customise, depending on your chosen config.
I did wonder how the non-rotating shaft would feel after so long on a traditional free spinning stick, but it was much less distracting than expected. There is a small amount of rotational “float”, which eased the transition.
The restrictor gate is an intriguing one. I actually purchased another octo’ gate at the same time, half assuming I’d switch to “ol’ faithful” pretty quickly, but I really dig this new design! It retains much of the smooth rotational feel of the octo’ gate, only with much more defined diagonals. I can see it being a fantastic all rounder and sure hope Seimitsu end up offering this part for purchase separately. It’d be a greatly appreciated option for fans of Seimitsu’s LS-56 and other compact sticks.
Speaking of the LS-56, the SELS stick uses the exact same actuator, only with a much longer spring squished in there. I have to admit, this feels like lazy engineering. If a tighter feel was the aim, a higher spring rate part, with the appropriate proportions of the LS-56 spring would have been more elegant. Considering all the babbling I did in my LSH-56-01 review, it’ll come as no surprise that I swapped out the SELS’ stock spring for a softer (and shorter) LS-58 part. No, the sky didn’t fall, and it feels spot on for me. Nicely assured return to centre and no unwanted opposite inputs. Out of interest, I did try adding one spacer from the LS-5X/6X KOWAL short throw kit, but in the end reverted to standard. It seemed almost too short on the throw… Perhaps my perception is off, or maybe the new shaft and pivot config alters the throw geometry a wee bit on this new stick. Not quite sure...
All in all, a lovely bit of kit, and potentially a very solid all-rounder, particularly with that new restrictor gate. The adjustable height shaft included as standard is really top shelf, though being ummm... “girthier”, it can’t be paired with shaft cover sleeves like many of Seimitsu’s other levers, reducing customised aesthetics. The non-rotating element, while nicely realised, is wasted on me. Though I can see it being more relevant in fighters, particularly to Tekken players.
4/5 Dolph Lundgrens
Product links - Seimitsu SELS-70X-01 joystick – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
Seimitsu SELS-70X-F joystick – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
Seimitsu SELS-70X-S (silent type) joystick – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
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ENTH KRM pushbutton 2023 version: by carbuncle, December 2023
ENTH are custom arcade parts creators based in Italy. They originally made a huge impact on the fighting game community with amazingly crafted fightstick enclosures before also branching out into buttons with the KRM line of premium pushbuttons. ENTH are makers of more industrial tech style products and as such, their pushbuttons only come in black. They do offer both 30mm and 24mm sizes.
These buttons make a great first impression. By this I mean, these are screw-in buttons and right from the start you can tell you’re handling something made with care. The thread is very clean and doesn’t feel like it will ever get sticky or stuck. And in case you have trouble installing these buttons by hand, they come with a tool to assist in tight installations where there isn’t enough room for your fingers.
Once installed, I noticed right away that these buttons are lower profile than most. When pressed, the button will go below the outer housing, to about level with the cabinet panel or box. This means they have more travel distance than other buttons. The switch is very quiet - there is no audible click at all, which makes these buttons much, much quieter than standard Sanwas. This could also be down to the material used. It’s some kind of slightly textured plastic, and feels solid and hard-wearing, and sounds much more muted than the shiny plastic used in most other buttons. I love it!
Looking at colour, it is a tasteful, textured matte black. It certainly stands out from the crowd of shiny coloured buttons we’re all used to. It probably doesn’t suit the aesthetic of most cabinets or boxes, but I don’t even care. This kind of stuff makes me wish my other arcade parts were matte black too.
My only reservation initially, prior to any real world testing, is that I'm not sure I’ll like the huge travel distance of these buttons if it needs to be pressed all the way down to activate.
Upon actual testing though, I found I have good news and a tiny bit of very situational bad news. Here is the good news: the switch activates very early in the button press, well before the button reaches the bottom of its travel. So, you’ll be able to execute normal things in much the same way as any other buttons. The switch activation is deliberate enough that I didn’t find myself doing any accidental button presses. Mashing out of stun/holds or firing shots in a shmup felt much the same.
Here is the slightly bad news, and it’s only bad news if you play Super Turbo and ONLY if you rely on negative edge or hold - so really only if you play Honda, Thawk or Boxer. The reason is because the button travels way below the outer housing, holding buttons down for negative edge means your finger is constantly pressing on the outer housing. The edges are by no means sharp or anything, but it’s an unfamiliar position to hold and doesn’t feel right. For 99.9% of people, this won’t matter. I only mention this because I’m old and still play that game regularly and at a competitive level.
Summing up, there is so much to like about these buttons! They feel like they were made with care. I’m impressed with the material used and the build quality. My only gripe, and it is not even a big gripe, is the slightly excessive travel distance. Otherwise this button would be a 5/5.
4.5/5 Dolph Lundgrens
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Seimitsu LSH-56-01 Joystick lever: by TJamma, November 2023
Having heard whispers across SHMUPDOM of the almost magical properties imbued within Seimitsu’s LS-56 lever, I splashed out on it’s slightly saucier sibling, hoping to hone my humble skills on a few personal favs. I’ve been drawn to this infernal gaming niche since I was a pup, and while I’d never suggest I was particularly “decent”, I dared to wonder if I could simply “blame the tools” I’d been using to date for having stalled my ascendance to international competition GLORY! Okay, so that’s all bloody ridiculous, but I had, for the longest time, been banging away on Sanwa’s JLF, having arrived rather late to the Seimitsu party.
On build quality, the LSH presents well, with a rigid, very compact body and tasteful frosted clear shaft cover paired with black dust washer. Nice to see a liberally greased pivot from factory, but a little disappointingly, much sharper burred edges on the flat mounting plate to what I’m accustomed from the competition. Fairly tall, above pivot shaft height, but very similar to what I’m used to with Sanwa’s JLF, so no biggie.
Onto the feel; a light, perhaps overly light return spring when wiggled, but this is where things get interesting. This LSH spring is tightly coiled at one end, with more familiar loose windings at the other. Flipping it, toggles a snappier return to neutral, or easier switch engagement. The marketing material complicates this element I feel, as it’s really just two tension characteristics in a single spring. It’s 10mm longer than a standard LS-56 spring to provide enough material to allow this custom coiling wizardry. To accommodate the longer spring, the actuator features a deeper hollow, but aside from this, matches the typical LS-56 actuator spec. It must be noted that in either orientation, the return spring has a considerably lighter feel than a typical LS-56. I get on really well with the loosely coiled end facing upward, toward the pivot, the firmer of the two settings. Your mileage may vary on the tension front, but if you’re not into fighting heavy spring tension, particularly in SHMUPS, this feels properly Goldilocks.
I have to take my hat off to Seimitsu for their octagonal restrictor gate. It stings a little to admit, but it is just so far ahead of the Sanwa alternative. Truly like comparing apples and oranges. The scalloped shaping of cardinals and diagonals with buttery smooth transitions is absolutely superb! Micro-dodging in donmaku SHMUPS is a delight. This, of course, comes standard with the LSH-56-01, as does the 5-pin standard microswitch PCB, denoted by the “-01”. Speaking of the microswitches, they’re the levered style Seimitsu uses across it’s range, though stumpier to fit the more compact form factor. It’s easy to overlook the contrast this style of switch makes to sweeping, rotating motions when compared to Sanwa and similar non levered switches, with their more abrupt rise and fall off in activation as the actuator sweeps by. I have never witnessed such perfectly balanced eight-way switch activation/deactivation from any other lever. It feels/sounds like eight perfectly sequenced clicks at 45° a piece. This is the special sauce for SHMUPS, from my perspective.
The LS/H-56 is famous for its short throw, and certainly delivers on that front. I did end up installing one plate from the KOWAL short throw mod kit to tighten that up a little more, and the end result is truly hard to beat.
While I can’t comment on the LSH-56-01 re: vs fighting games, I can’t see why it wouldn’t perform admirably, though a square or perhaps “squircle” gate would better define the diagonals for this type of thing.
With the kind of money and time I’ve spent trying to make a Sanwa JLF perform well for SHMUPS, I could have bought three of these sticks. They make a stronger case straight out of the box with no extra mods. A truly great bit of kit, particularly if you’re into shooters. Compact and easy to fit, very nuanced response with amazing clarity of input make for an easy recommendation from me. I never give perfect scores, but...
5/5 Dolph Lundgrens!
Product link - Seimitsu LSH-56-01 joystick (irregular spring variant) [Limited Editio – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
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The LayLax Multi Gaming Ruck: by waifusticks, July 2023
LayLax is a Japanese company that designs and manufactures custom parts for the airsoft gun market. They do not limit themselves to creating just airsoft parts however, as they are a maker and stockist for other survival goods and consumables. To this end, they have expanded into gaming accessories such as this gaming rucksack which shares some similar design concepts from their airsoft gun backpacks and range bags.
Looking at the Laylax Multi Gaming Ruck, it is probably what I would think of as a luxury item, at least in the context of gaming accessory bags. It has a huge array of small features that add up to an impressive package, but sometimes I wonder how many of them are really needed regularly.
My initial thoughts are the material is good, construction fantastic. Even down to small things like how nice the straps feel. Strong feeling bottom layers. Excellent zips. Soft padding. Dozens of pockets and layers. It’s large, very large. Maybe too large? I think it really nails its objective which is transporting multiple delicates. It’s probably the best bag for carry on if you’re traveling with an arcade stick (and other bits and pieces). The first compartment has a laptop slot, some slim pockets and a headphone holder. The laptop slot is probably less padded than I’m used to, however not inadequate when referencing the rest of the bag being over padded. There is a headphone holder here as well which I’m not really impressed with. Lots of premium headphones don’t have swivelling cans and this headphone holder requires that. The second compartment is probably what I think is the best part of this bag. Extremely soft modular padded area with lots of little straps and holster/anchor units. My only critique here is that I’d like more straps.
In practise, it’s easy to fit a keyboard, small sound bar, all my wiring required to bring a setup to "locals" (FGC in-person offline tournaments/meet-ups). An extremely generous zone. The third compartment is a large padded space with a hole that extends into the second compartment. In the FGC context this is where your stick can protrude through multiple layers and be safe from harm. It’s again, a pretty generous area and will be able to fit most pre-bought sticks with the exception of the maybe the HORI Viewlix.
I’ve used this bag on and off for maybe three months. It’s truly excellent for carrying a lot of things, but I think it’s far too big for my daily carry. Even if I consider my work laptop, tablet, battery, bits and pieces etc, I absolutely can’t even fill up 1/2 of the bag. Friday night for locals however it can really shine. I can pack personal items in the front compartment. Second compartment has all my PS5 wiring, sound bar, Brook Wingman, etc. and the third compartment can take my fightstick in full. It’s probably worth noting that getting in and out of the second and third compartment easily requires you to lay the bag down flat and open it right up. You need quite a bit of floor space to achieve this. I believe the best use case for this bag will be for travelling to interstate/international gaming tournaments. For example, you can bring your stick as carry on for safety, and still manage to fit in all your personal belongings and paperwork etc for the flight. This bag would easily be the best example I’ve seen for FGC travel. In saying that, I’d probably still consider a smaller bag to use at your destination.
My final thoughts are the Laylax Multi Gaming Ruck is an incredible bag for what I consider to be its intended purpose. However, it isn’t some silver bullet of backpacks due to its huge size. Anyone who is considering regular travel might consider this as a genuine investment to know their delicates are going too and from safely. I find it difficult to score out of 5.
For a work bag it was a 2/5 Dolph Lundgrens at best. On a Friday night for locals meets however, it’s a clear 5/5 Dolph Lundgrens.
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The Seimitsu PS-14-K-HORO 30mm holographic pushbutton: by carbuncle, June 2023
The Seimitsu brand is a manufacturer of a wide range of amusement parts, based in Japan. The company has been well known to arcade users for a very long period, however in 2019 there was a shift to also focus on the increase in fighstick ownership as amusement centre popularity declined.
Seimitsu is regularly innovating and pushing the envelope of creativity with pushbuttons, joysticks and quality of life additions to their expansive product range.
This particular button is a transparent bodied and transparent plunger 30mm snap-in pushbutton, featuring a 13% heavier spring installed by default. In this instance, the holographic insert is placed under the plunger, but can be removed and reorientated by the user, for creative effect.
I have no previous experience with this brand but am familiar with other buttons.
My initial observations were that the buttons snap-in for a tight fit. They feel really sturdy and stiff and require a lot more pressure to activate the switch than say, a Sanwa, with the button springing right back with force following a press. I noticed there is more travel distance than Sanwa buttons and in addition, these buttons sound different. Not any better or worse, just different.
In bright light at the right angles, the holographic colours are wild, but here’s where I’m conflicted: I never play games in the kind of lighting that would show off the buttons to best effect! Without the right lighting, these buttons are a nondescript grey and have nothing going for them in terms of aesthetics.
Based on the sturdiness of the spring within the button, I predicted that maybe these stiff buttons will give my fingers a good workout? Additionally, I believed there would be no chance of accidental button presses since the switch requires very deliberate pushing to activate.
Upon testing though, it was clear that these buttons feel great for casual play and the solid construction feels like they can take a real beating. After a while however, I actually found them fatiguing to use - the extra force needed to push them down does add up over time, especially if you’re playing a fighting game or shmup. Because they take a bit more work to press, you might find it harder to mash out of dizzy/stun/holds in fighting games.
In summary, the buttons are super quick and easy to install and obviously built to last. These buttons demand to be shown off as they are so shiny and pretty. I feel like they would be perfect for a portable stick or hitbox rather than an arcade cabinet in the garage/basement. Good for quick games, however not recommended for 3-hour long Street Fighter sessions unless your fingers have serious stamina. Or maybe I’m just getting old and feeble!
3/5 Dolph Lundgrens
Product link - Seimitsu PS-14-K-HORO push button (holographic) [Limited Edition] – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
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The Samducksa SDB-202 30mm pushbutton: by carbuncle, April 2023
The Samducksa brand is a manufacturer based in South Korea and was formerly known as Crown.
Many of you may remember seeing Crown arcade cabinets situated in amusement centres toward the late 90’s and early 2000’s. The rise in “K” (Korean) lever use and development goes hand in hand with the push button evolutions from the previous Samducksa SDB-201 series.
Samducksa have been at the forefront of Korean arcade gaming parts for many years and have evolved their series of pushbuttons from earlier models to this SDB-202 series, which utilises a Cherry MX Silver keyboard speed switch.
A huge range of solid, transparent and metallic colour tones are available and the pushbutton comes in 30mm and 24mm sizes. These are screw-in style fastened buttons which I found is standard across the entire Samducksa pushbutton range.
I have no previous experience with this brand but am familiar with other buttons.
My initial thoughts and observations were that installation is straightforward, just screw it on. My control panel isn’t perfectly flat so there is a tiny gap between the buttons and the panel, but pretty sure a bit of sanding (of the control panel) will easily remedy that. Buttons feel solid, have a good switch action, more pronounced and less mushy than standard Sanwa buttons and slightly more travel distance.
I had transparent purple coloured buttons for review, which matches the Versus City cabinet’s control panel exactly - what a bonus. My prediction was, maybe I will enjoy mashing buttons more?
During my testing, I felt these buttons have a slightly different feel to Sanwa buttons, but probably not enough to influence execution or accuracy. Definitely feels more satisfying to press these buttons though.
They are easy to install, easy to remove, perfect colour for the right cabinet, I am a fan.
4/5 Dolph Lundgrens
Product links - Samducksa (aka. Crown) SDB-202 push button [Cherry MX Silver stem] – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
Samducksa (aka. Crown) SDB-202-C push button – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
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The SENJO E-Sports wooden balltop: by carbuncle, April 2023
SENJO is the creation of the GEKOKUJO pro E-Sports Team (based in Gifu prefecture, Japan). Product development from SENJO has always emerged from the perspective of fit for purpose within professional high level competition.
The 35mm SENJO wood balltops are made by hand from Gifu certified wood and reportedly hold many playfield advantages for the user such as low weight, enhanced grip and microswitch translation.
SENJO have three types of wooden balltop available – cypress, zelkova and Japanese yew.
I reviewed the cypress variant (weight of 16g vs Sanwa Denshi LB-35 27g).
My initial thoughts and observations were that installation is straightforward - just screw it on. It’s much lighter than the common Sanwa/Seimitsu ball tops and the raw finish on the wood gives it a natural texture than can be a little disconcerting at first, eg, is this thing going to give me splinters?
I noted the balltop has an attractive natural wood grain, raw, unstained and unpolished finish. It would look perfect as a piece on a feature tabletop cab, perhaps less at home on a stock fighting game cabinet, but the rustic look definitely has appeal. Time will tell if the wood material will age with grace.
My prediction was the Senjo seems like it will be fine for casual use.
During my testing though, I noted it is lightweight, noticeably lighter than a plastic balltop, so it has very little adverse influence on stick motions in fighting games.
My final thoughts are it is great for anyone who wants something “different”. A fingernail pressed into the wood will create a mark, so it’s not suitable for anyone who wants pristine perfection in their aesthetics, and the raw wooden finish won’t be to everyone’s tastes. I like it though. It’s not shiny but I consider that a plus!
3/5 Dolph Lundgrens
Product link - SENJO E-Sports wooden Balltop – Close Quarters Battle Arcade (cqbarcade.com)
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