Review: Pelican PS2 Arcade Joystick

I know this area of the website tends to be pseudo-serious, but let me take a more serious tone for a moment...'cause I'm pissed.
I bought one of these things yesterday at a local electronics store that will remain nameless (but I will say that they have a big yellow sign, and a name that features alliteration). It sucks. Where to begin...
Ok. Six of the 8 fire-buttons are basically non-functional. They will not respond to a press unless about 20 pounds of pressure are applied to each button, for each press. And even then, at least one of the buttons acts as if pressed twice, rather than once. Incidentally, I tested this stick with PS2 Marvel vs. Capcom 2. I couldn't perform combos effectively, had trouble calling in a helper attack, and tagging out? Forget about it! Oh, yeah, and the autofire, and program buttons will not work unless actually held down (rather than just pressed once).
I returned that stick to the point of purchase, and got a new one. Same problems. Buttons can be repeatedly pressed all the way down with absolutely NO in-game response. It's impossible to play a fighting game with such a clunky piece of crap. You might as well hook up a piece of particle board to your PS2, draw buttons on it with a Sharpie, and mash away at it. You'll get the same result.
Advice: Shell out the extra bucks for a controller that actually works. Or, if you've really just got $20 to waste, take a crap and wipe your ass with that bill. At least then you'll have a good story to tell your friends...

P.S. Maybe Jake is right, and Rigor is wrong? Jake has tested one controller, and liked it. Rigor has tested two (TWICE the amount as Jake), and they both sucked. Listen to Rigor.

Really well if I were you I would take it back and let them know that you are really un happy with it and ask if you can exchange it for another controller or credit to another controller. That will go over a lot better than asking for cash. Heck name the electronics store and let me know how it goes. I of course value your view or I wouldn't have comments enabled. Well this site is about as serious as I am at times. At least I am serious about my videogames.

So take this back to the store and let them know that it sucks ass and you want to exchange it and let me know how it goes and I will do a post on it.

I have had the same problems as Rigor with Marvel vs. Capcom 2. The buttons are not nearly responsive enough to do any effective combos. I actually have to THINK about pressing the buttons hard enough and anyone who plays fighting games knows you don't have time to think. Also, unless you press directly in the center of the button, it doesn't seem to respond at all. It's as if they used the original PS2 little rubber pads (if you open up your controller) rather than redesign larger ones that would register more sensitively for the larger buttons.
I can't comment much on the joystick because the moves that required joystick response also required button response, and as mentioned, the button response was not good. One complaint regarding these kind of controllers: it is difficult to play without the controller shifting all over the place, which then causes differences in the way moves "feel." I don't know a remedy, but perhaps if the buttons had worked properly in the first place, this wouldn't be as much an issue.

I love that the company tried to make a good fighter joystick, but this one just doesn't cut it. Personally, I wouldn't mind paying twice as much if button design was perfected and some sort of anchoring system were developed.

That is really weird. I just got done playing Capcom vs SNK2 on it and I beat the game level 7 with no problems pulling off combos. I think it might work better with the analog mode turned off but I guess it is a matter of personal taste.

Well have you found a better PS2 fighting stick out there? What would you reccomend instead? And if you are really upset you could try to get your money back.

You know I got an email this week saying that I didn't review enough Joysticks on this site so next week I am going to review all they Joysticks I own starting with the NES, Genesis, SNES, Saturn, Dreamcast, PS One and 2 If BBQ would write a review of the SNES joystick that he has and his TG-16 Arcade stick that would be sweet as well or that big ass Joystick thingie that I gave him.

I've got to say, mine didn't work very well either. I've still got the thing (I'm waiting for tech support from Pelican Accessories), but with the level of pressure needed to pound those buttons, I certainly can't play MK5 or DoA2. Heck, I can hardly play Final Fantasy like that.

The InterAct Shadowblade stick has a pressure sensitivty setting as part of its Program function, so maybe this stick does too and we just don't know about it for lack of an instruction manual -- or even instructions on the back of the packaging. I suppose I'll find out soon.

I had the misfortune of picking one of these turds up from a Best Buy. I can attest to the problems that these other people are having. I tried playing Dynasty Warriors 3 with it, and I was lucky to have every 5th button press register. In 25 years of gaming, I've never come across a more non-functional stick that wasn't straight out missing buttons. So, I went out today and picked up an InterAct Shadowblade, and am now the happy owner of a quality joystick that works.

You know last month I broke mine by accidentally stepping on the stick with my boot and snapping it so I replaced it with the same model from the same store and I still like what I got. It still works fine for me and I was still able to kick Capcom Vs SNK 2 with it. I don't know what to say except mine works just fine and I still like it .. and no I do not get a free copy or are paid to hype it. Sorry.. I would take it back and ask for my money back.

Hey, I'm an Xbox user by nature but hear me out anyways... so let's take the Xbox and use the joypad to switch my xbox wiring to a ps2 wiring. Instead of running it to a ps2 controller i hook it into the pelican. Now I'm well aware that there's an xbox version but i'd now have an arcade controller capable of playing on either the ps2 or the xbox. What I'm really trying for is a pc, xbox, psx controller though. Any success getting the Pelican up to a pc? As you can guess, I'm looking for an alternative to the x-arcade. I want to get out some wood (dirty... dirty thoughts....) I want to buy some lumber and create an arcade joystick (not like the pelican as in the x-arcade looking thing). Let me know what you all think of this idea. Also, go ahead and email me on this. I'll check post but i'm a busy guy (but not so busy that i haven't had time not to think about this weird stuff). Thanks.

Yeah I reviewed one of those converters here.

http://www.8bitjoystick.com/archives/001151.php

RadioShack sells a Playstation to USB adapter for about 14 bucks. I have one and after I configured it using Direct Input it worked perfectly and I was able to play MAME and NeoRage using my Pelican joystick. Also GTA3 PC is awesome when you can use a PS2 DualShock.

Well you can always build things if you have enough time but I would rather just buy an adapter and use off the shelf stuff.

I just happen to be at the computer when you posted that is that fast enough for you.

Amazingly enough I bought this stick not for its price, but because the gamestop i went to buy it had ONLY this stick for the ps2. No other option was met so tomorrow I will be returning this item back to them because its a stinker. I have had every problem and more that has been listed with the responses on this site so far. The reviewer must have had the luckiest man of the year award for actually gettin a good stick

I almost went out and bought this joystick. But after reading all these bad comments I'm not gonna anymore. Does anyone know of a good PS2 joystick that doesnt suck??????

Well I still like it. I don't know what these guys have been smoking but I have owned two of these and I love them. I accidently broke the first one by tripping on it.

Okay guys. I just bought mine today because it looks good. When I started playing with it, my fingers curved so much because of too much pressure. It was on analog and I can't turn it on digital. The instruction said that u just have to press mode..lights on is analog; lights off is digital. But the red light at MODE button is always ON. Anyone know what to do with it?
I hoped the MODE light wasn't on.

Okay guys. I just bought mine today because it looks good. When I started playing with it, my fingers curved so much because of too much pressure. It was on analog and I can't turn it on digital. The instruction said that u just have to press mode..lights on is analog; lights off is digital. But the red light at MODE button is always ON. Anyone know what to do with it?
I hoped the MODE light wasn't on.

The mode light switches the stick from Digital to simulated Analog on the digital stick. The turbo button works for the rare games that need it. Just hold it down and press the button you want turbo and release the turbo button. I never mess with program buttons and I don't like them. It sounds like you are pressing to hard. But I don't work for Pelican Accessories I am just a dork with a Web Zine.

Forget that penguin crap and go to www.massystems.com. Get the Super Pro Stick with the Perfect 360 type stick. It'll cost you a pretty penny, but it beats the hell outta anything you'll find at your local video game store...

er...I mean, forget that Pelican crap...oops...

I'm curious what kind of movement the stick has? square or round? Thanks.

Round. I still like mine and I use it all the time on my PSOne and PS2.

Just wanted to say that I got the thing today and for under $20 I think it's GREAT!!! (only tested with tekken4)
Neither I nor my girlfriend had any problem pushing the buttons; not even after many hours of gameplay!!

I saw this stick sitting in EB for months. My mini-stick broke after a year of heavy use, I have the same problems with mine. The buttons only register a press if you pound on them. It's totally unusable for any fighting game unless you're willing to consciously lean on each button. (Hurts like hell after 10 minutes). No controller should need more than a slight tap to register a button press. I've noticed a tiny improvement in button sensitivity if you open it up and move the pads from the start/select/turbo/etc buttons onto the other buttons, but it still sucks.
I recommend Namco's official Tekken Tag stick if you can get your hands on one. (Only disadvantage is that shoulder buttons aren't "big" buttons, they're placed in a row at the top)

I am a retard who can't leave a real email or have anything real to say. my IP is 24.193.205.18

I bought one of these yesterday, i have the same problems. The R2 button doesn't work at all. Granted i'm using it for my GC rather than a PS2, i just reconfigured the controls for Capcom vs SNK EO 2 so nothing uses that button. The major problem i had with this controler is the fact that it would push buttons for me. I could set it down, go make a sammich, come back, and stuff would be selected, moved around. The most annoying part of this is naturally, in game, hard to do combos because it'll push an extra button for you, or the best in game pauses.

This joystick is just terrible.
I play Tekken Tag, Tekken 4, and Soul Calibur 2.
It broke in a month, so I bought same one again
but it did break in a month also.

And When I opened 2 of them, I saw some parts missing, one had 2 motors but other one didn't.

I would just like to say that I brought mine from EB just now, tried it and works great. Maybe a lot are defective.

-litey

I have one of these pelican Joysticks (Maybe a new revision of the model? Yellow instead of blue?) Well, i have had absolutely no problems and it works fine with my Guilty Gear X2 and Street Fighter Alpha 3. I love, hopefully mine doesn't break after sying this.. hehe.

I have no problems with it, and it works great, for me at least.

Peace

Oh, i forgot to add, that mine has conenctors for GameCube, XBOX, and PSONE/2. And it works perfectly fine.

Yeah I saw that new version. That is pretty sweet.

I bought one of the universal ones today for xbox, psx, and gc.. I haven't tried it with ps2 or xbox yet.. but on psx it's good. My only complaint is how the circular movement isn't quite circular. I wish the joystick was like the NES advantage.. which is the all out best arcade pad ever :D but I like it, the buttons are really responsive.. I'd have a hard time pressing them without getting them to register. I don't play fighting games so I can't tell you much there, but it works great with final fantasy 8 lol.

That is a bit wierd to play an RPG with a joystick but whatever you do with a joystick in the privicy of your own home is your own buisness

does anyone know how to reset the program key?
the arcade stick became weird cause of that program keys.. unfortunatley i lost the manual..
i think the manual tells how to reset or something
please someone help me

does anyone know how to reset the program key?
the arcade stick became weird cause of that program keys.. unfortunatley i lost the manual..
i think the manual tells how to reset or something
please someone help me

Can anyone send me the manual for this joystick?
i lost em..
my joystic is not working properly rite now..
i think because of mode key , program or mode key..
i remember that i had same probelm last time, and manual showed how to solve it.. well
if anyone have me please send it for me..

Can anyone send me the manual for this joystick?
i lost em..
my joystic is not working properly rite now..
i think because of mode key , program or mode key..
i remember that i had same probelm last time, and manual showed how to solve it.. well
if anyone have me please send it for me..

You can get technical support and technical information from the joystick maker's website

http://pelicanperformance.com/

and on that note I am closing comments.