Pros & Cons
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- Responsive stick and buttons.
- Integrated touchpad.
- Turbo toggle.
- Compatible with PC and PlayStation 3.
- PlayStation Share functionality.
- eSports-friendly Assign button.
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- Bottom could use more grip.
- Not as easy to open as some competing arcade sticks.
- Relatively small wrist-rest area.
- Lacks a quick-disconnect cord.
- Built-in cord-storing compartment has a flimsy door.
Fighting games are highly technical titles that require the proper input devices for successfully attacking, defending, and counterattacking. For some gamers, a fight pad is the controller of choice; for others, an arcade stick is the only way to go. If you're a PlayStation 4 ($499.00 at Amazon) owner who falls in the latter camp, the Hori Real Arcade 4 Kai ($149.99) is a high-quality stick that offers responsive controls, turbo fire, and several useful PS4-specific capabilities. The Kai lacks some of the cool features found in competing sticks, but it's one that will let you deftly execute your finest fighting moves. Despite a few shortcomings, it's a no-brainer Editors' Choice for premium arcade sticks.
Body Design
The Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai is similar to the excellent, Editors' Choice-winning Hori Real Arcade Pro V Kai for Xbox One in many ways. They're nearly identical in terms of size and weight (4.5 by 17 by 9.5 inches, HWD) and weight (4.8 pounds), come in glossy black bodies, and have the same modification, lap grip, and palm rest issues. I encourage you to read our in-depth Hori Real Arcade Pro V Kai for Xbox One review for more details.
Platform Compatibility and USB Cord
At its core, the Kai is a PlayStation 4 stick, but it's also compatible with the PlayStation 3 and gaming PCs. If you'd prefer a Hori stick that works with the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One ($200.00 at eBay) (as well as PCs), check out the aforementioned Hori Real Arcade Pro V Kai.
Like its Xbox One-compatible counterpart, the Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai houses a compartment in its rear that lets you easily store the stick's lengthy 9.8-foot USB cord (the Qanba Q4 RAF Black ($194.00 at Amazon) has a shorter 8-foot cord). The door is quite flimsy and comes off easily, but snaps back into place with little effort. Sadly, the stick lacks the Hori Real Arcade Pro V Kai's quick-disconnect feature (the cord comes out when tugged), which can save your console from crashing to the floor if someone trips over the cable. Mad Catz also uses this type of connector with its well-designed Killer Instinct FightStick Tournament Edition 2 .
Joystick and Buttons
The Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai lacks the familiar combination of a Sanwa JLF joystick and OBSF-30 button components that are popular in the arcade stick market. Instead, it uses Hori's own ball-top Hayabusa joystick and buttons. Hori designed the Hayabusa joystick to cut input load by 15 percent, while the Hayabusa buttons are designed to have faster response and actuation. The joystick and buttons are of the noisy, clicky style, so if you prefer a quieter arcade stick experience, check out Hori's $179 Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai Silent, which uses non-clicky parts.
The convex buttons are responsive, springy, and arranged in the two-row, Vewlix-style configuration. In my tests, this proved a fine arrangement for fighting games such as Killer Instinct ($77.11 at Walmart) and Street Fighter V ($6.21 at Amazon) , which maps the light, medium, and hard punches and kicks to the first three buttons on the top and bottom rows, respectively. I effortlessly pulled off normal and special attacks as I battled online challengers. I couldn't consistently do that while using the clunky Razer Wildcat ($115.00 at Amazon) or a standard Xbox One controller.
In addition to the eight aforementioned Hayabusa buttons, another relatively small button graces the stick's face: Options. When you use the stick with a PlayStation 4, this button lets you access the available options based on the menu screen you're currently in, and acts as a Start when you play on a PC or PlayStation 3. You wouldn't want the button active during tournament play, as accidentally hitting it and disrupting a match would result in an immediate disqualification at the Capcom Pro Tour and Evo. Thankfully, Hori includes an Assign switch that lets you deactivate it. I really appreciate this eSports-friendly touch.
Extra Features
In addition to the Assign switch, all of the feature- and mode-centric buttons and switches are housed in the right side of the stick. Pressing the Turbo button activates rapid fire capabilities. You can set it so that your offense bursts at 5, 12, and 20 attacks per second. The PS4/PS3/PC switch lets you toggle between platforms, and another nearby toggle lets you set the joystick to act as a D-pad, left analog stick, or right analog stick, which can come in handy depending on the game you're playing. The PlayStation button acts as the Home button.The other buttons are L2, R2, and Share. Share lets you upload screenshots and video clips to send to friends. When you use the stick for PC games, the Share buttons acts as a Back button. A touchpad built into the back of the Hori lets you use the stick with PlayStation 4 games that support taps and gestures.
Weapon of Choice
If you want a feature-packed, PlayStation 4-compatible arcade stick for playing Street Fighter V or the upcoming The King of Fighters XIV, the Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai is an excellent choice. Despite lacking a quick-disconnect cable, it has many features that you'd want in a tournament-worthy controller. As a result, the Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai is an Editors' Choice for premium arcade sticks.Best Game Controllers & Accessory Picks
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