Immortal Joysticks review

Immortal Joysticks

If, like me, you are really not keen on CD32 / Sega Mega Drive type joypads or the more modern Xbox and Playstation thumbstick variants then you likely have a yearning for something more retro like the Quickshot or Competition Pro?

Well the rumour mill has it that Retro Games / Koch Media are working on a new Quickshot joystick. Unithor have released prototypes and held a Kickstarter campaign for their own retro joystick. And there is of course the remade micro switched Competition Pro (and the very similar “The Joystick” that comes with the C64 Mini and Maxi as well as separately).

However there is another alternative and it is really rather good. The Immortal Joystick which is hand built in the UK from genuine Japanese Sanwha parts.

  • Aluminium alloy enclosure
  • Authentic Sanwa Denshi and Seimitsu arcade parts
  • Braided cable
  • Standard moulded DB9 connection
  • Switchable auto-fire
  • Switchable ‘up to button 2’ mapping (up still functions normally)
  • Zero-latency

The joysticks come in a variety of colours (casing, buttons, joystick) and can be purchased in either right handed or left handed variants. I purchased an all black unit with the buttons on the right. First impressions are good. There is a solid heavy feel to the unit due to the metal enclosure and the quality of the arcade parts shines through immediately. A 1.5m long cable with a standard Commodore / Atari DB9 connector is used to connect the unit to genuine retro machines. A USB adaptor is available which is also made by Immortal Joysticks that works extremely well (other adaptors availabel elsewhere).

So I have been using this for a couple of months now – mostly with C64 Forever on my Windows 11 (!!!!!!! I know !!!!!!!) PC via the USB adaptor. I am very happy with the unit. There are satisfying clicks from the microswitches and the stick is comfortable in the hand, resembling a stick from an arcade cabinet which suits me much better than a joypad.

Highly recommended.

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