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Sometimes, all it takes is a solid wireless controller to make a retro console feel pretty contemporary. That's exactly what the Retro Fighters StrikerDC has done for my Sega Dreamcast, but after revisiting my collection for the retro console, I now realise that I should have grabbed the accessory brand's other gamepad since my library is dominated by fighting games.
Don't get me wrong, the StrikerDC is serviceable for fighters, even if its $64.99 price tag is a bit yikes. It's absolutely the pad you should go for if you're revisiting 3D capters like Sonic Adventure, but if, like me, you're planning to play a legacy of Neo Geo games like King of Fighters or Capcom classics like Street Fighter 3: Third Strike, you should consider the Retro Fighters D6 while it's down to $39.95. FYI, that's a record low, one that I'm hoping will stick around until after Memorial Day.
I'm not particularly good at fighting games, but I do hold the genre dearly. In fact, while I originally gravitated to the Dreamcast back in the day for its crispy clean textures, higher resolutions, and solid arcade ports, I firmly stayed since Sega's system can almost serve as a Neo Geo AES alternative.
The issue is that the default gamepad, and controllers that mimic the design like the StrikerDC, aren't ideal for fighting games specifically. This is somewhat subjective, but I'd argue that for Street Fighter and its kin, you really want a six-button layout paired with a disc-shaped d-pad for rolling out directional moves, and that's exactly what the Retro Fighters D6 provides.
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I've tested more than a few pads by the brand at this stage, and have been equally impressed by the Retro Fighters Hunter for OG Xbox and its Defender counterpart for PlayStation. That is to say that while I haven't picked up the D6 yet, I'm pretty confident that it'll boast fantastic build quality, reliable 2.4GHz connectivity, and tactile buttons that dodge the sins of third-party alternatives from 30 years ago.
Compared to those other "full" gamepads with thumbsticks and standard button layouts, it might feel like the D6 is limited to fighting games on the Dreamcast. While that is the whole point of this pad, the controller actually has a compatibility edge over the StrikerDC, as it comes with a USB adapter for PC and Switch 2 in addition to the VMU cradle for Sega's console.
In my eyes, that means the D6 is a better value controller than the StrikerDC, even if it's not equipped to handle 3D outings. That said, if you're already rocking the Bluetooth version of the 8Bitdo M30, you can just pick up a Blueretro receiver for around $13 at Aliexpress and use your existing six-button pad. The catch is that if you go down that route, you're introducing a few extra milliseconds of latency compared to 2.4Ghz, and while that's not a biggie for casual play, responsiveness matters more for punishing fighting games from the '90s and early 2000s.
The TLDR is this: if you have a Dreamcast and primarily play fighting games, you should consider the Retro Fighters D6 before it returns to its full price. The brand's catalogue of controllers has a habit of dodging deals, and I'm slightly paranoid that retailers like Amazon will tweak discounts after Memorial Day even if they're not specifically linked to the event.
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