Legacy Review: Hori VLX

Accessory Type: Arcade Stick Controller
Manufacture: Hori Erio
Model: Real Arcade Pro Premium .V3 VLX
Console: Sony Playstation 3
Release Date: 28/03/2010 (JP), Fall 2010 (US), N/A (EU)

Ah, once again Hori have managed to pull another product from their hyperbolic time chamber of a development team to bring their next generation of arcade sticks and this is the last, biggest and most expensive of the lot, the HARP Premium .V3 VLX.



Features:

All Sanwa Parts
Viewlix Layout and build style
Easy customisability
USB Wire Compartment
Can hold buttons plugs inside it
Turbo button capability
Licensed by Taito

Design:

The first thing that will strike you about this thing is that it’s a complete beast of a stick. It’s across length is at 57cm, just over half a metre. For a stick for this day and age, unless it’s a HSS-0130, that length is absolutely insane. But there is a reason for this madness; this is an officially licensed product of the Taito Company. These are based on the Vewlix cabinets that hold their current gaming engine, the Taito Type X2, and Hori have brought that to the home. Its design just like a single player control panel with the same signature ends and slants. The look is emulated incredibly well and is a beauty to behold, the ends are finished well but the top panel could have been secured on a little better.

The wire compartment is actually quite big and easily holds the cables (Unlike the TE) and the wire is about 3 metres long so it will take quite a bit of time before you run out wire. The Select, Home and Turbo buttons are well out of the way except for the start button which is a part of the main panel. They could have finally integrated a utility button lock but again they’ve missed an opportunity to do so unlike Madcatz who have them as standard. The button layout is a Vewlix if you haven’t picked up by now and uses the cabinet’s white colour theme for buttons.

Another key aspect of this stick’s design is its ability to be modified. This key feature allows it to be opened from the top panel and it will show you all of its inside components by unscrewing three easily bolts tucked away in the USB compartment. This stick uses quick disconnect for easy removal of the buttons and you can even store buttons inside the stick, which has a lot of space inside.

Another small but useful design is the bottom. On the base, there is a cushion like area where it’s padded. This cushion stops the stick from sliding or coming loose and when you place it on wooden floor, it’s practically immovable by pushing or sliding, very handy for stability on your lap.


Parts:

You should know the deal; it uses all Sanwa parts for 8 white OBSF-30s, 1 OBSF-24 and a JLF as the joystick. The buttons and stick is amazingly sensitive like all Sanwa parts and it even comes with two buttons plugs as well. A cleaning cloth is included with an Option Board which is a long bottom panel for the VLX to rest on when you place it on a table. All in all, this is something we've all heard before from Sanwa based production sticks so I have no need to go in depth.

Miscellaneous:

The stick itself is quite heavy and long so it’s won’t be one of those sticks you will take around with you on an often occasion. The price will hurt however, the stick alone is worth £210 from Hori (Base price) but since these are currently not available, you’re going to have to search EBay and Japan Yahoo Auction to get one and it isn’t easy since these have shot up in value. Also shipping for this is a horrible because the stick alone weights 5.5kg and that isn’t including the packaging and it’s pretty huge.

All in all this is going to cost you around £400+ to get your hands on so you might as well wait until it’s released in the US where they will manufacture more of them at a cheaper price. For home usage this is fine, but in other cases it will be a little difficult, but that never stops me from trying. This is a must have for any Hori fan since it completes the collection. 

All in all, a collector’s item, but also doubles up as a few good looking and useable stick.

8.5/10