The Most Overlooked Fightpad Controller in Existence

Need a 6 button pad controller for retro games or fighting games? The 8BitDo M30 might just be the fightpad you've been waiting for and now it comes in a fancy new white color! Is the d-pad good? Is this layout actually good in fighting games like Street Fighter 6? Let's find out!

*Review unit provided free of charge for video purposes. All opinions my own.*

My Affiliate links:

#switch #controller #sf6 #streetfighter6

[NihongoGamer]

Update: Thanks for watching. People are saying the wifi dongle works on Switch! Sorry for the misinformation. I musta got my info confused when testing. Also I said the shape is based on the genesis pad but others pointing out that it’s closer to the Sega Saturn. Good to know! What’s your favorite fighting game?

[THENAMEISQUICKMAN]

This is very much a Sega Saturn pad, which was fantastic for fighting games.

[Fellipewlz]

It's a good one for how cheap it is.. I got around it's 2 majors flaws:
-To avoid the missing diagonals when doing circle motions, try to rest the middle of your thumbs in the d-pad instead of using it's tip
-To use throw i just press wp+wk+mk with my whole thumb, the MK input gets eaten anyway and it's much more comfortable for me!

[cvl]

This is my favorite non-analog controller, I use it for 2d and fighting games constantly. It’s like an improvement on the Saturn/Genesis pad style, just very comfy and very useful

[MultiGameSystem]

As someone who has designed and prototyped a 6 button layout with same sized buttons on the top and bottom row I will say Segas engineers did that smaller buttons uptop style for good reason. It gets very crowded and you end up having to stagger each row in an odd way that mess with how your thumb rolls or rocks between buttons.

[s-ro]

I've been using an 8bitdo M30 for SF6, and I've been pretty happy with it so far.

I map L to throw, and R to Drive Impact. For parry, I just press B + Y as those buttons are easier to reach for my right thumb.

For commands like Zangief's OD Lariat, I just press Y + Z + L at the same time.

For commands in which I have to press LP + HP, I press Z + L (the L has to be slightly delayed to prevent a throw from coming out).

[Robertkopp]

I use this pad regularly to do shmup highscore runs. The dpad is awesome. I just wish they would give this thing the SN30pro treatment, so we could use it more often in more modern games. Maybe it's just as easy as making a copy of the sega 3d pad for saturn with a second analogstick and 2 extra shoulder buttons.

[GuyManley]

I started on fighting games with this very pad in 2019. Was using it for emulation and fighting games naturally came up exploring arcade classics, Capcom and SNK games. This was my main controller in Tekken 7 until I got into building arcade sticks.

[pcblol]

A Sega saturn 3d analog controller might be your dream controller then, all the buttona are the same size, fixes the down dpad problem and fits comfortably on your lap

[Hadouken]

I remember playing street fighter on the original 3 button genesis controller and having to press start to switch between kick and punch

[tonberryhunter]

Its more a JP Sega Saturn controller (color scheme) than it is a Mega Drive controller. Especially considering most people's first Mega Drive / Genesis controller only had 3 face buttons.

[Rezliv]

I bought this controller when it released first for the Nintendo Switch [to feel more comfortable playing the Street Fighter Collection and SkullGirls]. Then I found out it could work with my PC and started using it for Street Fighter V and dolphin CvS2. When Street Fighter 6 was announced, I knew I NEEDED this type of controller [6button fightpad style] for my XBOX, but couldn't find one so I decided to spend some money on the wingman controller adapter only so I could connect THIS specific controller to my XBOX and be able to play SF6 with it.

THAT'S HOW GOOD THIS CONTROLLER IS.

[RFLCPTR]

the cheap licensed wired retrobit Sega Saturn pads are great too

[jnovice]

This pad is awesome ! Works great with my Nintendo Switch ! Great review !

[DrDiemotma]

Just read the title, will watch the video now, but: overlooked? In one of my absolute favorites. Not especially for fighting games in particular, but for platformer, metroidvanias, and the like. It is permanently connected to my Steam Deck, which is connected to my TV, which really gives me 90's vibes.

So, it is a great controller. 9/10, would recommend as a secondary controller any day.

Edit: One addition: It is always compared to the Mega Drive controller, which is a bit inaccurate. It rather resembles a Japanese Sega Saturn controller. You have the same DNA, of course, but google images to know what I mean.

[SmallStorms]

After 2 months of playing sf6 exclusively with this pad i can say, I’m absolutely with you with all the mods this pad would need.
Same button dimensions over everything, but id be happy to pay triple the price for a good fightpad with an updated dpad and maybe some cool
Back button

[NCC-]

So finally I arrived today at my home and.... Wow, it's really confortable for pretty much anything related to retro games like fighting games and Shmups. D-Pad is very responsive and the buttons feel good in my fingers. Definitely I'm going to train with this for fighting games.

[rjbiii]

This is basically the nicest feeling controller I've ever used. Crazy how good it is.

[khamla]

I don’t hold the controller like you do. You hold the gamepad like you do an arcade stick

[mekman]

The Saturn controller was incredible! I just charged my official Switch SNES controller, I could probably give it a try this afternoon.

Great Stuff! As always!