Cosmox Gaming is finest identified for its leverless arcade controllers, and though it experimented with a modular joystick in its Hautepad X mannequin, it has but to completely embrace the extra conventional arcade stick. Till now, that’s.
The Hautepad C-AS is a devoted battle stick to a few neat methods up its sleeve. The primary is that it takes inspiration from Cosmox’s personal C-AT controller by together with adjustable buttons, that means you may increase or decrease the peak of every enter to fit your preferences. The second is that it consists of modular ‘LS’ and ‘RS’ buttons that may be swapped out for analogue sticks. So, very like the SWORL or the Hautepad X, you should use the C-AS for extra than simply preventing video games – if you will get used to the setup, after all.
The RRP is round $250, however store round a bit and you may simply discover one for considerably much less – probably nearer to the $130-140 mark.
Aesthetically, the C-AS is probably Cosmox’s boldest design to this point. The metallic plate is a shining gold color, lined with a delicate but hanging sample made up of the corporate’s emblem. Sounds garish on paper, positive, nevertheless it genuinely seems beautiful in particular person. I acquired the gold model for evaluation, nevertheless it’s additionally obtainable in gray and purple. You’ve got additionally obtained the same old LCD display within the high left and a few neat RGB lighting across the buttons and fundamental physique.
The stick itself feels good, nevertheless it wants a bit of labor for future iterations. Cosmox has endeavoured to maintain the C-AS as skinny as attainable, which suggests the stick isn’t made in the identical means as industry-standard levers like Sanwa. It utilises microswitches for directional inputs, and whereas these definitely present some good, clicky suggestions, it’s not fairly on par with the arcade sticks from, say, Punk Workshop or Qanba.
The opposite, maybe extra urgent, challenge is the lever’s top. Popping out at 64mm (shaft and ball high included), it’s a smidge too excessive for me. It’s nonetheless completely usable, and also you may personally discover it excellent for your tastes, however I favor a lever that sits somewhat decrease.
The excellent news is you can whip out the magnetic lever and swap it for an additional appropriate choice, when you have one obtainable. I changed mine with the lever from the Hautepad X (57mm excessive) and located this rather more comfy.
The principle inputs include Wind Engine switches, which really feel good and responsive whereas staying moderately quiet (although you’re clearly going to get some auditory suggestions whenever you’re whacking them at velocity throughout a match in Avenue Fighter 6). You’ve obtained your commonplace eight motion inputs together with an additional M1 enter above and the 2 modular inputs on the backside.
Up on high, the operate buttons home extraordinarily clicky mechanical switches that really feel very satisfying to press. All inputs are hot-swappable, too, so you may customise them with any appropriate Kailh switches, whereas the caps may also be swapped round in order for you a extra devoted Change format (and thank goodness the labelling is on the buttons, not the principle physique).
Similar to the C-AT, it’s also possible to modify the peak of the principle inputs. The instruments to realize this are housed within the system’s inside, so merely press the button on the again to push the steel body out and entry them. Then you definately align the device with the 2 small holes on the outer rim of the inputs, twisting them clockwise or counterclockwise to regulate the peak. With three top choices obtainable, the distinction is delicate, however with a little bit of experimentation, you’ll discover that the proper setup makes for a a lot improved gameplay expertise.
Probably the most fascinating characteristic is the flexibility to swap out the 2 modules for analogue sticks. As commonplace, ‘LS’ and ‘RS’ inputs are put in and you’ll map these to no matter you want by way of the net configurator. In any other case, you may pull the modules out and swap them for the analogue sticks. These really feel fairly good; very corresponding to what you may discover on the Change 2 Pleasure-Con when it comes to measurement and really feel, together with the flexibility to click on them in for ‘L3’ and ‘R3’ inputs.
Finally, the C-AS is designed primarily for preventing video games and basic arcade titles, however the analogue sticks do a minimum of open up the opportunity of utilizing it for extra titles. Whether or not it’s first-person like Metroid Prime 4: Past or a third-person title like Cronos: The New Daybreak, the C-AS works, although I wouldn’t essentially suggest it over a typical Professional Controller or Pleasure-Con.
One very last thing to the touch on is construct high quality. The C-AS is a fairly heavy system, weighing in at almost 2kg. That is good for an arcade stick, as you’re going to be yanking the lever about fairly feverishly at occasions, so it’s good to have one thing that may keep moderately steady. The non-slip padding beneath helps with this and it covers the complete underside of the principle physique.
As is commonplace for Cosmox’s controllers now, the USB-C slot on the high features a locking mechanism to make sure you do not by chance yank it out whereas enjoying.
Conclusion
As Cosmox Gaming’s first devoted arcade stick, the C-AS is a stable effort that gives extra options than your common controller whereas sustaining an impressively slim type issue. The buttons really feel nice, and the customisable modules are a fairly cool contact if you wish to experiment with totally different management schemes.
The one main disadvantage is the lever itself – which is type of the entire level of the controller. It feels adequate with some first rate suggestions, however if you happen to’re coming from a Sanwa JLF or comparable, it’d really feel a bit missing. It is also a contact too lengthy for my liking; a couple of millimetres shaved off would make an enormous distinction.
The pattern used on this evaluation was offered by Cosmox Gaming.
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