The Capcom Pad Soldier for Super Famicom, this week’s NCSX Sale of the Week. While this controller can be found relatively cheaply on eBay, a packaged version still seems noteworthy, plus NCSX’s sale is an excuse for me to talk about this thing.

The CPS is a sort of low-cost substitute for an arcade stick. Players hold on to the left side like they would a traditional controller, using their thumb on the D-pad. The stability from the single pistol grip then allows the six face buttons to be tapped with fingers, rather than the right thumb — like a real arcade panel, but smaller, and kind of floating.

It’s a weird, asymmetrical controller, but it’s pretty comfortable, and even having six face buttons at all is great for SNES fighting games.

The Capcom Pad Soldier (initials CPS, just like Capcom’s arcade system) is available this week for $20.90 plus $11 shipping.

tags / snes / capcom / controller / capcom pad soldier / jc / ncsx