Nacon Daija (PS5) assessment: A middling refresh – Egaxo

  ❘   Revealed: 2022-11-22T11:20:04

  ❘   Up to date: 2022-11-22T11:20:14

Nacon has unveiled their brand-new Daija Arcade Stick, and we’ve had our palms on it for the previous couple of weeks to see if the brand-new stick is as much as the duty of a brand new technology.

Nacon isn’t any stranger to creating arcade sticks, their previous-generation Daija supplied a sturdy, practical, and cohesive bundle that was simple to customise. This new-generation variant now provides a few helpful options and revisions beneath the hood, however is it definitely worth the funding towards different sticks just like the HORI Combating Stick Alpha and the ultra-high-end Victrix Professional FS sticks?

Key specs

• Buttons: Sanwa Denshi 30mm
• Lever: Sanwa Denshi Ball-top
• Gate: Sq.
• Connectivity: USB-C
• Platform: PS5, PS4, PC
• Options: Match lock capabilities, 3.5mm headphone jack, removable cable
• Worth: €279.90
• The place to purchase: Nacon

Included within the field: Nacon Daija (PS5). Braided 3m USB-C to USB-A cable, Screwdriver, Bat-top, lever key.

Design

Dexerto

As ardent customers of the unique Nacon Daija, the brand new model is extremely visually comparable, it options the same-shaped chassis with a handful of recent additions. The model that we reviewed is available in a panda-like black-and-white colorway. That is fairly just like the visible design of different PS5 equipment just like the Inzone Headsets from earlier this yr. We don’t love the general look, and far desire the all-black aesthetic of the earlier mannequin.

Moreover, the highest plexiglass has a notch for a Ps button, a “Profile” button, and a event lock perform. We most well-liked the clear look of the older Daija, since there’s no notch obstructing the view. This variant additionally has extra screws for the highest plexiglass, do you have to wish to substitute it, it’d be barely harder.

Over on the right-hand facet, you’ve got a pair extra perform buttons aligned in a sq., together with a touchpad and different perform settings. That is welcome and we by no means felt like they had been too far out of attain.

On the prime you’ll be able to see the Sanwa lever and 30mm buttons, that are an business commonplace at this level, permitting you to get that arcade-perfect feeling at house. On the prime, is a recessed USB-C port. We’re glad to see extra arcade sticks with a removable cable, as this can be a widespread failure level in lots of sticks.

Inside elements

Dexerto

There are two latches on the flanks of the stick, that are flush with the facet panels. It is a marked enchancment over the older model of the stick, which had two crimson buttons jutting out on the facet, which might simply be by accident pressed. We discovered that usually when closing the stick, the latches didn’t wish to absolutely depress once more, forcing us to manually plop them again into place.

When you push each latches, you’re introduced with the arcade stick’s interior sanctum. Right here, you’ll discover ample house to swap out the buttons and lever, along with a few extra additions. You might have storage to your cable, bat-top, or ball-top, along with a screwdriver for the plexiglass panel, and a key for the lever.

There’s sufficient room in right here to suit a Korean lever, and the cables are all tidily managed for you, do you have to want to substitute the buttons down the road.

Lack of ergonomics

Since this Daija largely makes use of the identical tooling because the older mannequin, it leaves behind the identical footprint because the earlier mannequin, that means that it feels near-identical in use in comparison with the older mannequin. It is a disgrace, for the reason that panel is totally flat, your wrists can get strained, and we frequently discover that our wrist will get caught on the left nook, making it uncomfortable for lengthy periods of play.

It could have been good to see Nacon make some changes for this new stick, however it seems that they’ve used largely comparable tooling, which is disappointing.

Gaming efficiency

Dexerto

The Daija is superb for efficiency in preventing video games. Designed alongside preventing recreation legend Kayane, it’s clear that Nacon knew what to give attention to when growing the stick. The stick and buttons really feel glorious and easy accessibility to buttons like a event perform along with the R3 button on the facet for coaching mode capabilities.

Examined in titles like Tekken 7 and Road Fighter V, we discovered that the Daija carried out excellently, although the relative lack of house and exhausting fringe of the left-hand facet triggered some fatigue whereas in use, very like its previous-generation counterpart.

The final Daija had some fairly severe enter latency points at launch, so we reached out to Nacon, who clarified the polling and enter latency of the arcade stick.

Polling:

• PS5 Mode: 6ms
• PS4 Mode: 5ms
• PC Mode: 4ms

Enter latency: ≤ 8ms in each mode

Do you have to purchase it?

Positioned as a higher-end arcade stick, the Nacon Daija (PS5) is certainly a formidable stick in an more and more aggressive market. It’s definitely extra feature-packed than the Hori Combating Stick Alpha, however it falls wanting the sheer high quality of the Victrix Professional FS.

It’s not the most affordable product on the planet, and it could have been good to see a leverless variant come to the market too, like a Hitbox of Professional-FS 12.

When you’re on the lookout for a strong customizable arcade stick, the Daija is nice. However contemplating its lack of ergonomics, and a few niggling design points, we expect that they may have accomplished barely higher for this product refresh. At this value level, we anticipated a barely revamped design that addressed the problems of the earlier mannequin. Whereas some enhancements have been made, we are able to’t say that we had been wholly followers of all adjustments.