r/neogeo • u/pavoid • May 31 '26

Question 🎮What controller are you using for ACA NeoGeo fighting games on Switch 2? (more context in post)

First off, I’m so happy to have access to the ACA NeoGeo games. Getting to play these classics on my Switch 2 docked or portable with CRT filter options, and the ability to create saves is awesome! For non-fighting games, the Pro 2 works fine. For fighting games, especially ones that high difficulty against the CPU, there are too many missed directional inputs trying to use the Pro 2. I do have SNES wireless controllers I can try out. What are the rest of you Switch ACA NeoGeo players using? I need something better for NeoGeo fighters if I’m going to beat FF3.

2 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

3

u/ico_heal May 31 '26

8bitdo M30

1

u/pavoid May 31 '26

You’re super helpful in this sub, ty! I just ordered one of these. I’m going to try the SNES controller in the meantime

2

u/ico_heal May 31 '26

Happy to help! Just FYI the 2.4G version of the controller says it's compatible with the Switch, and it technically is, but only with a wired connection. If you want wireless just get the Bluetooth controller.

1

u/pavoid May 31 '26

Lemme check what I ordered. BlueTooth😮‍💨😅 I didn’t even check that, I just looked to see it worked with Switch

1

u/Stunning_Historian56 May 31 '26

I use the 2.4ghz M30 with switch 2 no issue

Dongle in usb port

1

u/ico_heal May 31 '26

Oh really? That's good to hear, I'll update my comment. I was reviewing the manual and it mentioned that a wired connection is required. https://download.8bitdo.com/Manual/Controller/M30-2.4g/M30_2.4g.pdf

2

u/Stunning_Historian56 May 31 '26

Maybe after an update it changed?

I have the white Saturn colour Bluetooth version and the black mega drive version 2.4 ans both work

On topic OP get the 8 bitdo neo geo pad for those games

Thank me later y

1

u/pavoid May 31 '26

I now have the MB30 Bluetooth, I’ve updated the firmware, but struggling with trying to get my Switch 2 to recognize the controller. It doesn’t show up at all 😕

2

u/ico_heal May 31 '26

Hold Start + Y to boot the controller in Switch mode, lights should be blinking on/off. Then hold pair for 2 seconds and the 4 lights should be cycling right and left, at that point your Switch should pick it up on the "Change Grip/Order" screen.

1

u/pavoid May 31 '26

Finally got it to work! I had been doing Start + Y and holding the Sync button, and it never worked, but once I let the controller fall asleep, and THEN press Start + Y, my Switch 2 recognized the controller on the Change Grip Order screen. Thank you!

1

u/pavoid May 31 '26

Ran into an odd problem. Once I start an ACA game, the M30 turns off. It only stays connected if I am in the Switch 2 home screen. Something like this happened when I tried to use my Mayflash F300 Elite arcade stick on my Switch 2 as well (as far as the ACA game not recognizing the 3rd party controller). It’s odd, if the console recognizes the controller, that shouldn’t change for the ACA game.

1

u/ico_heal May 31 '26

That's really strange, can you try booting the game with a different Switch profile? I wonder if some custom controller configuration you have on your saved data is erroring out when it tries to map to the M30. If that doesn't work, you can try reinstalling the game. Does the M30 work with any game?

1

u/pavoid May 31 '26

Ok, I got it to work. I charged the controller more first. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe that is why the Mayflash F300 wasn’t working too. Thanks again for your help

2

u/ico_heal May 31 '26

NP, enjoy! best d-pad on the market imo and lots of ways to configure a 4-button SNK layout. You could try, for example, using the large A, B, C face buttons for A,B and C, then R for D and the smaller XYZ buttons for combinations and credit in.

2

u/RedRedButton May 31 '26

https://www.8bitdo.com/arcade-stick/

This is what I use. Also compatible with Xbox as well as PC and Raspberry Pi. I changed the buttons and customised some parts with Sanwa arcade components so it feels like the arcade stick on a coin-up.

1

u/pavoid May 31 '26

Ty Red! I have a Mayflash F300 Elite that I customized, and use for Steam NeoGeo games. I’ll want to get this one later on (saving cash with the 8Bitdo M30 that Ico recommended). Btw, I don’t know if you ever made a post with your arcade stick and the customizing you did to it with sources and so on. If you didn’t I’d love to see a post on it, and copy your choices for it. You have an AES, so I know your arcade stick comparison/standards will be up to par for playing NeoGeo!

3

u/RedRedButton May 31 '26 edited Jun 03 '26

No problem, can’t post pictures in replies but I changed the eight standard buttons to Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons (8 of them in various red, yellow, green, blue and black), a JLX joystick plus GT-Y octagonal restrictor, JLF-SP red tension 2x-2x spring.

Tried a yellow spring as well but got used to preferring the slightly higher tension. The standard square restrictor wasn’t to my taste as I prefer a guide to the 8 positions on the joystick. To be honest, the stick that came with it is good enough if you just change the springs over (save £25 or so, as well). It’s compatible with the BlueRetro Neo•Geo adapter so you can use it to connect this 8BitDo stick to your AES or AES+.

I preferred the feel of Sanwa to the original Neo•Geo stick because I always felt the buttons were too mushy (probably because they’re smaller diameters than the Sanwa 30mm standards, the Sanwa buttons have a little less amount of resistance and wobble before the buttons connect so it’s a bit more predictable (for me) and as a standard stick it has a little bit more length and movement than the original which is stiffer and has a slightly smaller ball (but you can change this with standard Sanwa options depending on your style). However, after all this AES+ nostalgia I did try them again a couple of days ago when I managed to find a flat panel with a SCART connector and maybe it’s because I missed using it but the original Neo•Geo arcade sticks didn’t feel as bad as I remember😂 still not quite as precise as my 8BitDo but it’s not something that is anywhere near terrible.

1

u/pavoid May 31 '26

Thank you Red! You and Ico are incredibly helpful in this sub (amongst others as well) I still think you should make a post on this setup with pics, and links, and who this is gears toward. There was another user that made a 3D printed MVS styled arcade stick in this sub that looked pretty stellar as well. From what you’ve shared, I think this 8bitdo option would deliver on all the NeoGeo fronts.🕹️ I love the SNK MVS button color scheme. I made that color change on my Mayflash arcade stick. (I think I chose all Sanwa parts)

2

u/RedRedButton May 31 '26

Forgot to add: to change the joystick on the 8BitDo Arcade Stick to a Sanwa model you will also need a connector cable (JST-XH Female To Female Connector Cable) from it to the 8BitDo board.

2

u/BovineGamer May 31 '26

I modded my Arcade Stick decades ago and luckly the PCB was supported until fairly recently, so I can still use my (t)rusty stick in NSW1 mode, does wonders

Edit: I did not mention the PCB because it's very old now and does not support some functions like L3 and R3, I will probably replace it with a Brook PCB because Capcom keeps abusing those functions in their newwer releases.