The QuickShot II joystick review – 80s clicks and waggles lovingly recreated | Games

QuickShot II Retro Joystick Revival: Nostalgia Meets Modern Gaming

In an era where gaming technology leaps forward at breakneck speed, one of the most technologically advanced entertainment mediums is taking a surprising step backward—and gamers couldn’t be happier about it. The QuickShot II, a legendary joystick from the golden age of home computing, has returned from the 1980s to once again grace our desks, bringing with it a wave of nostalgia that proves sometimes the old ways are the best ways.

A Blast from the Past with a Modern Twist

The QuickShot II wasn’t exactly the Rolls-Royce of joysticks when it first launched in the early 1980s. In fact, it was more of a Volkswagen Beetle—affordable, reliable enough, and with a certain charm that made it a household name among budget-conscious gamers. Manufactured by the now-defunct Competition Electronics, this joystick became an icon not because of its precision engineering, but because of its accessibility and that unmistakable fighter-plane aesthetic.

Fast forward to 2024, and Retro Games has partnered with Plaion Replai to resurrect this beloved peripheral, and the result is nothing short of magical. The new QuickShot II is almost a carbon copy of its predecessor, maintaining the exact dimensions that allowed it to fit perfectly in the hands of countless teenagers who dreamed of piloting X-Wings or MiGs from the comfort of their bedrooms.

Design That Screams Authenticity

When you first grasp the QuickShot II, you’re immediately transported back to a time when loading screens were measured in minutes, not seconds. The large red fire buttons are positioned perfectly for your thumb and forefinger, just as they were three decades ago. The designers have even retained the infamous auto-fire switch at the rear—a godsend for those marathon sessions of Green Beret or Commando where your thumb would otherwise have fallen off from repeated mashing.

The build quality strikes a delicate balance between necessary modernization and faithful preservation. The joystick features plenty of travel, requiring you to push it quite far to register movement—just like the original. This design quirk, which made the QuickShot notoriously unsuitable for joystick-waggling titles like Daley Thompson’s Decathlon (where enthusiastic players often ended up with damaged equipment and bruised egos), has been preserved with one crucial improvement: microswitches that provide a satisfying click with every movement.

Modern Features Hidden in Retro Clothing

While the QuickShot II wears its retro credentials proudly on its sleeve, it’s not stuck in the past. The two fire buttons on the stick can now be separately configured—a feature that would have made my younger self weep with joy during intense sessions of Skramble, where independent control of lasers and bombs was essential for survival.

The base of the joystick features six additional buttons, thoughtfully arranged to align with standard modern joypad layouts. This means you can jump straight into contemporary gaming without missing a beat. The inclusion of a USB cable is perhaps the most significant upgrade, allowing seamless connection to PCs and the modern computer remakes released by Retro Games, such as the C64 and Spectrum.

Performance That Delivers (Mostly)

I tested the QuickShot II extensively with the Spectrum version, spending countless hours blasting through classics like Ant Attack, Pheenix, and Head over Heels. The experience was pure gaming nirvana—that perfect blend of challenge and nostalgia that modern games often struggle to replicate.

The joystick performed admirably with Steam as well, though it required some simple calibration to get everything working smoothly. Playing the Steam version of Truxton with this stick was an absolute revelation, transporting me back to those heady days of playing arcade games in Blackpool, then rushing home to recreate that arcade experience with my computer desk and joystick setup.

However, it’s not without its quirks. The auto-fire feature proved problematic in certain configurations, and despite an hour of tinkering, I couldn’t get it to work with the PC emulation platform RetroArch. But let’s be honest—the original QuickShot II wasn’t exactly plug-and-play either, so this feels more like a feature than a bug.

The Sound of Nostalgia

One of the most unexpectedly powerful aspects of the QuickShot II is its sound design. The soft click of the fire buttons is hardwired into the memories of an entire generation of gamers. It’s the kind of sound that, when heard, instantly transports you back to your teenage years—the same way the smell of school dinners or the sound of waves crashing against a pier can trigger vivid memories.

I spent so many hours of my youth pressing those buttons, and hearing that familiar click again is like meeting an old friend you never thought you’d see again. It’s not just a joystick; it’s a time machine.

Who Is This For?

Let’s be clear: if you’re looking for a serious modern joystick for competitive gaming or flight simulators, this isn’t it. The QuickShot II is low-budget and somewhat awkward by modern standards. But that’s precisely the point. This joystick wasn’t designed to be the best—it was designed to be the one everyone could afford, the one that looked cool sitting on your desk, the one that made you feel like you were part of something bigger.

The remake stays true to this spirit. It’s affordable and a little compromised, but that’s what makes it special. If you owned one back in the day, having this on your desk alongside your high-tech PC and big HD monitor is pure joy. It’s a conversation starter, a piece of gaming history, and a reminder of simpler times.

Final Verdict

The QuickShot II isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a faithful recreation of a beloved classic that understands exactly what made the original special. At £30.95, it’s an affordable piece of nostalgia that delivers exactly what it promises: a trip back to the golden age of gaming, complete with all the quirks and charms that made that era so special.

Every time I see it sitting beside my modern gaming setup, I can’t help but smile. It’s good to have you back, old friend, with all your flaws and shortcomings. Some things are worth preserving exactly as they were.

Tags: #QuickShotII #RetroGaming #Nostalgia #GamingHistory #Commodore64 #ZXSpectrum #VintageJoystick #GamingAccessories #ThrowbackThursday #80sGaming #GamingCulture #RetroGames #PlaionReplai #GamingNostalgia #ClassicGaming

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