Controllers
Ever thought you'd use a “Nunchuk” and “Wiimote” to play Zelda?
The meat and potatoes of the Wii - or the reason you're considering buying this console – are the controllers. No other system can boast such creatively designed peripherals like Nintendo has with its Wiimote and Nunchuk. Together, they present one of the most unique gaming experiences ever offered.
Wiimote
The Wiimote, on the surface, isn't overly complicated. Although it more closely resembles the remote control for your DVD player than the handheld devices of Sony or Microsoft, the Wiimote boasts all of the usual suspects. It features a D-pad, central A button, rear B trigger, and the numbers 1 and 2 tucked down towards the controller's base, generally out of the way. In addition, there's also - and + surrounding the home button, which acts as a quick way to access the central Wii Menu (much like the Xbox 360's X button).
Each of the buttons are mapped to different functions, depending on the game in question. Generally, you'll be using the A button and B trigger the most, with - and + coming in handy for accessing inventory and pause screens. The D-pad, as is expected considering the motion sensor technology, isn't utilized much.
The Wiimote is a well-crafted device that just feels right. We don't believe dropping this thing could cause it to break, which isn't surprising considering the build quality of Nintendo's previous controllers.
Nunchuk
The Nunchuk is a supplement to the Wiimote. It isn't always used (some Wii Sports titles tell you to detach the Nunchuk before moving on), and that may have hurt its design. But like the Wiimote, it's got a good feel - it's a perfect fit for most hands, resting comfortably in the average palm.
However, it doesn't feel as sturdy as the Wiimote, and we certainly wouldn't be surprised to hear stories of its malfunction, whether it be from a fall to the floor or even just excited flailing in Wii Sports boxing.
The Nunchuk acts like the left thumbstick on other consoles. It moves the player from side to side and front to back, with the Wiimote's motion sensor allowing the player to look up, down and all around.
Are the controllers worthy of the hype?
Both the Wiimote and Nunchuk possess the motion sensor technology that has made the Wii such a popular console, thus far. The Nunchuk's use in this capacity isn't great since most of the action surrounds the Wiimote, but together they're both very cool.
Want an example? You can juke your way through linebackers in Madden, slash the heads off man-eating plants in Zelda and line up a strike in Wii Sports bowling.
So, is it perfect? Not at all. True, the controllers are certainly fun, but they're hardly precise. Lining up a good shot with the slingshot in Zelda isn't something to be done in the heat of battle, and the lack of accuracy is essentially a big problem for shooters like Red Steel.
It's the real hands-on, first party software that takes the most advantage of the motion sensor technology. That means Wii Sports, so far the best example of what's possible with the Wiimote. Tennis, baseball, bowling, boxing and golf (well, not so much golf) are extremely fun, and the handheld device acts as a very precise tool for performing the necessary functions.
But the real question is, are these controllers all they're cracked up to be? Quite simply, yes, but the games that use them may not be, at least not yet. For more on this, check out the games section of this review.