Nyko Wii Wand
Pros
- Comes in different colors
Cons
- Issues with syncing
- Pointer jumps around a lot, even when holding remote still
- Feels cheap in your hand
- Drains batteries faster than official controller
- Stiff d-pad that can hurt your thumb
Nyko is a company famous for providing alternatives to gaming accessories; their third-party controllers and other peripherals usually work pretty well, but this is not the case with their Wii Wand, a cheaper option to purchasing an official Wiimote. One advantage to the Wii Wand is that it comes in more than one color: the regular white, black, purple, blue and pink. The color, however, has obviously no impact of the way it works, and that’s where this controller fails: it barely works.
The Wand feels very cheap when holding it. The buttons also feel this way, making you wonder why you would purchase something made so cheaply. The official Wiimote itself doesn’t feel very solid, either, but this controller feels like an actual toy, rather than a gaming accessory. However, the buttons do respond well, regardless of the build. While the regular buttons work fine, the d-pad is another story. This directional pad is even worse than the official one, as it is much more stiff. It still works okay, but after prolonged use, it will easily cramp your thumb. The B button and the remote itself has an extra grip on it, so it’s actually not bad to use without the rubber grip (unless of course you’re playing a game that requires constant movement of the remote). The B button is also a little loud when pressing it, which isn’t a huge flaw, but can get annoying after awhile.
The main problem with the Wand isn’t with the build, but rather with its functionality. When starting the Wii, sometimes it has to re-sync the controller, and from other reports, sometimes it doesn’t sync at all. The buttons work just fine, but trying to point with it is a mess. The cursor jumps around and fidgets, even when holding the remote still. This doesn’t cause too much of a problem with a game that doesn’t require pointing, but if you are playing such a game, you’ll find it very difficult and flat-out annoying. Even re-syncing it, restarting the Wii and adjusting the remote sensor doesn’t fix it. The remote also drains your battery a lot faster than the official one. The rumble feedback also isn’t as strong.
2 out of 5
Nyko Kama Nunchuk
Pros
- Solid build
- Functional
- Smoother analog control than official controller
Cons
- Slightly noisy buttons
The Nunchuk, on the other hand, is a very solid addition. It doesn’t feel as cheap and, like the remote, also has an extra grip. Though the buttons are a little loud, too, they’re functional and don’t feel as flimsy. The best part, however, is the analog stick. On any other official Nintendo controller, the analog stick is always surrounded by little grooves. I always found this unnecessary and made it harder for me to control. The Nyko Kama Nunchuk gets rid of these grooves, so using the analog stick is much smoother and gives you better control in-game. The grip on the stick isn’t very solid, so your thumb will slide around on it a little, but never have I had it completely slip out from underneath me.
5 out of 5
If you’re looking for a replacement controller, look elsewhere. The Wand is made cheaply in build, and this is reflected on how it works. The upside, however, is that you can purchase the Wand and Kama Nunchuk separately. If you need a replacement nunchuk, purchase the Kama; it works better than the official one and comes cheaper.