By Stevie Smith May 6, 2008, 18:18 GMT
Leading videogame accessory and peripherals manufacturer NYKO Technologies might well have its award-winning wireless Nunchuck looming large on the retail horizon -- which will even beat Nintendo out the gate where truly wireless controls are concerned -- but it also has another wireless solution for those not willing to twiddle their gaming thumbs in the meantime.
Meet the NYKO Cord-Free for Wii, which is a clever wireless adapter and dongle combo that is described as providing a lag-free wireless connection (of up to 15 feet) between the Wii Remote and Nunchuk along with up to 60 hours of gameplay, and all in a tidy package that subtly removes the tangled annoyance and relative restriction of the default Nintendo Wii control package.
So, how do the two elements function and fit alongside the Wii Remote and Nunchuk? First up is the Wii Remote dongle, which is a small and almost weightless receiver that clicks easily and securely into the Remote’s base. Once attached to the Remote, the Wii-white dongle sits aesthetically flush to Nintendo’s elegant design and adds a mere 1.8cm to the overall length of the motion-sensing wand.
The lack of physical intrusion delivered by the Remote dongle isn’t quite so evident with the standalone adapter base and plastic sleeve component, which the Nintendo Nunchuk slides into, essentially transforming it into what appears to be a freestanding Wii-white joystick.
In terms of removing the Nunchuk cable from the gaming equation, the adapter’s base is edged with upper and lower rubber lips that conceal enough inner storage space to wind the Nunchuk cable into while allowing its connector to then click comfortably into the Wii Remote port well located at the bottom of the plastic sleeve.
In order to take advantage of NYKO’s wireless solution, users need only power on their Wii Remote, which activates the equipped dongle, and then similarly press the power button located on the adapter’s base unit. This then prompts Wii-blue LEDs on both dongle and adapter to flash out of synch. The blinking LEDs continue to flash out of synch for a few seconds as the adapter connects its signal to the dongle, at which point the lights change to pulsing in unison. Gaming can then begin, according to NYKO.
While the adapter and sleeve element of the Cord-Free does create a modicum of difference in bottom weight through the Nunchuk -- though that is mainly down to the two AAA batteries secreted into the underside of the base -- the addition is in no way detrimental where long-term interactive effort is concerned. But, forgivable weight issues aside, does the NYKO Cord-Free justify a consumer investment based on its in-game performance?
Yes, it certainly does. For the purpose of this review, we put the Cord-Free through its paces with a hefty helping of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, the Wii’s leading first-person shooter and a taskmaster in demanding quick reactions and accurate movement from both the player and the controllers. Note the use of “hefty helping” in that sentence, which should adequately convey an immediate sense of tangible satisfaction, not least because we played for hours without noticing the Cord-Free weight difference, without feeling any sense of in-game imbalance, and without experiencing any form of physical motion or on-screen control lag.
It was as though the dongle and adapter simply weren’t there. In fact, the only thing missing from the experience was the Nunchuk cable, and we’re certainly not complaining about that particular deficiency. All in all, using the Cord-Free accessory proved to be an effortless exercise that delivered exactly what NYKO promised it would: totally cord-free and lag-free gaming that doesn’t require the abandonment or replacement of the original Nintendo Nunchuk.
Granted, the totally self-contained NYKO Nunchuck will likely arrive as a more attractive way to cancel out the Wii Remote and Nunchuk’s standard-issue connection (it didn’t scoop CNET's 'Best of CES' award for nothing). But, for those not overly ruffled by the Cord-Free adapter’s cable-wrap solution and the slight weight increase, the Cord-Free wireless alternative is a faultless entrant to NYKO’s quality product portfolio and an absolute must for any self-respecting Wii fan.
Verdict: 95%
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