Nunchuk

For such a simple device, the Wii Nunchuk offers amazing features. Much of this simplicity is deceptive, though, since this add Wii controller has much more to offer than mere appearance would suggest.

The Wii Nunchuk connects to the Wiimote via a cable that provides power and coordination between the two devices. Nyko makes a wireless version for those who want to eliminate the cord. Thus, the nunchuk does not need batteries as opposed to the Wiimote, which takes 2-AA. It also provides a feedback loop for the Wiimote and the console, realism and control more and more.

Boxing, for example, takes an extra dimension thanks for the Nunchuk. The players can jab with the left (the Nunchuk) and trigger a roundhouse punch with the right (the Wii Remote). In a shooting game in first person, the Nunchuk can control the basic movements while you shoot with the Wiimote.

The Nunchuk (named after the Japanese martial arts weapon) can do because it contains a lot of technology of remote control and few extras. It contains the same type of motion detectors in three axes to allow you to shift left and right, top to bottom, from front to back, and rotate (a combination of the three). In addition, it adds an analog control stick and two buttons similar to traditional game controllers.

The Nunchuk is more than the sum of its parts. Working alone, it gives you more realism and a wider range of movement by combining traditional game controllers and Wii-style control. In collaboration with the Wii Remote that is compatible with the sensor bar and receptors in the console, it provides a new level of play

Most players (like most people) are right-handed. Then they will hold the Wiimote in the right and the Nunchuk in the left. But the devices are designed to be ambidextrous, so you can easily pass without losing control. If you happen to be left-handed, or just learned to play computer games that way, you can enjoy the same experience in whatever direction you choose.

You can even use the extra ports on the console to connect more than one Nunchuk (and more controllers, such as the Classic Controller or a GameCube controller). Who makes a huge variation in your style of play for single-player games, and more fun for multiplayer games. In both cases, you can use the analog stick to increase the movement of characters when you use the remote to throw a football, the goal of a gun, or perform hundreds of other movements with a increased realism.

The Nunchuk is provided, but not necessary, however. In fact, there are many games, especially the older of the GameCube (and earlier) then that does not take advantage of flexibility. Even in games where the more contemporary Nunchuk can be used, it is often not required.

As with any new gaming device, there is a learning curve involved, but the free Wii Sports available with the system offers many opportunities for fun right from the box to get used to the nunchuk. Once you do, you'll rarely want to be without it. The two combine to play the next best thing to virtual reality.