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Retro tech: The best game pads for the Wii

Will Greenwald
Will Greenwald, Associate Editor
February 09, 2007
The Nintendo Wiimote is darn fun, but it can only go so far. Sure, you can swing it around in Wii Sports or Zelda Twilight Princess, and you can even turn it sideways for old-school NES games on the Virtual Console. Beyond that, however, it's sorely lacking. You can't use the controller to play GameCube games or most Virtual Console titles. Fortunately, Nintendo thought ahead and made the Wiimote accept additional accesory controllers and put four conventional GameCube controller ports on the Nintendo Wii itself. Here are the three top wireless game pads you can use with the Wii. The Classic Controller is by far the most comfortable for Virtual Console games, but it won't play GameCube games at all. The Mad Catz MicroCon Wireless Controller is the least expensive, but it doesn't rumble and doesn't feel quite right in large hands. The Mad Catz MicroCon Wireless Controller is the least expensive, but it doesn't feel quite right in large hands. In the end, we have to side with the good old Nintendo WaveBird. It works with any game you throw at it and feels good in the hand.

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Product name Nintendo Wii Classic Controller
Nintendo Wii Classic Controller  
Mad Catz GameCube MicroCon Wireless Controller
Mad Catz GameCube MicroCon Wireless Controller  
Nintendo WaveBird (platinum)
Nintendo WaveBird (platinum)  




Review date December 07, 2006   February 09, 2007   February 09, 2007  




CNET editors' rating 5.3 out of 10 5.3
Average
6.8 out of 10 6.8
Good
7.5 out of 10 7.5
Very good




Users' rating 8.0 out of 10 8.0
Excellent
Be one of the first to rate this product! 8.7 out of 10 8.7
Excellent




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Review summary Unless you don't have a GameCube controller or any GameCube games, give this Wii peripheral a pass. It works with all the right games, but the cramped design of the Mad Catz MicroCon controller makes it a bit uncomfortable for extended gaming sessions. It's not the perfect controller for Virtual Console games, but the WaveBird remains the best wireless controller for playing older games on the Nintendo Wii.




My Products
Basic Specs
Product Description NINTENDO Wii Classic Controller - Game pad Mad Catz MicroCON Wireless Controller - Game pad NINTENDO GAMECUBE Controller WaveBird Wireless - Game pad




Device Type Game pad Game pad Game pad




Compatible Game Consoles Nintendo Wii Nintendo GAMECUBE Nintendo GAMECUBE




Connectivity Technology Wired Wireless Wireless




Features Seamless play control Rubber side grips Info unavailable




Compatibility Game console Game console Game console




Pointing Device / Manipulator Info unavailable Joystick , Triggers Two thumb sticks , 4-way cross keypad




Battery Info unavailable Info unavailable 2 AA type




Product name Nintendo Wii Classic Controller   Mad Catz GameCube MicroCon Wireless Controller   Nintendo WaveBird (platinum)  




Full specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications




Price range Check latest prices
$17-28
from 9 stores
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$15-21
from 4 stores
Check latest prices
$79
from 1 store









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