Wii

The first time I saw the controller I was skeptical, but optimistic. It looks drastically different than most controllers, incorporating an individual controller for each hand, connected by a cord (the right hand holds the “wand,” the left holds the “nunchuku”).

The first time I held the wand, I almost didn’t know I was holding anything. Unless playing something complex, like Zelda, the controller is pretty much two buttons (one under the thumb, the other a trigger) combined with the motion control. As there is little button use in that hand, and the controller is so small, you almost forget you’re holding anything at all. The motion is completely free, allowing you the full range of motiong for your wrist. When using the nunchuku along with the wand, you have an analog joystick and two more buttons for your index fingers (both triggers), and the nunchuku also has motion control.

The various minigames I played demonstrated the full scope of this system, and I have to say it is truly revolutionary. That wasn’t just a clever title. Games as we know them are totally different. I used the wand as a samurai sword, a baseball bat, a tennis racket, a ping pong paddle, the reins of a horse, a throwing dart, and a condutor’s baton. There were games that had me doing the hula as fast as I could, moving my hands as though I were running, and shooting ducks a la Duck Hunt.

The wand functions as a mouse, as well. In Zelda you go to your map, item screen, etc. by ponting at the portion of the screen and selecting. Again, the whole scope has changed.

Expect big things from this system, and expect me to disappear for a month when it’s released.