In case you haven’t already noticed, there are a lot of Nintendo Wii accessories out there for you to enjoy. Even if you decide that you really want to have a Wii zapper of some kind, you’ll find that you’ll be bombarded by a myriad of choices as well. Which Wii blaster is the best?
While this guide isn’t exhaustive (there are far too many Wii zapper options to list them all), we did aim to give you a good overview of what is available when it comes to the gun attachments on the Nintendo Wii. By using one of these fun accessories, you just may get your girlfriend into gaming after all. Oh yes, she’ll love blasting the bad guys.
Nintendo Wii Zapper with Link’s Crossbow Training
I suppose it makes the most sense to start with the original. The first official gun attachment to hit the Nintendo Wii came from Nintendo itself. Known simply as the Wii Zapper, this is a single unified plastic shell that provides you with a “Tommy gun”-like experience on the Wii.
The Wii Remote is housed near the front of the Wii Zapper, whereas the Nunchuk attachment finds its home near the back. It’s up to you whether you want your left hand or your right hand to lead. As with all official Nintendo accessories, the Wii Zapper is very well-built and you’ll have no trouble getting the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to fit properly. The cord management, since the Nunchuk still has that cable, is also quite good. There is a hatched compartment in front of the Nunchuk portion.
As an added bonus, the Wii Zapper comes bundled with a free copy of Link’s Crossbow Training and can be found for around $19US or less. Although not nearly as robust as a full game, it is a great title for introducing you to the Wii Zapper. I’d say it falls under the same category as Wii Sports.
Nyko Perfect Shot
As an alternative to the Wii Zapper, the Nyko Perfect Shot offers a form factor that is closer to being a regular hand gun. There is a connector pass-through in case you need to make use of the Nunchuk attachment, but the Perfect Shot does not have a shell for the Nunchuk itself.
While fundamentally effective in what it wants to achieve, the Nyko Perfect Shot is far from perfect. I had quite a bit of trouble getting the Wii Remote to fit into its slot on the top of the gun attachment. The back portion makes it difficult to line up the Wii Remote with the connector. I think the “hood” in the back needs to be retracted.
Looking to the future, Nyko says that it will have new versions of the Perfect Shot that utilize their special Nyko Wand Wii Remote alternative. Instead of simple mechanical input to hit the buttons, it will use an electronic interface where the shell and the Wand can have two-way communication. The current version as shown should run you about $14.99 US.
dreamGEAR Rumble Blaster
One of the video game accessory companies that we visited during CES 2009 was dreamGEAR. They had a range of accessories for all three of the major consoles, but there was a definite focus on the Nintendo Wii casual gaming market. One of the highlights at the booth had to be the Wii Rumble Blaster.
The Rumble Blaster is more versatile than the original Wii Zapper, because it can be used one of three ways. First, you can use the two components together like how you would on the Wii Zapper. Second, you separte the two parts for a dual-wielding experience. And third, you can use the front portion on its own like a handgun.
One of the cooler features on the Rumble Blaster is that there is a second trigger on the pistol grip. Through a clever series of levers, this second trigger activates the “A” button on the top of the Wii Remote. This can come in very handy for games that require that kind of input.
This particular Wii Zapper alternative gets its namesake from its integrated rumble pack. You slot two AAA batteries in the pistol grip and every time you pull either trigger, the gun will vibrate. There is also a blue glowing light on the bottom of the barrel.
On the downside, the back portion where the Nunchuk is housed isn’t quite as well designed. It was remarkably difficult to get the Nunchuk to fit properly, because the C and Z buttons on the front didn’t quite fit through the provided slot. I could either get the Nunchuk to fit or gain access to the buttons; I could not have both. This is a fitment issue that needs to be addressed. It’s also the most expensive in our round up at $39.99 US.
Generic Combined Light Gun
We’ve noted in the past that going with refurbished and debranded products can be a great way to save some money. This works with digital cameras and LCD monitors, for example. The same can almost be said about the gaming market as well.
In looking through the computer parts on Geeks.com, you’ll discover that the bargain-shopping site also has an affordable Combined Light Gun option.
You won’t get much in terms of advanced features on this generic product, but it does appear to be a good alternative to the regular Wii Zapper. It is also listed at a third of the price. While it did not have the same fitment issues with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk as the Nyko and dreamGEAR offerings, the cable pass-through and management system is not nearly as well designed here. However, it is the cheapest in our round up at only $11.99 US.
Thrustmaster Dual Trigger Gun NW
I try to be as mature as possible when I refer to “accessories” from a company called Thrustmaster, but when the talk turns to shooting things with your Wii, I can’t help but to let out a bit of a nervous giggle. I’ll let you concoct your own bathroom humor.
On a slightly more serious note, what you see here is the Dual Trigger Gun NW from Thrustmaster. Unlike the other Wii Zappers described in this guide, the Dual Trigger gun does not place the Wii Nunchuk behind the Wii Remote part of the gun. Instead, there is a handy hook-and-holster configuration that places the Nunchuk along the left side of the barrel.
According to the packaging, this is supposed to provide a machine gun-like experience for the gamer. Alternatively, you can remove the Nunchuk holster and use the pistol portion by itself as an arcade gun.
While there were no significant issues with fitment for the Wii Remote or Nunchuk, the cable management system is designed in such a way as to have the cord run along the left side of the gun. This shouldn’t get in your way, but it does take away from the aesthetics somewhat.
Like the dreamGEAR Rumble Blaster, the Thrustmaster Dual Trigger Gun NW also features dual triggers. Unfortunately, the system does not appear to work as well. When I pull the “A” trigger, the blue band across the top is supposed to activate the “A” button on the top of the Wii Remote. It works the first time, but I hear an audible “click” in doing so. After that, it doesn’t work anymore. This one will set you back about $17.99 US.
The Results of the Shootout
So now that we’ve been to high noon, the dust has settled, and we have experienced the Wii Zapper shootout, which blaster has come out as the newly crowned champion?
Well, they all have their faults and, as such, it was very difficult to pick just one as the absolute best. It would really depend on where your priorities lie and what shortcomings you’re willing to endure.
In terms of overall fitment and build quality, the title clearly goes to the original Nintendo Wii Zapper. It uses the best plastic, has the fewest fitment issues, and comes with a free pack-in game. However, it is also the least versatile and boasts the least number of features.
If I had to pick one Wii gun as my favorite, my vote would go to the dreamGEAR Rumble Blaster but only with the caveat that I don’t recommend its back Nunchuk-portion. Used for arcade-style rail shooters, its experience is the best. The dual triggers add utility, the rumble immerses you in the gaming environment, and the glowing blue light is just cool.
One suggestion that I have across the board, though, is that they really ought to expand beyond the white-and-blue color scheme. The occasion splash of orange isn’t sufficient.
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Blasting Away with a Nintendo Wii Zapper Shootout – Photo Gallery
