Short Review on a Big Success. Resident Evil Frights, Here I Come!
Written: Nov 16 '02 (Updated Nov 16 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: All are listed in the review.
Cons: No rumble feature. Batteries needed.
The Bottom Line: Awesome gadget. Read Review.
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| wandering_mage's Full Review: Nintendo GameCube Controller for GameCube, Game Bo... |
So now you have finally made some friends, and you need some more controllers. The GameCube’s newest accessory-Wavebird-is a revolutionary little device. No other console has yet released it’s own wireless controller, and I’m glad Nintendo did it first. The Wavebird came to stores a few months ago, and price range was a steep 40$. Now, you can get your own Wavebird at any store for only 30$, only 10 more dollars than a regular, restraining controller. So, let’s look at some problems wired controllers bring. First, it is almost impossible to stand 5 feet from your console and not pull the stupid chord out. Second, the chords always get tangled with others if several people are playing, which can make the range even shorter. Third, there was no freedom to get your soda off the shelf without having to pause the game. A personal pet-peeve is when I play Resident Evil. Every time a Cereberus jumps out from a window, I almost always yank, if not throw the controller out of it’s socket. The stupid mutt kills me, and I complain. Seeing as how I am a Resident Evil freak, The Nintendo Wavebird is a big hit for me.
The shape of the new controller, in my opinion should be just the same as the original. When you play a console, you should stick to one format of controller and get used to it. Wavebird did not present any problem. It’s shape, format, size, and button layout is exactly the same as the regular controllers. The only difference is that it has an enlarged area at the bottom, which never gets in the way of playing. A big picture of the controller is found in the review database. There has not been any changes in the button size, or layout, which I really found to be important. One setback on the Wavebird is that it has no rumble feature. This is because it uses batteries, and energy is needed. Yes, sadly, the Wavebird uses batteries.
So, what lets the Wavebird control the GC, if no chord is present? Well, a small, 1 inch receiver connects to the controller sockets. The reception between the receiver and controller is very well done. One question that keeps popping up, is how does the Wavebird react when other Wavebirds are present? Doesn’t one controller interfere with the others? This is no problem. On the controller and receiver, there is a small wheel labeled; channel. Your controller and receiver must be on the same channel to work. Seeing as how there are 16 different channels, unless your GC has 16 different sockets, there is no limit to Wavebirds on the GC. Also, the Wavebird has no problem working in tandem with it’s restrained little brother.
Another difference in the Wavebird is the on or off button. This, of course, turns on your Wavebird. You can turn it off during game-play if you don’t feel like playing. Also, keep in mind that anytime you don’t use the Wavebird, I recommend you to pause your game and turn it off to conserve precious battery juice. Easily as such can it be turned back on when you’re ready. I don’t know if it’s me, but the Wavebird seem even more responsive than the original. So what is the wireless range? Well, this can depend on how powered up your batteries are. At full power, the Wavebird is responsive through a distance of 20 feet. Range can shorten if batteries are weak. A setback is that there is no indicator, showing how powerful your batteries are. To finish this review, I will say that I am more than satisfied with the latest gadget from Nintendo. The freedom to move around the room without the restraint of a chord is well worth a measly 30 dollars. I recommend the Wavebird to any savvy gamer.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
wandering_mage
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Member: Sebastian Black
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reviews written: 107
Trusted by: 24 members
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