The Nintendo Wii Classic Controller – Comfort and Style
Much of the hype surrounding the Nintendo Wii is due to its new remote control technology, but if you’re more comfortable with the old-school controller, they also offer the “Classic Controller.”
As the “classic” controller was called, it’s great for old Nintendo games from yesterday. It’s designed for use in games where you can’t use the innovative Wii remote, nun-chuck, or any other fancy controller, though it can be used with any game. This is the controller of choice if you really want to keep it simple.
The design bears similarities to the Super Nintendo game pad. It is oval in shape and the buttons are diamond shaped. It has the usual D-Pad and a start and select button. The included buttons on the front are the old A, B, X, and Y buttons, finally including the four buttons on the top edge of the controller.
The classic controller is much smoother than the Super Nintendo controller. The D-Pad has a much more comfortable feel than the SNEC, and the controller fits better in your hand. The analog sticks will move like a dream compared to the old ones. For some, the A, B, X and Y buttons might be a problem as they are further apart. It will take a little thumb stretch to use, but you’ll get over it quickly. Although, it can still be difficult to pull off some of those combination moves in games like Street Fighter.
The classic controller has obviously been designed with ultimate gaming comfort in mind. The controller buttons are rounded to make them much easier on the fingers. Previous controllers had indented buttons, although easier to grip, they can get dull after a long game.
The drawback of the classic controller is that it cannot be used to play games on the GameCube system. If that’s what you expected, we recommend getting something else.
The classic controller’s left analog stick is used to control the cursor when you’re in the Wii channel menu. If you intend to play the classic Nintendo games from Virtual Console, then this controller is a must.
That is the true purpose of the Nintendo Wii Classic Controller: to play all those classic games that are available for Wii. As cool as the Wii Remote is, you just can’t play Mortal Kombat or any of the thousands of other games Nintendo intends to release. The Virtual Console is expected to soon give you access to all the great games of yesteryear, and the Classic Controller is that perfect retro controller to enjoy them with.
The Wii Classic Controller will need to be purchased separately for $19.99, and there are places on the internet where you can get one.