Review on Nintendo Wii Remote Plus Black by Vincent Poolaw

Best version of the Wii remote ever, but beware of non-OEM hardware Wii remotes were pretty easy to spot . Unfortunately, consumers (and presumably Revain's warehouse staff as well) are finding it increasingly difficult to tell them apart from the real deal. Check out the video I've attached for an overview of one such potential item and its Nintendo counterpart. Really very convincing! For anyone who has ever used a Wii Remote, the difference between OEM and non-OEM hardware is pretty obvious when you look at the packaging. Buyers should be aware that non-genuine Wii remotes are currently being mixed with OEM hardware as evidenced by my comparison and reviews left by others. So instead of Revain sellers uploading photos of the products they sell, and especially when the order is a Revain delivery, be aware that it's basically a question of whether you're getting a real one item received or not. Your mileage may vary. Luckily, if you don't get what you expected, Revain's customer service makes returns pretty painless. In any case, since this is not the case, the next step is to check the product yourself. Please note that while the video is more about a discussion of the differences between legitimate and fake Wii Remotes, the following text review (and my rating) is for the official version of the product only. Finally towards the end I added some corrections/clarifications/corrections to some of the things I said in the video. OVERVIEW: Wii Remote buyers should be aware that not all Wii Remotes are (or weren't) created equal. No, I'm not talking about the various third-party versions that are out there: I'm talking about actual Wii Remotes made by Nintendo themselves. , no wrist strap mechanism, no matte/textured back, no Wii MotionPlus INSIDE, no ability to sync to a friend's console without first removing the battery cover, and was only available in white. Over time, the above Wii Remote changes/additions/features were gradually added: While Wii Remotes used to make headlines because overzealous Wii Sports tennis and bowling players threw them at TVs and walls, Wii Remotes got now a rubber cover that serves to prevent excessive damage if a remote control flies out of the player's hand; While previously the "lark's head" thread (a simple loop knot that attaches the wristband to the remote's body) was said to weaken and fray when twisted - potentially breaking entirely if thrown (accidentally, of course) into the void - Nintendo disclosed now a stronger version with a stronger thread (the old threads had a diameter of 0.6 mm, the new ones had a diameter of 1.0 mm); While the wrist strap used to be a simple piece of plastic that had to be attached to the player's wrist to keep the strap from slipping off, which reportedly didn't always work properly, the plastic slider has now been replaced by a locking mechanism that would allow it to be locked off keep it from coming loose no matter how hard you throw the remote control; While the back of the Wii Remote used to be about as smooth as the first-gen GameCube controller, it now had a nice textured finish. While previously playing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (among other games) required a special Wii MotionPlus accessory to be plugged into the bottom of the controller, now all the required accelerometers, gyroscopes, gyroscopes and other hardware required to provide all MotionPlus functionality cleanly integrated into the removed itself; Where you used to have to remove the back battery cover to sync with a friend's Wii console, now all you have to do is press a button right on the back of the remote itself...etc. Now it comes in multiple colors too. In short, people had concerns and Nintendo listened to them. Of course, in the case of the bracelet, it was in response to a class action lawsuit, and yes, sometimes it took Nintendo a while to respond, but they did, and the Wii Remote only got better with each iteration. This article represents the Wii Remote in all its glory, both in terms of its form and functionality. The only thing that can make these remotes better is the battery. Luckily, they are easily accessible through both their own channels and third-party channels. One could criticize Nintendo for not charging the controllers instantly, but according to this reviewer, Nintendo's elimination of the battery was actually a long-term win for fans. : By adopting the AA form factor and making the remote compatible with NiMH cells for those who choose to use it, Nintendo has (intentionally or not) effectively ensured that the unique Wii Remote (and the Wii Remote Control Plus) can be used by consumers - frugal gamers, and not only collectors / specialists / craftsmen - for many years. , and a battery cover with a push sync button - Has built-in Wii MotionPlus - no additional accessories required! - The best version/iteration of the controller and its accessories ever made, which is more of a nitpick than a true design flaw ) ADD/FAILURE TO VIDEO COMPARISON: I stated that I bought two of these remotes six months ago, the real ones got and just recently bought two more and got...others. I was wrong: according to my Revain purchase history, I bought the first set over 18 months ago! I now remember leaving them in their boxes in a closet unused for about a year after first unpacking them. I only started using it six months ago. So I'm not sure how long the confusion has been going on. Maybe I just got lucky the first time. Unfortunately, enough time has passed and the seller I originally bought from no longer deals in very many Nintendo products. However. I also realized that I wanted to imply that if the Wii Remote has a built in Wii MotionPlus, if it doesn't have the EXACT style of back and armband shown which should alert the potential buyer. , but that's probably unfair: as far as I know, the back wasn't redesigned prior to Wii U's release, and the strap went through more iterations than the remote itself (if you buy a used one, the owner might have simply lost a newer strap and replaced it with an older one), so it's not impossible to find them with an old battery cover or strap (although the strap should have a thicker thread than the first versions, assuming it's the same) anyway, I said into that Video that Nintendo recalled thin wristbands, but I found out later that it was actually a false rumor: there was a class action lawsuit alleging the bands broke with normal use, but Nintendo never really caved into that claim and they never remembered the first version of the bracelets released. Rather, they claimed that the original straps would perform exactly as intended under normal use and that the thread would only break in the extreme of circumstances/mishandling. In line with the principles of good faith, they have gone further and increased the thread gauge and given consumers the opportunity to request delivery of upgraded tapes for free. Great Nintendo. Hope that helps. Good luck and happy hunting!