Product: T-Wireless NW
Price: $19.99


With the Wii remote being as sensitive and intricate as it is, few developers are attempting to create third party controllers for the system. The same cannot be said about the Gamecube, which has a controller with plenty of room for improvement. Developer Thurstmaster agrees, and has delivered a wireless control with a focus on Virtual Console games. Here are some images and the controller’s specifications:

2.4 GHz wireless gamepad for Wii

• Connects to the Wii's Gamecube port
• 2.4 GHz wireless technology: lag-free transmissions over a range exceeding 10 m
• Radio receiver features a design assorted to the console, with a blue backlit connection button
• Runs on 3 AAA batteries (not included), which provide an autonomy similar to the Wii Remote's autonomy
• Low consumption (AAA batteries), automatic shutdown feature and On/Off power switch for extended autonomy
• Vibrations
• A motor provides force feedback for Gamecube games running on Wii and for some Wii games (list provided above)
• On/Off switch enables users to activate/deactivate the vibration feature according to their preference, and offers extended autonomy
• Slow & Turbo buttons
• For slow-motion or repeated action
• Comfortable and non-slip
• Offers optimum grip thanks to the sportswear rubber on handgrips and mini-sticks
• Fully programmable
• All buttons, mini-sticks and directional buttons can be relocated thanks to the Mapping feature
• Fully compatible on Wii with all Virtual Console games: NES, SNES, N64, SEGA MEGA DRIVE, TURBOGRAFX (Pc Engine) all Gamecube games, some Wii games which are compatible with Gamecube controller

I tried it with a few different set ups and compared it to the Gamecube controller and the Classic Controller. The controller promotes being able to be used with the Virtual Console, the Wii, and the Gamecube.

For the Gamecube it doesn’t really work as well as the Wavebird. The button layout has been rearranged to more resemble a Super Nintendo pad, thus moving the A and B buttons around. For games that used the A button heavily it changes the position to an uncomfortable position. The shoulder buttons also lack a comfortable click level, making some games that used it as an alternative button much harder to play.

For the Wii games that let you use a Gamecube controller, namely Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the controller is actually pretty comfortable. Nintendo has discontinued the Wavebird, so some gamers may need an alternative option. While it still suffers from some problems with the button placement it isn’t a problem due to Brawl’s amount of customization. As a Virtual Console controller it is also not bad, but pales in comparison to Nintendo’s Classic Controller.

It is fairly comfortable, with nice rubberized grips and a nice color scheme that matches the Wii. The buttons are comfortable enough, but it just isn’t as good as the first party ones – few third party products ever are. When compared to the rest of the third party controllers it is at the top of its class, and until Nintendo provides game stores with more Wavebird Controllers this is a nice option.

For more information visit Thrustmaster's website, located here. 

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