Reviewed: August 24, 2010
Reviewed by: Mark Smith

Manufacturer
Power A

Type: Controller
System: Nintendo Wii

Rating: 9.5

Features

  • 35% Smaller
  • Larger Buttons
  • Contoured Surfaces
  • Wii MotionPlus compatible
  • Matching Wrist Strap
  • Available in Black and Purple

    MSRP: $49.99

    		•  During my epic three-day adventure at E3 this year I ended up in the back room of the Power A booth where I got my hands on the new Wii controllers that make up the new Prop Pack Mini, a standard Wii Remote and Nunchuk, only 35% smaller. At first I just dismissed the product as something catering to kids with small hands, admittedly a huge demographic for the Wii’s target audience but something I would never be interested in myself. Oh, how wrong I was.

    I don’t play a lot of Wii games and when I do they usually involve sticking my Remote (and sometimes my Nunchuk) into another device like a gun or a tennis racket or a golf club. Those are just the kind of games I tend to play on the Wii and sadly, the smaller size of this controller makes the MiniRemote incompatible with a lot of peripherals out there. But rest assured, for those who play games using just the basic controller setup, you have never played with this much comfort and style.

    Shrinking down the remote by a third sounds like a lot and it's not - just check out the comparison photo, but you don’t really realize how much plastic is going to waste in your hand with the larger standard Wii remote. Now, with this lighter, smaller size that fits perfectly, even in adult hands, plus the larger and repositioned buttons (that light up) you have never been this accurate when playing a game, especially for extended periods of time.

    The ergonomic molding of the remote and nunchuk are contoured and feature no-slip textured surfaces so these things are rock solid even in the sweatiest of palms, but you'll still want to strap up with the included wrist strap. The durable construction stood up to my most brutal sessions of any of the action games I used to test this controller. The buttons feel great and are very solid and responsive.

    There are a few minor downsides to the controller. Currently, there are no recharge kits available for the Pro Pack Mini, so you will have to use conventional AAA batteries (not AA like regular Wii remotes), and the lit buttons will sap the battery life just a tiny bit quicker than non-lit remotes, so make sure those AAA batteries are rechargeable. And as mentioned before, the smaller size keeps this remote from working with any gaming peripherals or no-slip sleeves, however you can still attach a Wii MotionPlus to the bottom of the remote to gain that extra accuracy in supported titles.

    Considering you get a matching MiniRemote and MiniChuk for $50, this is a terrific value and a great alternative for those with smaller kids with smaller hands or even teens or adults who find the original controllers just a bit too large and cumbersome. The Pro Pack Mini is easily the best Wii controller I have ever laid my hands on.