The 5 Worst Wii Sports Accessories And Attachments
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Back in 2006, the Wii was everywhere, in the hands of gamers and non-gamers alike thanks to its unique, motion-based gameplay. The Wii was so simple and accessible that it wasn't uncommon to spot Nintendo's innovative console in retirement homes. There were plenty of hidden gems for the Nintendo Wii that the core gaming audience could enjoy, but it's undeniable that the biggest Wii success story belonged to the "Wii Sports" and "Wii Sports Resort" titles.
With those two games selling more than eighty-two million and thirty-three million copies, respectively, it's no wonder that Nintendo and third-party companies wanted to ride that wave of success by selling various Wii peripherals. Of course, the vast majority of those accessories and attachments are nothing more than expensive pieces of plastic — useless when it comes to improving the Wii experience, perhaps, but exceptional at providing a good laugh.
These are the five worst "Wii Sports" accessories and attachments.
Wii Bowling Ball
Let's start with what is one of the funniest video game peripherals ever created: the Wii Bowling Ball made by CTA Digital. You probably spotted that seam running through the middle of the ball and already guessed the hilarious truth that, yes, your Wiimote is supposed to sit inside this enormous, plastic prison. With the Wiimote snugly tucked within, you then play some "Wii Sports" bowling and resist every natural impulse to let go of this giant sphere and do even more damage to your TV than a Wiimote would on its own.
It is a nice touch that the ball includes an assortment of buttons for you to control your Wiimote without having to extract it, but a curious addition is the fact that inside the ball there's enough room for a Wii MotionPlus attachment. Wii MotionPlus isn't necessary for the bowling in "Wii Sports," but it is required for games like "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword." While it may not add much to the feeling of digital bowling, it could definitely make for a funny, albeit cumbersome, way to save the lands of Hyrule.
Wii Zapper
Speaking of Hyrule, remember "Link's Crossbow Training?" If not, then you probably didn't own the official Nintendo Wii Zapper. Each one came with a copy of the "The Legend of Zelda's" most unpopular spinoff as an example of the Zapper's prowess. Said prowess being the ability to hold one's Wiimote and Nunchuck in uncomfortable proximity.
While the Wii Zapper has its fans, most would agree that it's a bit of a dud. Ignoring the fact that holding the Nunchuck directly behind the Wiimote had literally zero effect on one's aim in any shooting game, placing your controllers into the Zapper was a total hassle. There was a flimsy clasp to keep the Nunchuck in place, and the Nunchuck's connecting cord had to be shoved into an awkward compartment on the bottom. Wii MotionPlus adapters would not fit into the dorky little peripheral at all. This is definitely a Wii accessory that didn't hit the mark.
Wii Vitality Sensor
Now for one of the weirdest accessories. Designed more for the "Wii Fit" crowd, the Wii Vitality Sensor was supposed to provide players with information about their heart rate and body. We say "supposed to" because the Wii Vitality Sensor was never actually released. Back in 2013, a Nintendo spokesperson revealed that the product just couldn't perform the way developers desired it to, but the decision to cancel it must've been much easier to make based on the feedback from its reveal (via Eurogamer).
While there was no harm in the Wii trying to reach a more casual audience, the core gaming audience took the Vitality Sensor as a sign that Nintendo was focusing too much on consumers that weren't going to stick around. "Wii Fit," for all its success, was ultimately a fad. Selling an attachment that reminded players of hospital care would've been a hard sell for even the most enthusiastic "Wii Fit" players.
CTA Pool Stick for Wii
If you thought the Wii Bowling Ball was dangerous for TVs, take a look at the CTA's Pool Stick for Wii. Do you find it difficult to get immersed when playing a billiards game on the Wii? What if, instead of the simple, pleasant form of the Wiimote, you had a long, awkward stick? Unlike previous attachments we've talked about that simply don't add anything to the gameplay experience, this billiards accessory and others like it are often reviewed poorly due to the fact that they can interfere with the Wiimote's wireless signals.
Not only that, but there are plenty of reviews online that say some cues are difficult to assemble and easy to break. With this attachment in particular literally being a plastic stick, and an apparently flimsy one at that, it can come as a shock that it can cost upwards of $20 online. If you still think your Wiimote needs the extra length for those digital billiards nights at home, a lot of money could be saved with a normal pool cue and some tape.
OSTENT Airplane Controller Stand
Behold: the funniest image you've seen all day. The OSTENT Airplane Controller Stand has an abysmal rating online, and is one of the goofiest looking attachments ever made for the Wii. In an attempt to replicate the joystick setting one would see within the cockpit of a plane, this plastic abomination houses a Nunchuck and Wiimote in an attempt to make flying games that much more immersive. A failed attempt, but an attempt nonetheless.
Despite all of these wacky attachments, the Wii will forever stand as a huge success and one of the best-selling consoles of all time. There will always be the more traditional gamers that claim it was made primarily for non-gamers, but the Wii had a strong library for gamers of all kinds. Perhaps there could have been a detail that would have improved the system drastically, but that's years behind us now. However, history repeats itself, and manufacturers are already gearing up a line of "Nintendo Switch Sports" accessories.