Nintendo Wii Zapper
Manufacturer: Nintendo Part number: RVLRRZPE
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- While it isn't revolutionary, the Wii Zapper is a great Wii accessory--and for the price, you really are getting an excellent value.
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CNET editors' review
Nintendo Wii Zapper price range: $18.99 - $24.99
- Reviewed by: Will Greenwald
- Reviewed on: 11/28/2007
- Released on: 11/19/2007
The good: Inexpensive Wii accessory that brings new life to shooting games; includes Link's Crossbow Training.
The bad: Doesn't come with Wiimote or Nunchuk; first round of supporting games aren't blockbusters.
The bottom line: While it isn't revolutionary, the Wii Zapper is a great Wii accessory--and for the price, you really are getting an excellent value.
If you grew up with a Nintendo Entertainment System in your house, then you no doubt remember the Zapper, the gray (or bright orange) light gun that let you shoot at ducks, bull's-eyes, and banditos. After almost 20 years, Nintendo has brought the Zapper, at least in name, to the Nintendo Wii. It's available in stores today for just $20, and it includes a free game, Link's Crossbow Training.
Instead of a light gun, the Wii Zapper is a simple gun-shaped plastic shell that houses the Wii remote and nunchuk attachment for use in certain shooting games. Simple, curved, and white, the Zapper fits perfectly with the Wii's aesthetic. Despite its vague gun shape--it loosely resembles a Capone-era Thompson submachine gun)--the Zapper's profile is nowhere near as menacing as the original Zapper's. Frankly, it looks more like an abstract sculpture than a gun, all rounded and white with nary a sharp angle to be seen.
Underneath the curved, matte-white shell is a simple and comfortable device with few moving parts and no electronics. The Wii remote slides into an indentation in the top of the Zapper and clicks in place securely. The nunchuk attachment slides into a smaller notch on the back of the Zapper and stays in place thanks to two small plastic pegs. Once both devices are locked into the Zapper, you can keep the cord between them wound up and hidden thanks to a compartment inside the handle. This cord-winding and tucking will keep your Zapper nice and neat, but inserting and removing the corded nunchuk is a pain--you'll probably want to invest another $20 in a dedicated nunchuk that will remain permanently housed in the Zapper.
With both the Wiimote and nunchuk in place, the Zapper feels a bit more solid and comfortable. Your front hand has access to the trigger that sets off the Wiimote's B button, while your back hand has total control over the nunchuk. Even though it doesn't look like a gun, the Zapper at least feels a bit like one. Hold it in both hands, point the "barrel" at the screen, and let the Wii pointer do the rest.
You could simply hold the Wiimote in one hand, the nunchuk in the other, and play any Wii game as you normally would. But it's all about the ergonomics. While the Zapper doesn't add any meaningful or unique features to the Wii's control system, it provides a near-ideal grip for shooting games--the Zapper simply feels better than holding the remote and nunchuk normally. It doesn't offer quite the same experience as a genuine light gun, since you're still constrained by the Wiimote's sensors, but it still makes those games feel much more intuitive than the typical Zapper-less remote/nunchuk control scheme.
Or at least it does while you're aiming and shooting; moving around (with the nunchuk's thumbstick) adds something of an ambidextrous challenge to games that takes a bit of getting used to, and may be downright frustrating for some. Judging from the Zapper-centric games in the pipeline (Medal of Honor: Heroes 2, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, and Ghost Squad are all available now, and a retooled House of the Dead is on the slate for 2008), publishers are focusing on "rail shooters"--games that have you automatically progressing through a level on a preset path. That lets you concentrate on aiming and blasting, not on moving around.
Even if you don't want those new titles, the Wii Zapper justifies its $20 price tag with its pack-in game, Link's Crossbow Training. This simple, Zelda-themed shooting gallery game would have easily been worth $20 alone, without the Zapper. It's not the largest or most complicated game for the Wii, but it offers enough fun and variety to satisfy both casual gamers and Nintendo fanboys. You play the ubiquitous elf Link, who got his hands on a crossbow after almost two decades of using a bow and arrow. Coincidentally enough, Link's crossbow looks very similar to the Wii Zapper. You can run through nine levels, each with three separate stages, to test your marksmanship. Besides the typical shoot-the-bull's-eye on-rails experience, Link's Crossbow Training includes modes where you must fend off hordes of skeletons advancing upon you, shoot your way through a goblin camp, and even plink flying skulls out of the sky in a stage that feels more than a little like the original Duck Hunt's skeet-shooting mode. It's not a very deep game, but it's simple and fun--a recipe for success on the Wii.
The Wii Zapper doesn't quite live up to its formidable pedigree and probably won't burn itself into gamers' memories like its predecessor. Still, the Zapper is a fun little gadget with a great pack-in game that justifies its scant price tag. It might not be a must-buy accessory/game for the Wii, but it'll give you more than enough fun for the Jackson you'll drop on it.
User reviews
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Awesome Wii gun shell.
by fed789 on March 11, 2009
Pros: The Best Wii gun shell out there on the market. A must have addition to your Wii arsenal.
Cons: The only reason i gave this item a 4 and a 1/2 star was because my first one broke, but it was my fault. I tried to pull the nunchuk out of the socket, so the lock for the nunchuk broke. Don't worry, This will not happen to yours. It was my fault.
Summary: An awesome gun shell for the Wii. Totally worth the 25 dollars. It is amazing and it comes with Link's Crossbow Training which is a great short game for ...
Summary: An awesome gun shell for the Wii. Totally worth the 25 dollars. It is amazing and it comes with Link's Crossbow Training which is a great short game for casual gamers. A must have item for the Wii. Makes all kinds of shooting games fun for the Wii. Any shooting game which you aim at the screen can be used with the Wii Zapper. I have used it for Medal of Honor Heroes 2 (all modes), Call of Duty World at War, Ghost Squad, Link's Crossbow Training, Red Steel, Wii Play, House of the Dead 2 and 3, and Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles. All of these games are much more fun and interesting with the Wii Zapper. It takes a little getting used to, but after you get it, its awesome. It feels like you are actually holding a gun. This is much better than any other gun shell. A definite must have!
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Love to use the Wii Zapper with Links Crossbow Training
by katrasc on January 9, 2009
Pros: Improves accuracy & feel of games; Really like using Links Crossbow Training (comes with Wii Zapper).
Visit http://www.musictomyears.com/iluvmywii.html for more info about the Wii Zapper including how to retrofit for wireless Wii Nunchuk.Cons: This is designed for the wired Wii Nunchuk. I think that they should have it designed for wireless as well (athough we were able to retrofit ours to work with the wireless).
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My 3 year old loves the ZAPPER!
by jkpinpdx on June 21, 2008
Pros: Quality Nintendo product, great design, inexpensive, extremely fun!
Cons: Wish there were more "kid friendly" ZAPPER type games from Nintendo
Summary: My 3 year old absolutely LOVES this game/controller combo! In fact we use it as a reward for being a good boy! I just wish there were more "kid ...
Summary: My 3 year old absolutely LOVES this game/controller combo! In fact we use it as a reward for being a good boy! I just wish there were more "kid friendly" Zapper type games out for it. I will tell you that you need to TURN DOWN the sensitivity all the way (in the settings screen) to make it easier to control and more playable. I really see his hand/eye coordination improving every time he plays it and when he does good on certain levels he gets really excited and feels a sense of accomplishment. It comes packed with a really fun game that kids and parents will have fun playing together. A "must buy" if you have a Nintendo Wii system.
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well worth the $20
by nrr66 on January 22, 2008
Pros: much more fun than just shooting with the remote
Cons: honestly, none!
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More Fun Than You Think
by tonymang19032 on January 4, 2008
Pros: Nostalgic, Simple, Fun
Cons: Some Assembly Required, Not for Every FPS
Summary: I felt like I was popping quarters into my favorite arcade shooter. I don't know how many younger generation remembers this, but I appreciated Nintendo giving me that experience ...
Summary: I felt like I was popping quarters into my favorite arcade shooter. I don't know how many younger generation remembers this, but I appreciated Nintendo giving me that experience again on a console game. The release titles aren't spectacular, but the experience is enough for me to look at MOH Heroes 2 and RE Umbrella Chronicles and looking forward to more titles to support this device. Again,thanks.
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The zapper really adds to the Wii experience
by adivis on December 28, 2007
Pros: adds to the wii experience
Cons: Doesnt come with wii remote or nunchuck
Summary: I am really excited about this accessory for the wii. The game it comes with is really fun and addicting. It makes everything much more realistic.
Summary: I am really excited about this accessory for the wii. The game it comes with is really fun and addicting. It makes everything much more realistic.
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Has potential with some software upgrades...
by NHWebGeek on December 4, 2007
Pros: Fun concept, great price
Cons: Not enough alignment flexibility, Feels crowded.
Summary: This product has the potential, but IMHO falls short in two key areas. The first area is trying to get the cursor anywhere close to where you're trying to ...
Summary: This product has the potential, but IMHO falls short in two key areas. The first area is trying to get the cursor anywhere close to where you're trying to aim on any large TV (anything larger than a 40"). Even after maxing out the settings and standing about 6 feet away from the light bar, the cursor was annoyingly nowhere close to where it should be vertically. In most cases, I was forced to aim about 4 inches higher than my intended target. This got old quick. It looked like the only way to get this to work is to stick the light bar smack dab in the middle of the screen. Perhaps Nintendo will provide an upgrade to fix this? PLEASE?!?!?!
The second area is the size. If you've got big hands, you're going to feel very cramped and uncomfortable when you actually need to use the numchuck. In an ideal setup, I probably would add an extra 4 inches between the front and rear grips.
On the good side, the Link's Crossbow Practice game that comes with it is lots of fun! Although it takes forever to figure out how to side step (trust me, it's not intuitive to the traditional FPS gamer).
It's a decent buy for $20, but there's definite room for improvement. -
Better than the original!
by jasoncarty720 on December 4, 2007
Pros: Easy to use, adjustable settings, takes shooting games to the next level
Cons: Slightly heavier than expected, mildly annoying to hide wiimote-nunchuck wire
Summary: Overall, the Wii Zapper is everthing I hoped it would be and more. It so easy to use and the game that comes with it turns you into a sharpshooter ...
Summary: Overall, the Wii Zapper is everthing I hoped it would be and more. It so easy to use and the game that comes with it turns you into a sharpshooter in minutes. The two handed controls take a few rounds to get use to, but nothing too difficult. The newest games designed for the Zapper should be outstanding with such a great option to build on.
Only small complaints: the unit is a bit heavier than expected when both controls are placed in the case. Also, it is a little annoying to hide the connecting wire within the casing. You dont have to do it if you don't mind the wires sticking out.
Overall - it's awesome. -
Can't beat the price and comes with a game
by sjschaef on December 4, 2007
Pros: Works well, easy to put controllers in/take out
Cons: Takes some time to get accuracy right
Summary: For the price of $19.99 (Target) for this is pretty darn good. It comes with a game that is target practice which is kind of fun and helps you ...
Summary: For the price of $19.99 (Target) for this is pretty darn good. It comes with a game that is target practice which is kind of fun and helps you get the hang of using the controller. It takes some time to get used to it and adjust the accuracy.. by that I mean the response time of the bullseye cursor. Another fun add on to the Wii.. look forward to more games coming out that will support the Zapper.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Nintendo
- Part number: RVLRRZPE
- Description: This accessory combines the accuracy of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in a single housing for experiences for first-person shooters and targeting games. Players can hear the sounds of battle through the Wii Remote speaker when it is incorporated into the Wii Zapper.
General
- Device Type Light gun
Input Device
- Compatible Game Consoles Nintendo Wii
Software / System Requirements
- Software Included Link?s Crossbow Training
Manufacturer info
- Nintendo
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Nintendo products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.nintendo.com/
- Address:
P.O. Box 957, Redmond, WA 98073 - Phone: 1-800/255-3700
- Email: nintendo@nintendo.com
