Nyko Kama: Review
Those of you that own a Wii know that the nunchuk attachment is a must if you plan on rocking any type of hardcore game on the console. The real question is, have you ever been hindered by the 3 foot cord attaching the ‘chuk to the wii-mote?
No? Well, me neither, but what if you did didn’t have to have the cord? For those of you that are curious and have an extra chunk of cash to spend Nyko has provided us with an alternative. Here’s the Kama.
The Kama is a wireless nunchuk that’s powered by 2 AAA batteries with a receiver that plugs into the base of the Wii-mote (just like the regular nunchuk). The batteries give you up to 30 hours of gameplay (supposedly) and the Kama can be used up to 3 meters from its receiver.
I don’t know anyone that has a 9+ foot arm span, so keeping a constant signal shouldn’t be a problem. It looks and feels almost identical to its wired counterpart (which got Nyko in some legal trouble, but we will talk about that later) and supports all motion controls as well.
I was browsing everyone’s favorite discount store, Hudson’s and found a Kama listed at 70% off. With the item retailing at $30 I was able to pick it up for a modest $9. I had seen the Kama at other retailers and was interested in it but thought that $30 for an accessory that seemed unnecessary was way too much. So, since the cheap option presented itself I pounced. How does it play? We will get to that later as well.
The look and feel is so familiar that until you press the C and Z buttons (which are a tad bit stiffer than the original ‘chuk’s) you probably won’t feel much of a difference in the controller. Nintendo apparently didn’t like this and in June of last year filed suit against Nyko for creating a controller that basically stole the likeness of their nunchuk.
To be fair, Nintendo was probably right. If the Kama wasn’t branded in multiple places as a Nyko product I would swear it was made by the big N. Consequently, Nyko agreed to redesign the Kama to look less like its counterpart and the redesign (pictured to the right) is what is currently on the market. Its mighty ugly, but I guess it gets the job done. Since mine was bought at Hudson’s I was able to grab the original (and much classier) design.
Anyone that has gamed with me knows that I don’t do buddy controllers. By, buddy controller I mean anything that isn’t made by the first party company. While companies like Nyko, Mad Catz, Logitech, Saitek and Dreamgear may have been in the business of gaming controllers for a long time, their controllers usually have weird uncomfortable grips, faulty buttons, different button sensitivities, break easily or simply don’t feel right. I detest them and will quickly drop the $40-$60 to get the name brand.
The Kama is a very rare exception to the rule. It feels real, offers better feedback on the shoulder buttons, is the right weight and has a tight analog stick. I obviously can’t comment on the redesign, but the original is solid. The motion controls work well and the receiver is not a hindrance at all.
Kama's a Bitch ain't it, Glass Joe?
However, a few things come up when using it. Standard Wii-mote gloves and the Zapper can’t be used with the accessory. How is this going to work when the Wii-motion plus is released? Is there really a market for this device? I don’t know about the Motion Plus, but as for a market, anyone that touches thing is going to want one. It’s much more liberating that you would think.
Outside of Wii boxing, the original cord never got in my way, but the lack of a cord opens a whole new world of flailing for your arms. Having the full range of motion, even if it doesn’t register on screen, gives you a more immersive experience, since you are pretty much playing directly with your hands and not two tethered pieces of plastic. The real problem is getting people to actually pick up and use it. $30 is a steep cost for what in essence is a luxury. I’ve been looking for something to spice up my Wii, and I think the cure will be the Kama. Punchout, here I come…
4/5 Stars
