Nyko Perfect shot outscores the zapper!

[Niall!]

http://uk.gear.ign.com/articles/841/841403p1.html

US, December 13, 2007 - At E3 2006, in the midst of the American debut of the Wii, Nintendo showed off a prototype Zapper bracket for the Wiimote and Nunchuck that got people pretty excited. The pistol looking design was highly evocative of the original NES Zapper and suggested a lot of potential for Wii lightgun games. At E3 2007 we got our hands on the final Wii Zapper and discovered a radically different tommy gun design. We weren't big fans of the awkward two-handed grip arrangement or the squishy mechanical trigger, and were disappointed that the final Wii Zapper seemed crafted specifically to avoid appearing anything like a real gun at the direct expense of actual usability.

The Zapper is now commonly available and hasn't improved since E3. As such, we've been waiting for a third-party manufacturer to offer a solid alternative with a better trigger and more gun-like design. Happily, Nyko is out to provide exactly that by means of the new Perfect Shot for the Wii.





Composed of white plastic with blue highlights, the Perfect Shot is styled just like a real pistol, a welcome change from the odd tommy and shot gun designs we've played with previously. The Wiimote slides smoothly into the bracket to fill the 'barrel' cavity whereupon it mates with a Nunchuck port in the rearward recess. This connection leads to a pass-though Nunchuck port at the base of the Perfect Shot's grip. The blue trigger on the Perfect Shot pulls a spring-loaded slide that depresses the Wiimote's B trigger.





We were quite pleased by these design decisions on Nyko's part. The Nunchuck pass-though is quite nice, as it provides the player with a lot of freedom to aim the Perfect Shot with one hand while manipulating the Nunchuck with the other. Disconnecting the Nunchuck is also exceedingly simple, as opposed to the Zapper that must be rather significantly disassembled to uncoil the Nunchuck wire whenever a user wants to play a standard Wii game. When Nyko's Wireless Nunchuck arrives next year, the Perfect Shot will feel even more tactical and realistic.





Even more pleasing than the Nunchuck pass-though, however, is the Perfect Shot's trigger. Our greatest complaint with Nintendo's Zapper is the fact that there is no spring between the plastic trigger and the Wiimote's own trigger. The result of the omission is a squishy tactile experience that makes shooting rapidly with the Zapper difficult, as all too often it's difficult to tell when the Wiimote's trigger has completed its range of motion. The Perfect Shot, thankfully, makes use of a strong spring that keeps the trigger taut and responsive, and in our testing it proved far more effective than the Zapper's in games that require rapid firing, like Resident Evil: UC and Ghost Squad.





Another benefit of the Perfect Shot design is the fact that it allows users to aim via the fixed sights rather than shooting from the hip as with the Zapper. The Wiimote does not naturally aim exactly where it's pointing, but in games that support calibration, like Ghost Squad, we were able, by sitting at the right height and distance and then not moving from the spot, to dial in the Wiimote's accuracy to the degree to which we could actually aim down the Perfect Shot's barrel. This allowed us to turn off the on-screen aiming reticule in Ghost Squad (doing so provides a points bonus) and still shoot accurately, which is how lightgun games should be played.

The Perfect Shot will be hitting retail this month, priced at $14.99. We highly recommend it as a Zapper alternative, though in terms of an overall value comparison, the fact that Nintendo includes the very fun Link's Crossbow Training game with the Zapper means lightgun fans will have to consider buying both.



IGN's Ratings for Nyko Perfect Shot Wii
RatingDescription out of 10 9.5Performance
Better than the Zapper in every respect. Trigger is tighter, more tactile. Easier to aim thanks to one-handed design.8.5Build Quality
Plastic molding is clean, construction feels nice and strong. We're also glad Nyko wasn't afraid to make it look like a gun.10Ease of Use
Slide Wiimote into barrel cavity. Flip up orange retainer. Connect Nunchuck if necessairy.6.5Value
$14.99 is fair for an accessory. Zapper is a better deal, however, due to Link's Crossbow Training.9.0Comfort
We like the pistol grip and trigger massively more than the awkward Zapper tommy gun layout. Aiming instead of shooting from the hip improves gameplay.9.3OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)

[Nemo]

That looks pretty good.

[Niall!]

That looks pretty good.

Yeah but you can't play any other apart from shooting games with it

[Nemo]

why? i read half of it, it just kind of looks like a storage for ur remote that looks like a gun, how is the trigger attached to the wiimote?
But i dont like thats it only 1 handed gun and u have to hold the nunchuck

[Neversoft]

Ah, wondering when this would pop up. Read about it ages ago. Blake will be pleased. Awesome news though!

[Niall!]

why? i read half of it, it just kind of looks like a storage for ur remote that looks like a gun, how is the trigger attached to the wiimote?
But i dont like thats it only 1 handed gun and u have to hold the nunchuck

Look at the posistion of the buttons

[GhostFace-]

tbh i think i wud want that more than a zapper.

[Ekalb]

Ah, wondering when this would pop up. Read about it ages ago. Blake will be pleased. Awesome news though!

I am indeed, but I'm getting a zapper for christmas.
This however would make games like metroid prime 3 better as you can move the nunchuck around to act as your whip (although that is possible with zapper config. 2) but the fact that this is smaller than the zapper will also help in metroid 3 when you move the wiimote.

If anyone understands my ravings up there ^
The perfect shot looks great and appears to be the leading 3rd party gun peripheral and according to the video review they have its a lot easier to control and aim with than the zapper. If it got released in australia I might consider buying it.

ign gave it a 9.3/10 and the zapper only got a 6.5/10.

[Homesrfan]

I just watched the video... that looks amazing. I want it so badly now for when I get Ghost Squad. I hate the Zapper. HATE IT!