So, just picked up one of of the nyko kama's, based on positive reviews I've seen on the net. I've had quite the opposite experience.
The first strike against it was the blister pack it came in - I cant stand the damn things and nearly slashed myself on it. My complaints are with the kama itself, but blister packs suck.
All the reviews on the net had me basically believing this was basically the exact same thing as the nintendo nunchuk, just without a wire. It certainly looks the part. Well constructed, feels great in the hand, and is overall well built.
My first gripe is with the buttons - the c-button is fine, but the z-button is much narrower and less clicky than the nintendo nunchuk - the end result is that it feels a little mushy. But still, not enough for me to totally dislike it.
The analog stick is a little looser and range of motion a little big - and the analog stick is where the problems begin. I'm not sure exactly where the problem lies, but theres something about the stick that isnt calibrated the same way as the nunchuk. This was especially noticeable in Okami. When youre running forward with the nintendo nunchuk, you can easily turn left and right without losing your speed. But on the kama - not quite. Its jerks and you lose your speed - its as if diagonal on the kama isnt exactly the same as diagonal on the nunchuk. I also couldnt spin around 360 as easily and in the same way as with the nunchuk. It might be less of an issue for some games, but its a gamebreaker in okami, and I can't see myself spending $35 on something that doesnt function properly, wireless or not.
It gets worse. The accelerometer is also kinda funky, oversensitive, to the point where pressing a button or jerking left or right on the stick fast enough was enough to make okami dodge, which *never* happens with the chuk. Again, it seems to be a matter of very close to the nunchuk, but something is a bit off.
Another little niggle is the brightness of the LEDs. Theyre huge compared to the little dot on the wiimote, and I find it distracting in a dark room.
And the nail in the coffin - lag. I dont care what other reviews say - it adds lag, period. Thats to be expected when youre using a wireless transmitter connected to another wireless transmitter, but its noticeable compared to the nunchuk. Its not terrible, but combined with everything else, makes me just not want to use it.
So basically built well, looks good, feels good, but does not play good. And thats whats important.
Now to return it - and that blister pack is not going to make it easy. Perhaps the wireless adapter from nyko would be a bit better as it's using the nunchuk itself, but I imagine its using the same wireless technology, and the lag will still be there.
Honestly, we're just going to have to wait for nintendo themselves to do it right. Nyko has always been a little better than madcatz crap, but its still second rate.
I absolutely do not recommend it for serious gamers. It might be fine for casual games that dont require precision with the stick, but other than that - no way.
The first strike against it was the blister pack it came in - I cant stand the damn things and nearly slashed myself on it. My complaints are with the kama itself, but blister packs suck.
All the reviews on the net had me basically believing this was basically the exact same thing as the nintendo nunchuk, just without a wire. It certainly looks the part. Well constructed, feels great in the hand, and is overall well built.
My first gripe is with the buttons - the c-button is fine, but the z-button is much narrower and less clicky than the nintendo nunchuk - the end result is that it feels a little mushy. But still, not enough for me to totally dislike it.
The analog stick is a little looser and range of motion a little big - and the analog stick is where the problems begin. I'm not sure exactly where the problem lies, but theres something about the stick that isnt calibrated the same way as the nunchuk. This was especially noticeable in Okami. When youre running forward with the nintendo nunchuk, you can easily turn left and right without losing your speed. But on the kama - not quite. Its jerks and you lose your speed - its as if diagonal on the kama isnt exactly the same as diagonal on the nunchuk. I also couldnt spin around 360 as easily and in the same way as with the nunchuk. It might be less of an issue for some games, but its a gamebreaker in okami, and I can't see myself spending $35 on something that doesnt function properly, wireless or not.
It gets worse. The accelerometer is also kinda funky, oversensitive, to the point where pressing a button or jerking left or right on the stick fast enough was enough to make okami dodge, which *never* happens with the chuk. Again, it seems to be a matter of very close to the nunchuk, but something is a bit off.
Another little niggle is the brightness of the LEDs. Theyre huge compared to the little dot on the wiimote, and I find it distracting in a dark room.
And the nail in the coffin - lag. I dont care what other reviews say - it adds lag, period. Thats to be expected when youre using a wireless transmitter connected to another wireless transmitter, but its noticeable compared to the nunchuk. Its not terrible, but combined with everything else, makes me just not want to use it.
So basically built well, looks good, feels good, but does not play good. And thats whats important.
Now to return it - and that blister pack is not going to make it easy. Perhaps the wireless adapter from nyko would be a bit better as it's using the nunchuk itself, but I imagine its using the same wireless technology, and the lag will still be there.
Honestly, we're just going to have to wait for nintendo themselves to do it right. Nyko has always been a little better than madcatz crap, but its still second rate.
I absolutely do not recommend it for serious gamers. It might be fine for casual games that dont require precision with the stick, but other than that - no way.
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