To Wheel or Not To Wheel?
April 23rd, 2008
So there’s been a lot of talk going back and forth on the usefulness of Mario Kart Wii’s pack-in, the Wii Wheel. The consensus seems to be that it’s better than using the Wii Remote by itself since you have something round to hold onto, but it doesn’t really DO much (see image above) and still isn’t as precise as a traditional control scheme. I can see myself trying it out while I quickly charge the batteries in my Wavebird and never touching it again. It may get some use from curious, casual visitors that want to play, but I doubt I’ll be using it much. I realize that the game would be $50 with or without the Wii Wheel, so it truly is a freebie, but just out of curiosity, what would you do if you were given a choice?
{democracy:11}
You can put me down for gimmicks!
I’ll try every control method available, like I did with Brawl, and then pick a favorite. I thought I’d go for the classic Gamecube control set up, but ended up prefering the Wiimote/nunchuck combo. The same will probably happen here and I’ll be stuck on the Wii Wheel.
As a European who’s used the wheel a fair bit, i have to say it makes using the manual controls much easier, as you have a proper button to press as apposed to mashing the tiny B Button on the Wiimote. Untill you use it for a bit you don’t realise how nice it is to use.
Now if you plan on using the Wiimote alone, yeah, you might as well go all the way and go with the Whiil ((See what I did there? XD)).
Otherwise, I’m planning to go with the Wiimote/Nunchuck combo. I still get the motion activated trick system but I also get tight controls.
And I have used the Whiil when I was over at Denver’s Mario Kart Wii Driving School event last weekend. It was fun to try out the new bikes and the Whiil but it wasn’t good enough for me as a hardcore gamer.
I’d get the whiil, why not is what I figure. It’s only ten bucks for something I might end up liking to use. Honestly I don’t see any reason to not get the whiil(if there were two packages) unless you’re strapped for cash.
I wasn’t sure what to vote, really. The wheel does actually look interesting, and I could very easily see myself getting into the use of it. However, as I am cheap, the $10 less part won me over.
Your choices are kinda biased, no? Hardcore seems to rub people the wrong way and being cheap isn’t really a good description for someone who doesn’t want to throw any $$ at useless plastic.
But if we don’t get the wheel, where would we get Mario Kart? After all Mario Kart Wii is free with the wheel. >_>
I loathe the wheel because of how Nintendo seems to be saying: “GET A WII WHEEL! Mario Kart included.”
For me, it’s the Wiimote/Nunchuk combo every time, but I’d still pay the extra for the Wii Wheel. Just got the game today, I’m loving it @_@.
I have been using using the wheel for some weeks now (I’m from Sweden) and it’s really fun to use. It’s very comfortable to grab on to, doesn’t feel that plastic/gimmick and it gives you a new innovative and fresh take on video games.
It can be a little hard getting used to at first, bit give it some practice. Changing character or from gokart to bike and vice versa can make a real difference in how the wheel controls.
The wheel does also have some advantages to it’s alternatives: for example, it is much easier to do tricks and a wheelie (using the bike) with the Wii Wheel than using the GameCube-pad (moving your thumb between the stick and the D-pad during a fast race could be a bad idea 😉 ) And in my opinion it’s easier to use items using the D-pad on the Wiimote than using the L-trigger and the anlog stick (for throwing/releasing) on the GC-pad. The Nunchuck+Wiimote-combo however is a really nice setup using the motion capabilities for tricks and analog movement for steering.
In the long run though I belive that no matter what your “weapon of choice” is, you can always perfect it. It’s mostly about getting the “feel” of it, whether it’s an analog stick or the Wiimote motion sensor. Heck, even I have trouble defeating a time trial I made using the wheel with any another pad.
Also worth to mention is that the extra bucks could well be worth it when it comes down to the joy of having some friends over and watching them looking all crazy trying out the wheel. And battle mode of course!
So, do you want to play video games the same way you’ve been doing for the last 10 years…? It’s all up to you.
Sign me up for one of the things posted in the picture. Is that third party? I gotta get me one of those!
peple are saying you need to use it to do tricks the best way wich is importent consitering the speed bost it gives you
My vote tied it up again at 67 votes to 67 votes. Nice!
I had to vote gimmick, as dumb as I think the idea of the wii wheel is. I mean, the DS? touch screen? wii remote? motion controls? wii fit board? I thought they were ALL terrible ideas when they were first announced, yet here I am, a DS toting, wii owning, wii-fit envious, gamer. so, wii wheel? why not? i’ll give it a shot.
my vote tied us up 70 votes to 70 votes= D
I broke the tie! Go Wii wheel!! 😛
I don’t play games because I’m good at them (in fact, I play despite that), I play because they’re fun. As a social game, the steering wheel makes the game more fun to play with others in the room, which is pretty much all I could ask.
If you’re out for competition, makes sense to hate on less than precise controls. If you just want a fun game to play, might as well play the game for the most fun you can get.