Just a list and commentary on the various gun shells out there, particularly the SMG/rifle style shells. The pistol styles are weak, so I'm not gonna deal with them. I'd also like to hear who's got one, what games they use it with, and what you think about it.
Things I thought about include:
- How's the spacing between the hand grips?
- How does the main trigger feel?
- Does it have the little A-notch/V-notch gun sights?
- Does it let you hide the Nunchuck cord?
- Does it look like ass?
- Does the shell material cause any problems?
- Does it have a gimmick, like unattaching the Nunchuck grip?
- Does a game allow button customization?
- Do a game's waggle gimmicks undermine the shell's usefullness?
- How well/badly does line-of-sight firing work?
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See how a couple of these shells work in Ghost Squad (live demo DivX videos at page bottom)== The Definitive Wii Zapper Clone (SMG or Rifle Gun Shell) Review/Preview/Embarrassment List ==
Nintendo Wii ZapperMany of you have this and already know it sucks. I'm sure you just wanted the bundled matoor Zelda spinoff title to make up for the loss of Tetra's Trackers.
Core Gamer Wii BlasterOne of the earlier shells available. Shotgun style is a neat look. No trigger extension. Ruins the machine gun illusion for some games. Looks awful.
Pega Combined Light GunSplits in 2 for gimmick pistol play and waggle accommodation. Grip spacing looks cramped and retarded. Doesn't hide cords at all.
Datel Wii Machine GunLooks serious about its SMG grip style, with decent spacing. Doesn't hide cords. Not suitable for waggle.
Pebble Entertainment GUNAnother serious SMG style, with decent spacing. Has a compartment to cleanly hide the Nunchuck cord. Not suitable for waggle. Stupid thing lacks the V-notch site at the back of the Remote.
Gunhazard Cyber wiigunAnother serious SMG style, with decent spacing. Cleanly hides the Nunchuck cord. Includes textured grips. Not suitable for waggle. Stupid thing includes a foregrip but omits the trigger extension altogether. (I plan to get this one for my Ghost Squading needs. I don't need the main B-trigger since I can fire with the Nunchuck, and I want to see how it plays without the on-screen reticule, so I want a shell that includes the notch-sights.)
UPDATE: I did buy this, and I enjoy it. I'm convinced it provides the best submachine gun experience in Ghost Squad. Nunchuck cord and Wii Remote strap are completely hidden. Has no problem fitting Nunchucks covered with silicon sleeves, either.
WiiMAX Wii Light GunLooks awesome. Not.
CTA Digital Shot GunHO. LY. ****. I fail to see how games are even playable with this one (UPDATE: not the case anymore, but the prototype is still funny and tradeshow pictures can be found on the web).
UPDATE: "Adding to the “coolness-factor” of its appearance is the aesthetic possibilities created by the inter-changeable barrel / magazine tube and stock. Take off the stock and sport the “sawed off” look ala Terminator 2 or remove the front barrel and you’ll have a compact blaster." OK that's much better. That makes this the official shell to use for THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD... OVERKILL?... only if the game isn't too demanding with the rate of fire.
UPDATE: I did buy this, and I enjoy it. After some modification to the trigger's spring, it works well, tho not recommended for constant firing since it's not as responsive as a B-trigger or Z-trigger. Most comfortable when playing with a "relaxed" rate of fire, like using the unlockable shotguns in Ghost Squad. Aiming stability feels great thanks to the full stock you can press against your shoulder, unlike the "floating" (and tiring) submachine gun scheme. Buttons on the sides of the barrel are used to press C/Z on the Nunchuck. Nunchuck cord and Wii Remote strap are completely hidden.
Laser Sight Machine GunAhahahahah effort. lol
Laser Sight Special Crossbow w/ safety arrowCHEEZUS KRAIST. If you ever wanted to put on a red dress and play "Assignment Ada" in front of your wife, now you can.
CTA Digital Crossbow for WiiThe NEW standard in Wii lightgunbowshellthings. Just as useless as the official Wii Zapper, but with much greater aesthetic performance.
Logic3 Wii Sports GunSMG shell from a UK 3rd party manufacturer. Relatively rare product on the web compared to the countless shells pouring out of Asia. Has an interesting look at a glance and includes full iron-sights. Customers have reported the B-trigger is hard, lousy and makes an annoying snapping/cracking toy sound as a "featured" "sound effect". Since the trigger is useless, it gets negative points for being there at all, taking up space. Doesn't hide the Nunchuck cord. Ultimately meh.
GAMEware Wii Light GunAnother rare UK shell rejected by Her Majesty's Secret Service. Looks like a very simple, bare-bones approach. No iron-sights, no cord compartment, no aesthetic appeal. The B-trigger looked interesting at first, but reviews say stiff, difficult crap.
dreamGEAR Wii Rumble BlasterAnother interesting failure. Interesting break-apart design and aesthetics. No iron sights.
CTA Digital SureShotThis is the latest retail revision of their previous Shot Gun shell. The tip of the Remote barrel has been redesigned to integrate the loop sight and eliminate the old plastic ring attachment, which interfered with the Remote's line-of-sight. IR visibility should be noticeably improved. One of the retail packages on Amazon.com also includes a hunting game.