-Nyko Wand Action Pak

Pros: Can be used as a remote or a gun

Cons : Can’t use it with a Wii Remote Charger

I’ve always liked the idea of having a walking stick that turns into a sword, but the closest I’ve come so far is Nyko’s Wand Action Pak, a Wii remote that turns into a pistol.

What It Is: A Remote That Can Talk to a Gun Shell

The Action Pak consists of Nyko’s version of the Wii remote, which they call the Nyko Wand, and a pistol shell into which the remote can be inserted. The interesting thing about the gun shell is that it communicates with the remote electronically. Generally speaking, gun shells have a mechanism that will simply shove the remote’s B button when you press the trigger. Nyko’s shell instead simple signals the remote that the B button has been pressed. This method also allows Nyko to map the A button to a hammer at the back of the gun. The shell is very small and light; it’s mainly just a handle and a trigger, with the remote itself becoming the gun’s barrel. This means all the buttons of the remote are uncovered and within reach. You can plug a nunchuk into the bottom of the shell. The bottom is shaped so that Nyko receivers like Nyko’s wireless nunchuk adapter can be attached. You can’t connect the MotionPlus to it, but so far there aren’t any shooting games that use the MotionPlus anyway. The shell is unusual in that it is essentially a battery cover. You take off the Wii remote’s battery cover and then shove the remote into the shell. This sets the remote very firmly into the shell, but on the other hand means you can’t use rechargers with the remote. Also, if you are disorganized like me there’s a reasonable chance you could lose the original battery cover, at which point you would no longer be able to use the remote without the gun shell.

Summary: A Simple Remote with Something Extra

Nyko’s Action Pak has a clean, simple design. It is light and works well, although the small, light quality also makes it feel more like a cap gun than a pistol. And when you don’t want to shoot anything, you can transform it from a dangerous weapon of destruction back into a harmless game remote.