Wii Classic Controller

by Nintendo

• Four face buttons - X, Y, B, A
• Twin analog sticks
• Four shoulder buttons
• 4-way D-pad

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000IN0BSU
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 2 inches ; 7 ounces
• Media: Accessory
• Release Date: November 19, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (181 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,514 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #5 in Video Games > Wii > Accessories > Controllers > Gamepads
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Needed to play some virtual console gamesAllows the user to play many of the classic Nintendo titles with old-school easeThe thin traditionally shaped peripheral plugs directly into the Wiimote and it combines the best features of the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 controllers

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

375 of 388 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Good Controller in Most Cases November 26, 2006

By S. Rhodes TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

If you plan on buying a Wii and going through with the virtual download, then getting the classic controller is not such a bad investment. What causes to be a bad investment however depends on what games you plan on downloading for the virtual console. Case in point, if you've got a Gamecube controller, there's a big possibility you may want to stick with that one instead.

To begin, the controller attaches to the Wii remote, so it is in fact wireless. So you don't have to deal too much with cords in the way. Although, this brings about the problem of your Wii remote batteries dying. Then your shell controller doesn't work so well either. Another interesting aspect of the classic controller is that you can use it to navigate through the Wii channels if you like.

The layout of the controller is almost an exact replica of the classic Super Nintendo Controller. The differences are two Z buttons, one next to the L button and one next to the R button, and a home button to navigate back to the wii menu. Its fantastic for playing virtual console games because the buttons are set to correspond to the same things they did on their respective controllers. Although at the same time this can be troublesome, particularly for playing Nintendo 64 games. If you plan on downloading N64 games, the Gamecube Controller works far better than the shell controller does. Mainly because the button layout just feels awkward at times. The Z buttons are small, unlike the Gamecube controller which happens to have a fairly large one. The control stick is also far better on the Gamecube Controller for N64 games and the A and B button placements are better as well.

Otherwise, if you plan on getting a Super Nintendo game, this controller is perfect! It's also perfect for NES games, although you could just use the wii remote to play those games (although, the wii remote definitely feels awkward at first). Aside from that, the classic controller works extremely well.

There are a couple of problems, however. For starters, the classic controller doesn't work for Gamecube games at all. This brings about the question as to whether the classic controller is worth buying at all. The answer is simply that it depends on what you want more of. If you plan on playing tons of Super Nintendo games on your virtual console, then yes the classic controller is a fantastic buy. It even works better than the Wii remote when playing classic NES games and TurboGrafx-16 games. However, you can't help but admit the Gamecube controller works great as well (although the Gamecube controller doesn't work quite as well with Super Nintendo games; just try playing Contra III). The classic controller is great, but until there's actually a Wii game that requires it above all else, its hard to tell people with Gamecube controllers that they'll absolutely need it. It's a great controller, but not yet a necessity.

On the positive side

+The button layout is pretty good
+Can be used to navigate the Wii Menu
+Attaches to the Wii remote so you don't have to deal with a lot of cords
+Controls are precise and corespond accordingly to each game
+Works especially well with Super Nintendo games

On the negative side

-It feels awkward with N64 games (the Gamecube controller is better)
-As of yet, there are no wii games that require the classic controller
-It's really difficult to recommend the classic controller when the Gamecube controller works just fine as well. Perhaps when a game for the Wii that requires the controller it'll be a lot easier to recommend to people.

So it really IS a good controller, but unless you plan on playing tons of Super Nintendo classics, the Gamecube controller is a better buy right now--especially if you plan on playing Nintendo 64 games.

64 of 65 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Necessary February 19, 2007

By C. R. Vandenheuvel

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

For all the people saying that a wireless GameCube controller is a better purchase ... I'm wondering, have you tried Super Mario World with the GameCube controller yet?

It's unplayable. I have both and I tried to play 2-player SMW. The classic controller of course works perfectly, but the GameCube one is awful. Here's why: SMW requires you to do running jumps over pits. That means you hold Y and press B to jump. Y and B are right next to each other on the classic controller, but on the GameCube controller, there is an enormous A button almost directly between them. You have to bend your thumb at a weird angle to hit B and Y but not A, because if you hit A you will do a spin jump and probably fall in the pit.

So really, one of the best Virtual Console games out right now does not work well with the GameCube controller ... the classic controller is great and works well with all of the games. (That's what it was made for, you know)

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A little classic flare for that new-fangled Wii contraption! November 24, 2006

By Cale E. Reneau VINE™ VOICE

Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

The classic controller is a controller attachment for the Wii that plugs into the expansion port at the bottom of the Wii remote. It is wired, like the nunchuk attachment, but it utilizes the same wireless signal of the Wii remote.

The Classic controller is used specifically in conjunction with the Virtual Console download service. With this service, players can download classic games from the NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, and Turbografix-16 game consoles! Currently, no Wii games have been officially announced to utilize the classic controller and the classic controller CANNOT control games for the GameCube system.

The pros of the controller are obvious. You can use it to play classic games from the virtual console service, and it remains wireless by using the power from the batteries in the Wii remote.

If you plan on playing GameCube games in your Wii, however, it may be a better purchase to buy a GameCube controller or a WaveBird wireless GameCube controller, as all games currently on the virtual console can also be controlled by these as well as the classic controller.

Overall, the classic controller is a nice addition to the Wii hardware and should fit nicely in your family of Wii peripherals. If you don't own a GCN controller, and don't plan on playing GCN games on your system, the classic controller is a no-brainer, and a convenient way to get back into classic gaming!