Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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63 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Free at last! Free as a bird with WaveBird!, July 17, 2002
The standard GameCube controller is perfect except for one thing: the cord is too short. All video game manuals warn against sitting too close to the TV, but you HAVE to sit close when your controller's cord is less than six feet long. The folks at Nintendo could have addressed this issue by offering some type of extension cord, but that would have inevitably led to more problems...like tangles and tripping accidents. Instead, they have created the innovative WaveBird WIRELESS controller. And this baby works like magic! Now you can sit up to twenty feet away from the screen without being tethered to your `Cube. Just plug the little receiver thingamajig into the front of the console, set it to one of 16 channels, set the controller to the same channel, turn it on and play till your thumbs go numb. The WaveBird has the same ultra-comfortable feel of the regular controller, with no lag whatsoever in button response time. Regrettably, the `Bird lacks the popular "rumble" feature of its corded counterpart. Including the rumble would presumably have caused the required 2 AA batteries (included) to wear out too quickly. I happen to like the rumble, but I have found that it sometimes hampers my gameplay. Not having the option to use it at all is somewhat of a drawback, but not enough to outweigh the enormous advantage of being able to play cord free. I will say that I think it's unfortunate that Nintendo currently only makes the WaveBird in ONE color: a boring pale gray (almost white). If you wanted to use four `Birds at once, it could get confusing. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this controller to every GameCube owner. And if they ever decide to make it available in "spice," I just might buy another one.
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52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A huge advantage for the Gamecube, June 19, 2002
If you are still trying to decide which game system to buy, you owe it to yourself to factor in the Wavebird in your decision making process. This is hands down the best controller available.
First, consider the price. No other console system currently has a 1st party wireless controller, only 3rd party versions, all of which are a LOT more expensive than the Wavebird. At only [$$$]more than the standard controller, its an amazing bargain.
Next, consider the build quality. There is something to be said about 1st party peripherals (be it Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft). I've always found them to be better built and more precise than 3rd party controllers. The same can be said of the Wavebird. It feels every bit as solid as Nintendo's standard controller. For games requiring a lot of precision, such as Super Monkey Ball, the Wavebird can't be matched.
Finally, the Wavebird really delivers in the wireless department. No lag, no interference, just perfect. The range is very impressive. Nintendo conservatively recommends a 20 foot range, but several people have reported success using it at over 100 feet! I can use it any where in my house. Battery life looks to be good, too. The Wavebird comes with two AA batteries, and should last about 100 hours of use (just remember to turn off the Wavebird when not in use!).
There are a couple of downsides, though. First, you will need to replace batteries. Second, there is no rumble feature in the Wavebird. To be honest, though, I haven't missed the rumble feature, as it is mostly used as a gimmick and precious few games actually put the rumble feature to good use. Also, you need to be sure to set the controller and receiver unit to the same "channel" via a small dial on each. A curious four-year-old may play around with this dial, causing problems.
Despite these few shortcomings, I highly recommend the Wavebird, especially if you have kids. You can safely place your Gamecube out of the way, resulting in a lot less handling of the system by the kids. The functionality and "feel" of the controller is spot on, and the price can't be beat.
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41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wireless done to perfection, July 15, 2002
I received a Wave Bird controller as a present recently, and am completely taken with it. It is very similar to the standard GameCube controllers, with the addition of a small platform on the bottom & a battery pack for the two (included) AA batteries...none of which is really noticeable during gameplay.The control is precise...I have noticed no lag, nor has the control ever been interrupted due to it pointing the wrong direction or something coming between it and the system. In fact, we tested it for range, and I was able to work the control from my back yard, with the door closed...a range of somewhere around 60-70 feet!!! No, most people aren't going to be using it from this far away, but it is nice to know the radio signal is that strong. You can rest assured that your signal won't be cut off at a crucial moment in your game. Being a user who frequently utilizes all four controller ports, this is wonderful. We continually get cords tangled, or the dog runs by & knocks one out...with this controller, all there is is the controller itself and a small receiver that plugs into the Gamecube. The receiver can be attuned to several different frequencies, so you can indeed use four of these at once without encountering interference. The Wave Bird controller is a fantastic value...after the recent price drop, I was pondering buying a couple more standard Nintendo controllers to replace the third party controllers I have, but not any more...it is completely worth the extra money to pick up one of these instead.
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