One of the good things about the Wii system is the number of controllers and accessories that are available, both from Nintendo and other manufacturers. One controller option that we at ToT tried recently is the MiniMote by Snakebyte. This controller was released to European gamers last summer and has recently come available to the US market. It joins the Snakebyte Wiimote line that includes the Premium Remote XL+, Remote XS and the Wireless Motion XS.
The main difference between the standard WiiMote and the MiniMote is that the MiniMote 25% smaller in both size and weight. The MiniMote is a great fit for kids or those of us with smaller hands who prefer a smaller scale controller. It makes a noticable difference in fatigue you can experience during marathon gaming sessisons as well. The smaller size makes the buttons on the MiniMote closer together. The B trigger is a bit smaller on the MiniMote than on the WiiMote, and the sync button is on the front face which makes using that function more convenient. The pointer funtion on the MiniMote is crisp and precise and the buttons are spingy with no lag or stickiness.
The MiniMote is MotionPlus compatible and has an Eco mode to help extend the unit’s battery life. The feeling of the controller is very solid even for it’s small size. It is available in red and blue and retails for around $25.00.
Pros
- Size is great for kids or other small hands
- Solid build quality
- Handy Sync button
Cons
- Buttons are clustered too close together for larger hands