What's the blight of many a Nintendo Wii system owner? It's not the cost of VC games or the sensitivity of the sensor bar, though both of these attract plenty of silent attention as well. No, there’s one item detested more than anything, at least by this Wii owner: the double-AA battery.

Ever been in search of a pair of batteries when the soft blue light on your Wiimote starts to dim, only to thankfully discover the last two in that plastic packaging? Yeah, we’ve all been there. It’s both a gratifying relief to recover that lost energy and an infuriating curse. The true curse lies within purchasing those little alkaline cylinders. No matter what grade or amount of them you purchase, it’s a bullet that needs to be taken for hours of Wii enjoyment. Between the vibration controls and the wireless capabilities, Wii Remotes fade in energy faster than a keg disappears at a fraternity house.

Fear not, Wii owners. Old friends Nyko of the 360 Charge Station released a solid solution to our qualm: The Wii Remote Charge Station. In short, Nyko's unit does everything it’s expected to accomplish, with a few small quibbles and bonuses along the way.


At First Glance:


Sitting roughly 3 and a half inches high and roughly the same distance wide, this docking station is relatively compact for its purpose: revitalizing two Wii Remotes at the same time. When you look at the unit from the front, you see the two metal prongs at the back of each Wiimote indentation. Underneath each lies an LED bulb. Bet you can guess what these are for – but I'll address that in a moment.

Setup isn't a bad experience in the slightest. Actually, the most difficult part of getting Nyko's Charge Station set up is disassembling the plastic fortress encasing the item. Once you break the barrier (snatch a pair of scissors, trust me), you're working with 5 separate pieces: one (1) charge station with wall adapter, two (2) battery packs, and two (2) battery covers. The battery covers, coated in graspable silicone-like material, are a key element in this procedure; each clip has a small square cut from the center to allow access to the metal sensor on the back of the rechargeable battery.

Another thing you will notice is the two square cut-outs at the bottom of your Wiimote on each side of the Nunchuk / Classic Controller port. When you sit the controller onto the station, each "pod" has two pegs that slide snugly into these holes. This all equates to a solid design rigged for a sturdy, reliable charge. The only negative with the charging is the fidgeting needed with the wrist straps to position the remotes on the station. Each strap has to drape exactly to the side in a certain way for the remotes to click onto the sensors.

Here's how the initial setup procedure plays out:

1. Take your vapid batteries out of the Wii Remote.
2. Replace the batteries with the rechargeable battery packs.
3. Cover with the designated battery clips, gold metal sensor facing out.
4. Position the Wii Remotes on the Station so that the metal reactors come into contact.
5. Let Wii Remotes charge for a LENGTHY time period.
6. Once the lights shift from BLUE (CHARGING) to GREEN (CHARGED), play on.


Build / Aesthetics:

As design goes, the Nyko Wii Remote Charge Station is very unobtrusive. Compact in size and weight, it sports an appealing aesthetic design. The porcelain look fits really well alongside the Wii itself, or in any other designated area. It's a little hollow and doesn’t seem terribly sturdy, but I believe it to be stronger than anticipated at first glance. One thing to consider is that the Charge Station itself doesn’t need to be positioned directly next to the Wii itself. Since it operates directly from a standard AC adapter, it lacks any need to tap into the Wii system itself. Since no connection exists between the station and the Wii, the point of charging can be designated anywhere in the room – or the home, for that matter.

While the Wiimotes are charging, we’re treated to either a bright pair of blue lights, green lights, or one of each while the unit replenishes the controllers. They are a bright pair of bulbs, each roughly triple the size of the Wii's own signature power button. To say that the bulbs aren't distracting would be a lie, but to say that you can eventually ignore them while conducting other home theater activities is the truth. As can be imagined, the blue lights signal that the system is charging one of the remotes, while the green light shows that the congruent remote is "good to go". All points considered, Nyko has done a relatively good job with keeping these necessary lights reasonably muted.

However, there's another oddity with the unit that does cause a bit of disruption. When some rechargeable units load up a battery, a faint buzzing sound emits from the operational station. The Nyko Wii Remote Charge Station is no exception; when one or both of the remotes are positioned on the stand, a familiar high-pitched buzzing emits from the unit in a stop-and-start rhythm. When any item is turned on, whether it's a thunderous home theater or the smooth little fan in the Wii itself, the noise instantly dissipates. However, in complete silence, the charge station does release a sound quaintly similar to a rhythmic cricket singing in harmony.


Performance:

Once you get one of the Wii Remotes freshly charged in your hands, you'll feel something different about your remote. The battery packs, though they might not seem it at first opening of the package, are a bit heavier than two standard batteries. This adds a different weighted feel to the remotes, giving them a different center of gravity than you might be used to. When playing Super Mario Galaxy, it was noticeable – but in a comfortable way, from my experience. The added substance makes the controller feel sturdier in my hand.

Now, we're not talking about a difference in weight comparable to lifting dumbbells or anything; however, it's enough to give you a double take and, instinctually, tighten the grip on your strap just in case. For those with children or assorted reckless Wii-ers alike, plan accordingly for a heavier device with a tad more gravitational pull. Another element that helps with this newer gravitational center are the silicon backs which, even though they aren’t the most attractive of colors in stormcloud gray, aid well in the gripping process.

Here's the cincher to this purchase: the rechargeable battery packs work, and exceedingly well. Plowing through Super Mario Galaxy was a great experience, which can be analogous since I started the game with the freshly loaded remote from the charge station. After around 40 stars or roughly 1/3 of the game's playtime, I finally noticed one of the energy bars scraped from the remote. That is including a bit of Virtual Console shopping, Internet browsing, and Mii creation as well. Only after several more hours of Geometry Wars: Galaxies and further Super Mario Galaxy adventures did the battery bar dwindle to red status. One thing to bear in mind is that the battery power sits at full for a lengthy time. Then, once the first bar disappears, the battery power quickly vanishes. Be sure to keep an eye out for the charge in the stock menu, because waiting for the recharge to occur at a pivotal point in the game could be frustrating. Overall, if loaded up properly at the initial stages, these rechargeable batteries can hold a charge for very lengthy periods of time.



Final Thoughts: Convenient and environmentally friendly, the Nyko Wii Charge Station steps up to be everything a rechargeable station for the remotes should be. At around $30, this unit may take a little time before it completely steps over "into the black" with your investment; the convenience factor, however, is well worth the money for the present time. The Nyko Charge Station will eventually pay for itself since battery consumption will be drastically shaved down, but the lengthy charge capacity and the simple station setup make the Nyko Wii Remote Charge Station a Highly Recommended hardware purchase.