Nintendo Wii PDP Afterglow Remote

If there's one variety of third-party video game controllers that has found their niche, it would be the PDP Afterglow series. This brand of gaming accessories is easily recognized by its vibrant colored light display and above average quality. Rarely is it wise to depend upon a third-party gaming accessory, but Afterglow controllers tend to get the job done. I decided to put the Afterglow Nintendo Wii Remote to the test with the following games.

Mario Sports Mix

This deluxe package of four major sports games turned out to be a great judge of the remote's capabilities. After getting a team together for Bowser Jr, I started a game of Basketball. Trouncing the White Mage with relative ease proved the remote's effectiveness. Whether I was on defense or the offensive, it worked like a charm. In similar fashion, Luigi's Hockey team had no trouble defeating Toad, Waluigi, and the Slime.

While Volleyball with Daisy was a little finicky, you can probably chalk that up to a combination of my lack of skill in the sport and its weaker presence in the line-up. A match between Team Mario and Team Bowser in Dodgeball was equal parts satisfying and fun. I later successfully tested it with Mario Power Tennis Wii, Mario Strikers Charged, and Mario Super Sluggers, all of which performed well. Overall, the Afterglow Wii Remote had no trouble in its Mario Sports outings.

Wii Party

The next title to put the Afterglow remote to the test would be more demanding. When tasked with a variety of Mii-centered mini-games, the Afterglow remote showed no weakness. Whether it was an obstacle course, crying Mii baby, or piloting a vehicle, it did its job. The only hiccup I experienced was during the Veggie Chopping mini-game. Tasked with rapidly slicing a carrot before my opponents, I found myself to be at a very slight disadvantage in motion registration. Minute, but noticeable. Despite this slight shortcoming, I still easily outdid my younger half-brother, Rodarious.

Trauma Team

It was now up to the Afterglow remote to save some lives. After hopping into a random operation, I immediately was impressed by the response time of the Afterglow pointer. It reacted fittingly no matter where I stitched or applied medicine. I was further impressed by the surreal experience of using the illuminated green controller. I must confess to lacking the same level of Trauma Team experience as my co-op partner, my younger sister, Aleshia. Despite my novice level of skill and the Afterglow's third-party status, I had little trouble keeping up with Aleshia's medical talent. After our third operation, I was very happy not only with the latest entry in the Trauma series, but also my Afterglow companion. A doctor is only as good as his tools after all.

Sin and Punishment: Star Successor

It was time to put the Afterglow under greater pressure. I switched from the careful, calculated game play of Trauma Team to the flashy, frantic action of Sin and Punishment: Star Successor. I controlled Isa with the Afterglow remote as Aleshia used one of our Nintendo Wiimotes. Our face-off against an ocean of hostile creatures and soldiers proved to be all too easy. Whether I was slashing or blasting my way through hordes of enemies, it all felt very fluid and enjoyable. Then again, having a great teammate didn't hurt.

Shiren The Wanderer

The Afterglow remote's pointer, motion capabilities, and response time had all been proven reliable. Still, not every Nintendo Wii game utilizes these features. How did the Afterglow remote handle traditional gaming? I popped in the dungeon-crawler RPG Shiren The Wanderer. Holding the Afterglow remote on its side wasn't exactly optimal. It didn't feel awkward or unappealing, just different. I was cutting down monsters, hunting for treasure, and exploring dungeons with ease, just haunted by unfamiliarity.

Overall, I am very happy with my Afterglow Wii remote. It may not be quite as effective as its Nintendo rivals, but it's a worthy alternative. The light-up effect is entrancing, its motion capabilities are up to snuff, and it does its job as a traditional controller. It certainly outperformed its PS3 counterpart. The only concern I have for PDP's Afterglow Wii remote is that it appears to eat batteries a bit faster than Nintendo's offering.