Nyko’s PerfectShot is simply a plastic holder for the Wiimote, and has no electronics other than a passthrough for the Nunchuck (or Classic Controller). It is made from mostly white plastic, with the holster and trigger made from molded blue plastic. A bright orange lever appears on the front of the device to secure the Wiimote in place. Other than its flamboyantly cartoonish color, the PerfectShot feels and looks much like a regular handgun.
Installing a Wiimote is rather simple. The orange lever on the barrel is moved down, exposing a hollow trench. The Wiimote then slides in place and attaches to a male “nunchuck” plug. The orange bar is then flipped up, securing the front of the Wiimote to the grip. It must be noted that the Wiimote must be completely naked, meaning no controller jackets, dongles or safety straps. This will probably be a pain for those who play games where a lightgun is inconvenient, as you’ll have to re-attach the safety strap and/or Wiimote jacket every time you switch. The Nunchuck (or other compatible accessory) can be inserted into the bottom of the grip’s holster, so you still have full functionality.
Once the Wiimote is installed it can be noticed that the device is very top-heavy. You grip the device like any handgun, but nearly all of the weight is in the Wiimote, which rests above your hand. It would have been nice if there was a counter-weight in the handle, or possibly even a place to store extra batteries. A little bit of extra weight would be alot easier to forgive than the awkward feeling of a top-heavy gun.
The trigger has a great tactile feel and is very easy to press. The trigger slides back and forth, rather than using a pivot like a traditional handgun would use. The trigger is tethered to another piece of plastic that actually presses on the installed Wiimote’s B (or trigger) button. The trigger is pulled back into its rest position by a strong spring that delivers good tension. Because the trigger functions like a “B-button extension” you can hold the trigger down for multiple shots (some games only register one shot per press, but it varies by game).
The PerfectShot also features a rear aiming sight, but there is no front tab to complete a true “sight picture”. This is where the Wiimote technology is different than a true light gun. A light gun has a sensor that samples light emitted from the TV screen, so it knows if it’s pointed at a range of “special pixels”. The Wiimote uses its sensor bar to get positioning information, so there is not a 1:1 corelation between the pixels on the screen and what you’re aiming at.
Regardless of the technology, the PerfectShot makes games that make heavy use of guns alot more satisfying. Depending on the game, you may have to hold the gun by the barrel to press the D-pad or other buttons to perform a special task, but overall feels very good. If you’re playing a game where you have to change hand positions often, then you’re better off not using the pistol grip at all.
