31 out of 31 people found this review helpful.
Nyko Charge Station - Free Nightlight Included!
Date of Review: Sep 30, 2008
The Bottom Line: A great purchase if you are looking to cut back on batteries!
So you did all of your homework and decided that you wanted a Wii over an XBOX 360 or PS3, and now you're looking into accessories that the Wii has to offer. You have a strange feeling that you'll be addicted to the best games on the Wii, meaning that you are going to crank through batteries like nobody's business, so you need a solution... fast. And that's when you stumbled upon this gem - the Nyko Charge Station - and realized that all you have to do is rest your WiiMote on the charging dock and you will forever have battery life. Genius? Probably. Expensive? Hardly. The Nyko Charge Station is a fantastic addition for anyone with a Wii! Let's get into the good stuff!
Inside The Box
It's always important to know what you're getting yourself into. You don't want to expect that you're getting one thing and then get slapped in the face with something much worse. So here it is - the nuts and bolts - you get the charging dock, two rechargeable batteries, and two WiiMote backs. The charging station can handle two WiiMotes at once (as the picture probably gives away), and the new WiiMote backs have gray grips with a small gold area for recharging (since you would not be able to charge the batteries through the original backs). It should be noted, though, that the rechargeable backs make the WiiMote slightly larger, because the rechargeable batteries are larger than normal batteries.
So Why Get The Nyko Charge Station?
You really have to reasons to get the Nyko Charge Station: 1) you do not want to constantly be throwing out batteries because it's really bad for the environment, especially since you do not properly dispose of them and just throw them away in your trashcan, or 2) batteries are expensive. A possible third reason to get it is that your hand gets really sweaty when you play Wii and you could really use the slip-grip, because you figure the wrist strap can save your television only so many times. So the bottom line is that you buy the Nyko Charge Station for the rechargeable batteries and slip-grip.
Alternatives?
As with most things, there is an alternative way you can do this. I am not aware of any other charging dock stations, but rechargeable batteries have been around forever. If you are worried about getting a better grip on your WiiMote too, you can always go and buy different backs for you WiiMote, or use the silicone sleeve that now comes with the WiiMote. The Nyko Charging Station does, however, put all of that together.
How's It Look?
You're wondering how it looks?? You are so shallow... it's what inside that counts!! Okay just kidding... The Nyko Charging Station complements the Wii very well - it is white and comparable size to the Wii. It is small enough that you can put it basically anywhere, so if you decide that you do not want to look at it, you can do that (you just need to make sure that you have enough room vertically for the WiiMote to sit in the dock! The cord to plug it in is also six feet long, so you can put it basically anywhere - and it's also small enough that you can store it and just break it out whenever you want to use it (if that's how you choose to go). The front of the Nyko Charging Station has two LED lights, one for each WiiMote, that lights up either green or blue (depending upon the charge situation). All in all, it looks very good (I have it out just sitting next to my Wii).
How Bright Are The Lights?
Very bright. My Wii is on an entertainment stand with the TV on top, to the Nyko Charging Station falls somewhere between my ankles and knees, so during the day (or when there are lights on), I do not notice the lights at all. At night, however, it can look like there is a computer monitor on (if you are charging your WiiMotes overnight. So the bottom line is, they are very bright, but if you position your Nyko Charging Station the right way, you should be fine.
How Well Does It Work?
This is the bread and butter here, right? This is what you came to read about. How well does the Nyko Charging Station work? Is it worth the purchase? I am very happy with my Nyko Charging Station. While I have heard some people complaining about charge retention, I have not had any problems so far (I've had it for about a year). The slip-grip on the back is also very nice, and while I am yet to let go of a WiiMote, it does make me feel a little better with that grip.
How's The New Size With Accessories?
I said above that the bigger battery pack and different back makes the WiiMote a little bit larger - so you may be wondering how it fits in with accessories like the Wii Wheel or Guitar Hero Guitar. In a word, it is a snug fit. But it fits, and that's what's important! You just have to use a little more force sometimes, but I have not had any problems with not being able to get it in and out of an accessory.
Overall
Overall I am very happy with my Nyko Charging Station - it looks nice, gives your WiiMote a great feel, reduces battery waste, and functions as a nightlight!
