The Wii Zapper & Link's Crossbow Training

GamePro locks and loads with the nifty Wii Zapper and Link's Crossbow Training.

When the Wii was first announced, I, along with every other person with an ounce of commonsense, knew that the system would eventually become the home to some awesome light-gun games. The Wii Remote looked like the perfect accessory for that oft-overlooked genre to make a big console push. Well, it's taken a while but we're finally seeing that foolproof prediction come to light now that games like The Umbrella Chronicles and Ghost Squad are on the horizon.

And when you think about it, Nintendo didn't need to create the Wii Zapper-the Remote would have done just fine as a virtual gun. But after getting some hands on time with the Zapper, I'm glad Nintendo is making the invest in this intriguing new peripheral.

Point and Shoot

You've all seen the pictures by now so I won't describe what the damn thing looks like. Instead, I'll just describe what it feels like to hold it. The whole contraption-Zapper shell, Wii Remote and Nunchuk-is solid and has a nice heft to it; it's definitely not the flimsy wimpy hunk of plastic that the original NES Zapper was. There's a pistol grip on the front complete with a trigger that activates the B button; the unit rides along your forearm towards the crook of your elbow and the backend of the Zapper, where the Nunchuk sits, sits near your ribs so you can hold it and access the left thumbstick and the C and Z buttons.

The one thing I didn't like about it is that the Zapper doesn't rest comfortably on your arm; the back end of the unit hits your forearm, forcing you to hold it at a weird angle. It's hard to describe but I found myself fidgeting with my grip several times to try and find one that didn't feel so awkward. I eventually got used to it but I am a little wary as to how the Zapper will fare over extended periods of play, especially with first-person shooters where you'll be required to use both hands.

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