Poll: The best in motion controls (so far)
by Alisha Karabinus 
{ Jul 18th 2007 at 4:50PM }
For such a popular console that tries to offer something for everyone, the Wii also manages to be somewhat controversial -- and we're not just talking about Manhunt 2 here. The motion-sensing controls have been a bone of contention when it comes to nearly every game, even those people seem to enjoy. Some gamers find them awesome, and others ... not so much. We've selected six games which cover a range of game types (and aren't all first-party, either) as a measuring stick of what you think is best when it comes to Wii controls. We encourage you to vote early (and often!), but feel free to talk about other choices in the comments, as well as the reasons behind your picks.
You might have noticed that Wii Sports isn't on this list (and neither are several other well-received games!). We considered including it, because not everyone agrees that it works quite well as a showcase of the Wii control capabilities, but decided at the last minutes to include only non-bundled games. Feel free to voice your support for Wii Sports in the comments, however!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
hvnlysoldr @ Jul 18th 2007 4:57PM
What no Elebits?
vidGuy @ Jul 18th 2007 5:01PM
RE4 - absolutely fantastic.
tim @ Jul 18th 2007 5:03PM
WII SPORTS! WII SPORTS! =P
Jonathan Tran @ Jul 18th 2007 5:13PM
Didn't play RE4Wii so can't say.
I have Zelda and Trauma center, and although Zelda is fun the controls I found are wonky, at least anything with the nunchuck is. The only fun motion controls i used were for fishing, or maybe when you're fighing a boss and have to repeatedly stab it in the eye.
Bow aiming is good but turn rate is too slow.
IMO trauma center has the best in terms of pulling you into the action with waggle
MisterInvisible @ Jul 18th 2007 5:28PM
ExciteTruck!
Chris @ Jul 18th 2007 5:33PM
So it seems like most people who voted didn't really consider what they were voting for... the highest vote for BEST WII CONTROLS SO FAR was Zelda. Don't get me wrong, Zelda was an amazing game, and I think right behind Ocarina, but it DID NOT have the best Wii -specific controls thus far. They were waggle controls...
Trauma Center's controls were far better, because they weren't simply tacked on. Also, I haven't played it, but I heard the controls for Madden were amazing too.
Am I the only one here who thinks those poll results were crazy??
Nushio @ Jul 18th 2007 5:34PM
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi Two. (Try saying that 3 times fast!)
Mr Khan @ Jul 18th 2007 5:42PM
Sonic and the Secret Rings
It may just be tilt, but it was good tilt, an accurate perception of bob-and-weave, and also good acceleration detection
Gordon @ Jul 18th 2007 5:51PM
I wouldve voted for trauma center for best controls but Ive never played it before so I did not, RE4 is awesome and great controls but, theyre nothing to get too excited about I mean the aiming reloading and knife are all great but it doesnt even use the nunchuk. I dont think you can make a perfect Wii controlled game from a port, but games made for Wii from the start like MP3 will show wgat real Wii controls can do. I love RE4 Wii edition dont use it against me im just saying the controls arent perfect.
Alisha Karabinus @ Jul 18th 2007 5:54PM
You know, I considered adding Excite Truck or Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (they used the same sort of tilt/motion controls), but decided to go with just plain ol' "waggle." But I really like the tilt and steer approach those two games took, personally.
Snowden @ Jul 18th 2007 5:56PM
Why can't I vote for SSX Blur?
That game has great controls.
Nica @ Jul 18th 2007 6:17PM
zelda? really? i don't think so. it may be the best game on the list, but that was not the question. i haven't played re4 wii, but i doubt that goes too in depth either. i don't know if any of you have played godfather, but in my opinion that easily takes the cake. sure the game was only alright, but the controls with the wii remote/ nunchuck were amazing. one can easily pull off way more things than any of the other games. the slashing on zelda with the wii remote was just tacked on, aiming was nice, but re4 and godfather both have that. so what else does it have going for it wiimote-wise? shaking the nunchuck? wow. zelda:tp is one of the best games ever, it doesn't mean it needs to win every single contest out there. Godfather easily gets my vote.
outforprophets @ Jul 18th 2007 6:14PM
Man, I'm a Nintendo fanboy like the rest of you guys but there is no way LoZ:TP has the best motion controls. Godfather's controls are just as good and 10 times as immersive (though hand to hand fighting is a little bit like a flail).
Rocketman @ Jul 18th 2007 6:35PM
What, no Tiger Woods? I heard that one was REALLY good.
Rocketman @ Jul 18th 2007 6:37PM
I only own and have played
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
The Godfather: Blackhand Edition
so I can only vote for them. And of them, I voted for Godfather.
I think Zelda is getting the most votes b/c
1 - most people own it
and
2 - it's the FIRST CHOICE on the poll; easiest way to view the (skewed) results.
Is there any actual reason that Zelda is at the top of the poll list instead of the bottom per alphabetical order?
Alan @ Jul 18th 2007 6:49PM
Too many games are using a motion as a substitute for a button press. If the motion does not direct something the way you want it to move, you should be able to turn it off. TMNT would have been fun if I didn't have to do the stupid waggle every single time I swung my sword :(
Alan @ Jul 18th 2007 6:49PM
Oh, and my vote for "best" control would be baseball in Wii sports...most fun would be Elebits.
kraoro @ Jul 18th 2007 7:03PM
I'll have to second DBZ.
shinneri @ Jul 18th 2007 7:15PM
Elebits by far. Those controls are just so wonderful. I'm desperately waiting for Dewy's Adventure to see what else the Elebits team can do.
Alisha Karabinus @ Jul 18th 2007 7:18PM
Uh, Rocketman, per alphabetical order, Zelda still wouldn't be at the bottom (but rather in the middle, under "L"). Trauma Center would be. There was no real order. CHAOS REIGNS!
Carlos @ Jul 18th 2007 7:22PM
ELEBITS, you idiots!!!!
ross @ Jul 18th 2007 7:38PM
who are the dunces voting for cooking mama?!?!?! those controls were awful!
nick @ Jul 18th 2007 7:48PM
just ashame half of those aren't even released in the Uk yet
Matt @ Jul 18th 2007 8:10PM
Well, I've played every game on that list except Cooking Mama...and I heard its controls didn't work that well anyway, so I don't think I'm going to be too bad of a judge.
My vote is split between Godfather and RE4. The reason for this is a disparity between definitions of the word "best".
Best in what sense? Most frequently/constantly used? Or best quality in overall controls? Trauma Center would win most constantly used, but I think there's something to be said when it comes to knowing limitations, as well. RE4 shows great aiming capabilities, and limits its use of motion controls well. Godfather uses motion control more frequently, and also very appropriately, but it doesn't detect 100% perfectly. So somewhere in between these games would be the ideal balance in my opinion.
Don't get me wrong, Zelda and Madden were good games, and so was Trauma Center. But Zelda felt gimmicky in terms of controls, and Madden still needed a little bit of work on some running controls. (like Godfather, needed to be tweaked a bit) Finally Trauma Center had the most reliable controls, but given the simplicity of the game, even 100% isn't necessarily that high a standard.
For those reasons, I'd say RE4 or the Godfather would take the cake.
eelb @ Jul 18th 2007 8:00PM
I haven't played Godfather, so I can't vote for that... from what I've played, Zelda has the best motion-controls. Sure, the sword-swinging was tacked on, but the fishing was fantastic and much more immersive with the motion controls. the roal-goal mini game in Zelda was fun too.
Resident Evil 4 works well with the pointer, but this poll is about the motion controls only. Resident Evil 4's motion controls don't add to the experience at all.
buskovit @ Jul 18th 2007 8:10PM
Wow, Wario Ware not even mentioned. I mean it's not like its entire purpose was to demonstrate the near limitless possibilities of the motion controls.
X_Arre @ Jul 18th 2007 8:18PM
Rollgoal was a bitch
MelodiousYeti @ Jul 18th 2007 10:13PM
I agree with #6. Trauma Center has the best use of the motion sensing controls thus far. Zelda is a great game but most of the motion sensing control simply replaces a button press. Cool at first, but quickly gets old. Where's a good Star Wars game?!?!? Right now that's the only reason I am holding onto my Wii.
JBT @ Jul 18th 2007 11:29PM
The polls are inacurate. It seems that these people voted for the best game, not the best controls. Yes, TP was fantastic for all 4 times i played through it, but i found that TC:SO and RE4 had better controls, even though TP was better (even though i personally enjoyed RE4 better...). In Zelda, aiming was very acurate. I experienced little problems with the remote, but a few with the nunchuk; we ALL did. Trauma center had great and simple controls, like switching tools with the nunchuk, but you mostly just aimed. in RE4, we aimed for true pinpoint accuracy, and we waggled to run and dodge massive boulders. RE4 on the wii was not the most revolutionary experience for me (OoT, anyone?), but it certainly expanded upon what was already one of the best games ever crafted. Even if you didn't like the scheme to move your position while aiming with the nunchuk, when it comes to motion control, RE4 did it greatly.
Note: I still love Zelda, ALOT, hell, probably more than those who voted for it, since i chose RE4 obviously, but i hope the next one will have near perfect controls.
ArturoWii @ Jul 19th 2007 2:52AM
Wario Ware and Wii Sports have the best motion control in videogame history.
Chyld989 @ Jul 18th 2007 11:42PM
RE4, with Twilight Princess a very, VERY close 2nd.
JacKal @ Jul 19th 2007 12:35AM
Call of Duty 3!!!!!! Why will no one give CoD3 the love?! It's a fantastic third party launch title and kicks the crap out of most other games in terms of staying true to it's genre (as an fps it is very high class, way better than red steel and such) and innovative wii only gestures and features! Even my girlfriend can play this game and kick some serious ass, and she can't play most fpses! It's very challenging, has two different aiming modes depending on how you like to play the game as an fps, which more games don't have in terms of flexibility in gesture controls... Where's the love for this game, seriously... it kicks asss
avant @ Jul 19th 2007 4:39AM
korinopa has great control IMHO, sure it's basic marble rolling, but the control is consistent and feels very good, better than Mercury Revolution.
Excite Truck also has great control, really adding to the playability of the game.
Glenn @ Jul 19th 2007 5:31AM
Dragon ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2!!!!!
That game + wii controls is soooo awesome!
Steve @ Jul 19th 2007 9:38AM
I wonder how many people will vote who haven't even played half the games on the list. I include myself in that, and haven't voted, but I found Trauma Center to be a good choice since it can't really be done with a standard controller.
RE4 is another excellent choice. I can't imagine using an analog stick to move an on-screen target anymore, but it under-utilized the controller. You couldn't turn the screen with the wiimote and some items (rifles, binoculars, rocket launcher and others) failed to utilize the wiimote at all. It was like the developers needed to cut a corner so those tools weren't upgraded (Zelda had the same problem with the hawk eye).
monkey_v_Robot @ Jul 19th 2007 11:38AM
As mentioned by many others here, it's weird that Elebits is not on this list as it's by far the best of the 20+ games I've played. WarioWare, while it has some weak points, also has some of the best motion controls in some of the games. The sensitivity and responsiveness in the Star Nose multiplayer game is amazing.
apo @ Jul 19th 2007 12:38PM
whare the hell is smooth moves?
Matisfaction @ Jul 19th 2007 12:29PM
No Kororinpa option?
psyborg @ Jul 19th 2007 2:30PM
The motion controls in RE4 are kinda weak, I can't believe people are voting for it. Its a great game and the IR makes for incredibly confortable and pixel perfect aiming but the swiping knife thing and occasional waggle to push off zombies doesn't merit a vote from me.
Now if the vote included IR then yea definately.
Almack64 @ Jul 19th 2007 10:07PM
I agree with rocketman #15
i think most people are voting zelda not because its the best controls but because that what most have played.
i've played and beat all but re wii and i like others voted godfather. unless re4's controls are amazing godfather should win this poll hands down.
i also would add elebits to the list. and an honorable mention to ssx blur whose controls weren't anything special but "felt right".
scott.bradshaw @ Jul 20th 2007 9:54AM
I have only played 2 on the list as well so didn't vote. (Zelda & Madden) But I would definitely say neither of them have the best motion controls since numerous games not on the list easily out did them including, as many have said, Elebits, Warioware, Wii Sports, & even Wii Play (even though it sucked).
Warioware should really get the prize because of the sheer number of different ways to use the remote and the fact that every one of them works flawlessly.
(01) @ Jul 20th 2007 9:58AM
I agree with the OP...elebits had an amazing control scheme that I hope will be integrated into a game that doesn't...well, suck.
MisterL @ Jul 24th 2007 4:19AM
RE4 for me. It's simple and works (IRL, Merchant, and Ashley in the second costume FTW). It's also the only Wii game I've played besides Super Paper Mario. I think developers shouldn't just focus on waggle for their games. I think it's perfectly fine to have the option to choose between a traditional control scheme vs motion for some games, i.e. Victorious Boxers and like the DS.