The WiiKey 2 is possibly the most advanced Modchip for the Nintendo Wii. Wii modchips allow you to play out-of-region games, and games you’ve backed up to help protect your collection (before using the WiiKey, my first Twilight Princess game had gotten beat up and scratched so that it was unplayable). You can play DVD copies of your games, allowing you to keep the originals in good condition.
Installation of the WiiKey 2 is supposed to be a breeze. For me, it was. The problem, though, is that Nintendo has changed the layout of the circuits inside the Wii, making it more difficult to modify. The WiiKey claims compatibility with DMS, D2A, D2B, D2C, D2C02, and D2E chipsets – each of these letter combinations have something to do with the circuit layout inside your Wii. The only way to find out which type you have is to find your Wii’s serial number, and look it up online, and most of these websites are maintained by lists contributed by volunteers. If you get the WiiKey 2, though, you will most likely not have to worry, though, because it is compatible with most of the types. Generally, the older your Wii the easier the installation.
One important consideration is your skill with soldering. This is why I got the Wii-Clip v14 bundled and already soldered to my WiiKey. In order to make it stay attached to the right place, though, you will need to use a lot of electrical tape to hold it down, even though it is supposed to clip in snuggly – there isn’t much space inside the Wii for something like this to fit. I ordered my WiiKey 2 through modchipcentral.com, listed as an official distributor on the WiiKey homepage. I also got it with the solderless additional part, already soldered to the WiiKey. I have a Wii from their first release sets, so I had a very simple installation – simply snapping the part into place after opening my Wii, and using electrical tape to ensure that it didn’t accidentally come off.
So far, the WiiKey 2 has worked well. I made a copy of Twilight Princess onto a DVD-RW, which works perfectly with no noticeable difference in gameplay. My Wii did, however, seem a little louder after installing the drive chip, but I believe it should not be a problem. So far, over 72 hours later, it still works wonderfully. I’ve been able to play a game that I got from Japan without a problem, and things are smooth.
Overall, the WiiKey 2 is a great option to protect your games for life. And always be sure to order from a reputable company, listed as an official distributor.
