After the success I found with PDP’s Afterglow Wii remote, I decided it was time to pick up their version of the Nintendo Wii nunchuck. Affectionately termed the Afterglow Lightchuck, it promised stylish, reliable gaming right out of the box. While I was impressed by the red light display, I wasn’t quite as wowed by the Lightchuck’s retractable cord. For some it might be considered convenient, but for me it came across as awkward and being different just to be different. That aside, it was time to dive into a random selection of games and test it.
Metal Slug Anthology
We’re starting off in retro style. Considered by many to be the most faithful, enjoyable version of the popular Metal Slug arcade series, it seemed like the perfect place to start our tests. I teamed up with my younger sister, Aleshia, and hit Metal Slug 3 with all we had. As usual, I armed Aleshia with Nintendo gear while I used the Lightchuck. In a matter of minutes we were storming the enemy’s perimeter, rescuing POWs and taking on our first boss. Later forays into Metal Slug X and Metal Slug 6 proved equally successful. No matter which of the game’s numerous control schemes I used — traditional or motion-controlled — I had no trouble.
Godzilla Unleashed
It was time to get competitive! I gathered my younger siblings and challenged them to a battle royal in Godzilla Unleashed. Once I’d practiced for a few matches with Rodan, I felt confident that the Lightchuck and I could handle the coming battle. It proved to be very responsive when jumping or guiding Rodan through flight. It was time for the real thing. Entering the match as Kiryu, I would have to dispatch Mothra, Jet Jaguar, and Megalon. While Megalon and Jet Jaguar, played by my younger half-siblings Rodarious and Alexis, were easy to bring down, Mothra would not fall so easily. Aleshia and I demolished all of Osaka before only one monster stood over the rubble. Kiryu and the Lightchuck had won the day. I must admit that jumping, controlled by a swing of the nunchuck, was not nearly as dependable as I was used to.
PDP’s Afterglow Lightchuck was about to be put to the test with Capcom’s samurai hack & slash title. Aleshia and I raced onto the battlefield. Wielding six swords at once as Masamune Date; I had no trouble cutting a path through the enemy lines — then again; Aleshia and Saika were certainly doing their part. It was at this point that I encountered my first serious complaint. The Lightchuck seemed to have a stiffness to its analog controls that made it difficult to evade, or generally move as fluidly as a Nintendo nunchuck. Despite this, our enemies littered the battlefield and their leader soon joined them.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Before I could seriously test out the Lightchuck with this game, I encountered a problem. Marvel Ultimate Alliance‘s camera system is controlled by the orientation of the nunchuck. The tilt sensors in the Lightchuck seemed to suffer from spotty detection. The camera angle was twitchy and annoying; often it simply wouldn’t obey the whims of Spiderman, Deadpool, Storm and Moon Knight. It wasn’t long before this issue caused the team to disband and the next game in the testing rotation to be popped in.
Sonic Colors
While the Afterglow Lightchuck had disappointed me with its performance in Marvel Ultimate Alliance, I had high hopes that it would redeem itself with Sonic Colors. Tackling Sega’s best Sonic game since Sonic Adventure 2: Battle for the Nintendo GameCube was a treat, even with the Lightchuck. It took only a few seconds of trial and error before I was blasting through stages in the glow of the Lightchuck. While the accessory itself didn’t lend much to my success, it didn’t detract from it either. The experience was solid and the result satisfying.
PDP’s Afterglow nunchuck certainly didn’t outdo Nintendo’s offering. Its results were a little more mixed than I would have liked, but I didn’t regret my purchase like I did the Afterglow PS3 controller. It was nice to be able to turn the LED effect on or off, and I’m sure there are plenty that like the retractable cord. The Lightchuck might not outright replace the original, but it is a worthwhile purchase for any in the market for extra controllers.
