When looking at wireless controllers, especially for the GameCube, the one that always comes to mind is the
Wavebird, and with due reason since it is one of the best wireless controllers for any system. Since I have been using my Wavebird since day one, I was also inclined to compare it to the
Wireless G3. Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected the
Wireless G3 to actually be better than Nintendo's controller.
Before you start with the 'what the hell do you know noob?!' love letters, read the rest of the review. First of all, the controller just feels better in your hands. While the Wavebird has a leg up on the G3 when it comes to the mold of the battery casing, the G3 has a good weight to it that the Wavebird lacks. One of the issues I've always had with most of Nintendo's 1st party controllers was that they lack a solid feel. The G3 feels sturdier and never makes you feel like you could snap it in two.
The button layout response is lifted directly off of the typical controller. In fact, the Wireless G3 plays exactly like its wired cousin, only without the inconsistencies of the previous version's D-pad. One of the features missing from the Wavebird is the rumble feature, which Pelican included. If you ask Nintendo, they'll tell you that rumble was left out in order to conserve battery life - something that makes a lot of sense. However, after seeing Pelican's solution, you have to wonder if the big N had their thinking caps on. Instead of just featuring an 'on' and 'off' switch, the G3 has an 'on' feature with 'Rumble On' and 'Rumble Off'. It may not be the biggest issue, but it's nice to see they went the extra step. Just keep in mind that using the rumble feature will drain your batteries a little quicker.
The G3 also features the added convenience of having the frequencies pre-selected to switches instead of having to manipulate the dials on both the controller and receiver to get the right frequency.
