Wii Fanboy hands-on with Penguin 4X Quad Charge Station
Wii Remotes eat batteries. It's a fact we've long granted as simple, stark truth -- but what to do about it? Wii owners have a lot of solutions at hand, from simply sucking it up to elaborate rituals with charge stations, rechargeables, and even voodoo rituals (or so we heard). Got a Balance Board? There's a whole new battery dilemma for you ... and with Wii MotionPlus on the horizon, and its battery-destroying potential, if you don't already have a plan in place for handling the coming battery power crisis, it might be time to consider some options.
Don't worry -- we're here to help. We've explored several solutions in the past, and now we're back with a look at an all new charging apparatus: Penguin United's 4X Quad Charge Station. PU is so proud of being able to charge four remotes at once that they boasted of the ability twice in its name!
Jokes aside, it's a solid option that comes at a price some might consider hefty. But hey! It charges four remotes at once.
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We had the opportunity to test out Penguin United's latest accessory, and overall, it's as impressive as their DS products. The 4X Quad station may boast an extreme name, but it also looks good near the Wii and doesn't take up too much space. Charging four remotes at once is pretty nice, too, especially for those Wii owners who spend a lot of time playing in groups. It gets the job done in four hours, too -- and that's for all four Remotes.
The Charge Station comes with four replacement covers that are fitted with batteries; simply pop the back battery cover off the Wii Remote, remove the regular batteries, and replace with the Penguin packs. An added benefit? They're much lighter, noticeably so, which is perfect for longer sessions, especially with more active games. Keep an eye on any Remote-lobbing friends, though; lighter controllers may be more prone to sailing across the room.
Of course, it's impossible to look at any charger without making a comparison to the Nyko station that's been around for some time. The Nyko station only holds two remotes, and runs a little cheaper than the Penguin United station. It also lacks the Quad Charge Station's electric blue glow -- which for some, may not be a flaw. Personally, we dig the glow, so Penguin wins out for sheer novelty. If it begins to wear on you, you can always unplug it, after all ... unless you need to charge a few Remotes.
At $44.99, the Penguin station seems expensive, but tote up the cost of all the batteries you're pumping into your Wii remote if you're not using some form of rechargeable batteries. While the up-front cost may sting a little, over the long run, if the Penguin station is durable, it's an excellent option ... and not much more than Nyko's station. They're both good choices, however -- it just comes down to what you need (and just how much you like blue).
Wrestling with the battery problem? Check out our hands-on with Nyko's
Wii Fit pack, and compare the Penguin Charge Station to Nyko's two-remote option.
