The Nunchuk is the first controller attachment Nintendo revealed for the Wii Remote at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show. It connects to the Wii Remote via a long cord, and its appearance while attached resembles the nunchaku weapon, hence its name. It also resembles the middle handle of the Nintendo 64 controller. It features a control stick similar to the one found on the Nintendo GameCube controller and two trigger buttons (a last minute modification changed the two triggers to one trigger and a "C" button, as described below). It works in tandem with the main controller in many games. Like the Wii Remote, the Nunchuk also provides an accelerometer for three-axis motion sensing and tilting, but without a speaker, a rumble function, or a pointer function.
Compatibility
When the Nunchuk is connected to a Wii Remote, it provides another controller method for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, officially referred to as "Wii Remote + Nunchuk", sometimes shortened to "Wiichuk". Due to the Wii Remote returning as a compatible controller for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the Nunchuk returned alongside it. However, the Wii Remote was dropped as a compatible controller for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, meaning the Nunchuk also did not return.
In Brawl and For Wii U, the buttons on the Nunchuk can be remapped in the Controls menu to perform other functions.
Standard Controls of Wii Remote and Nunchuk
Move/crouch/tap jump | |
Jump | |
Standard attack | |
Special attack | |
+ | Grab |
Up | Jump |
Side | Grab |
Down | Shield |
Shield | |
Up taunt | |
Down taunt | |
+ | Side taunt |
Pause | |
Nothing |
In competitive play
While generally preferred to the Wii Remote by itself, the Wii Remote and Nunchuk is also an unpopular control scheme in tournaments. This is primarily due to its naturally higher input lag caused by the Nunchuk sending an input to the remote which then sends the input to the console. The wire connecting the remote and the Nunchuk is also often seen as clunky due to being able to get caught on certain items, ruining the concentration of the player and sometimes forcibly removing the controller from their hands.
Gallery
Controllers and buttons | |
---|---|
Nintendo 64 controller | |
GameCube controller | |
Wii Remote (and Nunchuk) | |
Classic Controller | L R |
Nintendo 3DS | |
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller | L R |
Joy-Con | |
Switch Pro Controller | L R |
Third-party controllers | Hori Mini Pad · Arcade controller · Keyboard |
Other | Smash Controller · Controller modification |