Those who own a Nintendo Wii will know that purchasing accessories for it doesn't come cheap. Buying the controller itself, a MotionPlus attachment, as well as AA batteries every so often can leave you splashing out cash constantly. With this in mind, Snakebyte have come up with a device that takes into consideration these issues and the result is the all-new Premium Remote XL+. Granted that it can be named a little better however it's all part of a tradition that Snakebyte have been continuing with all of their products.

This controller does absolutely everything that one could ask for, all for a very cheap price. When you consider the cost of an official Wii controller, an official MotionPlus attachment and a large pack of AA batteries, you will soon realise that paying a one-off fee of just under 50 euros is an ideal solution to your problems.

If you play the Nintendo Wii very often, there is no doubt that investing in a pair of Snakebyte Premium Remote XL+ controllers is a must. Due to the fact that the controller has a built in MotionPlus sensor and rechargeable batteries (which can be refuelled with a provided USB cable), you no longer have to depend on any more AA batteries.

Many companies also require you to purchase charging docks to refuel their own controllers. However with the Premium XL+, you are given a USB cable that does the job. Other manufacturers also try to con consumers into purchasing a separate set of rechargeable batteries. Snakebyte is known for providing their customers with all bare essentials and fortunately, the Premium XL+ also comes with a set of rechargeable AA cells.

The remote itself looks very stylish. The weight of the controller feels slightly heavier when compared to other models (including third-party ones) however this is due to the integrated MotionPlus. If anything, the weight of this controller is just about right. Very light controllers tend to break too easily and heavy remotes are uncomfortable to hold.

The buttons are very well laid out. The groupings are exactly the same. Therefore, you will find the power button at the top, followed by the D-Pad, then the A button etc. The only major difference is the location of the synchronisation button. On the standard Wii remotes, the button can be found once you lift the battery cover. However this button is located on the top right of the Premium XL+. At first, I thought that gamers might end up pressing it by accident however this won't be the case. It's a button that requires a little bit more effort in order to press. Due to that, it's much better to have the sync button on the actual remote instead of having to constantly open up the battery cover in order to connect the controller to a new Wii console.

The integrated speaker for the controller sounds very much like the official Wii remote. There's no jitter in the sound and it's very clear. The B trigger button is also very durable and won't be breaking even if you press it continually and forcefully.

Snakebyte are also known for providing a little gift with their products. In the past, we have reviewed their PS3 controllers which have come with trigger caps for the official PS3 controllers. With the Premium XL+, Snakebyte provides you with two sets of wrist straps. They adjust perfectly well even for the largest of wrists and the strings are durable. Chances are you won't be needing the second strap however it's there for peace of mind.

The main attraction of this controller is the integrated Wii MotionPlus. It's understandable for gamers to be wary of purchasing a third-party controller that supports this. After all, everyone prefers the official products since they are more likely to work perfectly. However, the Premium XL+ works brilliantly and the MotionPlus works in exactly the same way. The movement recognition is perfect and one wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the Premium XL+ MotionPlus and the official one. Having it integrated within the controller just seems to be a lot more convenient than an accessory being attached to the bottom of a controller. Due to this, the Snakebyte Premium XL+ is a lot more convenient than the official Nintendo Wii remote.

The MotionPlus was mainly tested on EA Sport's Grand Slam Tennis. The Premium XL+ allowed us to precisely perform all sorts of spin-based shots without any effort. It's clear that without the MotionPlus, the game would only allow you to play straight shots with the controller. However, with the MotionPlus within the Premium XL+, gamers would now be able to perform all sorts shots that require precise wrist movement. The Premium XL+ was also tested with the infamous Wii Sports Resort. The controller behaves in exactly the same way as the official Nintendo remote does with the MotionPlus attached to it. There is no time delay whatsoever and the movements are recorded precisely.

In conclusion, Snakebyte's latest product; the Premium Remote XL+, is a product that all Wii owners should be looking to purchase provided that they are often playing games that require MotionPlus. The rechargeable batteries provided last for a very long time and you aren't required to buy anything else to make this work. Setting up the controller is simple and for 49.99 (Euros), this will certainly prove to be a worthwhile investment in the long term.

ConsoleGaming Rating:

Build Quality: 9.0
Responsiveness: 10
Value For Money: 9.5
Comfort: 8.0

Overall: 9.1