Imagine this scenario: you’ve just treated yourself to a brand-new gaming console, and your first instinct is to explore a myriad of unusual accessories that could potentially elevate your gaming experience.
The Quirky Landscape of Gaming Accessories
The fascinating realm of unique video game accessories, peripherals, and controllers has been around since the 1980s. However, it seems to be dwindling in popularity as manufacturers increasingly lean toward practical and standardized designs.
Despite this trend, some companies still indulge in the creation of bizarre peripherals. In the spirit of celebrating these oddities, I’ve curated a list of the most eccentric gaming accessories that have not only sparked curiosity but also showcased a glimpse of creativity. Each entry represents a different console, focusing on the quirkiest option available.
10. Dragon Quest Slime Controller
A Sticky Slope
At first glance, a controller tailored for multiple consoles seems standard. However, the Dragon Quest Slime Controller stands out with its unconventional shape, making gameplay quite awkward. Users must hold the squishy, silicone slime upside down, manipulating buttons located on the base, which proves to be uncomfortable.
While ultimately a fully functional controller, it garners points for its whimsical design rooted in a beloved video game character, reminding us that even major companies like Square Enix can appreciate the value of unconventional hardware.
9. Power Glove
Slightly Terrible
Image from Wikipedia.The Power Glove is a nostalgic piece that many might love ironically. Instead of criticizing its poor controls and limited software, let’s acknowledge this device as a precursor to Nintendo’s later innovations.
Though the glove is cumbersome, it was an ambitious effort that bridged traditional control schemes with motion controls. Its spirit continued through devices like the Wii Remote and Joy-Cons, highlighting an intriguing yet underdeveloped concept of gaming at that time.
8. Gamebike
Limited Mobility
The Gamebike, designed as an exercise bike that connects to video games to encourage fitness, is a puzzling product.It requires wired connections and only places controls between the handlebars, which is a significant drawback given its price and size compared to standard exercise bikes.
In contrast, alternatives like Wii Fit offer a more engaging experience due to their compatibility with various games and unique functionalities, making the Gamebike feel like an unnecessarily complicated solution.
7. Booster Boy
Clunky and Unsightly
The Booster Boy sought to address the inherent shortcomings of the original Game Boy, but its bulky design rendered it largely impractical.This accessory encases the Game Boy in a cumbersome plastic housing, enlarging all buttons and converting the D-pad into an awkward analog stick.
While it epitomizes the over-the-top attitude of 90s gaming culture, this accessory merely adds bulk without enhancing functionality, albeit with a certain nostalgic charm.
6. Wii Speak
Game and Shout
Image taken from Wikipedia.Nintendo’s attempts at online voice chat have always been peculiar, especially with the Wii Speak—a physical accessory that struggled to provide quality audio at best. With limited compatibility across only 13 games and reliance on loud yells to be heard, using it could be quite chaotic.
This quirky device reflects Nintendo’s ongoing struggle with communication technology, which saw only marginal improvement in later hardware, leaving players yearning for a simple headset option.
5. Nintendo Labo
Cardboard Machinations
Image from Nintendo.Nintendo Labo aimed to introduce a hands-on, creative gaming experience through cardboard constructions, ultimately falling flat among its intended audience.Many found the initial variety kit’s short gameplay experience and quick assembly disappointing, despite promising interactive tutorials and potential for imaginative play.
The concept was innovative, and the VR set showcased compatibility with other games, but with the project’s discontinuation, it’s a missed opportunity for further development of unique gaming experiences.
4. Game Gear TV Tuner
Pathetic Signal
Image from Sega Retro.For those who ever dreamed of watching television on a portable, low-resolution screen, the Game Gear TV Tuner came into existence, despite its glaring inadequacies. Displaying content at a meager 140p and significantly draining battery life, this quirky accessory made for an underwhelming experience.
Even though it’s a curious concept to utilize a handheld gaming system for TV viewing, the practical shortcomings rendered it virtually obsolete and difficult to use today.
3. Xbox 360 Kinect
Let’s Get Moving
In an attempt to replicate Nintendo’s success with motion controls, Microsoft introduced the Kinect. Yet, they fell short of delivering a seamless experience.The Kinect required users to stand and move around a large space, making it far less convenient compared to the simpler, more effective motion detection of Wii Remotes.
Navigation through its interface was notoriously cumbersome, with frequent misreads of player actions. While motion gaming gained traction through advancements in VR technology, the Kinect has since been relegated to history as an awkward and incomplete piece of equipment.
2. Onimusha 3 Demon Siege Katana Controller
You Are Already Dead
Image from NcsxShop on Ebay.With the title boasting the longest name in gaming history, the Onimusha 3 Demon Siege Katana Controller is as impractical as it is entertaining.This unusual controller places all buttons along the length of a katana, making gameplay decidedly awkward.
As curious as it is impractical, it seamlessly houses all necessary controls. Entirely unique, its rarity has made it sought after by collectors, often fetching upwards of $1000.
1. DK Bongos
You Know It Well
Image from The Video Game Company.The DK Bongos are a Gamecube controller cleverly disguised in bongo form, intended primarily for Donkey Kong Jungle Beat but somehow compatible with several other games. With two buttons on each bongo and a clap input function, it became a whimsical and effective alternative control scheme.
This design allows players to explore unconventional gameplay, making it amusingly possible to attempt a rhythm-based playthrough of other titles while engaging in a physical, interactive manner.
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