Comments on: Wii and Amputee

Question: Wii and Amputee

lil' ears — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:01:41 -0800

Wii and amputee: Can anyone help out with which games are one-hand friendly?

A friend would like to get her husband a Wii. He had his left arm amputated (leaving approx 3 inches of forearm below the elbow) and so the nunchuk could be strapped to the area we affectionately call "Stumpy". Besides the normal Wii sports and most of Rayman Raving Rabbids, which fun games could he play?

By: AaRdVarK

AaRdVarK — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:05:05 -0800

If you look at the game boxes, they have a symbol saying if they require the nuchuck. Any game that doesn't have that symbol should be good.

Of the games I currently have, WarioWare is by far the best one that does not require the nunchuck. Super Monkey Ball is also another great game that ony uses it for a few minigames.

By: jamaro

jamaro — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:14:55 -0800

Not sure I agree if the nnuchuck symbol on the box is a guarantee of one-handed playability: I've been working through Paper Super Mario and it's definitely a two-handed game with the Wii Remote...and some of the button combos could use a third hand.

By: Dipsomaniac

Dipsomaniac — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:16:59 -0800

Actually, you'll find that a lot of controller-only games aren't friendly for one hand. Super Paper Mario, for instance, needs the Remote to be held sideways and really takes two hands to operate. You'd have to check that before buying. I don't know of many besides Wii Sports that are good for one hand, though.

By: cortex

cortex — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:17:57 -0800

Depending on his degree of articulation with Stumpy, Excite Truck can be played with about 1.25 hands—the core of the game is fine-tilt control of the wiimote held lengthwise, with accel and brake buttons thumbed with the right hand. There's some special-move management that involves mashing the dpad on the left side of the lengthwise control that isn't necessary for fun but can be pretty important for higher-level play.

If Stumpy is up to that, it's a gimme—it's easily one of the most fun pick-up-and-play games I've owned in years, and I've played it one handed on a lark now and then with not-miserable results.

By: mileena

mileena — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:25:47 -0800

Tennis, bowling, and golf from Wii sports work without the nunchuck.

And I think most of Wii Play should be fine. The cow racing one has you holding the remote sideways. And the tank game uses the nunchuck for movement.

By: lil' ears

lil' ears — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:43:04 -0800

Thanks for these answers! I should have written more in detail about the sideways remote part, we have Sonic and it would definitely be impossible to do one handed even with the single remote.

Keep the answers coming if there are others that are fun and/or one-handed tested!

By: hindmost

hindmost — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:49:45 -0800

Wario Ware should fit the bill, the mini games require you to hold the controller a special way and move your body

By: robcorr

robcorr — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:50:13 -0800

The Wario game is a bit like Rayman or WiiPlay, in that it's a bunch of mini games involving holding the Wiimote in different ways. Most of them should be one-hand compatible, I think.

By: neustile

neustile — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:50:14 -0800

Seconding Super Monkey Ball. Love that game, and I only play it with one hand (the other hand normally holds a beer, which I know feel strangely guilty about!)

By: idb

idb — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:59:30 -0800

Baseball in Wii sports doesn't need the nunchuck either.

By: Loto

Loto — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 18:41:06 -0800

I -think- Mario Party is in the same boat as Excite Truck. You tilt the controller for most of the driving games, and hit the buttons with the right hand. A lot of the mini games are also of the point and click variety, only using one hand. Finally, at least one mini game involves furiously masturbating with the controller, to simulate shaking up a soda can.

By: lil' ears

lil' ears — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:07:11 -0800

Thanks again everyone! One more question, does anyone have experience with Madden football? Is this Wii-able, and if so, is it one-hand-able?

By: robcorr

robcorr — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:11:26 -0800

Alas, you need the nunchuk for Madden.

I also agree with Cortex that Excite Truck is awesome fun, so I hope it will work for him!

By: rubberkey

rubberkey — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:43:57 -0800

I had one of my hands in a cast for the last three weeks and I found the only wii games I could still play was the wii sports, warioware(?) and super swing golf. Which is my favorite. Most people (with two hands) don't like this game because the storyline is pretty ridiculous. And anime-ey and cute. Hope I helped!

By: frogan

frogan — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:44:35 -0800

I don't think any of the Wii Sports or Wii Play games require the nunchuk.

Also, look for strategy, turn-based games or games that don't require twitch control. I'm thinking of things like the Sims, Cooking Mama, Elebits, etc.

By: Jakey

Jakey — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:08:51 -0800

Tiger Woods can be played pretty easily with one hand. (I play like this by preference).