Crossbows, maracas, and light sabers are just some of the many ways to enhance your Nintendo Wii gaming experience.

by Jennifer L. DeLeo

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When the Nintendo Wii first arrived on the gaming scene, many gamers weren’t sure what to make of it. It didn’t have the gorgeous graphics and high-definition viewing experience of the Xbox 360 or Sony PlayStation 3, and it wasn’t exactly geared toward hard-core gamers. In fact, the Wii attracted just the opposite: families and non-gamers.

		SLIDESHOW (10)
		Slideshow | All Shots

More than two years later, the Wii continues to be a hit. Nintendo sold 10.17 million Wii consoles in 2008 alone, a total of 55 percent of all home console sales, according to NPD data. Even the Wii accessory category has grown, with game enthusiasts stocking up on different Wii controller add-ons to enhance game play. As of January 31, 2009, traffic to the Wii Consoles and Accessories page on PriceGrabber.com increased 19 percent year over year. Specifically, the Nintendo Wii Zapper, which you’ll read about here, is one of the most-searched for Wii controllers on PriceGrabber.com.

So if you’ve got a Wii (or you’re thinking about getting one) and want to know all about the different varieties of Wii controllers that are available, we’ve got you covered. Here we break down the 10 coolest from light sabers and maracas to pom-poms and surgical kits.

Here are some of the products featured in today’s The 10 Coolest Wii Controllers slideshow:

Thrustmaster Glow Sabre Duo Pack NW
Star Wars fans probably already own a light saber, but chances are you don’t have the Glow Sabre Duo Pack NW from Thrustmaster. These blue and red high-tech glow sabres feature a 17 LED-lighting system and work with laser battle games. Get a pack of two sabres for $24.99 on Amazon.com.

CTA Digital Maracas for Wii
Grab your dancing partner and get in the groove with the Maracas for Wii. (No joke!) They contain small plastic pellets for making rattling sounds during game play. Each maraca has an opening to insert the nunchuck and Wiimote for use with the Samba De Amigo game and other maraca-based rhythm Wii games. Available at Amazon.com for $12.99.

Now check out the rest of our The 10 Coolest Wii Controllers slideshow, including the Gene Simmons AXE Game Controller for Wii, CTA Digital Crossbow for Wii, Nintendo Wii Zapper, CTA Digital Trauma Center Surgical Kit, DreamGear Wii Play Poms, CTA Digital Sure Shot Rifle for Wii, ezGear Wii Boxing Gloves, and CTA Digital Airplane Controller Stand.

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