Frankly, in the past I wasn't too fond of anything from third party manufacturers when it came to things like peripherals; in my mind, these companies producing the consoles know what they are doing, and if they didn't see fit to release it that way in one package, why should I buy it as an extra and superfluous purchase. Of course, then you start running across things that change your mind, and suddenly you have products like Red Beard's Performance Skins for the Wii remote and nunchuk and now my Wii controllers have changed and I can't see myself going back.

Red Beard's Nintendo Wii Nunchuk Performance Skins (Performance Skins from here on) are silicone based slip sleeves that come in a set of two, one for your Wii remote and the other for your nunchuk. The Performance Skins come in five color choices, including: Blue, Camo, Clear, Green, and Pink. Red Beard sent us the Blue version of the Performance Skins, which goes remarkably well with the color scheme of the Wii, as anyone who has the system can tell you about that dazzling blue light that shines every so often. Though not the same blue brightness, the more reserved light baby blue mixes well with the white of the controller, and fits the blue home of the Home button almost to the letter.

Installation is pretty easy once you understand how you're supposed to slip it in, because though I was reluctant to stretch the product and risk tearing it at first, I soon saw the product was made to take the stretch and after stretching the Performance Skin to fit around the peripherals, there was no tears or stretched out sections of the skin, as every inch of the Performance Skin fits snuggly in place, and I didn't really notice any slippage whatsoever during gameplay. The only issue that arises in regards to placing the skin on the remote is actually the taking of it off, as you'll have to roll it up to reveal the battery compartment whenever you need to exchange out batteries; not really a problem to me, just a footnote in this review mostly.

A big thing is of course the ability to give your system a bit of style by colorizing the controllers, and even if that was all this product was for it would still get a great rating. However, beyond style, the Performance Skin also serves up protection as well, making it so your controllers should sustain any scratches at all. Outside of that, there is actual "performance" noted in the Performance Skin name, as the texture and feel of the Performance Skins felt smooth in my hand during play, and I noticed less slippage as well, which can be a problem when the sweat from your hands greases the slick plastic of the remote (I'm bad at Wii Tennis and have actually sent my remote flying from my hand on several occasions). Actually, thinking back, I can't note the newly skinned Performance Skin controller ever once slipping from my hand during play.

There are a few nitpicks about the Performance Skins, mainly being the new feel of the buttons it gives your controllers. The nunchuk is perfect and I have no minor qualms about it, but with the Wii remote, since the extra layer of silicone raises up so it is almost on level with the plus and minus buttons, it can sometimes make it seem like you aren't pressing the buttons hard enough, because you can't really notice the usual give of your finger falling down as you apply pressure to the buttons. As it stands, the directional pad, A-button, and the 1 and 2 feel fine, but there is a bit of oddity on the plus, minus, and trigger on the back, with the only really concerning buttons being the home button and power button, as they are the lowest sunk buttons on the controller, and you really have to press in on the exposed part of the button to press it down. Thankfully though, the power button and home aren't used during gameplay, so it isn't a terrible gripe, and one that doesn't make me like the Performance Skin ultimately less.

Ultimately, if you are looking to make your Wii controller feel like your style, and/or looking to add a bit of support and comfort, then the Nintendo Wii Nunchuk Performance Skins by Red Beard would be a great option for you. Believe me, I was skeptical too at first (always am of new things), but when I look at my regular un-skinned Wii remote set beside my Performance Skin one, yes, the original still has that unified white iPod gleam to it that is still gorgeous, but I've found my hand reaching for the skinned one time and time again since receiving it.

RATING:
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