A slick alternative to the Wii Wheel

As everyone knows, Mario Kart Wii is just around the corner. Nintendo is planning on packaging its new Wii Wheel peripheral with copies of the game in order to add more stability to the controls. The folks over at Thrustmaster, however, have decided to move ahead of the pack and release a wireless wheel peripheral of their own pre-dating the new Mario Kart's release. Enter the T-Go Kart NW.

I haven't had a chance to test out the Wii Wheel yet, but I have to say not only does The T-Go Kart NW look a helluva lot cooler than Nintendo's wheel, but the design seems much more practical. It contains a sporty rubber grip that virtually eliminates slippage during gameplay. The Wii remote compartment is wisely placed higher on the wheel, which will undoubtedly allow for easier access to the buttons and more natural steering. The Wii remote compartment is open-ended on the left and right sides, allowing you to continue to use the Wii remote as a pointer while it's in the wheel and also easily attach a nunchuck (whose cord can be run through the cable guide on the back).

Before I could issue a final verdict for the T-Go Kart, I naturally had to give it a test run. I chose Excite Truck, a game that definitely could have provided its users with tighter controls. Sure enough, while I was still slipping and sliding plenty, I did feel as if I had slightly more stability over my vehicle with the T-Go Kart. The rubber grip seemed like the biggest contributer to that. Anyone who's ever played Excite Truck with the Wii remote knows that after two or three courses, your hands are sweatier than a D&D fanatic at a Victoria Secret show. The only downside to using the wheel was a little bit of extra weight on my hands.

If you're looking for a stylish, sweat-protected racing wheel for the Wii, the T-Go Kart NW is for you. Plus at just around $9.99, it's dirt cheap.