Hooked Up - Thrustmaster T-Freestyle NW
What is it?
Thrustmaster’s T-Freestyle NW is an add-on to your Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board that provides a realistic snowboard/skateboard feel. It easily attaches to the top of any Wii Fit Board and is held in place by locking clamps.
Impressions
I received my first look at the Thrustmaster T-Freestyle NW on the 2010 CES show floor and was very impressed with it in the brief amount of time I had with it. Once I was able to get one to review, I came to respect what exactly this board accessory can provide to gamers. I haven’t had too much experience with “board” games on the Wii (namely games that emulate a skateboard or snowboard) but when I had, I found the Wii Fit Balance Board (and the bundled board controllers) to be an adequate way to play at best. While they provide some aspects of what you expect when riding a board, they simply aren’t shaped or balanced properly or designed to give that ultimate control that boarders expect.
Enter the T-Freestyle NW, which instantly felt like I was using a real board once I strapped it onto my Wii Fit Balance Board. This isn’t by accident, as the T-Freestyle is made of maple, the same wood that goes into many real boards. Hooking it up was actually quite easy, as the T-Freestyle NW uses two clamps to lock the board to the bottom of the Wii Fit Balance Board. Not only does this lock it securely to the balance board, but it also allows a certain amount of “play” or flexibility, that helps create a more realistic boarding experience.
During my testing, I was very impressed with the board and how well it responded to my movements. About the only bad thing that I found is that the paint job maybe could have had some sort of add in to give it a bit more grip, as playing is socks or when the board had moisture (i.e. sweat) seemed to make it a bit slicker than it should have. I also had a couple of dings get in the board from my kids, which probably wouldn’t happen under normal use, but it isn’t surprising as maple plywood used in the construction isn’t that hard, and it also gives it character. Other than that, the board performed flawlessly and for the price, is a steal for something that will work with any game that emulates a board.
Gaming Impact
Just to provide full disclosure, I suck at games that require balance and use of the Wii Fit Board as a snow or skateboard. As a kid, I had a skateboard and used it a lot, but rarely was on it for more than 10 or so seconds before I lost my balance. Having said that, I truly believe the Thrustmaster T-Freestyle NW allowed me to be a better gamer after I installed it. I felt like my control was much better than the big surface area that the Wii Fit board provides and I was able to actually use my toes and heels to help control the board like you would normally. As a result, games I had played previously with just the Wii Fir Board, I scored an average of 25-30% higher when using the T-Freestyle.
-Provides an experience akin to a real snowboard/skateboard
-Provides great control in game
-Made with maple plywood and flexes like real board
-Simple design and easy hook up
Cons
-Could use a bit more grip on the board surface
-Can get “dings” easily in the surface
The Thrustmaster T-Freestyle NW is probably the best “board” accessory that I have come across yet for gamers. It provides a natural feel and realistic response when using it in any Wii game that emulate snowboard or skateboard play. For those that crave the best control possible while playing board games on the Wii, this is a must buy.
Where to Find/Buy
The Thrustmaster T-Freestyle NW can be found at the official website or purchased online at many retailers for an approximate price of $21.99 - $29.99.
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* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.
About Author
Like many gamers in their 40's, I developed my love of gaming from my Commodore 64 after we wore out our Intellivision. I spent countless hours wandering around the streets of Skara Brae, as my life was immersed in The Bard's Tale series on the C-64, D&D Titles and any/all Epyx titles (California Summer and Winter Games) and sports titles. After taking the early 90's off from gaming (college years) minus the occasional Bill Walsh College Football on Sega, I was re-introduced to PC games in the mid 1990's with a couple of little games called DOOM II and Diablo. I went all-in with the last generation of consoles, getting an Xbox 360 on launch weekend as well as adding a PS3 and Wii in subsequent years. I now am into the current-generation (latest?) of consoles with the WiiU and Xbox One. Recently, I was able to get back into PC gaming and have enjoyed it very much, spending most of my time going solo or playing with my fellow GamingNexus staffers in controlled multiplayer action.
While my byline is on many reviews, articles and countless news stories, I have a passion for and spent the last several years at GamingNexus focusing on audio & video and accessories as they relate to gaming. Having over 20 years of Home Theater consulting and sales under my belt, it is quite enjoyable to spend some of my time viewing gaming through the A/V perspective. While I haven't yet made it to one of the major gaming conventions (PAX or E3), I have represented GamingNexus at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in nine of the last ten years.
Personally, I have been a staff member at GamingNexus since 2006 and am in my third tour of duty after taking off the last year and a half.
