In the race to completely replace standard AA-batteries from gaming controllers, few have taken the necessary steps to evolve the industry away from costly alkaline as third-party developer Nyko.  Since the launch of Nintendo’s Wii console and its battery-hungry Wii Remotes,  they’ve been at the forefront of getting people to shed those costly AA-batteries and jump into the world of battery packs and comfy grip covers.  The latter part of the year has also seen a rush to introduce induction charging to the mix, a technology which allows battery packs to be charged without direct contact between metals, even through thin materials.  While they may not have been first on the scene, their new Charge Station IC has completely rewritten the rules when it comes to style AND substance.

In case you didn’t already guess, the IC stands for Induction Charger, and that’s exactly what you’ll be getting.  The actual unit sports an evolution in the design and function of their own original Charge Station unit.  Included with the package is the stylish charge base itself, two battery packs/back covers, one A/C adapter with a nice thin cord (thank you), and a small plastic wand to help synch up controllers (see below for details).

Using the unit couldn’t be easier, and given the number of combinations with devices, rubber sleeves, and attachments that’s possible with Nintendo’s Wii Remote, that’s no small feat.  The Charge Station IC is perhaps the first-ever unit of its kind that can handle a fully-loaded controller, one packing Nintendo’s recommended protective rubber sleeve, Wii MotionPlus adapter, and even a Nunchuk attachment if you just can’t stand to break up the family.  The unit is also compatible with the most popular third-party Wii Remote replacement, Nyko’s own Wii Wand controller.  In fact, you can even detach the battery pack/cover from the controller and charge it separately if you like, a nice benefit from using induction technology.

This is possible because of the use of strong magnets that tightly grip the attached Wii Remote (or battery pack) in an upright position, and the induction technology itself.  Simply place the controller in the virtual ‘cradle’ and it will hold firmly, and then press the power-button.  The occupied slot will glow blue until fully charged, which took about four hours, upon which will change to bright green.  Because the actual weight of what’s being charged could change, Nyko saw fit to include three sticky rubber feet on the bottom of the unit to help keep it steady.  The inclusion of the power-button itself is such a nice addition, especially for those who choose to keep their controllers cradled when not in use, but don’t want to waste electricity.

Anyone familiar with Nyko’s previous charging efforts for the Wii – and there have been several – know they require users to replace the standard controller’s back cover with their own ribbed, often multi-colored version.  This is hardly an issue, given the sturdy grips result in a much tighter grip and feel great in your hand.  The Charge Station IC continues this trend, but with a catch – the battery packs have been integrated with the back cover plates, meaning previous versions aren’t compatible.  While you may lose the customized colors of previous chargers (for now), you probably won't mind that much when you realize Nyko designed to keep them always secure and docked to the controller itself...even when synching to the Wii console.

Because synching the controller with the console requires users to manually remove the back cover, Nyko also went one-step further and included a tiny plastic wand that lets you easily pass through the back cover and synch up without removing anything.  It’s yet another example of the company plugging a design loophole in Nintendo’s original design, although it would have been nice if the base unit had a place to house the tiny plastic wand when not in use.

Another great feature is the inclusion of a single USB port, a nice bonus that lets you attach and charge a compatible device alongside standard Wii Remote charging.  The USB port will continue to charge even when the power button is turned off, handy when you need to juice your iPod, phone, or what-have-you and don’t want to flood your space with the greenish glow of fully-charged controllers.

Apart from being the most stylish, Nyko's Charge Station IC is also the most feature-rich and useful charging solution yet for the Wii, and represents a significant improvement over the company’s already-impressive family of charging options for the console.  From the inclusion of an actual power-button to giving users the opportunity to charge a fully-equipped Wii Remote controller (complete with rubber sleeve, Wii MotionPlus, etc.) with induction charging technology, nothing comes close.  There's even the convenience an additional USB charge port if you need it.  This is the best and most well-designed charging unit currently available.