Nintendo has been somewhat of a double-edged Master Sword in the realm of gaming. On the one hand, they've been responsible for some of the most memorable, masterful games since they burst onto the scene in the mid-80s. They've also pushed boundaries on both the software and hardware fronts and have pioneered an endless array of gaming innovations. These range from Mario-based platformers and "Metroidvania" genres on the software front, to controller vibration, 3D motion, and even the d-pad on the hardware side.

At the same time, they've churned out a similar number of gaming blunders, peripheral oddities, and impractical devices. Nintendo is nothing if not innovative, but they've had a habit of letting their imaginations run a bit too wild for their own good at times. As a result, they've gone on to create some strange gadgetry that feels unique for the sake of being unique, rather than focusing on practicality and functionality with the games themselves.

Still, the Big N has certainly hit the mark with many of their accessories. Some have augmented the experience of various games, providing a fresh and exciting new way to play. Many of them have even been integrated into modern gaming controllers and created a new industry standard borrowed by their competitors.

Regardless, Nintendo has had a tendency to crank out a plethora of new devices that seem rife with potential, only to drop the idea shortly thereafter, moving on to the next thing. With these practices, and the array of gadgets that have manifested over the years as a result, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. In this article, we will seek to cover the best of the best, and the weirdest of the weird from the Big N.

30 Weird: Wii Vitality Sensor

Back at E3 2009, Nintendo shocked the gaming world by announcing a truly odd peripheral that appeared to belong in a hospital rather than a gaming space. Dubbed the Wii Vitality Sensor, this gadget was supposed to measure your heart rate from your index finger.

The company never even fully explained how this device would work, let alone reveal any games that would use it.

Though, it was speculated that the item could be used as a relaxation tool to slow your heart rate during certain games, or that your pulse could affect the gameplay of certain titles themselves. I suppose we'll never know, as the device was canceled in 2013.

29 Weird: R.O.B. The Robot

When Nintendo was attempting to break into the Western gaming market, the US, in particular, tended to look down upon video games, mostly as a result of the gaming crash of 1983. The Big N's solution? Give their NES console a toy-like image for launch.

And so, R.O.B. the Robot was crafted; an odd assembly of mechanically controlled bits of plastic...

R.O.B. proved to be a bit of a headache to set-up and less than ideal play with, as it moved painfully slow with only two compatible games, Gyromite and Stack-Up. Still, it made for a neat piece of flair for the NES and turned into a sort of quirky, but nonetheless iconic gaming mascot.

28 Awesome: NES Advantage

Part of the issue with peripherals, whether from Nintendo or any one else, is that they don't always age very well. This epic arcade attachment has sort of seen the benefit of old-school arcades coming full circle and being viewed as "cool" again, much like they were in their prime during the '80s.

I probably wouldn't try to fumble around with this beast for most NES games, but it does make a pretty solid device with certain fighting games, and retro platformers like Donkey Kong.

27 Weird: Game Boy Camera/Printer

It's odd to think of such an archaic handheld gaming device, which couldn't even display colors, as the hub for a camera and printer, but yes, the Game Boy did have these peripherals. Like most of Nintendo's accessory endeavors, this didn't really go anywhere and came with limited support.

Still, it was mildly amusing to snap and print photos of yourself on the go, in an age where mobile phones weren't in the picture. It even came with a few goofy mini games like DJ, Space Fever 2, and the Game & Watch-esque title, Ball.

26 Weird: Donkey Konga Bongos

I actually have some fond memories drumming the night away with these plastic bongo controllers. After all, they did provide a ridiculously fun music gaming experience with Donkey Konga for GameCube. It was like a simplified version of Guitar Hero with a touch of DDR. But in hindsight, these things were pretty goofy.

I can remember feeling pretty silly as an 18 year old banging away at these and clapping my hands like a little kid on a sugar high.

These drums also made your hands hurt after prolonged use, with all the harsh clapping you often had to engage in to make sure the microphone picked up the sounds.

25 Awesome: NES Zapper

Ok, this device hasn't held up all that well - as it's been known to break after prolonged use, and requires the now outdated CRT screen for it to recognize on-screen targets. Still, the Zapper remains an iconic NES gadget and one of the more memorable gaming accessories.

Blasting on-screen ducks with this flashy plastic gun was super satisfying, and still hasn't quite been matched when it comes to gaming peripheral weaponry.

24 Weird: Virtual Boy

Here we have an example of a peripheral that sounds cool on paper, but in execution it was just odd, and produced a poor, cumbersome experience in about every sense of the word. You had to awkwardly hunch over a table and gaze into a large pair of plastic goggles atop a small stand.

The goggles displayed crude Game Boy-like graphics of reds and grays.

This system used a basic version of projected 3D graphics that made your eyes strain and actually gave some kids headaches upon using it.

23 Weird: Nintendo Switch Neck Stand

I actually invested in a tablet holder that would latch to my headboard and hold my Switch while I could use the Joy-Cons hands free. I felt a bit ridiculous using that. This monstrosity? I just can't imagine being seen in public with it. Apparently in Japan at least, someone thought it would be a terrific idea to wear a giant piece of tubing around your neck to prop up your console so you can play with the controller separately. This is a level of gaming comfort dedication that even I can't relate to.

22 Awesome: GameCube Controller Adapter For Wii U/Switch

Some of the most effective and useful peripherals tend to be the most simplistic. This Wii U adapter allows you to use your old dusty GameCube controllers for newer games by simply plugging it into the console's USB port. Then you're set to play your modern titles with glorious retro Cube controls.

This particularly proves ideal for Super Smash Bros. U, which is the superior method of control for the game.

Not only can this gadget be snagged on the cheap, but it also has functionality with the Switch. This will also prove useful for the latest, greatest Smash Bros. iteration, Ultimate.

21 Weird: NES Power Pad

I suppose you can look at this odd control method as the very crude and quirky Granddad of the Wii Fit balance board and the DDR Dance Pad. To push the buttons on this floor mat, you had to awkwardly hop around, exchanging glances between your TV and the floor so you knew where you were hopping. The most notable game to support this controller was World Class Track Meet, which had you burning calories in proto-Wii Fit style by dashing in Olympic competitions.

20 Weird: uDraw Tablet

Despite the deceptive name, this forgotten gadget isn't a Wii U accessory, but rather, a peripheral for Wii which came with a Mario Paint-like drawing game called uDraw Studio. This is an odd creation considering the Wii Remote can already sort of act as a means to draw on screen.

Could we be looking at the origin of the "Wii U" name, which came a couple years after this device?

Still, it worked decently enough for the few games that used it. Unfortunately, they were mostly forgettable titles like SpongeBob Squigglepants and Dood's Big Adventure, but uDraw Pictionary was at least mildly amusing.

19 Awesome: Rumble Pak

When it comes to iconic gaming peripherals, the N64's oddly spelled "Rumble Pak" reigns supreme. It began as an addition fastened to the back loader of your N64 controller to add more immersive vibration to your games. Eventually, it became a built-in standard for modern controllers.

These days, the art of rumble has been fined tuned and expanded upon with PS4, Xbox One, and especially with the Switch's "HD Rumble". But in the '90s, it was an exciting and fresh new concept to "feel" any aspect of the action that took place in the gaming realm.

18 Weird: Super Nintendo Super Scope

Ditching the laser-like design of the Zapper, Nintendo decided to go in an even wackier and more cartoony direction for the Super Nintendo iteration of the light gun. Enter the Super Scope - a gigantic bazooka-like monstrosity that made it feel as if you were ready to launch an assault on real enemy aircraft.

Unlike the Zapper, you needed to squint through an eyepiece to aim in compatible games.

This never quite took off like the Zapper did, which isn't surprising given its massive, cumbersome design. It also didn't help that only a handful of games utilized it, like Battle Clash and Yoshi's Safari.

17 Weird: Nintendo E-Reader

This could be described as something of an Amiibo prototype; just replace the cool figurines with bland cards and swap out seamless touch recognition for credit card-like swiping, and voilà! This clunky beast of an e-reader loads into the cartridge slot of the GBA to read collectable game cards.

At least you didn't have to blow on these cards to get them to play.

These readers would translate into a number of features or in-game items used in titles like Animal Crossing and Super Mario Advance 4. There were also a few NES games on the cards which could be swiped to load up titles like Donkey Kong and Excite Bike.

16 Awesome: Wii Fit Balance Board

This quirky concept has garnered split reactions in the gaming community. Many core gamers cried foul, poking fun at this glorified balance board and claiming it was watering gaming down for kids and a more casual audience. But for my money, this device changed the game; in a good way.

This thing wasn't just a balance board, but a virtual skateboard and snowboard too!

Much like the Wii Remote, I truly felt like I was experiencing revolutionary gaming when stepping on this souped-up scale. It cleverly implemented fitness in a fun and exciting way.

15 Weird: Wii Sports 8-In-One Accessories

I get that the Wii Remote can simulate many of the sports equipment shown in this photo, but does that really mean we need fake plastic versions of all of these items? Doesn't that sort of just make things less imaginative, more cumbersome, and more ridiculous? Not to mention, it adds unneeded clutter to your basement.

Well, apparently, CTA Digital felt it was necessary to carve out plastic shells of just about every sport you could simulate with your Wii Remote. This includes Tennis, Frisbee, and even Ping Pong!

14 Weird: Nintendo Switch Labo

Nintendo never ceases to amaze me when it comes to their gaming innovations; some of them prove to be revolutionary technological marvels. Others are just impractical and or/awkward head-scratchers. In the case of Labo, you can't even use the word "technological" to describe it.

It's just an assortment of cardboard cutouts that look like they were crafted for an elementary school art project.

They take on different forms, from a piano to a fishing rod, which are meant to simulate the gameplay of software that come with the different kits. Not only can these be destroyed easily, but they come off as quite cheap.

13 Awesome: Super Game Boy

Quirky gimmicks and slick designs aside, there's something to be said for practicality in peripherals. The Super Game Boy is a prime example of this in action. It's a nifty add-on for the Super NES that allowed Game Boy users to experience their favorite games on the big screen of their colorful, backlit TV sets. This was preferable to squinting on a tiny black and white (or technically grey and green) screen while searching for the perfect lighting to see what you were doing.

12 Weird: 64DD

Nintendo must have caught a bit of the Sega bug in the latter years of the N64's life, with their focus on hardware expansion. The 64DD was meant to beef up the visuals of various N64 titles. It would also house more memory for game data, and emphasize an in-game clock that would alter experiences in games depending on the time.

It's not surprising that this thing flopped. It was ugly and bulky, costed nearly a hundred bucks, and used yet another variant of cartridges in an age where CDs were on the rise.

11 Weird: Power Glove

It's recently come to my attention that Mattel had rushed this device out in 1989. Frankly, I'm not surprised considering how awkward and semi-functional this glove-meets-controller is.

We love the Power Glove, but it's so bad...

The idea of controlling games with simple hand movements might seem cool in theory, but at least 30 years ago, it was far less cool and exciting in execution. Although a number of games are technically "compatible", only 2 games were designed specifically for this thing, Super Glove Ball and Bad Street Brawler.