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Post by MIK on Nov 7, 2016 12:43:29 GMT
As the years pass I have become lazy when it comes to getting the wheel out, and it's been a long time since I tired Need 4 Speed with it. That said you may find Need 4 Speed is a-ok with the wheel if my memory serves. If there was one game I would put my money on the wheel being better, that would be Sega Rally. You have to work for it though because you know the game is awesome with a pad! Desert should be easy enough to see better results, like the big sweeping corner after the first check point - practice trying to carry as much speed as you can through this check point and clock your best top speed before you hit the first jump. This and the very last corner are where gains can be made, could be half a second which is a lot in racing terms. I use the 3D pad with the likes of Manx TT more and more but again that's because I'm getting lazy. Like wise I use the 3D pad with Sega Touring Cars and PAL Daytona CCE for the same reason. While I remember, Sega Ages OutRun is ACE with the wheel. It's slightly twitchy with the 3D pad in tight spots so wheel for the win with this one! Wipeout 2097 I will use either the normal pad or the 3D pad, depending what takes my fancy at the time. No preference to be honest as the original Wipeout was more digital pad if you get my meaning so you get more of the same if 2097 is played the same way.
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sych
"Living for the fantasy" -NIGHTS INTO DREAMS- The Classic Saturn Gem!!!
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Post by sych on Nov 7, 2016 19:53:02 GMT
Wipeout 2097 I will use either the normal pad or the 3D pad, depending what takes my fancy at the time. No preference to be honest as the original Wipeout was more digital pad if you get my meaning so you get more of the same if 2097 is played the same way. To my shock, Wipeout 2097 is also suprisingly good with the steering wheel. Totally unexpected. You should give it a go with the wheel.
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Post by MIK on Nov 7, 2016 20:36:14 GMT
Cool, will do as that's something I've never tried!
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akumajobelmont
Advanced Saturn Gamer
Joined: March 2015
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Post by akumajobelmont on Mar 15, 2018 12:11:45 GMT
I just got my Wheel today! I've tried out a fair few games out this evening... here's what I think so far!
SEGA Rally Plus - I haaate it with the wheel. I know there's a learning curve and all, but I don't feel like the wheel is tuned all that well to the game. I'll stick with my 3D Controller for this one. EDIT: Gave it a real chance. Now I love it.
Gran Chaser - now we're talking! Plays like an absolute dream. I've always kinda liked the wobbly controls, but with a d-pad it isn't sensitive enough, and the 3D controller is too much. With the wheel though? Totally ace. Love it.
Daytona CE - This game was the one I was looking forward to the most to play. But like SEGA Rally, it doesn't feel all that well tuned to the range of the thing. I'll keep practising with this one, for sure (I've only recently developed a love for the game, after 20 years of trying), but that dead zone is pretty brutal. EDIT: Like SEGA Rally Plus, I love it now. I still think the dead-zone could stand to be improved, but since that's never going to happen, it's definitely good enough!
F1 Live Information - Playing with a wheel is transformative. I always liked this game a lot, but now I looooove it. It plays perfectly. The killer app for my wheel thus far, I cannot recommend it enough!
Hang On GP 95 - likely the game to benefit the most from playing with a wheel. It's nice to have a range of motion now, rather than the 'on' or 'off' steering from before. I'm still not entirely sure I like it too much, but I've now got the opportunity to give it a shot!
King The Spirits 2 - Much, much better. Still not great though. Stick to the first person view, though - the third-person views in this game are pretty nasty. I mean, they look great, but if you want to get anywhere, it's first-person all the way. And that kills me, because I really like to see my car!
SEGA AGES Out Run - Nigh-on perfect. No longer twitchy, though I think it could have been just a *tad* more sensitive.
Nissan Presents Over Drivin' GT - This one probably has some of the best 3D controller support in a racing game on the Saturn... it's tuned perfectly to the stick, unlike most other racing games on the system. With a wheel though, it's pretty good! A little unresponsive at times, and I wish the sensitivity was higher, but still, not bad at all. I'll have to try out my PAL copy of Need For Speed to see if it supports the wheel too, but for now, I'm having a blast with Over Drivin'.
Formula Karts - Pretty much unplayable with *any* pad, this one is almost a home-run when it comes to the wheel. Not sure what the deal with it is though, because the acceleration keeps cutting out after a while for me. Which is a goddamned shame, because from what I could play of it, this is right up there with Hang On GP 95 in games that benefit the most from a wheel. When it worked for me, it was amazing. Too bad it keeps cutting out, for whatever reason. EDIT: I'm a dickhead - the reason the acceleration kept 'cutting out' was because I kept accidentally driving through the pit lane.
SEGA Touring Car - I've fiddled with the settings in Touring Car, and I still can't get this to work as well as I'd like. The 3D Controller is much better, at least so far.
Gale Racer - Not sensitive enough. It plays OK, but I think I prefer a pad.
WipEout 2097 - Surprisingly awesome. Tuned almost perfectly to the Wheel! You can no longer pitch up or down, but I swear that the game does offer assistance under-the-hood in this regard. If only the game had those few extra frames-per-second (it makes all the difference in a WipEout game) this would have been a must-play with the wheel. Still, I'm having fun!
Destruction Derby - Digital Only, it seems... not worth the pain.
Hardcore 4x4 - It works, but soooooo unresponsive. This game blows whichever way you play.
Virtua Racing - Again, it works, but it doesn't feel all that great.
Nascar 98 - Surprisingly good, but I didn't like the game to begin with, and playing with the Wheel hasn't changed my mind.
Road Rash - I knew the likelihood of this working with the Arcade Racer was zero, but I tried it anyways. And it didn't work. And that makes me sad.
That'll do me for the night. Pretty happy with my purchase so far, and I've still got a big stack of games to try out!
EDIT - I don't want to double post, so here's some more observations.
Wangan Dead Heat + Real Arrange - Hooooo boy. Did NOT expect this game to utterly take flight with the wheel. Another killer-app for it, for sure. The cars handle like magic, and it's right up there with F1 Live Information for implementation and tuning - it all just makes sense.
King The Spirits - It's alright, but you need to turn the wheel pretty far to corner like you want. I wish it were more sensitive.
EDIT 2: And another...
Drift King 97 - Yet another that just doesn't disappoint. It's not as immediately gratifying as Wangan Dead Heat, but man, when you get the drift mechanics down, there's nothing else like it. With a pad, or with a wheel, the buses still kill my life. It's super fun weaving in and out of them though, and I've had a few hairy near-misses that had me cheering at my screen. Fantastic game.
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akumajobelmont
Advanced Saturn Gamer
Joined: March 2015
Posts: 273
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Post by akumajobelmont on Mar 17, 2018 13:37:00 GMT
Sorry for the double post, but I tried another few games.
Choro Q Park - I had high hopes for this one, because NexTech worked wonders with Gran Chaser, but nup - it's pretty shocking. The dead-zone is massive, and when you hit the steering zone, it's almost from 'nothing' to 'all' with the slightest movements. Luckily, the 3D Controller support is bangin', so it still plays great if you go that route.
Code R - Definitely playable, but the lack of thought put into the drifting mechanics are really brought to light when you play with the Wheel. It doesn't feel too great at all. Better with a pad or 3D Controller.
Initial D - Much improved! The controls are actually pretty decent with a wheel. The drifting is touchy, but it's still pretty good. It's just a shame that you can never see more than two meters in front of you - it's almost impossible to see turns coming up. The controls rely on a certain level of corner anticipation that the limited view-distance just kills. I still don't recommend the game in any way, shape or form, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was having a bit of fun for a while there.
Daytona USA - It's pretty good! Initially feels better than CE, but I don't know, I think I'm starting to prefer CE as my go-to Daytona game, on the Saturn at least.
GT 24 - Haven't tried it yet... will do soon!
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sych
"Living for the fantasy" -NIGHTS INTO DREAMS- The Classic Saturn Gem!!!
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Posts: 2,660
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Post by sych on Mar 17, 2018 17:49:10 GMT
Sorry for the double post, but I tried another few games. Choro Q Park - I had high hopes for this one, because NexTech worked wonders with Gran Chaser, but nup - it's pretty shocking. The dead-zone is massive, and when you hit the steering zone, it's almost from 'nothing' to 'all' with the slightest movements. Luckily, the 3D Controller support is bangin', so it still plays great if you go that route. Code R - Definitely playable, but the lack of thought put into the drifting mechanics are really brought to light when you play with the Wheel. It doesn't feel too great at all. Better with a pad or 3D Controller. Initial D - Much improved! The controls are actually pretty decent with a wheel. The drifting is touchy, but it's still pretty good. It's just a shame that you can never see more than two meters in front of you - it's almost impossible to see turns coming up. The controls rely on a certain level of corner anticipation that the limited view-distance just kills. I still don't recommend the game in any way, shape or form, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was having a bit of fun for a while there. Daytona USA - It's pretty good! Initially feels better than CE, but I don't know, I think I'm starting to prefer CE as my go-to Daytona game, on the Saturn at least. GT 24 - Haven't tried it yet... will do soon! Great read. I also discoversed the benefits of the steering wheel on games like F1 Challenge, Wipeout 2097 and High Velocity. Only High Velocity proved to be worthy of keeping the steering wheel as I quickly discovered Wipeout 2097 was just as good with a 3D pad and I'm pretty decent with a model 2 on F1 so there wasnt much point in me keeping my steering wheel so looking to sell it. I also have Power Drift but have never tried it with that game.
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akumajobelmont
Advanced Saturn Gamer
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Posts: 273
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Post by akumajobelmont on Mar 20, 2018 2:26:19 GMT
Yeah, I don't think I can go back to a pad for some of these games, in particular Drift King 97 and Wangan Dead Heat. Same as Daytona CE. I'm not too fussed on High Velocity/Touge King The Spirits with the wheel, but maybe it just hasn't clicked for me just yet. It very well may, as I've completely flipped on my first impressions of Daytona CE and SEGA Rally.
It's a keeper for me. I'd really love to try Power Drift with it... have to buy it first!
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Post by tempest on Mar 20, 2018 14:34:59 GMT
Thanks for sharing, akumajobelmont. That was a great read. Your enthusiasm for such a cumbersome peripheral makes me wish I had given the wheel I brought years ago more chance before selling it.
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Post by zyrobs on Mar 20, 2018 21:21:08 GMT
I only played the first Daytona with a wheel, but my reaction was wanting to throw the damn thing out the window, it took me half hour to get used to the controls so I could do the three left turns on the first track without crashing into the walls.
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akumajobelmont
Advanced Saturn Gamer
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Posts: 273
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Post by akumajobelmont on Mar 21, 2018 2:29:51 GMT
Cheers! Yeah, I jumped straight into SEGA Rally and Daytona CE, and couldn't stand it. It wasn't until I put them aside and proceeded to cut my teeth on Drift King 97, F1 Challenge and Wangan Dead Heat that it really clicked. I came back to Rally and Daytona after that and had a much better time. I still don't think either of the Daytona games are perfect with the thing, and I suck at both of them still, but I'm sure I'll click more with them over time. Rally makes sense to me now, at least.
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