rec.autos.simulators

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

(Rich#8

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

by (Rich#8 » Mon, 26 Feb 2001 13:50:36

Well I finally got a chance to check out F355 in the arcade. This sim
rocks, drivng the car in full simulator mode reminded me so much of
GPL it was amazing. Obviously  the F355 is alot more stable then a
1967 F1 car but certain handling characteristics were very similar.

Throttle induced oversteer and early apexing allowed you to really
hang the tale out just like GPL.  Shifting is really neat, either
paddle shifters (my favorite) or stick. I found using the stick a bit
tricky, it was hard as hell finding any gear above 2nd.

So alot of times I ended up in a gear I didn't want, either too high
or too low.

Each session was 2 dollars,, not too bad.

I ran Monza and Motegi, Monza was a blast, alot different then in GPL
days, so it took me a while to get the  hang of it. Having three
monitors, middle, left and right was pretty neat. But to be honest I
didn't look much at the side monitors.

The force feedback was ok,, nothing great, but have tension on the
gas, brake and clutch was life like,, very impressive.

The graphics are good, but not much better then N4 or Heat for that
matter. I saw a fare amount of jaggies, such as the painted line at
the edge of the track in the distance. You'd think a big arcade system
like this have AA comparable to a Voodoo5, but I guess not.

Motegi was terrible, the car was extremely tight on the ovals, I
couldn't induce oversteer to save my life, the AI cars left me in the
dust. Just getting the car into the turn at a decent speed was very
difficult.

This sim shines the most on the road courses. So if you have this game
at your local arcade, check it out. If you like GPL you'll get a kick
out of its modern day cousin.

Loosa

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

by Loosa » Mon, 26 Feb 2001 22:19:15

graphically, how similar is it to the home dreamcast version ?
Darren Dunca

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

by Darren Dunca » Mon, 26 Feb 2001 23:39:31

I don't know about the dreamcast version but here in Japan they have the 3
monitor arcade version for just 100 yen a pop (That's about 1 dollar) . If
you like GPL then this is a must drive. We used to spend every lunch break
from work down the arcade seeing who could do the best laps on Suzuka.  The
sound is awesome and I thought the FF effects were very good. Pretty
***ive sim/arcade machine. Look out for it!

I can't imagine the dreamcast version being as good unless you have a proper
wheel setup with huge speakers behind your head, 3 TVs and a***pit! :-)

Darren
---------------------------------------------------------
TopGear Offline GP3 League
http://www.racesimcentral.net/
In line with the F1 Calendar
---------------------------------------------------------


: graphically, how similar is it to the home dreamcast version ?

Sjoerd de Roes

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

by Sjoerd de Roes » Tue, 27 Feb 2001 02:35:38


>graphically, how similar is it to the home dreamcast version ?

The dc version probably looks even better 'cause they had some more time to
tweak the graphics.

F355 runs on the naomi board. It's a dc with more memory.

Sjoerd

Txl

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

by Txl » Tue, 27 Feb 2001 02:57:49

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the dreamcast is VERY similar to the real thing, and regrding the
good wheel you can put an act-labs wheel on a dreamcast, well in fact
with their cartridge system you can put an act-labs wheel EVERYWHERE
(PC, PSX, N64, DC, I guess PSX2 won't be long to come)



> I don't know about the dreamcast version but here in Japan they
> have the 3 monitor arcade version for just 100 yen a pop (That's
> about 1 dollar) . If you like GPL then this is a must drive. We
> used to spend every lunch break from work down the arcade seeing
> who could do the best laps on Suzuka.  The sound is awesome and I
> thought the FF effects were very good. Pretty ***ive sim/arcade
> machine. Look out for it!

> I can't imagine the dreamcast version being as good unless you have
> a proper wheel setup with huge speakers behind your head, 3 TVs and
> a***pit! :-)

> Darren
> ---------------------------------------------------------
> TopGear Offline GP3 League
> http://www.racesimcentral.net/
> In line with the F1 Calendar
> ---------------------------------------------------------



> : graphically, how similar is it to the home dreamcast version ?

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David Mast

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

by David Mast » Tue, 27 Feb 2001 05:32:50



>>graphically, how similar is it to the home dreamcast version ?

Can't compare it as I haven't tried the arcade version.  But I did buy a DC
recently (hey, only $80! - opened box) specifically for this title (another
$25).  The graphics are solid, but not as good as current technology hi-res PC
titles.  The physics is very believable, except that I can run the wide
turn at Motegi pretty much full out with no wing just adding more
"wheel"position as I go.  Maybe this is the case, but it feels unaturally
stable.  Hot-lap wise, it is a great time.  The racing is more frustrating as
the AI does the usual arcade-thing of varying according to your performance.
Sometimes they will do simply impossible things.  Still, even there it is a
chunk above most arcade titles.  If you have a DC (and obviously are a RAS
faithful), you want this title.

I cannot say this about the two other racing titles I purchased, Sega GT and
Metropolis Street Racer.  The first is a clone of GT/GT2 which is absolutely
uncontrollable with the std unit.  The latter is arcade, pure and simple
(though arcade players think it very difficult and more realistic than their
typical fare).

Magisystems Adm

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

by Magisystems Adm » Tue, 27 Feb 2001 06:13:36


>graphically, how similar is it to the home dreamcast version ?

Well, considering the DC is 1 "Naomi" board, and the Arcade version runs on 3
"Naomi" boards...the arcade is better :)

However, from what I hear (ign.com reviews), it's a pretty straight on port,
the extra boards were for most of the other perks (clutch, side monitors, etc)

(Rich#8

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

by (Rich#8 » Tue, 27 Feb 2001 10:30:20

Funny thing even with the 3 monitor setup that the arcarde version has
I found myself focusing on the forward view and not even using the
side monitors much. But on an oval with more side by side racing, I
could see them coming in handy.

Why the hell doesn't Sega or a third party port this sucker over to
the PC. As much as I like this title and as cheap as the DCs are these
days I can't buy a DC for just this title. Plus my TSW won't plug into
a DC.

It be neat to see someone license the game engine and make a Grand
Turismo cloan for the PC.




>>graphically, how similar is it to the home dreamcast version ?

>Well, considering the DC is 1 "Naomi" board, and the Arcade version runs on 3
>"Naomi" boards...the arcade is better :)

>However, from what I hear (ign.com reviews), it's a pretty straight on port,
>the extra boards were for most of the other perks (clutch, side monitors, etc)

big..

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

by big.. » Tue, 27 Feb 2001 12:32:30


> Funny thing even with the 3 monitor setup that the arcarde version has
> I found myself focusing on the forward view and not even using the
> side monitors much. But on an oval with more side by side racing, I
> could see them coming in handy.

agreed, but I think they also add to the feeling of speed
because you can see the scenery flying past in your
peripheral vision.

Good fun but at AUD$4 for a few minutes, a little expensive :)

Cheers
-Nick

Bern

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

by Bern » Tue, 27 Feb 2001 17:03:09

Have to disagree with this one. Hi res is pretty much the tv's fault but
besides the resolution deficiency I cant think of a single PC title that
looks as impressive and runs at a solid 60fps.

Simon Brow

Ferrari F355 in the arcade (mini review)

by Simon Brow » Tue, 27 Feb 2001 21:18:17

Plus the DC version can run with a wide viewing angle for widescreen tv's,
which isn't so far off what you get in the arcade.



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