However, the one issue of the game that has come under frequent scrutiny over the years is its handling. Many feel that, out of the box, the game doesn't quite feel like the arcade version, and players have come up with their own settings and techniques to try and recapture how the original version felt to drive.
Tonight I decided to try my hand at directly comparing how the Dreamcast remake handles in comparison to the arcade original... using what I had on hand. Of course, ideally I'd be jumping between an arcade unit and my lovely modded Race Controller wheel, but logistics prevent this dream from being a reality. Instead, I compared the great PS3 port of Daytona USA with the Dreamcast game, with the following controls:
- Using each console's standard controller
- Using the Hornet on automatic (I reckoned gear changes would allow for too much variation)
- Driving Dinosaur Canyon on time trial (a nice mix of bends and straights, with no CPU cars in the way)
- Camera view #3 (behind car, close) (in retrospect, 1st person might have yielded a more direct comparison, but it seems most play in the camera view I tested)
Something that players also don't tend to discuss is that the tyre choice in the Dreamcast version also has a big effect on handling. The handling of the PS3 version (which should be identical to the arcade) sits somewhere in between the "medium" and "medium-soft" tyre types. "Medium" makes drifting feel pretty much like the arcade, but is slightly slippier in subtle movements than in that version. "Medium-soft" makes subtle movements more accurate, but drifts are harder to pull off. I wound up sticking with "medium", but you should definitely test both to see which you prefer.
There are some minor fundamental differences in how both games handle, which mean that they can never be brought perfectly in line with each other, but in the end, I was surprised at how close they felt in direct comparison after minor tweaking. Ideally though, both could be compared using steering wheels for the most accurate Daytona USA experience.
But what are your thoughts - how do you feel about this game's handling? Have you come up with any adjustments of your own to improve your driving?