knuckles chaotic.. the best game on the 32x?

[Barone]

No, I don't think that you "just suck"... I think it has a lot to do with your practice with 16-bit and 32-bit racing games that didn't have analog controller support. I'm used to those freakin' d-pad smasher racing games and so it's "easier" for me to learn. I have a longer learning curve with today's generation racing games though...
I wasted several hour of my life playing games like Super Hang-ON (Genesis version) and Rush Hour (Speedster) (PS1) (This one has the most bitching controls that I can remember but it's damn fun). I also always played F1 "simulators" like Grand Prix Series using digital pads most of the time. And I like very complex analog controls like some Black Bean games (SBK series and Superstars V8 Racing) when set to the more realistic modes and the fuckin' awesome WTCC games by SimBin (these ones really worth a look. They're kinda unknown in the US but very popular in some European countries. The tracks, car settings and controls are probably the most realistic renditions that I have ever experienced.).

V.R. really depends on that d-pad tapping technique, especially the prototype car. I can see you going quite well with the F1 car without so much tapping, but the prototype is faster and heavier, you need a lot of over-steering to take the most of the car in the turns... I usually combine the d-pad tapping with fast "gas/no gas" alternation, 'cause it makes the car slide a bit easier and faster.

That track is kinda easy compared to the others. I'll post the Bay Bridge video later, it's a lot harder and can cause some pain to the thumps, ahahha!
What is hard about V.R. is that you can make almost no mistakes in situations that you have to push like hell all the time. It's a bit unfair sometimes and I think that Daytona USA balanced it a bit better. And then Sega Super GT brought it to the easy side.

[Black_Tiger]

I'm not a big fan of analog controls in general, but especially for racing games. D-pad tapping is so much more fun for me. I get enough analog stearing gameplay driving to and from work every day.

[sheath]

Even when I play a racing sim with analog controls I end up tapping the analog instead of just holding it where it needs to be.

[Bones Justice]

I have been playing Virtua Racing a lot recently on Genesis because I haven't been home to play it on 32X. But the techniques I use are basically the same. I don't do a lot of tapping, rather I tend to let the d-pad alone as much as possible because it keeps my car at top speed. Try to follow the good racing line which is generally designated by the skidmarks on the track but don't weave too much to get it as it slows you down. Typically, the computer cars have better acceleration but your car has a higher top speed so try to keep at top speed as much as possible. Even a lot of curves can generally be driven as a straight line through the middle.

Also, draft as much as possible, this will give you a higher top speed than your car can make on it's own (about 6 kmh for the original Virtua Racing car). Even once you're in first place, you can draft off of the slower cars at the back of the pack as you lap them. I think Genesis V.R. is a little more forgiving with drafting in that you only need to be close to another car, even somewhat alongside, 32X V.R. is more realistic as I recall. I'll have to double-check that next time I play on 32X. Either way, it will really boost your times if you use it as much as possible.

Avoid crashing because damaged wings slows your car down. I'm not convinced that you spin out easier, though. Even though you can get repairs in the pits, it wastes too much time to be worth it. Better to just not crash in the first place so use your brakes if you need 'em.

The other cars aren't hard to get by once they spread out but it will probably be easier just to get by most of them at the start. Don't try to fight through them, just go around to the outside. At the start, they will slow a lot on the first curve so be careful not to rear-end them as you'll spin-out. If you do spin-out, quickly move to the right so that faster cars will be less likely to rear-end you and cause you to spin out again and again.

If you're going to use the manual transmission, make sure you don't let it dip below the yellow line too much. I usually just use the automatic, though. I tend to only use the manual transmission to handicap myself in two-player mode since most of the people I get to play against have far less experience with the game.

My other general advice is to practice like the pros. You should never rely on the radar but instead know the tracks well enough to go over them in your own mind. Also, don't start out taking ridiculous chances to pass and corner, drive more to your skill level even if you have to play on the easy setting to finish the course. You'll start to get faster without depending upon luck and you'll be more consistent which is probably the real key to winning -- you need to be fast every lap to come in first place.

I never actually drive for first place. I just try to drive the fastest lap and I end up winning the race. I also always concentrate on putting distance between me and the last car I passed rather than trying to catch the car ahead of me. I know this last advice probably sounds stupid but it works for me.

The game I actually learned good videogame driving techniques on was Jaguar XJ220 for SegaCD.

[Barone]

I have been playing Virtua Racing a lot recently on Genesis because I haven't been home to play it on 32X. But the techniques I use are basically the same. I don't do a lot of tapping, rather I tend to let the d-pad alone as much as possible because it keeps my car at top speed. Try to follow the good racing line which is generally designated by the skidmarks on the track but don't weave too much to get it as it slows you down. Typically, the computer cars have better acceleration but your car has a higher top speed so try to keep at top speed as much as possible. Even a lot of curves can generally be driven as a straight line through the middle.

This doesn't work well for the prototype car on the 32X.

My other general advice is to practice like the pros. You should never rely on the radar but instead know the tracks well enough to go over them in your own mind. Also, don't start out taking ridiculous chances to pass and corner, drive more to your skill level even if you have to play on the easy setting to finish the course. You'll start to get faster without depending upon luck and you'll be more consistent which is probably the real key to winning -- you need to be fast every lap to come in first place.

Not exactly. Try to apply that with prototypes on 32X version and you'll never win, not on the normal level at least. You have to pass the cars as fast as possible to be able to win in most of the tracks. And sometimes the overtake will have to be done in a very limited space. It's not luck IMO, but it requires a lot of training to know exactly how much time you can actually let your car slide in order to reach the exact space that is the perfect spot to overtake.

The game I actually learned good videogame driving techniques on was Jaguar XJ220 for SegaCD.

This is game is great.

[Bones Justice]

This doesn't work well for the prototype car on the 32X.

Not exactly. Try to apply that with prototypes on 32X version and you'll never win, not on the normal level at least. You have to pass the cars as fast as possible to be able to win in most of the tracks. And sometimes the overtake will have to be done in a very limited space. It's not luck IMO, but it requires a lot of training to know exactly how much time you can actually let your car slide in order to reach the exact space that is the perfect spot to overtake.

This is game is great.

It's what works best for me, YMMV as they say.

The larger paragraph, I was actually referring to when you first start learning the game. I've seen new players just want to jam on the gas and muscle their way through the turns. They can turn the occasional fast lap with luck but are too inconsistent. I think it's better to start off with control and get faster than to be driving reckless and out of control when you are still learning. And I never meant that you shouldn't overtake cars, just that you need to be consistently fast every lap. I don't worry about the car ahead until I've approached it -- it's just the way that I've had success, it's probably more psych than technique. Of course, you're probably better at it than me but that's my advice on how I've won. No matter which car, the physics are the same, at least.

Also, yes, Jaguar XJ220 is a lot of fun.

[Barone]

It's what works best for me, YMMV as they say.

Well, I was just saying that those techniques would not give you the best possible results with the prototype car.

The larger paragraph, I was actually referring to when you first start learning the game. I've seen new players just want to jam on the gas and muscle their way through the turns. They can turn the occasional fast lap with luck but are too inconsistent. I think it's better to start off with control and get faster than to be driving reckless and out of control when you are still learning. And I never meant that you shouldn't overtake cars, just that you need to be consistently fast every lap. I don't worry about the car ahead until I've approached it -- it's just the way that I've had success, it's probably more psych than technique.

I agree.

No matter which car, the physics are the same, at least.

The physics are the same but the handling mechanics for each car is very different IMO.
F1 car feels lighter than any other and seems to have more front wing than rear wing.
Stock car feels heavier than F1 and lighter than prototype and seems to have even stronger front wing than rear compared to the F1 car.
Prototype is the heaviest and seems to have a more balanced wing distribution, still a bit stronger on the front.
On top of that, you have the final speed, being the prototype significantly faster than the others and thus the hardest to control considering its characteristics.

You can see what I'm talking about here with prototype on normal difficult at Bay Bridge (gameplay + replay).

[Bones Justice]

I have been looking at possibly buying a model 2 and another 32X for travel. I got to try out one earlier today and got to make a couple of runs on Virtua Racing Deluxe while I was at it. I've never posted a video on Youtube before so I had to figure out how to do that today, too; sorry about the video quality but all I have is my mobile. I haven't actually played Deluxe in maybe a year or so but I play the the Genesis version on my Nomad all the time. I took some turns wider than I usually do, guess I'm out of practice. I had kind of forgotten just how fast the prototype is and I love it!

No excuses for the controller but it was an old generic 3-button pad. The d-pad was actually in good shape, worn in so not too stiff or anything and worked very well for me. But the C-button barely worked making VR changes nearly impossible! I prefer VR1 and had a devil of a time getting it to switch views.

My first run was very rough, even spun out once but got it back together to take the trophy:



My second run was more consistent. I think I used to turn a time less than 3'10" with this car. I'm sure with a little practice I could shorten some of those bad turns that I made and reduce my time.

[Lan Di]

Don't forget Blackthorne with the exclusive extra level.

[Mr Nuts]

I think Shadow Squadron is probably the best title in my opinion,Knuckles Chaotix is an interesting idea but it does not take long before i start shouting abuse at it and start face palming .I could easily give Kolibri high marks though just for originality and Doom is one of the best games ever made,the 32X version is excellent.

[Ecco]

Haven't played Knux yet (or Shadow Squadron) but my favorite game so far must be Virtua Fighter; So awesome to have a 3D fighter on the Genesis. Virtua Racing is also awesome to have real 3D environments to race thru! I also love Star Wars Arcade but I know everyone prefers Shadow Squadron. lol

[Chilly Willy]

I think the difficulty level on SWA is a bit too hard for many folks. VRD is at the top of my 32X favorites list. I like VF as well, but I preferred Toshinden to either VF or Tekken - too bad they didn't do a version for the 32X. I wish the Sonic group had put as much effort into the 32X as the Virtua group.

[sheath]

Has anybody here actually finished Star Wars Arcade? I always assumed it was broken to the point of being unbeatable.

[Ecco]

^Why is Star Wars Arcade broken? (You mean it's just too impossible?)

Also I just got Shadow Squadron and yeah it's awesome

[j_factor]

Has anybody here actually finished Star Wars Arcade? I always assumed it was broken to the point of being unbeatable.

I've beaten arcade mode, but not 32x mode.