2nd Op By

Chi Kong Lui 8.0 RATING

For starters, Dale and I both agree with the poor feel of the foot pedals. They dont feel like real foot pedals and trying to shift pressure from the gas to the brake was often difficult, slow and imprecise. In trying to do so, I often ended up depressing both pedals simultaneously with the same foot. It was only after shifting the angle of the entire base of foot pedals over 35 degrees, that I was able to produce more acceptable results out of them. Like Dale, I also had some issues with the Formula-1 style levers behind the wheel, but it was a bigger deal for me. Keeping them depressed through out most games was already uncomfortable due to the hard metal that its made out of, but during extreme turns, it was near impossible to keep them depressed due to the over extension of the arms. Its a huge design flaw that nearly renders their functionality useless and forces players to use the foot pedals instead. At least the no-frills Agetec Rally Wheel knew that range of motion of the steering wheel needed to be restricted in order for a player to hold on the levers comfortably.

Where Dale and I begin to differ on our opinions of the Concept 4, is that I apparently had more issues with it than Dale. Add to my list of complaints is the tangling wire syndrome. Between the overly short AC adapter cord (which powers the vibration feedback), the wire connecting the foot pedals to the steering wheel and the wire that connects the entire setup to the Dreamcast, there plenty of opportunity for passer-byes to trip on all the cords. It's also very easy for all the wires to get entangled up into a mess. I also call into question the so-called programmability of the buttons. While the box of the Concept 4 would have you believe that there are 10 buttons that can be remapped to other button controls, that in actuality is a falsehood. The reality is that only 4 of the buttons can be reassigned to another button functions.

Aside from those complaints I still cant deny that there are worthwhile positives in the Concept 4. No other racing wheel offers so many options in terms of buttons, pedals and holding positions. I also cant deny the overall sturdiness and reliability of the product. I tested the Concept 4 with a driving game for almost 5 hours straight. During that time, the Concept 4 had vibrated so much that I began to smell a small hint of burning oil. Yet, the wheel continually performed well and the vibration feedback kept chugging along without any breakdowns. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, I liked the overall feel of the steering wheel. There was a full-range of smooth and even motion on turns and the control was responsive. The spring back motion that returns the wheel to its center position seemed a little too tight, but thats a very minor quibble. All in all, the Concept 4 as an overall package delivers in many categories especially in the features and customizations. Though not perfect, most racing fans are sure to find something they like about the Concept 4.

Disclaimer: This review is based on the Dreamcast version of the game.

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