Sega Rally Championship: 1995

[Neon]

Game cost me 25 cents, with spine, and is one of the best experiences to be had on the Saturn. Few questions:

- Has anyone figured out the optimum configuration (under 'car settings') for both each course individually and for a championship run through all 4? Seems to be more of a trial and error thing rather than something that actually involves thought. I also wonder what the hell a blow-off valve does.

- Lakeside. What the fuck? Any superplays of this floating around? Marubaku don't have one for it. I need to improve my current strategy for sure.

- I reckon it plays a LOT better with the driving wheel than a dpad...can anyone confirm?

[benstylus]

- I reckon it plays a LOT better with the driving wheel than a dpad...can anyone confirm?

Being a fan of digital controls (you gotta be to enjoy shooters) I actually like the game better on a d-pad than with analog wheel control.

Maybe it's just because I've never found a really good wheel except in arcades.

[Marc]

The nights controler is fucking sweet with this. Finest time trial game that ever existed.

[nZero]

I also wonder what the hell a blow-off valve does.

In turbocharged vehicles, in the event of sudden throttle lift-off, it vents the compressed air directly into the atmosphere. This has the dual effect of reducing wear on the turbine (which would be compressing into a closed throttle plate) and reducing power lag at throttle re-engagement (by allowing the turbine to continue spinning freely). It also makes a cool PSSSHT noise which seems to be the primary reason people buy them for street driven vehicles

[raiden]

most of you probably know, but in case someone missed it I´d like to mention that this game is also availlable on PS2 as part of Sega Rally 2005´s limited edition, different in a few ways from the Saturn version:

graphics- blurry textures, but sharp hi-res polygons and 60 fps.
controls- analog on a controller more precise than the Nights pad was. The Nights pad is great for Nights, because in Nights, only direction matters, but it´s bad for racing games, because it´s not very precise when it comes to steering slightly.
loading times- way shorter than on Saturn.

[dial911]

^
It runs 60 FPS on the Saturn as well and the NiGHTS controller really does work flawlessly. Absolutely spot on control.....

[Neon]

Nope, only 30 FPS on Saturn.

Nice that the ps2 one has better control, for the cost I wasn't going to pick it up on graphics alone but now I'll have to check it out.

[theevilfunkster]

The Saturn port is stunning, not so much graphicly but handlng is superb. I just use a normal Saturn pad, I cant stand the official stering wheel.

We should post some time trial times.

[Koa Zo]

The Saturn port is stunning, not so much graphicly but handlng is superb. I just use a normal Saturn pad, I cant stand the official stering wheel.

Yeah, the Official Saturn Wheel is actually pretty junky, imho.

[Alpolio]

I remember when I picked up that game at Babbages almost 10 years ago! I don't remember much about the cars but I do remember that power sliding is the way things are done in this game. And the Nights controller makes things a lot easier too. During the 32-bit era, this s my favorite racer.

[azmun]

- Has anyone figured out the optimum configuration (under 'car settings') for both each course individually and for a championship run through all 4? Seems to be more of a trial and error thing rather than something that actually involves thought. I also wonder what the hell a blow-off valve does.

There isn't one best line to complete a course. In terms of customizing your car, I notice there are about two or three different settings that can usually give similar results (for the dessert course, that's just below the 53 second mark).

- I reckon it plays a LOT better with the driving wheel than a dpad...can anyone confirm?

I guess I'm a minority here but yes, I can confirm this. The original Saturn pad work well too but once I got used to the Arcade wheel, there was no turning back (no more tapping dpads). Adjustment period took me about 5-10 hours but once you get pass this it'll be well worth it as your lap time improves and you get more/better control (especially in terms of handling turns).

I heard some reports of the recently released arcade port on PS2 which didn't seem to have as good handling. Other features missing besides customizing your car (which makes the Saturn version still my preferred choice) is time attack mode and the hidden lancia stratos car. However, one thing the PS2 version has is analog gas and breaks.

This is one of my all time favorite racers. The other two being Test Drive LeMans on Dreamcast and Wipeout XL (on PS2 for more bearable, i.e. faster load times).

[D]

^
It runs 60 FPS on the Saturn as well and the NiGHTS controller really does work flawlessly. Absolutely spot on control.....

You can be forgiven for thinking that.

[neorichieb1971]

I suggest turning early, or getting into a slide before entering a corner.. if you turn beforehand the 4WD will glide your through the turns.