Steering wheel for driving games

[cuemasterfl]

I picked up Colin McRae Rally 2005 the other day for only $19.99. I must say it's an awesome driving game, but trying to drive with my analog joystick is really tough. Would it be worth buying a wheel? I really don't want to spend above $40 for one. I would also use it on NSFU2.

 

[Sly]

No. For rally games like CollinMcRae and NFS:U1/2, you need responsiveness more than finess. It's easier to slide around corners when you can get your wheel to turn instantly to initiate a drift. In those cases, nothing beats a keyboard.

Steeringwheels are for when you need to follow the best line down to the millimeter, like a long gentle turn. You lose speed slightly when you fingertap into a turn. You can do this best with a wheel, but since you have to turn it about 90 degrees to turn, the wheels maintain their grip and it's much harder to drift, also, you need to apply the brakes to drift effectively, hence, you lose power. One major feature that usually comes with wheels are the gas and brake pedals, since you can control your speed more precisely, you don't lose your tiregrip during a turn, hence, less speed lost. Heck, in NFS:HS, starting off with the gas at 50% would get you off the starting line first every time as opposed to going full throttle with the wheels spinning. Same thing happens with NASCAR.

A joystick is the best comprimise between the above two. You get less steering control as opposed to wheels, but if you need to turn faster, just snap your wrist 45 degrees, instant drift.

Just my opinion tho.