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DriverHeaven Review - uses javascript
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Introduction The PS2 has received a plethora of driving games ranging from the rigorous realism of driving simulators to the fast paced action of high speed arcade races. Regardless of the type of driving game you prefer, sometimes the dual analog stick setup just isn’t enough for gamers looking to go beyond the meager default setup. Luckily, Logitech released the Driving Force Pro to create an unparalleled driving experience, no matter what type of racer you are.
Out of the Box • Logitech® Driving Force Pro (Force Feedback)
Steering Wheel The Driving Force Pro has a fully functional game pad on the wheel itself along with two F1-style shifters behind the hand grips as well as a manual knob shifter on the side. The game pad is designed almost identically to that of a standard PS2 controller, so you’ll feel right at home with the layout when you’re not racing. The wheel uses a 24 watt force feedback engine that is sure to capture the heart of any racing enthusiast. The gas and brake pedals also have a sleek F1 design, and the base unit even has an adjustable plastic spike grip that can be used to cling on to carpets, which will help prevent the pedals from sliding all over the floor. Above everything else, the Driving Force Pro’s most commendable feature is its unprecedented 900 degrees of wheel rotation. While there are only a few select games that support this game mode at the moment, having a wheel that can spin around 2 ½ complete circles is quite impressive. The rest of the games take advantage of the wheel’s 200 degree rotation mode, which is much more sensitive than the 900 degree mode. Because the wheel is connected via a PS2 USB port, it can also be connected to a computer. While most PC games aren’t designed to support the Driving Force Pro because it was made specifically for the PS2, the wheel still works great if you don’t mind using 200 degree mode without force feedback. For a complete list of games compatible with the Driving Force Pro, please visit here Setup The installation process for the Driving Force Pro takes a little longer than most standard wheels, but once everything is situated you can experience intense racing action without having to worry about setup problems. While there is a lap attachment kit sold separately from Logitech, the wheel works flawlessly if you have any type of table or television tray. As seen in the picture below, the Driving Force Pro has two adjustable hook-type grips that can be raised or lowered by twisting their respective knob. Once you loosen the knobs as far as they will turn, you can then place the wheel on a solid base, and then tighten the grips until they latch on snugly. Once a sturdy connection has been made, it will take a great deal of force to have the wheel slide around during gameplay. The pedals, like most others, are lightweight and have a tendency to shift across the floor when the gas or brake pedals are slammed. Luckily, Logitech added a strip of hooks to the bottom of the base that will latch on to any carpet and prevent any sliding whatsoever. If you don’t happen to have a carpet floor, the strip can be folded in so that the pedals can lay on a flat surface. The relatively long base helps prevent movement otherwise, but any small box or stopper will easily prevent the pedals from moving around at all.
Performance Once everything is setup and ready to go, the only thing left to do is to enjoy the Driving Force Pro wheel. Considering the wheel’s different degree rotation modes and the various subdivisions of the racing genre, it simply wouldn’t be fair to give an overall generalization of the wheel. Instead, we took the greatest driving titles on the PS2 and put them all to the test. For this review, we tested out Gran Turismo 4, Need for Speed Underground 2, and Burnout: Revenge.
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