Dream Blaster
Score: 90% Developer: Mad Catz Device Type: Controller
Function: So you?re looking to shoot up the place, huh? Some games are simply made for a light gun. Even if they allow other controllers, you simply can?t get the right feel for a shooting arcade game with anything else. The Mad Catz Dream Blaster is an excellent choice. The accuracy is not the best I?ve ever seen, but the precision is excellent. What does that mean? You might have to play around a bit to see what the best way to aim is, but once you learn how the aim is set, you can put a shot exactly where you want it. Also, the Dream Blaster has some extra features that really help out in some games. I highly recommend the Mad Catz Dream Blaster to Dreamcast gamers looking for a primary gun.
Performance: The Mad Catz Dream Blaster has a few features that need to be played with to be appreciated (and learned). You have three modes of fire available: Normal, Auto Reload, and Auto Fire/Reload. If you have a fast and furious shooter with unlimited ammo, the Auto Fire/Reload feature is excellent. Let the ?rain of lead? commence! Auto Reload is almost always appreciated, but Auto Fire is a bad idea if you have a limited amount of ammo. With the firing and reloading modes the Dream Blaster has, its comfortable rubber-coated grip, and its memory pack slot, the Dream Blaster comes loaded to bear. If you?re planning a visit to the House of the Dead (2), you might want to bring this ?friend? along. It will help you in those tight spots where you have several targets and few bullets, especially in the training levels. Also, the Mad Catz Dream Blaster provides the precision it will take to successfully kill zombies which are REALLY close to their intended victims -- without killing them off yourself!
Features: Normal fire Auto Reload Auto Fire/Reload Rubber-coated grip Memory pack slot
Drawbacks & Problems:: I found that the unit I tested shot up and to the right of where I intended when the sites were perfectly lined up. I had to adjust the positioning of the gun until the shot went where I wanted it to, and then noted that I could get a perfect shot if I aimed using the left side of the sight instead of the (traditionally used) center of the sight. However, the precision was nearly perfect. Once I found the right spot to use to line up my shots, my accuracy ratio increased immediately. There are no aiming adjustments which can be made by the gamer, so I suggest finding the best spot to aim with, as I did. If you?re into arcade shooters, pick up one of these. End of story. Mad Catz makes good products. The Dream Blaster is an excellent example.
-Geck0, GameVortex Communications AKA Robert Perkins
Game Programming Starter Kit 5.0 Dream Cable