I remember on a 737-300 sim, it was incorrectly set by the computer folk and it was like the engines were beyond the tips of the wings in terms of force and the rudder was not able to do the job. After the sim instructors couldn't control the plane the computer boys got to work and OOOPS.
They finally fixed it.
AS to the thumbs. When you lose an engine there is an almost imperceptible reaction by using ailerons to control the plane's initial yaw. Our instructors demonstrated that when you had both hands on the yoke, your thumbs pointed towards the side of the rudder pedal to be used. Give it a try.
V1 is called at V1 minus five at our airline. How about yours? Do your instructors turn down the engine sound (they can). With the engine sound up fully it can be your first indication something is wrong as the engines go out of sync.
SIMULATORS are just that, simulators. AT one time in our contract, a pilot could demand a check ride in the real plane and not a sim!