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DEVELOPER
Probe
PUBLISHER
Acclaim
AVAILABLE
Now
MEDIUM
Cartridge
PLAYERS
Four
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Nintendo 64 is quickly turning into THE system for racing games. Racing
fanatics are no doubt happy with this situation. Unfortunately for the
rest, there's some confusion as to which racing game to buy. If you enjoy
futuristic racing with action-packed gameplay and insane track design,
look no further. Extreme G is the game you've been waiting for.
Like many games, Extreme G has a background story. The truth of the
matter is that it really doesn't matter much. This is a racing game after
all. Who needs a reason to take first place? You just do it to win. When
I first laid my eyes on this game, I immediately thought of WipeOut on
the PlayStation. Both games are set in the future, and the tracks do look
similar in texture and design. There are power-ups and weapons to collect
on each level as well. The glaring difference is that in Extreme G you
ride a cool little motorcycle whereas in WipeOut you drive a hovercraft.
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Here's an example of the cool track design. There are
twists, loops, and jumps all waiting for you to burn some rubber on.
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The best aspect is the game's graphics. Right away you'll notice there
is some fog present in the levels. It's very reminiscent of Acclaim's previous
game, Turok. As soon as you immerse yourself in the game you'll forget
all about the fog. You'll be too busy concentrating on the race at hand.
Each track has its own unique textures and color scheme to set it apart
from the others. The motorbikes aren't too detailed, but animate convincingly.
While not as nice looking as some other N64 racing games, the sheer speed
of each track more than makes up for the lack of detail in the scenery.
Play control in Extreme G becomes second nature after only a few tracks.
Controlling your bike is a simple task. The only difficult part is keeping
your vehicle near the middle of the road. Until you become familiar with
the many twists and turns you'll find yourself riding the edges of the
tracks, which will slow you down. Like most N64 games, you'll be using
the control stick to maneuver. In addition to your normal gun (which can
be fired a limited number of times to slow down opponents) there are special
weapons laying on the track for you to pick up and use. Some of these are
really cool (reverse controls, warps, missiles, and tractor beams to name
a few) and do a nice job of keeping your opponents in line.
There are many different modes of play available for you to choose from.
The main part of the game is the Extreme Contest. One or two players compete
against the computer opponents. If you obtain good enough positions in
each race you'll be able to open up new tracks and some special options.
There are a host of options in the multiplayer mode. Up to four people
can race against each other. There are different variations to play including
a capture the flag tournament, and a battle mode. From hidden tracks to
secret vehicles, this game packs in the extras to keep you coming back
for more.
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Weapon power-ups are essential if you expect to take
first place.
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Musically Extreme G is very similar to WipeOut, without the CD sound
to back it up. It features a techno-beat soundtrack that actually sounds
pretty good coming from the N64. It's refreshing to hear some decent music
from a different company. As far as racing games go, this title probably
has the best music of the bunch on the system (although Diddy Kong does
have some catchy tunes). The sound effects all seem to be in place, but
there's nothing here you haven't heard before.
If you're looking for a fun multiplayer racing game, you should at least
try Extreme G. There's definitely enough here to keep you coming back for
more. You'll have lots of fun in the four player mode if you own enough
controllers. This game won't set the world on fire, but it's got what it
takes to be fun and exciting. For serious racing fans who think Diddy Kong
Racing is too childish, this is the game you've been waiting for.
-- Craig Majaski
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